Two Weeks in Morocco
We are Going to Morocco! And You Can Join Us.
The music, the food, the sights, the smells...just thinking about Morocco gets me excited! I love when a trip can offer a diverse set of experiences and it may be hard to beat a trip to Morocco.
On our two week trip to Morocco we will see multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, take a cooking class, ride a camel, visit a national park, enjoy a foodie tour of the market, glamp under the stars in the dessert, stay with a local village family, and more!!! We will see the top sites in Morocco. I can’t wait for February to get here so that we can go on this trip to Morocco!
This two week trip will be action packed and show us the best of Morocco! We will see some of the most incredible sights Morocco has to offer. From the markets and foods of the medinas and kasbahs to the desert and mountains, where you’ll get to experience a true Moroccan small village, old country living (and dining!).
Our trip will start in Casablanca on October 16th, 2021. We will gather with everyone who is joining us at the hotel to meet our guide. Did I mention you can go with us? Learn More here. After meeting our guide, who will help us on the entire trip, we will all go to dinner and get to know each other.
The next morning we will wake up early and enjoy breakfast before we take the train to the historical town of Rabet. After stowing our luggage we will enjoy an orientation walk and spend a few hours exploring the old town and taking the beautiful walk up to Kasbah des Oudaias, a seaside village, passing blue lined walls and tea & pastry shops ending with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Back on the train we will head to Meknes, one of four imperial cities in Morocco. This laidback town receives fewer visitors than most. There are lots of windy narrow medina streets which morocco is known for and grand buildings to explore. You will have the afternoon to explore on your own. Be sure and head to Bab Mansour Laleuj. The grandest of all Imperial Moroccan gateways, completed in 1732.
More Meknes, Morocco! We will have the morning to sleep in or explore more of Meknes on your own. We will gather for lunch in Medina at a local restaurant where you can even try a camel burger, if that is your thing. After lunch we will board a minivan and take a one hour trip through rolling hills and olive groves to visit Volubilis, a world heritage site which was once a roman capitol but now ruins. A local guide will provide us a tour around the ruins. This is an undeniably impressive site with lots of mosaics for great photo ops. Afterwards we will travel to Chefchaouen “The Blue CIty” to spend the night.
After breakfast, you have the morning to explore Chefchaouen. When I talked about taking a trip to Morocco many people told me I had to see “The Blue City”. For those wanting some good photos this is the place! In the afternoon we will travel to Fez where we will spend two nights. Fez is a well preserved medieval old city that has the best known Medinas. This is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco, a feast for the senses. Fez is full of restaurants and eateries and stumbling upon a culinary treasure for dinner where you least expect it is part of the adventure.
The following morning in Fez we will join a guide who will show us the busy Medinas of Fez where cars are not allowed and packages are carried by donkeys. The area is alive with craftsmen, tanneries, markets and mosques. We will see lots of beautiful buildings and mosaics so have your camera ready. We will visit the Funduk Nejjarine a beautifully restored 18th century inn and the world famous tannery known for the iconic views overlooking the dye pits. The evening and dinner is on your own to explore.
On Day 6 we will board a private minibus and head to the Scenic Middle Atlas Mountains. Along the way we will see a variety of spectacular scenes. This area is populated by wandering nomadic shepherds attending to their flocks. We will pass through the Cedar Forests home to Barbary Apes, North Africa's only monkey. We will arrive in Midelt which is a market town tucked into a valley. We will explore a local Bremmem village, visiting a local family for a tea demonstration and tasting. Dinner and the evening is on your own.
The next day is a five hour drive toward the mighty Sahara Desert. Since we will be in our own private minivan we will have lots of opportunities to stop as we wish along the way to see frontier towns and orchards. We will arrive in the Desert where we will glamp under the stars for the night. At sunset we will mount a camel for a one hour sunset ride. That evening dinner will be cooked for us by the locals. A bucket list day for many!
Today we head South to Ait Benhaddou. The scenic drive takes us by ancient ruins, the famous rose valley, palm trees and valleys. We will pause for lunch at Ouarzazate where films such a Black Hawk Down and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed. Ait Benhaddou is a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. For you Game of Thrones fans, it was used to portray the slaving city of Yunkai that Daenerys Targaryen laid siege to. You will have the late afternoon to yourself.
Day 9 -Today we journey over the spectacular Tizi Pass to Toubkal National Park where we will see snow capped mountains and valleys of flowers along the way; Quite the contrast from the desert. We arrive in Imlil where we trek up one hour to a traditional mountain village far from the reach of the modern world(mules are available for those who want them). The remote village of Aroumd offers views across the High Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to experience traditional Berber Culture. We will spend the night and share a meal with a local family. A unique experience that helps support a local family.
The next day we take a morning walk through the stunning Atlas Mountains which is one of the 14 things not to miss in Morocco. Afterwards, we head toward the Atlantic Coast and the town of Essaouira where we will say two nights. Here, the sandstone walkways contrast with white wash houses and help give this artist town it’s charm. It is one of North Africa's most beautiful places you will love the easy going rhythm of this Moroccan town with a European seaside twist. You will have the afternoon and evening to explore the town on your own or with your new friends.
Our next day in Essaouira will start with a cooking class. Something I am super excited about! We will learn about Moroccan Cuisine and prepare our own lunch. Later we will join a local guide for a walking tour through the old Medina, Jewish mellah, port and skala. You will have the evening to explore more of this Morocco town. The seaport and auction of the local catch is a must see and there are plenty of cafes and art galleries to explore. You can choose to indulge in a hammam bath or a Berber massage.
The end of trip is upon us as we head to our last Moroccan stop, Marrakesh! on a shared bus ride with locals. Marrakesh is an exotic and ancient city that I can't wait to see. The smells of the spice markets, perfumed gardens, brilliant colors, sounds of musicians, rich folds of carpet, delectable foods, acrobats and more all await us in Marrakesh. You have the evening to yourself. Visit the famous Djemaa el Fna square one of the largest public spaces in the world. At night it transforms into a hive of activity henna painters, story tellers, and performers share the square with a street food bazaar.
Today we will join a local foodie for a true insiders tasting tour of Djemaa el Fna. Wood Fired Bakeries, spices, and smoking stalls await us. The rest of the day is time for you to use as you wish. Perhaps you can visit the Bahia Palace. Or do some shopping but be prepared to haggle. If you are interested in buying something make sure to negotiate the price upfront. The seller will start off with a high price. Ask as low as ⅓ of the asking price and expect to pay about 50% of the original asking price.
Today is free to explore on your own or with new friends. Several optional activities are available for you to add including biking, a cooking class, hammam massage and more. Or you can visit Ben Youssef Madrasa see the carved wood interiors and colorful tilework. In the evening we will gather for one finally meal together.
On this last day after breakfast we will depart. We will probably fly in and out of Casablanca, as it looks to be cheaper. Even with a train ride at the end of the trip from Marrakesh. You are free to do as you please and fly in and out of whatever city works best for your schedule and budget. You could also come early and stay after or even continue on to some place else!
This is it! Our trip to Morocco. If you would like to join us on this two-week, adventure of a lifetime, you can learn more here.
Happy Trails,
The Penny Pinching Globetrotters