From the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and breezy coastal port cities to the blazing Sahara Desert, Morocco’s diverse and stunning landscapes have been cradles of human history for hundreds of thousands of years. Among some of the country’s earliest inhabitants were the Amazigh, or Berber, people—who continue to shape the language, culture, and cuisine of Morocco today. On this immersive, 11-day trip, we’ll venture through Casablanca, deep into the mountains, through the vast Sahara, and beyond, visiting various Berber communities for days at a time. We’ll participate in local initiatives led by community members, learn about the differences between various Berber cultures across the country, and sip countless cups of steaming mint tea—camping in the desert, soaking in steamy hammams, and straddling a camel or two along the way.
Welcome to Casablanca, a coastal metropolis and the largest city in Morocco. Make your way to our base, a classic art deco hotel perched in the pulsing heart of the vibrant city center, and take some time to settle in. In the late afternoon, we’ll meet up as a group for an intimate tour of the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa, which overlooks the vast expanse of the Atlantic. Later in the evening, we’ll head into the city for our first of many delicious dinners together, where we’ll get to know our fellow travelers and chat about the adventures to come.
Art Deco Hotel, Casablanca
Welcome Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll pile into a private minibus and head to Zawiya Ahansal, a traditional Berber village surrounded by leafy almond groves and tucked away in the jagged peaks of the Atlas Mountains. Upon arriving, we’ll meet our hosts, who will treat us to a family-style lunch of traditional Moroccan fare, featuring an assortment of steaming meat and vegetable tagines. Over the first of many cups of carefully prepared mint tea, we’ll partake in a cultural orientation, which will prepare us to thoughtfully engage with rural communities in the area. We’ll learn about respectful dress, health and safety, several Arabic greetings, and the importance of greeting those we meet along the way. Then, we’ll set out by foot for a historical tour, glimpsing traditional gardens and taking in the ancient architecture that surrounds us, such as the Ait Sidi Moulay Igherm, a towering, 15th-century structure that houses descendants of the area’s founding saint, Sidi Said Ahansal, as well as religious pilgrims.
Maison d’Hôtes Dar Ahansal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start the day with an optional early-morning hike where, alongside a local mountain guide, you’ll ascend about a mile up into the mountains for a first glimpse of the sun casting its rays through the towering Atlas peaks. After the descent, we’ll join the rest of the group for breakfast, where we’ll get ready for a full day immersed in community activities. We’ll have the opportunity to partake in ongoing community programs focused on women’s empowerment, organic gardening, and education—depending on what’s happening within the community, and group interest. After lunch, take some time to rest back at the hotel before the full afternoon ahead of us. We’ll explore regional poetry, traditional drum music, carpet design and weaving, and henna. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a hands-on lesson in crafting and baking a few varieties of breads that form the foundations of Berber cuisine. We’ll wind down with a cup of tea, then head to dinner, which will be followed by a cultural presentation and discussion.
Maison d’Hôtes Dar Ahansal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Opt to start the morning with another stunning sunrise hike, or sleep in and join the group for breakfast. We’ll spend this morning and early afternoon with our hosts, learning about and participating in community initiatives. Hydrate up (there will be more tea at your disposal), because tonight we’ll take turns soaking in a hammam, a wood-heated bathhouse and steam room. Lather yourself in locally made olive oil soaps, while learning about the significance that hammams have historically held in Moroccan culture and society. Warm, exfoliated, and smelling at our best, we’ll head to bed.
Maison d’Hôtes Dar Ahansal
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we’ll say goodbye to our hosts and hit the road. On our journey, we’ll weave through Berber villages, winding mountain passes, and the Ait Bouguemez and Ait Bouilli valleys, stopping for a picnic lunch at a cozy mountain guesthouse. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Marrakech, a city buzzing with activity—from its narrow alleys packed with vendors and goods to its striking mosques standing tall against the skyline. Take some time to explore the bustling area on your own before reconvening for a group dinner in town.
Traditional Riad, Marrakech
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We’ll begin the day with a guided tour of Marrakech’s many medieval markets and lush gardens, stopping for lunch overlooking the Jemaa el-Fna Square, the city’s central marketplace where locals and tourists alike gather to browse handicrafts, mingle, and enjoy storytelling and dance performances. After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring alongside our guide, or choose to explore the city on your own. Zig-zagging through the intricate geometries of Islamic and Moorish architecture, you’ll likely encounter mounds of colorful spices and cool gardens shaded by olive trees, enlivened by the occasional calls to prayer emanating from nearby mosques ringing out through the city. After dinner on your own, you can opt to join the group for a nightcap at a cocktail bar, a somewhat rare find in this predominantly Muslim country.
Traditional Riad, Marrakech
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we’ll begin our adventure into the Sahara Desert, where we’ll have the chance to learn about Sahara Desert Berber culture and meet with folks from various nomadic tribes who sustain themselves in remote oases. We’ll cross the Tizi n’Tichka, gateway to the Sahara and the highest mountain pass in North Africa, watching the landscape and architecture change before our eyes. We’ll pause for a picnic lunch and a visit to the legendary Kasbah Telouet—a stunning, remote village steeped in fraught history—before arriving at Skoura Oasis, a maze of red, mudbrick buildings amidst towering palms. Take the afternoon to explore on your own before meeting up with the group for dinner and an introductory presentation on desert Berber culture.
Traditional Riad, Skoura
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll set out for Ighils, a remote, Berber oasis village nestled deep in the Sahara. We’ll spend the morning meeting our hosts, and assisting them in leading educational workshops for local kids, then gathering for a community lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll meet with community leaders and learn about life in a desert oasis, visit sprawling date palm gardens, and glimpse ancient village architecture. Take some time to relax, settle down with a cup of tea, and rest up before our dinner back at Skoura.
Traditional Riad, Skoura
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we’ll trace the longest river in Morocco south, winding through the Draa Valley and into the Sahara’s sweeping sand dunes. Flanked by innumerable oases villages, ancient kasbahs, and date palm orchards, the valley offers some spectacular views. We’ll stop over in the outpost town of M’hamid, where we’ll enjoy lunch and fuel up for our three-hour camel trek across the sand dunes to our campsite. Once we arrive, enjoy an evening enveloped by the Sahara’s vast, rolling sand-scape and sweep of sky. We’ll enjoy dinner outside, under a massive bed of stars, and drift to sleep in our cozy tents within a traditional Berber camp.
Pre-Set Two-Person Tents, Sahara Desert
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake up to the silent, sandy sprawl of the Sahara, and spend the morning hiking through rolling dunes at a relaxed pace that allows for photography and contemplation. In the afternoon, we’ll drive back through the Draa Valley and head to Ouarzazate, stopping for lunch along the way. We’ll arrive in the city later in the afternoon, and take some time to independently explore the historic Saharan trading post, now famous for its adobe kasbahs, green oases, and the largest film studio in the world.
Restored Palace, Ouarzazate
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Ouarzazate, say farewell to the city and your fellow adventurers and depart for home or the next destination. For those who wish to continue on our three-day extension, join us on a journey to Essaouria, a port city perched on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch and drop in on an argan cooperative. Once we arrive and settle into the traditional, ornate riad that will be our home for the next three nights, take the afternoon and evening to explore the city on your own. Wander the historic Portuguese and African trading post at your own pace, strolling along the waterfront, sampling fresh Essaourian seafood, and glimpsing the stunning fusion of architecture that reflects the city’s European and Islamic roots.
For those continuing on our three-day extension: Traditional Riad, Essaouira
Breakfast
This morning, we’ll tour Essaouira’s ancient markets, historic ports, and imposing forts alongside a local guide. The rest of the day is yours to explore Morocco’s “windy city” on your own. Consider chatting with shopkeepers in the city’s historic center, relaxing at a local spa, or reclining on the crescent-shaped beach. For the intrepid, hop on the humped back of a camel and enjoy a ride along the coast. Wherever you end up, cast your gaze skyward in the early evening to catch the city’s characteristically striking sunsets over the sea.
Traditional Riad, Essaouira
Breakfast
After a leisurely breakfast together, set out to enjoy another day of independent exploration in Essaouira. Consider visiting the fish market, relaxing on rooftop terraces, or visiting some of the city’s many cultural museums. Strike out on your own, or check in with our guides, who will be more than happy to offer suggestions for things to do or to make arrangements for independent activities. We’ll regroup tonight to celebrate our time together over a farewell feast.
Traditional Riad, Essaouira
Breakfast, Dinner
After two weeks of exploring Morocco’s markets, mountains, deserts, and oases, it’s time to say goodbye to this incredible country and our fellow travelers. Head to the airport and off to your next destination, or arrange to spend extra time in the area and explore on your own. Until the next adventure!
Breakfast
The total cost of this trip is $4,515 ($6,005 if taking the extension to Essaouira). For those traveling solo, single accommodations can be provided, subject to availability, at an additional cost of $825 ($1,235 if taking the extension). Please contact us to request a single room.
Our trip begins with a late afternoon tour of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. We recommend you arrive in Casablanca before 12 p.m. on Day 1, so you can settle into your accommodations and meet our guide and group in time for the tour. Our trip concludes the morning of Day 11. We will provide airport transfers to the Ouarzazate airport anytime during the day. If you are joining the extension, you can fly out of Essaouira anytime on Day 14 (or out of Marrakech anytime after 12 p.m).
Travelers should be comfortable walking three to five miles on moderate trails over the course of a day. In addition, participants should be prepared to embark on a three-hour camel trek across desert terrain into the Sahara, where we'll spend one night camping in pre-set two-person tents.
Note that the village where we will be based in the Atlas Mountains is at 5,250 feet. The maximum elevation we will reach on hikes and walks is about 6,560 feet. When driving over mountain passes to get to and from the village, we will reach up to 8,600 feet. Altitude affects some more than others; please take these elevations into account as you consider whether this trip is right for you.
Morocco’s weather and landscape is extreme, and you should be prepared for both hot and cold weather, wind, rain, and sun. In the fall, the weather is usually mild. However, it’s not uncommon to have stretches of either intense heat or rain and cold.
We’ll be engaging with community members, so travelers should be comfortable with and respectful of Muslim culture. Participants will be required to follow a culturally appropriate dress code during their time in the mountains and in the Sahara, meaning loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirts and long pants.
In Morocco, the sale of and access to alcohol is limited outside of major cities. Alcohol can’t be consumed publicly in rural areas, but can be consumed within the lodging premises—at meals or in guest rooms. The trip cost includes a limited amount of alcohol per person per night in the mountains and the Sahara (one to two glasses of wine per evening). Participants can buy their own alcohol at dinners in Casablanca, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and Essaouira.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though in most cases ingredients can't be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you. All provided meals are traditional Moroccan cuisine.
If this will be your first trip to Morocco, we recommend staying a few extra days before or after the trip to visit any more traditional tourist sites that are not included in the itinerary.