12-Day Morocco Highlights with Toubkal

Arrive Casablanca or Marrakesh, transfer to your hotel in Marrakesh.

• Drive Time: 20 minutes from the Marrakesh Airport
• Or 2.5 hour drive from the Casablanca Airport

In Marrakesh, you will spend the rest of the day exploring this majestic Imperial City. Thrill in the bewitchery of the night that beats in the heart of the famed square, Djemaa el-Fna, where delectable fare is grilled over coals in bustling torch-lit open-air markets. Mystical snake charmers, hustlers, and mischievous monkeys are part of the nightly drama that unfolds, as Berber acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians, and engaging storytellers seduce rapt crowds. Then wind your way through the serpentine labyrinth of the spice-filled air of the bustling souk, unchanged for over 1000 years, where you will discover the best of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.

Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Kasbah Marrakesh

Morocco's jeweled Imperial Cities, mystical Marrakesh. An enchanting palm oasis set against the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas mountains.

Explore the ancient Bahia Palace from the days of the harem, now populated by a sentry of nesting storks, enter the ancient royal Saadian Tombs, explore the vibrant and historic Jewish mellah where some of the best jewelry of Morocco is sold, and see the majestic Koutoubia Mosque before entry into the 9th century walled Medina.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Kasbah Marrakesh

6:00am: Breakfast
7:00am: One hour ride to Imlil
8:30am: We will start our trek from Imlil (elevation 1740 meters). Imlil is the trekking headquarters for the high Atlas Beside Ourika, and it is a great place to buy any last minute supplies. We start our 10km (5 to 7 hour walk) uphill to our Toubkal refuge (elevation 3207 meters), stopping on route for lunch and to enjoy the spectacular views.
12:30pm: Lunch Picnic
6:30pm: A homemade cooked meal for dinner and overnight stay at Toubkal Refuge.

We will need to make it an early night as we have a very early start tomorrow.

NOTE: You will need to use a small backpack fo Toubkal. We will rent a couple sleeping bags for you. Your driver will drive your luggage to wait for you at Kasbah Omar for next day.

(5 to 7 hour walk 1467 meter ascent today)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rufuge du Toubkal

If the weather permits, we set off as early as possible to avoid the sun and start to climb Toubkal. We will set a very slow and steady pace upwards (for anyone who experience any headaches, stomach problems or vomiting, he or she may have altitude sickness and must descend immediately).

We will follow the path to Tizi n'Toubkal (elevation 3940 meters) before we continue for the final push to the summit (elevation 4167 meters). Once we arrive to the top, we will take as much break as needed with some snacks and enjoy the views, before the descent back to Toubkal Refuge where we will find a nice warm meal waiting for us.

(5 to 6 hours depends on the weather and the person / 960 meter ascent & decent).

When everyone is ready, we will take a 4 hours decent back to the village of Imlil to pick up our vehicle for a quick ride to our charming Kasbah to enjoy a nice traditional Moroccan Couscous for dinner and overnight stay at your charming Kasbah Omar.

(3-4 hours / 1467 meter descent)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Kasbah Omar (Ourika Valley)

You will explore one of the most beautiful and unspoiled valleys of the High Atlas, Valley of Ourika rises gently up to the preliminary hills of the High Atlas where small typical villages have nested. It is a pure and magnificent place where silence is only "disturbed" by birds singing, water streams, and wagtails.

A taste of the Berber lifestyle by having a cup of tea within a Berber family.

On Mondays, you can make a special visit to the weekly Berber market where all Berbers of the valley meet for their weekly shopping.

You will visit the salt mining of the valley and also one of the aromatic gardens.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Kasbah Omar (Ourika Valley)

In the morning, you continue your adventure along with the majestic beauty of the High Atlas Mountains, through the scenic route of Tizi n'Tichka's lush oasis valleys and mountainous areas, highly popular with trekkers.

You will stop for a break at one of the Berber villages on your way to Ourika / High Atlas Mountains past a pageantry of fragrant, dense pine and cedar forests, terraced farms, and sienna mud-brick Berber villages to visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Benhadou.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Caravane (Ait Ben Haddou)

After a special Berber breakfast, you will depart for Todra Gorges, via Kalate Megouna, and Tinghir.

You will travel through the Dades Valley past dramatic escarpments and plunging gorges via Tinghir for a break and a small tour around their Jewish Mellah.

Traveling the rugged Road of a Thousand Kasbahs that rise up like turreted sandcastles along this ancient caravan trading route. This area has long been a popular location for Hollywood films such as The Last Temptation of Christ, Jewel of the Nile, and most recently Hideous Kinky. The central region is one of the most exciting and romantic destinations of Morocco nestled along rich river valleys, palmeries, and burnished mud-brick homes ablaze in vibrant color under the shelter of the blue desert sky.

In later afternoon, you will explore the mystical Saharan landscape as you ride by camel over the stunning sugar-fine sands of Merzouga as the red sun sinks.

As night falls, listen to the heady intoxicating beat of Berber drum music and song during the traditional pouring of mint tea by the pool of your saharaoui hotel. Moroccan feast of harira soup, a savory tagine (stew with meat and vegetables) or couscous, etc.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Auberge Cafe du Sud (Desert)

A short drive to Erfoud to visit the Fossil Factory and Museum before you continue with your drive through the Mid-Atlas Mountains to Midelt for lunch.

The afternoon drive will have a special stop to feed the monkeys at Ifrane National Park.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Damia (Fez)

Fez, the best surviving example of an ancient Arab city, is comprised of the "new" city, established in the 12th century, and the 2,000-year-old Medina, where donkeys and mules laden with goods still trawl alongside buyers through the ancient market, itself a fascinating maze of lanes, blind alleys and bustling souks assaulting the senses with spices and exotic delicacies. Fez is the perfect place to hone your bargaining skills in buying souvenirs, brightly colored hand-loomed carpets, or fine crafted artisan goods. Visit the famous leather tanneries, a honeycomb of vats erupting in an explosion of brilliant color. Then, climb to the venerated Merenid Tombs for a spectacular panoramic view of Fez.

We recommend dinner at the Cafe Clock -- a roof top bar with amazing views.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Damia (Fez)

You will be escorted by your guide for a ride past centuries-old olive groves and vineyards we near Meknes, the Ismalian capital, famous for its 25-mile-long walls. Heading to port Bab El Mansour and Bab El Khamis, journey back thousands of years and explore the ancient Ro-man ruins of Volubilis sprawled over a wildflower-dotted hillside, where a magnificent triumphal arch presides over the awesome remains of palaces and mansions, Roman baths and basilicas, and stunning mosaics.

After, you will take an afternoon drive to the charming city of Chefchaouen.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Meziana (Chefchaouen)

In the North of the country, nestled in the Rif mountains, and a short trip from Tangier is the small, picturesque town of Chefchaouen. Founded in 1492 by Moorish exiles from Spain, the town is decorated in a mixture of whitewash and every shade of blue, from pastel sky tones to deep indigos. The effect is dreamlike, making this an extremely romantic place for a visit.

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Riad Meziana (Chefchaouen)

Early morning 5 hours Transfer drive to Casablanca airport for your return home with plenty of tales of Arabian days and nights.

Meals included: Breakfast