Head to the Wilderness

We will collect you from your riad or hotel after breakfast and head immediately into the High Atlas Mountains, where you’ll enjoy the breath-taking panoramic views of soaring, snow-capped peaks dropping dramatically into deep canyons and valleys. We will stop along the way to take in some of the best jaw-dropping vistas, giving you the opportunity to take the first of many, many photos on the tour.

Once we have traversed the Atlas Mountains, we will reach the awe-inspiring Ait Ben Haddou. An historical Kasbah which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a famous backdrop for many Hollywood films; Gladiator, The Mummy, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and part of the TV series Game of Thrones, to name a few.

You can immediately see why. A step back in time, this jumble of earthen clay buildings represents a step back in time, as the old caravan route settlement clambers up the ancient hillside in a maze of twisting staircases, shaded alleys and hidden courtyards. After a walk to explore Ait Ben Haddou, we’ll have lunch with a spectacular view of the Kasbah.

Moving on, we drive through Ouarzazte, also known as Moroccan Hollywood, due to it being the location of Morocco’s biggest filming studios. It’s also known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert, and is one of the final outposts standing on the edge of a desert that stretches 3000 miles over the horizon.

The final destination for the day is Boumalne, where you will relax, and have the opportunity to rejuvenate with an evening swim in the cool Dades River. You’ll then enjoy an authentic, traditionally prepared dinner and a comfortable overnight stay so that you’re refreshed for day two.

Explore Stunning Gorges and Magical Desert

After breakfast, you’ll set out for Todra Gorge, your first stop of the day. A magnificent chasm in the limestone bedrock, plunging as far as 300m, the naturally formed canyon, carved over thousands of years by the Togdha and Dades rivers, it’s an incredible sight to behold. You’ll get the opportunity to explore the area, feeling dwarfed by the huge walls of rock that rise above you in rugged cliffs and swirls of colour.

The journey continues to Merzouga, and this is where it’ll seriously begin to feel as if you’ve arrived in the Sahara. Great, soaring dunes rise up around this small desert village, glowing a rich gold as the sun beats down from the vast, blindingly blue sky. As you arrive you’ll be welcomed with a refreshing cup of mint tea, and after packing an overnight bag, set off on a camel trek into the endless wilderness of the desert.

As you pick your way across the majestic dunes underneath a deep blue dome of sky, watch as the sun sinks and swells in the sky, taking on a gently ebbing hue of red as the sky turns indigo and the dunes a delicate shade of ochre. A true African sunset in an evocative setting, this peaceful, quiet moment is one of the highlights of the five days.

A warm welcome awaits at a traditional Berber camp where you will be staying the night. Under a huge dark canvas littered with clouds of stars, you will enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner, sleepily hypnotic desert drums, and some of the best stargazing you will ever experience.

From Vast Desert to Alpine Hilltops

We start our third day early to begin our camel trek back to your hotel, during which you’ll catch a beautiful Sahara sunrise in the midst of the tranquility of the dunes, watching as the stars slowly melt into the ever more blue sky. We’ll arrive back at the hotel for breakfast, a shower, and a general refresh.

Then, we’ll depart for Fes. On this journey through arid plains and dusty valleys, we’ll stumble across an oasis of lush green at Ziz Valley. A river of emerald green palm groves carpets the valley floor, as orange-brown rock rises up dramatically either side.

We’ll then continue through the picturesque Middle Atlas, admiring the diversity of landscapes, ranging from harsh mountain peaks to deep cedar forests, eventually arriving in the high plain town of Midelt.

You’ll also travel through the tidy, bizarrely alpine Ifrane, built by the French in the 1930s. This town feels as though it were airlifted in from Switzerland, and is an interesting little stop that is extremely popular with domestic tourists, thanks to its European feel.

After Ifrane, experience the deliciously laid back Azrou, a Berber market centre surrounded by sweet-scented cedar woods complete with the elusive, endangered Barbary Macaque. We’ll stop here for lunch, so that you can enjoy the lush meadows and cute medina, before pushing on for Fes.

Once we arrive, prepare to thrust yourself back into city action with a relaxing dinner and overnight stay at a comfortable riad, ready for a hectic day of exploring Fes.

Hectic Fes and Addictive Chefchaouen

We’ll depart from the riad after breakfast, and head out to explore Fes. A city steeped in culture and history, bursting with life and crackling with chaos, an adventure through Fes is exactly that, an adventure. You’ll never know what you’ll find around the next shaded ally corner; a picturesque square with delicate water features, a street piled with food stands, an ancient tannery still in operation…

Fes has so much to offer and countless enthralling places to visit. We’ll take a look at the Karueein Mosque and University, believed to be the oldest operational University in the world. The mosque is not open to non-Muslims, but you can get a good view of this beautifully tiled and decorated building from an entryway.

Depending on how much time we have, other visits may include the Ibn Danan Synagogue, the beautiful ruins of the Marinid Tombs and rooftops that allow stunning panoramic views overlooking Fes and its sea of minarets.

After exploring Fes, our next destination is the Blue City: Chefchaouen, located in the North West of Morocco in the beautiful Rif Mountains. This town is famous for being painted in vibrant shades of blue, and it sits like a shimmering lake on the side of the wooded hillside.

The blue-washed mountain village is alive with artistic flair and charm, and is a delightfully laid-back, easy maze of narrow lanes to explore. The gorgeous backdrop makes for wonderfully creative travel photos as you submerge yourself in the glowing, submarine alleys. Here, you will spend the final night of the tour in your riad, and enjoy another incredible, traditionally prepared meal.

Experience the Gateway to Africa

We begin our final morning with breakfast, before setting out for Tangier. Boasting a pleasant coastal promenade, vibrant souks and hectic markets of glittering lampshades and fragrant piles of spices, the gateway between Africa and Europe is a great place for exploration.

Its multicultural community and buzzing arts scene has attracted a wide variety of visitors and residents alike, from Tennessee Williams to the Rolling Stones. The port city is the country’s most important trade link, due to its location on the Strait of Gibraltar, and therefore it has a rich history and diversity just waiting to be explored, and is influenced by a myriad of cultures.

Tangier has long been a famous destination for writers and artists to escape to; famous Moroccan writer from Tangier, Mohammed Choukri, befriended other literary legends on their visits to Tangier, such as Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles.

Here, the tour comes to an end and you will be dropped off at your riad or hotel.