Trip programme
We will bid farewell to the old year by a Sahara campfire and welcome the new one among the Erg Chebbi dunes. We will explore Marrakesh, the Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Fez, Rabat and Casablanca, then unwind in Essaouira.
After arriving in Marrakesh, we will take a private transfer to a traditional riad in the medina and rest. We will explore the lanes, spice stalls, ceramics and fabrics, watch the sunset from a rooftop café and meet over dinner.
We will discover the vivid blue and greenery of Majorelle Garden, visit Bahia Palace and Ben Youssef Madrasa, and admire their courtyards, mosaics and intricate decoration. We will also leave time to rest at the riad or revisit a favourite lane.
We will cross the Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, stopping to enjoy the mountain scenery. We will explore the UNESCO-listed earthen ksar of Ait Ben Haddou with a local guide and stay in a kasbah-style hotel, with mint tea and time to rest.
We will visit Atlas film studios in Ouarzazate and travel through the Rose Valley towards Dades. In a traditional Moroccan home, we will have the option to join a cooking workshop, prepare a meal and eat it together. We will walk among the rock formations of Dades Gorge and finish with dinner. The cooking school costs an additional 30 EUR and is not included in the trip price; dinner in Dades is included.
We will travel towards Merzouga, stopping at Todra Gorge, Erfoud and a Berber handicraft cooperative. At the Erg Chebbi dunes, we will have the option of a camel ride to camp, paid separately. We will celebrate New Year’s Eve in a luxury Sahara camp with a festive dinner, a campfire, traditional drumming and stargazing. We will leave room for conversations and a quiet reflection on the year.
Those who wish will rise before dawn to watch the first sunrise of the year over the dunes. We will then travel to Fez through the Middle Atlas and cedar forests. This is a longer driving day, with stops for rest and food. On arrival, we will settle into a traditional riad.
We will spend the day exploring the Fes el-Bali medina, its madrasas, souks and craft quarters. We will see the Al-Qarawiyyin buildings from outside, learning about the institution founded in 859. We will visit the colourful tannery vats and discover the work behind the leather goods, with time to browse bags, wallets and belts.
In Rabat, we will visit the medina, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. We will continue to Casablanca, visit Hassan II Mosque with a guide and enter its interior, which is also open to non-Muslim visitors. We will walk through the old medina. The mosque ticket costs extra; the order of visits will follow opening times.
We will travel to Essaouira and explore its fortifications, artists’ workshops and UNESCO-listed medina. We will slow down over tea, enjoy the Atlantic and visit the fishing port. Depending on the fresh catch, we will taste sea urchins and select fish at the market to be grilled for us. Meals and tastings are paid separately.
We will return to Marrakesh and settle into a riad, leaving the afternoon for rest or an independent walk. We will have the option of a traditional hammam and massage after our days of exploring and travelling. The hammam and massage are paid separately.
We will leave this day for our own discoveries. We will have time to return to a favourite place, choose souvenirs, drink mint tea or enjoy our last full day in Morocco without adding more scheduled visits.
We will enjoy our final morning and take the transfer to the airport. We will return home with memories of places, flavours and days shared together, perhaps also a new friendship or a fresh idea for the year ahead.
Price: 1,990 EUR per person, excluding flights · twin/double room · single room +400 EUR
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