What does this tour cover and how long is it?
The Moroccan Circuit is a 9-day small-group tour that starts and ends in Marrakech. You travel south over the High Atlas Mountains through the Draa Valley, across the Sahara edge to Erg Chebbi, north through the Ziz Valley and cedar forests to Fes, then west to Chefchaouen, Rabat, and Casablanca before flying home from Marrakech.
What are the highlights of this itinerary?
Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou kasbah (used as a film set for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Prince of Persia), the Ouarzazate film studios, a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, an overnight stay in a traditional Berber desert camp with live music, a full guided day in the Fes Medina including the Chouara tanneries, the blue and white streets of Chefchaouen, and the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum in Rabat.
What happens on the Ait Benhaddou visit?
Ait Benhaddou is a spectacular fortified village (ksar) on the southern edge of the High Atlas Mountains, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide takes you through the labyrinthine lanes of sun-dried mud-brick towers, granaries, and temples. It has been used as a film and TV backdrop for dozens of productions including Gladiator and Game of Thrones, so many of the details will look familiar.
What is the Berber desert camp experience like?
On Day 3 you take a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend the night at a Berber desert camp. The camp has traditional camel-hair tents fitted with proper mattresses and bedding. A full Berber dinner is served and local musicians play around the campfire. You can also sleep outside under the stars if you prefer. Shared western-style flushing toilets are available.
What is the Fes Medina visit like?
Day 5 is a full guided day inside Fes el Bali, one of the world's largest car-free urban areas. Your guide takes you to the Chouara tanneries where leather has been dyed in stone vats for centuries using saffron, poppy, indigo, and henna, as well as to palaces, a traditional pharmacy, and pottery workshops. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosques themselves but can view them from outside.
What is Chefchaouen like and what happens there?
Chefchaouen is a small mountain town in the Rif Mountains known for its blue-washed streets and whitewashed walls. You spend a morning exploring with a guide: the 18th-century Kasbah, the central square, and the narrow alleys of the old medina. There is also an optional cooking class that can be booked through your guide.
Does the tour visit any places linked to film or TV?
Yes. Ait Benhaddou has been used as a set for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Prince of Persia, and many other productions. Ouarzazate is home to large film studios that have hosted productions including Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven, and Babel. Your guide will point out recognisable locations at both sites.
What is the group size?
Groups are capped at 16 people, with a minimum of 2 needed to confirm a departure. Private departures can be arranged on any date for individuals or groups of any size.
What camel welfare standards apply on this tour?
Encounters Travel has strict camel welfare policies. Camels are ridden for approximately 1 hour per day only, they are free to roam and have access to food and water throughout the day, no camels younger than 4 years old are used, only one rider per camel is permitted, and all camels are regularly vet-checked.
What is included in the tour price?
Included are accommodation in 3 to 4-star hotels plus 1 night at a Berber desert camp, 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners (Day 1, Day 2, and the Berber camp dinner on Day 3), a 24-hour airport arrival transfer in Marrakech, transport throughout by air-conditioned minibus or 4x4 vehicle, guided tours of Ait Benhaddou, Fes, Chefchaouen, and Rabat, the camel trek, and an English-speaking tour leader and driver.
What is not included in the tour price?
Not included are international flights, visas (if applicable), travel insurance (mandatory), the tipping kitty, the departure airport transfer, most lunches and dinners, drinks, personal spending, and optional activities such as the Hassan II Mosque visit in Casablanca or the optional Fes evening entertainment.
Is there a tipping kitty on this tour?
Yes. A tipping kitty (currently around 65 USD) is not included in the tour price and is collected by your guide at the start of the tour. It covers tips for the driver, camp staff, local guides, and other service providers met along the way. The exact amount is listed on the tour page and updated periodically.
Is the arrival airport transfer included?
A 24-hour arrival transfer in Marrakech is included in the tour price. The departure transfer at the end of the tour is not included, so you will need to make your own way to the airport on Day 9.
Which guided tours are included in the price?
Guided tours are included for Ait Benhaddou, the Fes Medina, Chefchaouen, and Rabat. The optional evening entertainment in Fes (traditional meal with belly dancing, music, and magicians) and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca are at your own cost.
How physically active is this tour?
This is a moderate-paced sightseeing tour. The Fes Medina day involves several hours of walking on uneven cobbled streets and narrow alleys. The camel trek into the dunes is around 1 hour. Most of the rest is driving through scenery with guided walks of 1 to 3 hours at key sites. Good walking shoes are essential.
Are there any strenuous activities?
Nothing on this tour is strenuous. The camel trek is gentle and around 1 hour. The Fes and Chefchaouen walking tours are leisurely. If you have mobility concerns, let us know when booking so we can advise on any steps, slopes, or rough terrain at specific sites.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Encounters Travel tours. Your policy must cover personal accident, medical expenses, emergency repatriation, and travel delay and abandonment. You must provide your policy details to Encounters Travel before the tour starts.
Is Morocco safe for tourists?
Morocco is one of Africa's most visited countries and has a well-established tourism infrastructure. The destinations on this itinerary are widely visited and considered safe for travellers. As with any destination, check official government travel advice for your nationality before and during your trip and take normal urban precautions in crowded medinas.
What should I know about travelling as a woman in Morocco?
Morocco is generally safe for women travellers. The tour group format and having a local guide with you at all times makes a significant difference. Dressing modestly (covering shoulders and knees) is recommended in medinas and religious areas, both as a cultural courtesy and to reduce unwanted attention. Many solo women travel this tour without issues.
What hotels are used on this tour?
You stay in 3 to 4-star hotels throughout. In Marrakech you stay at Hotel El Andalous, which has 7,000sqm of gardens, a large pool, a hammam spa, and 3 restaurants. In Fes the group stays at Hotel L'Escale, a 64-room property with a rooftop restaurant with 360-degree views. In Chefchaouen the hotel is Hotel Madrid. In Casablanca you stay at the Diwan Hotel, 5 minutes from the Hassan II Mosque. The desert night is at the Merzouga Berber Camp.
What are the sleeping arrangements at the Berber desert camp?
The Merzouga Berber Camp uses traditional camel-hair tents fitted with proper mattresses and bedding. You sleep in a shared tent alongside other group members. You can also take your mattress outside and sleep under the stars. Blankets are provided. If you are travelling between November and April, bringing a sleeping bag is recommended for the cooler desert nights.
Are hotel rooms en suite?
Yes. All hotel rooms are en suite with private bathrooms. The Berber camp has shared western-style flushing toilets but these are not private.
Is air conditioning available in the hotels?
Yes. All hotels on this tour are air-conditioned. The Berber camp tents are not air-conditioned, but temperatures in the Sahara drop significantly at night, particularly outside the summer months.
Which meals are included?
8 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included. The included dinners are on Day 1 in Marrakech, Day 2 in Boumalne Dades, and Day 3 at the Berber camp. Lunches and all other dinners are at your own expense.
What is the food like at the Berber camp?
The camp serves a full Berber dinner, typically featuring tagines, couscous, Moroccan salads, bread, and mint tea. The meal is eaten communally while local musicians play around the campfire. It is one of the most atmospheric meals on the tour.
Can vegetarians and vegans be catered for?
Moroccan cuisine is naturally rich in vegetarian options: vegetable tagines, harira soup, couscous with seven vegetables, zaalouk (aubergine salad), and fresh flatbreads are all widely available. Let your guide know your dietary requirements at the start of the tour so the camp and restaurants along the route can be briefed in advance. Vegan requests are usually manageable but confirm when booking.
Is tap water safe to drink in Morocco?
Tap water is not recommended for drinking in Morocco. Stick to bottled water throughout the tour. To reduce plastic waste, bring a reusable filtration bottle. Water is available for purchase at hotels and from shops along the route.
Can I join this tour as a solo traveller?
Yes, solo travellers join regularly. You will be paired with another solo traveller of the same gender to share a room at no extra cost. If you prefer your own room, a single supplement applies. If no roommate match is found before your balance payment date, the supplement will be charged but refunded if a match is made in time.
Does the single supplement cover the Berber camp night?
No. The single supplement applies to hotel rooms only. The Berber camp tents are shared by the whole group regardless of single supplement status. There are no private tents available at the camp.
What is the group dynamic like on this tour?
Groups are small (maximum 16 people) and tend to include a mix of solo travellers, couples, and friends travelling together. The itinerary creates plenty of shared experiences around the campfire, in the medinas, and over included dinners, which makes it easy to connect with fellow travellers.
Do I need a visa for Morocco?
UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders do not currently need a visa for Morocco for short tourist stays. Check the current entry requirements for your nationality with the Moroccan consulate or embassy well before you travel, as requirements can change.
What vaccinations are recommended for Morocco?
Recommended vaccinations typically include Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Typhoid. Malaria is not generally present in Morocco and no Yellow Fever certificate is required. Consult your GP or a travel clinic for personalised, up-to-date advice based on your own health history.
When does this tour operate?
This tour runs year-round with regular small-group departures. The tour page shows confirmed departure dates. Private departures can be arranged on any date. The Sahara is most comfortable in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November); summer temperatures in the desert can be extreme.
What is the currency and are cards accepted?
Morocco's currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Cards are accepted at most hotels in cities, but cash is essential in smaller towns, souks, and for tips. ATMs are widely available in Marrakech, Fes, and Casablanca. Exchange at banks or official exchange offices rather than unofficial street changers.
What should I pack for this tour?
Pack light layers for variable temperatures: hot days in the desert and mountain passes can be cold at night, especially from November to April (bring a sleeping bag for the camp). Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) is important for medinas and religious sites. Comfortable walking shoes with grip are essential for the Fes Medina cobblestones. A headscarf is useful for women visiting mosques or desert wind.
Can I haggle in the souks and medinas?
Yes, haggling is standard practice in Moroccan souks and markets. A friendly, good-humoured approach works best. If you genuinely want to buy something, start below the asking price and settle somewhere in the middle. Your guide can give you a sense of fair prices for common souvenirs.
What optional activities are available on this tour?
Optional activities include: evening entertainment in Fes (traditional Moroccan dinner with belly dancing, live music, and magicians), a cooking class in Chefchaouen, a guided tour of Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, a hammam visit in Marrakech, a visit to the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, and a guided Marrakech city tour. These can be arranged via your guide in Morocco.
Is there a Marrakech extension available?
Yes. Extra nights in Marrakech before or after the tour can be arranged. The Hotel El Andalous (the tour's Marrakech hotel) has an excellent pool, hammam spa, and three restaurants, making it a comfortable base for extra days. Contact Encounters Travel when booking to add pre- or post-tour nights.
Are there related tours for travellers who want to see more of Morocco?
Yes. Encounters Travel also offers tours focused on northern Morocco, as well as private custom itineraries. If you want more time in Fes, Chefchaouen, or the Sahara, speak to the Encounters Travel team about combining or extending tours.
What is the minimum group size to confirm a departure?
A minimum of 2 people are needed to confirm a small-group departure. If you are the only person booked on a particular date, Encounters Travel will contact you to discuss transferring to an alternative date or arranging a private departure.
Can this tour run as a private departure?
Yes. The Moroccan Circuit is available as a private departure starting on any date that suits you. Private groups can also customise certain elements of the itinerary. Contact Encounters Travel to discuss dates, pricing, and options.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Standard Encounters Travel booking conditions apply. A deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place, with the balance due closer to departure. Cancellation charges increase as the departure date approaches. Full details of the cancellation schedule are provided in your booking confirmation.
When do I need to pay the balance?
The balance payment date is shown on your booking confirmation and is typically due around 10 weeks before departure. If you book close to the departure date, the full amount may be due at the time of booking. Encounters Travel will confirm the exact deadline when you book.
