Country(ies): Morocco
Tour type: Private
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: Any
Accommodation: Boutique 4-star & kasbah style hotels, deluxe desert camp
Meals:
Transport: AC minibus/coach & 4WD landcruiser style vehicles
Highlights: Djemaa El Fna Square in Marrakech, high Atlas mountains, Tizi n Tichka pass, Merzouga Desert, Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, desert sands at Zagora
This 8-day private Morocco tour is a great way to explore this beautiful country for the very first time, taking in its bustling medinas, its beautiful desert regions and enjoying the local Moroccan cuisine.
The Desert and Kasbahs tour starts and ends in the bustling city of Marrakech, but concentrates on Morocco's beautiful mountain and desert scenery. After leaving Marrakech we cross the Atlas Mountains via the high Tizi n Tichka Pass before descending through the hills to the desert plains around Ouarzazate. We'll then head back into the hills to Skoura Oasis, the Valley of the Roses and the Dades Canyon.
The tour then heads out to the edge of the Sahara Desert at Merzouga, where you can take an optional sunrise camel ride amongst the spectacular sand dunes. You also spend a special night here in a comfortable Berber camp next to the dunes.
A further drive through changing desert scenery past some tiny Amazigh villages brings us to the remote town of Zagora, home to Morocco's largest palm valley. Our tour of the region here includes Tamegroute with its potteries and famous library which hosts some important ancient Koranic scripts. We'll then drive through the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate, home to the Atlas studios where many international movie productions have taken advantage of the surrunding scenery. Here we'll explore the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The tour then returns back over the Atlas Mountains for some final time exploring Marrakech.
Accommodation is in mid-range boutique style 4-star hotels, kasbahs and riads, plus one night in the Berber desert camp. Alternative accommodation using more Riads, or higher level hotels is available on request.
Expand all
Expand all
Hotel Gala Dinners
Many of Morocco's better hotels arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is normally optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but may be compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$30 to over US$100 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. This generally will only apply if you add a hotel upgrade to your booking. More information is available on request.
If you are looking for a tour and not finding what you are looking for, have a look at our best other related tours to check out for your travel plans. At Encounters Travel, we offer a variety of tours to suit your needs. So sit back, relax, and let us help you plan the perfect getaway.
Seasonal prices are given below based on 4 people travelling with an English speaking escort driver and specialist local guides. Contact us for prices for smaller and larger parties.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
Expand all
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.