Inspired Morocco

Day 1 – Fly to Casablanca

Prepare to be inspired. Depart today for your solo journey to Morocco!

Day 2 - Welcome to Morocco - Casablanca

Hotel: Hotel Mid Town - Casablanca

Upon arrival, your local Moroccan Tour Leader will greet you at a welcome meeting, after which you'll have the evening free to enjoy at your leisure.

Day 3 - Casablanca - Rabat - Chefchaouen

Hotel: Hotel Parador Chefchaouen

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, after breakfast, we'll visit one of the most impressive sites in Casablanca – the imposing Hassan II Mosque. Opened in 1993, and second only in size to the great mosque at Mecca, the huge building is part on land and part on sea; in one area, water can even be seen through a glass floor. The mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, and the main roof is retractable to create an open courtyard. It's one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims.

Afterwards, we depart Casablanca for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. After a short tour, we will then drive to arguably one of the most picturesque cities in the country, Chefchaouen. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by surprise. It’s picture-perfect, with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs, and artistic doorways. It's small but authentic medina has been lovingly cared for and the walled fortress of the kasbah provides a haven in the heart of the city, where you can wander the tranquil gardens and enjoy the views over the valley from the tower.

In the evening, meet with your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.

Enjoy an evening at leisure in this tranquil oasis.

Inspiring Highlights

• Hassan II Mosque
• Rabat

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Day 4 - Chefchaouen

Hotel: Hotel Parador Chefchaouen

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we will enjoy a guided tour of Chefchaouen. We will take in the magical blue walls of the medina, the local markets, the grand mosque and the Ras el Ma waterfall.

The remainder of the afternoon will be spent at your leisure. Try the many restaurants offering local cuisine and shop the local markets for the perfect souvenirs. You will also have time to explore the city’s Kasbah (paid locally), where you can get an insight into the famous fortifications that are throughout the country.

Enjoy a leisurely evening.

Inspiring Highlights

• Chefchaouen Medina
• Grand Mosque
• Ras el Ma waterfall 

Day 5 - Chefchaouen – Volubilis - Fes

Hotel: Hotel Riad Al Makan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy breakfast and take some time to soak up the morning atmosphere of tranquil Chefchaouen before driving out of the city to the ancient ruins of Volubilis. Once a provincial Roman capital, Volubilis was a distant outpost of the empire, and the well-preserved archaeological remains make for an impressive sight. Volubilis is the foremost Roman site in Morocco and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Upon arrival, we'll take a tour around the ruins with a local guide. Don’t forget to take your camera as the town is filled with fantastic mosaics, many of which remain intact.

After time spent exploring Volubulis and imagining the bustling city it once was, continue on to the living museum of Fes. After checking into your hotel in the late afternoon, the remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you please.

Inspiring Highlights

• Volubilis 

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Day 6 - Fes

Hotel: Hotel Riad Al Makan

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Start your day with a morning tour of Fez, Morocco’s oldest and most majestic Imperial City. Wander through its narrow, car-free streets and discover the charm of this ancient city. Get lost in the maze-like medinas, where you’ll find refreshing fountains, grand mosques, and towering minarets. Watch the rhythm of daily life unfold as locals transport dough to communal bakeries, and take in the sight of the city’s sturdy, historic gates. Fez offers a vivid sense of stepping back in time. 

The afternoon is yours to continue exploring this fascinating city at your leisure.

Inspiring Highlights

•  Old City Tour

Day 7 - Fes - Midelt - Merzouga

Hotel: Hotel Nomad Palace Merzouga

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, after breakfast, leave the intensity of the city behind today, for the simplicity of the High Atlas Mountains. Drive south, inland, through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests, and barren, rocky landscapes – to the small town of Midelt. Midelt is a market town, originally built as a base for mining in the area. It's nestled in the high plains surrounding the Moulouya River, between the Middle and High Atlas mountain ranges, at an elevation of just over 1,500 metres. It's a perfect spot to break up our journey to the Sahara. Many of the locals are of the Berber ethnic group, and the town can offer a rich insight into their way of life. Here we stop and enjoy an Inspiring Taste lunch with a local family at their farm for an authentic meal of traditional Moroccan dishes, such as tagine (a slow-cooked, savoury stew).

After lunch, we'll drive through changing scenery, from barren mountain sides to fertile valleys, on our journey to Merzouga. With a backdrop of the tangerine Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the charming Saharan village of Merzouga feels wonderfully isolated, like the modern world has left it behind. 

You’ll arrive in Merzouga at the end of the day and be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before your check in.

Inspiring Highlights

• Midelt
• Berber local lunch

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 7.5 hours.

Day 8 - Sahara Desert Camp

Hotel: Sahara Sunny Luxury Camp - Merzouga

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The Erg Chebbi is one of the world's most iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 metres high. Located at the end of a sealed road, and just 20 kilometres from the Algerian border, this wild stretch of land truly feels like frontier country. Leave your large bags at the riad, ready to ride camels to the edge of the Sahara Desert, and enjoy a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets the landscape ablaze with colour.

Tonight we'll enjoy an Inspiring Stay, taking cues from the Berbers down in a desert camp, with the chance to try some fantastic local cuisine while we sit around an open-air fire. Enjoy dinner, lively music, drumming, Berber stories and dancing under the stars.

Inspiring Highlights

• Sahara Desert Camp

Special Information 

In the camp, you will sleep in a raised bed, and each tent has a private bathroom.

If you do not wish to ride a camel, there is the option to travel to and from the camp by 4WD.

Day 9 - Merzouga – Todra - Gorge - Dades Valley

Hotel: Traditional Kasbah

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a real Lawrence of Arabia moment this morning, with a sunrise camel ride across the desert on the return journey to the riad. From here, we'll continue on to the Todra Gorge, a canyon, or wadi, that rises for more than 250 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. We'll enjoy a short, yet exhilarating, walk through the narrow orange limestone walls.

Later, we'll drive on to the beautiful Dadès Valley, where we'll spend the night. The valley is a popular spot for tourists and spans several kilometres, offering a wide variety of activities for adventurous types. Tonight's accommodation is a traditional, locally owned, Moroccan kasbah with spectacular views over the Dadès Valley.

In the evening, enjoy a Moroccan dinner with your group.

Inspiring Highlights

• Sunrise Camel ride
• Todra Gorge

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Day 10 - Dades Valley

Hotel: Traditional Kasbah

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy breakfast before taking off for a full day exploring the beautiful, largely untouched Moroccan backcountry. Travelling on foot is the best way to get a closer look at the natural landscape and the rural way of life. We'll begin by taking a short transfer to the start of the trek. On the walk, you'll pass Berber villages, meeting the incredibly friendly local people along the way. You'll enjoy lunch with a local family; listen to their stories and discover what family life is truly like in the Dadès Valley.

This evening will be spent at your leisure, to relax after a long, enjoyable day.

Inspiring Highlights

• Dades Valley
• Local family lunch

Special Information 

Your trek experience in the Dades will take approximately 5 and a half hours in total. The walking distance is 14 to 15 km (about 2-3 hours). It is a moderately easy walk with manageable slopes, no steep hills, and varied terrain. This will be an incredible experience, but if you are unable to join this walk, then you have the option of spending the day in the hotel and the surrounding area.

Day 11 - Dades Valley - Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech

Hotel: Hotel Opera Plaza - Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast

Today, after breakfast, we'll leave the Dadès Valley to set off on the fabled Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. A kasbah is a type of keep, or citadel, usually a part of the defensive structure of a city and often where the local leader would reside.

The first stop for us today is the majestic oasis of Skoura, home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here we'll visit Kasbah Amridil, with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications, before continuing on to Aït Benhaddou, perched on a hilltop and left almost untouched since the 11th century. Aït Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites, its grand kasbah one of the most beautiful in Morocco, and the fortified village a fine example of clay architecture. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, and Gladiator. 

We will then drive to the bustling hub of Marrakech. After checking into your hotel, enjoy some free time to discover the city.

Inspiring Highlights

• Skoura
• Kasbah Amridil
• Aït Benhaddou

Special Information 

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Day 12 - Marrakech

Hotel: Hotel Opera Plaza - Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, visit iconic sights such as the Koutoubia Tower, the twin towers of the Giralda in Seville, the Saadian Tombs, and the elegant Bahia Palace. Wander through the bustling medinas and souks, where every turn offers something new to discover. Then, experience the vibrant atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fna, a lively square filled with fortune tellers, sizzling food stalls, fresh juice vendors, acrobats, and the everyday buzz of local life—making it one of the most dynamic open-air spaces in the world. Be sure to capture these unforgettable moments with your camera!

In the afternoon, enjoy some time at leisure to visit Marrakech at your own pace. 

Inspiring Highlights

• Marrakech Souks
• Koutoubia Mosque
• Jemaa el-Fna

Day 13 - Marrakech

Hotel: Hotel Opera Plaza - Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After a delicious breakfast, enjoy some free time to relax or take part in an optional activity, whether you choose to unwind or explore something new.

In the evening, join your fellow travelers to enjoy a delicious, traditional Moroccan dinner. Savor the flavors of traditional dishes you've learned to prepare, and enjoy the warm, festive atmosphere as you reflect on the unforgettable moments of your journey.

Day 14 - Marrakech - Adelaide

Today marks the end of your incredible tour through Morocco. Arrive at the airport ready for your flight home or onward journey.

Day 15 - Arrive Adelaide