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Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert

Price

from £1899 /pp

was £1832
Flights included
Dates Available

November 2026 - November 2027
Duration

10 days
Depart From

7 airports
Excursions & Visits

8 included
Meals

17 included
Ways to pay

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan and pay from £179.62 per month.

Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert

A regal discovery of the country’s stately past, with time spent amongst the medinas, sprawling golden sand dunes and dramatic gaping wadis.

This immersion of ancient traditions and spectacular landscapes commences in Marrakesh and continues to Casablanca, where a visit to one of the largest places of worship in the world, Hassan II Mosque, sets the scene for the grandeur and craftsmanship to come. The first imperial city, Rabat and its medina of intricate façades and Moorish-style architecture will then be discovered. A pause at the striking ruins of Volubilis will be followed by Fes, where its car-free historic district and time-honoured tannery techniques transport you back in time.

Continuing past alpine-like Ifrane, ‘Little Switzerland’, the tour will board a 4WD for a sunset journey across the sand dunes, ablaze with colour. Dinner under the starry Sahara Desert sky serves as an experience of a lifetime before you take to the trails of the dramatic wadis of Todra and Dadès the next morning. Lunch at the home of a local family is set against the backdrop of Rose Valley, ensuring an opportunity to gain insight into their culture. Your return to Marrakesh via the picturesque Atlas Mountains, allows you to delve into its heart, barter amongst the market stalls of Djemaa el-Fna and marvel at the beautiful Bahia Palace.

Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, home to the tallest minaret in the world

Embark on a guided tour of Rabat’s old medina, Morocco’s capital, and first imperial city on the coastline

Call at Volubilis, a partly excavated Berber-Roman city and former Roman capital

Sh 86579617 Detail Of Blue Gate Bab Boujelud In Fes, Morocco

Wander around the medieval medina of Fes, one of the world’s oldest cities, visiting Medersa al-Attarine, Funduq Nejjarine

Touchdown in Marrakesh today and be welcomed to Morocco’s fourth-largest city by your friendly, local tour manager. You’ll then be transferred to the first hotel, where you can check in and get settled.

In the evening, you and the group can choose to go out for an optional dinner accompanied by your tour manager at your own expense.

After breakfast, leave Marrakesh and join your tour manager for a visit to one of the largest mosques in the world, Hassan II Mosque, located in Casablanca. Commissioned by King Hassan II of Morocco in the late 1980s, this magnificent place of worship can accommodate up to 105,000 worshippers. Adorned with a towering minaret (the tallest in the world), this mosque, made up of white granite and marble, looks out over the Atlantic Coast.

The group will then continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and first imperial city positioned along the coastline. Once you’ve checked into your hotel and settled in, you’ll head out into the old medina for a guided tour. Founded as a military town in the 12th century, Rabat is now the country’s political hub. You’ll leave the more developed side of the town for the old medina featuring Moorish-style architecture with intricate façades, detailed tilework, and wooden balconies. As you’re led through the twisting alleys, you’ll see Kasbah des Oudaias, a historic fortress, traditional souks and the Hassan Tower, a historic landmark and minaret of an unfinished mosque. The tour will also pass the charming Andalusian Gardens, the 12th-century Kasbah Mosque, and the main city gates, Bab Oudaia, as you gain a glimpse into local life.

Dinner will be served back at the hotel.

Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll check out and travel to your next destination, Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and another imperial city. On the way, the tour will call at Volubilis, a partly excavated Berber city and former Roman capital. A local guide will show you around these expansive and well-preserved ruins, encompassing basilicas, temples, arches, baths, a central square and grand houses. The most striking structure is the Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, which was built in the 3rd century. Its ornate and colourful mosaic stores still remain, depicting Roman deities, daily life, and mythological scenes.

Continuing on to Fes, you’ll arrive and check into your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure to explore or perhaps have a swim in the outdoor pool looking out over the medina.

In the evening, you’ll meet the group for dinner and a cultural show, a unique opportunity to enjoy Moroccan music.

Following breakfast, you’ll get to know the old city of Fes with a guided walking tour of the medina. One of the world’s oldest cities, this medieval, historic quarter is a warren of meandering streets, mosques, souks, traditional riads and palaces. It’s also the largest car-free urban area in the world, and you’re likely to still see donkeys transporting goods.

The first stop will be Medersa al-Attarine, a well-preserved madrasa (Islamic school), known for its beautiful architecture featuring colourful tiles, carved cedar wood and stucco plasterwork. The central courtyard is a highlight of the property, with a marble fountain positioned at the heart of it.

You’ll then take a stroll to Funduq Nejjarine, also known as the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts. Originally serving as a caravanserai, an 18th-century inn or lodging place for travelling merchants, today it displays an assortment of finely crafted wooden items, artefacts and tools that have been used through the ages. During your visit, you’ll learn about the importance of carpentry and woodworking in Moroccan culture, as well as take in the views of the city from the upper floors.

Lastly, the group will head over to one of the city’s most famous tanneries, the Chouara Tannery, which dates back over 1,00 years Specialising in the tanning and dyeing of animal hides, this tannery still uses traditional leather production methods. You can observe these multi-step techniques from the leather shops and balconies that surround it, watching as strips of leather are dyed in large, colourful mosaic vats (be prepared for a strong smell – some of the shops offer sprigs of mint or mint sweets to help mask it). You’ll also see a nearby ceramics factory and experience a glimpse into the time-honoured processes used by potters today.

A free evening allows you to find somewhere to have dinner on your account and take advantage of the local restaurants and street food stalls.

You’ll have an early start this morning after breakfast, as the group will check out and embark on an eight-hour journey to the city of Erfoud, known as the ‘Gateway to the Sahara’ or the ‘Door to the Desert’.

On the way, you’ll stop for a coffee break at the charming town of Ifrane, referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’ due to its alpine-style appearance, high altitude, and proximity to ski slopes. Constructed during the French colonial period in the 1930s, its architecture is heavily influenced by European design. This town is also known for being impeccably well-maintained and holds the title of one of the cleanest in the world.

Once you’ve arrived at Erfoud, check into your hotel and enjoy a brief siesta before boarding a 4WD and venturing back out on an exhilarating drive through the Merzouga dunes as the sun sets across the sand. After your drive through the dunes, enjoy dinner at the hotel's restaurant. This meal may be al fresco (weather permitting).

Have breakfast and put on some comfortable shoes to immerse yourself in nature. The tour will start by leaving Erfoud for Todra Gorge, located in the High Atlas Mountains. Consisting of several towering limestone canyons, or wadi, this epic natural wonder is interspersed by the Todra River. You’ll take a short walk along a road through the canyon, surrounded by towering rock walls that have been carved out by the rushing water over centuries.

Next, continue on to the spectacular Dadès Gorge, another series of wadi that have been shaped by the Dadès River. Colourful and unique rock formations and spikes backed by lush greenery make for an impressive sight. This region will be your home for the next two nights, and once you’ve checked into the hotel, you can lounge on the terrace or by the pool, with views of the valley and the desert.

Dinner will be served at the hotel’s restaurant this evening, ensuring a panoramic vista.

Another day of exploration awaits in the Moroccan wilderness after breakfast. With your guide leading the way, you’ll set off on a route tailored to suit to preference of the group. A short transfer will take you to the start of the trail, which is hilly and can be challenging at times, but is achievable for anyone with a basic level of fitness.

Once you’ve made some progress, passing craggy landscapes, interspersed with ancient kasbahs (mudbrick buildings), you’ll stop for lunch at a local village. Here, lunch and tea will be enjoyed with a friendly, local Berber family. As you eat, you can take in the incredible scenery of the Rose Valley, famous for its production of roses, listen to their stories and hear about their daily life.

Later in the day, you’ll return to the hotel and have dinner at its restaurant.

You’ll check out of the hotel after breakfast and traverse the winding roads through the Atlas Mountains back to Marrakesh, often referred to as the ‘Red City’ because of its distinctive ruby-coloured sandstone buildings.

Once you’ve arrived and checked into the same hotel as your first night, the afternoon will be free to do some discovering on your own. Perhaps head for atmospheric Djemaa el-Fna, the city’s main square lined with food stalls, street performers and vendors, or meander around the UNESCO-listed medina. Finding a street-side café to sip on a Moroccan mint tea and sample a pastilla (a sweet and savoury pastry) is also recommended.

As night falls, you can head back to the hotel.

Fuel up on breakfast as you head out into the heart of the city on an informative guided tour today.

First, you’ll make your way into the old medina, with its snaking streets, traditional souks, and historic landmarks. The group will stop by the magnificent Bahia Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. Encompassing elaborate tilework, colourful painted wood and leafy gardens, this beautiful structure is built around a grand, mosaic-covered marble courtyard.

Your tour manager will then take you to Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in Marrakesh, with a soaring minaret that dominates the skyline. This place of worship and the city’s most famous landmark is built in a distinctive North African Islamic architectural style, with red sandstone and intricate geometric patterns. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, but you can still admire its impressive design from the outside.

The tour will then continue to the bustling Djemaa el-Fna, and those who didn’t visit this square yesterday can spend some time here, marvelling at the street theatre, snake charmers, and live musical performances. A cup of freshly squeezed orange juice from a local vendor can be enjoyed as you take it all in.

You’ll have the rest of the day to survey the city on your own, perhaps ticking off anything on your wish-list. The Saadian Tombs, which house the tombs of the Saadian dynasty in opulent chambers are worth a visit, as is Jardin Majorelle, a landscaped expanse of botanical plants created by the French artist, Jacques Majorelle and later owned by the fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent.

Throughout the grounds, striking cobalt buildings, painted in a shade known as ‘Majorelle blue’ can be seen along with several water features, and a diverse assortment of rare plant species. In the centre lies the Musée Berbère, showcasing Berber artefacts, textiles, and art. Nearby, you’ll find the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which displays over 7,000 garments and 30,000 accessories from Saint Laurent's personal collections.

Another sanctuary away from the bustle is Le Jardin Secret, a hidden palace complex of traditional Islamic gardens. Dating back to the 16th century and originally created as a private residence, this site is now open to the public. You can stroll around its immense plant collection, trickling fountains, decked in tilework and climb the elevated terraces to gaze across Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains in the distance.

Gettyimages 689089162 Moroccan Lamb Tajine Dish

Gettyimages 149819410 Hassan Ii Mosque In Casablanca Morocco

Gettyimages 590369577 View Of Toubkal Mountains

Gettyimages 1139944658 Jemaa El Fnaa In Marrakesh

Sh 229767241 Tajines In The Market, Marrakesh, Morocco

Sh 780290506 Koutoubia Mosque Minaret At Medina Quarter Of Marrakesh, Morocco

Sh 662956675 Ornamental Tiles In A Moroccan Courtyard

Range Of Lantern And Lamp Hanging In The Market At Marrakesh

Decorated Fountain With Mosaic Tiles, Morocco

Sh 1311387896 Berber Stopping For Prayer In The Sahara

Experience dinner and a cultural show, a special opportunity to enjoy Moroccan music

Stop off at Ifrane, ‘Little Switzerland’, with its alpine-style buildings and impeccably clean streets

Board a 4WD and set off on an exhilarating drive through the Merzouga dunes as the sun sets

Follow a walking trail through Todra Gorge, located in the Atlas Mountains

Experience the highlights of Marrakesh, including Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque and Djemaa el-Fna

Explore the Dadès Gorges and have a traditional lunch with a local Berber family

Nine nights’ accommodation in Marrakesh (3 nights), Rabat (1), Fes (2), Erfoud (1) and Dadès (2)
Nine breakfasts, one lunch and five dinners
Tour of Rabat
Tour of Volubilis
Dinner in Fes with a cultural show
Tour of Fes
Visit to Ifrane
4DW sunset drive from Erfoud to Merzouga
Guided walk through the Todra Gorge
Lunch with a local Berber family
Return flights to Marrakesh
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel throughout
Fully escorted by friendly, experienced tour managers
During December, an astronomer will be present for the Geminids meteor shower (2026 departures only))
Visit to the Hassan II Mosque

Dates & Prices

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan.

Departure point	Departure date	Price (per person)	Availability
Aberdeen	March 2027 - November 2027	from £1908.00 pp	3 dates available
Aberdeen	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £1908.00 was £2119.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Aberdeen	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Aberdeen	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Belfast City George Best	March 2027 - November 2027	from £2048.00 pp	2 dates available
Belfast City George Best	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £2304.00 was £2559.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Belfast City George Best	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Edinburgh	March 2027 - November 2027	from £1913.00 pp	3 dates available
Edinburgh	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £1913.00 was £2125.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Edinburgh	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Edinburgh	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Glasgow	March 2027 - November 2027	from £1908.00 pp	3 dates available
Glasgow	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £1908.00 was £2119.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Glasgow	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Glasgow	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00
London Gatwick	November 2026 - November 2027	from £1710.00 pp	6 dates available
London Gatwick	09 Nov 2026 Monday 10 days 19 Nov 2026 Thursday	from £1710.00 was £1899.00	Only 7 places left!
London Gatwick	25 Jan 2027 Monday 10 days 04 Feb 2027 Thursday	from £1755.00 was £1949.00
London Gatwick	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £1796.00 was £1995.00	Hurry, selling fast!
London Gatwick	13 Sep 2027 Monday 10 days 23 Sep 2027 Thursday	from £1877.00 was £2085.00
London Gatwick	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £1845.00 was £2049.00
London Gatwick	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £1832.00 was £2035.00
Manchester	March 2027 - November 2027	from £1922.00 pp	3 dates available
Manchester	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £1922.00 was £2135.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Manchester	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Manchester	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Newcastle	March 2027 - November 2027	from £2048.00 pp	3 dates available
Newcastle	08 Mar 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Mar 2027 Thursday	from £2070.00 was £2299.00	Hurry, selling fast!
Newcastle	11 Oct 2027 Monday 10 days 21 Oct 2027 Thursday	from £2048.00 was £2275.00
Newcastle	08 Nov 2027 Monday 10 days 18 Nov 2027 Thursday	No Single Supplement from £2048.00 was £2275.00

Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert Touring Hotels Morocco You'll be staying in a series of comfortable hotels that are conveniently located for your tour itinerary.

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting.

If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.

In developing countries, road networks are continually being improved and expanded, which can mean that, from time to time, roadworks and rough road surfaces can extend journey times.

Some journeys are made on winding mountain roads and passes, which may also make for slow travelling - although the scenery is usually worth it! Many roads do not have separate pavements or safety barriers, and great care should be taken when crossing or walking alongside roads.

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Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert

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Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert

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Accommodation

Hotel Opera Plaza, Marrakesh (night 1 & 8-9)

Belere Hotel Rabat, Rabat (night 2)

Hotel Les Mérinides, Fes (nights 3-4)

L'Hotel by Chateau de Sable, Erfoud (night 5)

Hotel Xaluca Dadès, Dadès (night 6-7)

Further information

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