Morocco Explorer

14 days (Casablanca)

Destinations visited: Morocco, Casablanca, World

Grading:

Discovery and Cruising level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

from
USD$2,720

Book now

Journey through the cultural heart of Morocco

Explore Morocco's imperial cities and appreciate the rich cultural traditions of music, dance and arts. Walk through the colourful markets and renowned mediaeval medina of Fes in the company of our expert guide, before travelling across the foothills of the Middle Atlas to the deep orange dunes on the edge of the Sahara and the Kasbahs on the edge of the Atlas Mountains. In Marrakesh, one of the most important artistic centres in the Islamic world, there is time to bargain in the souqs which reflect a wide variety of handicrafts. Continuing to Essaouira, with its tranquil squares and cafes, there is plenty of time to explore the narrow lanes and whitewashed houses with their painted blue doors, which could be anywhere in the southern Mediterranean!

Highlights

Hassan II Mosque - Casablanca
Meknes
Fes, UNESCO-listed El-Bali medieval city
Saharan sunrise and camel riding
Views of the snow capped Atlas Mountains
Gardens, mosques, palaces, and the souqs of Marrakesh
Coastal town of Essaouira

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Casablanca

On arrival in Casablanca you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. You will meet your guide and group for a briefing around 7:00pm.

Day 2 Drive to Meknès via Rabat

In Rabat, the capital of Morocco, on the guided city tour we will visit the Mechouar and Royal Place (from the outside), Mausoleum Mohamed V and Hassan II with Hassan Tower, Chellah and Kasbah des Oudayas. In the afternoon we continue from Rabat to Meknès which takes approx. 2 1/2 hours. Overnight in Mekès.

Day 3 From Meknès to Fes, via Moulay Idriss & Volubilis

In the morning we visit the old imperial city of Meknès. The decoration of the Bab Mansour is known as one of the best of Morocco. During the guided sightseeing we visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the old stables of Dar El Ma and Heri. From Meknès we travel approx. 40 minutes to Moulay Idris and Volubilis. Moulay Idris is an important religious site - for many centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage, thanks to its tomb of the city's founder, Moulay Idriss el Akhbar, a decendent of the Prophet Muhammad. The ancient Roman city of Volubilis is an archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage site. Continuing our journey, Volubilis to Fes is approx. 2 hours. Fes, founded in the late 8th Century shortly after the Arabs swept across North Africa and Spain, is arguably the symbolic heart of Morocco. It has become the cultural and religious centre of Morocco and has retained a distinctly Arab identity despite the arrival of some Berbers from the interior over the centuries. Today Fes is made up of three sections, the modern section, the Ville Nouvelle, with its chic cafe-lined avenues, Fes el-Jdid and Fes el-Bali. Fes el-Bali is the original Medina and is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world.

Day 4 In Fes, visit medieval and modern sectors

After a guided tour of the city and old Medina we depart and drive to Borj Sud, an old Christian fort built in the 17th Century, for an almost aerial view of the old city and its surrounding olive groves. From here we venture into the Medina of Fes el-Bali which dates back to the 8th Century. In 1976 UNESCO declared this Medina one of the world's cultural treasures; the palaces, mosques, medressas and fountains are among the most beautiful in Morocco. The colours and aromas of the olive and spice stores mixed in with communal bakeries and the mysterious perfume shops are just some of the delights that make this journey through the ancient alleyways, full of scurrying people and surprises, a memorable experience. We will also visit the tannery to watch the dying of leathers and a mosaic and tile factory to see how these stunning local handicrafts are mode. We will enjoy a lunch in a traditional Moroccan restaurant including many local dishes.

Day 5 Drive to Erg Chebbi (approx 9 hours), and Sahara desert

Today we need to be on the road by 7:00am. We drive in our air- conditioned minibus to Erg Chebbi, passing through the agricultural regions of north Morocco and the fertile plains irrigated by the Oued Aggai in the foothills of the Middle Atlas. Then we begin a long climb through an old cedar forest and holm oaks. Beyond Timhadite lies a completely barren plateau, reminiscent of a lunar landscape pitted as it is with small volcanic craters, the largest of which is Sidi Ali, an immense lake bordered by steep cliffs. After stopping for lunch at the breathtaking Ziz Gorges we continue on past palm-fringed towns to Erfoud, and to the sand dunes at Erg Chebbi. Here the deep orange-hued dunes of the vast Sahara stretch for miles. We spend the night in a local Hotel where you have the option to sleep on the roof under the stars.

Day 6 Camel ride, drive to Dadès Gorge (approx 3 1/2 hours)

Today we'll rise before dawn to experience the amazing colours of a Saharan sunrise from the saddle of the traditional Berber transport: a camel. On returning to the hotel we have breakfast and commence our journey – one of the best in Morocco – to the Dades Gorge. En route have lunch at the spectacular Todra Gorges and visit some of Morocco's greatest antiquities, the Kasbahs of the eastern slopes of the High Atlas (i.e. the market in Rissani). We drive on to the spectacular Dadès Gorge. We take time to explore the countryside and wander for a few hours through the fertile fields and local villages soaking in rural Morocco before returning to our hotel in Boumalne-Dadès.

Day 7 Visit Berber villages en route to Ouarzazate (approx 2 1/2 hours)

En-route to Ouarzazate (pronounced war-zar-zate), we explore the Kasbahs, oasis and Berber villages in the fertile valleys along the eastern flanks of the Atlas Mountains. We may visit the ancient Kasbah of Skoura. The earthen town of Ouarzazate lies among the shadows of date and pomegranate trees.

Continue reading ...

Day 8 Drive to Marrakesh

Leaving mid-morning, we drive 30 kms from Ouarzazate to the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, the most exotic and best preserved in the entire Atlas area. We will have lunch here before continuing on to Telouet and the former palace of Pasha El Glaoui, the Berber chieftain. Passing sandy coloured Kasbahs and the shy Berber women in their traditional black costumes, we leave the arid desert area and cross the High Atlas Mountains to arrive in Marrakesh late in the afternoon. Framed by the snowy heights of the Atlas Mountains and thousand-year-old palm groves, Marrakesh has a profound impact on all that visit it.

Day 9 In Marrakesh

Today we are led by our expert guide to discover the soul of Marrakesh. We visit gardens, mosques, palaces, and the souqs of the old Medina before reaching the humming centre of Marrakesh: the Djemaa el-Fna. The atmosphere of this square is overwhelming with its jumble of food stalls, snake charmers, fortune- and storytellers and the wide variety of people that flock to its attractions. Lunch included. A return visit at night, when the square really comes alive, is a must to try the food stalls and the fresh squeezed orange juice (walking distance from our hotel).

Day 10 At leisure in Marrakesh

Today is completely at leisure. The guide can provide plenty of suggestions as to how to best fill your day, but you may simply choose complete relaxation by the hotel pool. During the evening we have arranged for dinner at a prestigious Riad: an ornately decorated house that displays craftsmanship indicative of the Moroccans' passion for detail, and where fine food, wine and skilled belly dancers enrich our last evening in Marrakesh.

Day 11 Drive to Essaouira

For a change of pace we head to the peaceful Peninsula town of Essaouira. With its Greek-like whitewashed walls and its mixture of Portuguese, French and Berber fortifications, it has a completely different flavour to our previous destinations. Protected by the trade winds, Essaouira is a handicraft centre, particularly for artisans working with sandal, cedar and lemon wood. We will visit the city with our guide who will give you ideas of things you might like to do in the days to come. We take for a relaxing walk along the Atlantic coastline. Fishing is also one of the main industries of the town and the fresh catch is a specialty of the restaurants and the cheap harbour side fish markets are a must for lunch.

Day 12 In Essaouira

Before heading back to Casablanca for our journey back home we have a wonderful, relaxing day in Essaouira where you are free to do as you please. The shopping is great and so is the beach with numerous water sports on offer. To cap it all off, the Thalasso therapy at Sofitel Mogador comes highly recommended.

Day 13 Drive to Casablanca

Leaving Essaouira we will travel north toward Casablanca, stopping at coastal villages where we may sample some of the local dishes. Rest of the day at leisure in Casablanca.

Day 14 Trip concludes in Casablanca

Out trip concludes this morning after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Additional Information

Inclusions

13 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
English speaking Moroccan leader
airport transfers in Casablanca (Days 1 and 14 only)
all internal transport as per itinerary (private minivan)
Good quality hotels in the main centres, best available in remote towns, all on twin share basis
English speaking city guides in Fes, Marrakesh and Essaouira
Sightseeing and visits as per program including entrance fees
Camel ride Erg Chebbi
Emergency medical kit

Summary

13 nights hotels

Trip Main Activities

Adventure Touring

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, film and camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

Check dates and prices
Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site

from
USD$2,720

Book now

Traveller reviews for Morocco Explorer (0)

To write a review sign in, register or

Recommend

Add your experience Your experience “ ”
Say more…
Write your review Your review

Tags

Good for…

Not good for…

Photo Upload

Add a photo

Note: when you submit posts to our site (including images), you’re giving us permission to reuse your material elsewhere and also to pass it to others for use. Full website terms here.

Why we recommend World Expeditions

Pioneers in responsible travel.
No local payments.
True adventures in every sense.
Expert guides and support.
Quality facilities and transport.

Customer care

World Expeditions is a global company with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, all staffed with experienced adventure travellers.

Contact World Expeditions customer service