Overview
This itinerary takes in the Imperial cities of Morocco, such as Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat, as well as inspiring cities, like Ouarzazate, Casablanca and Erfoud. In the read more red city of Marrakesh, step back in time as you wander through the Jemaa-el-Fna, the main square and exotic bazaar, offering some of the greatest open-air entertainment. Listen to the storytellers—an integral part of the culture—and browse for handicrafts. In Fez, take an optional tour to visit the ancient medina. Founded in the 9th century, it is one of the largest medieval cities in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On this comprehensive and affordable tour of Morocco, you will also be enchanted by beautiful oasis, stunned by the beauty of the desert, and surprised by the mountain scenery of the Middle Atlas. You’ll also visit Casablanca and see its modern great Mosque and Meknes. Your tour also takes you to Ouarzazate, where you'll visit the Kasbah de Taourirt, and the amazing, fortified city of Ait Benhaddou, used as set to the “Gladiator” movie. Stop at the mountain resort of Ifrane; overnight in Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara Desert, and visit Rabat, Morocco’s vibrant capital. From the Middle Atlas Mountain range and Ziz Gorges to arid desert, this budget-minded Morocco vacation will amaze you with spectacular scenery.
10 Days
Casablanca
Casablanca
Classic
3 - 3.5 Star
Affordable
5-99 Years
42
Fully Guided
6780
Itinerary
Check into your hotel. Later, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.
Skirt the Atlantic coast to Rabat, once a lair of the corsairs and now the country's capital. The highlights of the included sightseeing tour are the Royal Palace, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of Oudayas. Visit the Chellah Gardens. Continue to Meknes and see its monumental gates, mosque, palace, and miles of protective walls during your guided tour. Travel east towards Fez, Morocco's most enchanting city. Today's Distance: 186 mi/ 300 km (B/D)
Spend the day at leisure in ancient Fez, which occupies a position of outstanding scenic beauty. Envision a magic carpet ride in Fez with an optional sightseeing tour to visit the exotic ancient UNESCO World Heritage site of Medina and walk through a maze of narrow, bustling streets and alleys that are home to brilliantly hued souks. (B)
Travel today into the very heart of Morocco. Stop in the quiet, French-built alpine mountain resort of Ifrane. Verdant cedar forests give way to volcanic mountains and windswept plains as you travel across the Middle Atlas range. Pass fortified mud-and-straw villages and descend into the spectacular Ziz gorges. The landscape becomes progressively more arid as you enter a stony desert. Approaching Erfoud, encounter an unexpected and breathtaking surprise: the peaceful oasis of the Ziz Valley. Today's Distance: 255 mi/ 410 km (B/D)
The best choice today is an included excursion to Rissani. See the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif, the first ruler of the Alaouite Dynasty, and get a feel for daily life in a Berber town. This evening, why not join an optional excursion to experience an oasis mirage while witnessing a magical sunset over the windswept Sahara Desert dunes. (B/D)
Upon leaving Erfoud, we learn about the Khettaras, ancient underground irrigation systems. Enjoy the drive through the eastern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and arrive at the Tinghir oasis with its green valley of palms and local villages. On to the impressive Todra Gorge, then along the Dades Valley. Arrive in the film capital of Morocco, Ouarzazate, where you'll visit the Kasbah de Taourirt, the intricate and fascinating residence of Pasha Thami el Glaoui. Today's Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km (B/D)
Travel to Aït Benhaddou, an ancient, fortified city, famous as a film location for “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Gladiator.” Pass through picturesque villages surrounded by craggy mountains towards 7,414-foot-high Tizi-n-Tichka Pass in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. Each new twist in the road leads to a different, more dramatic landscape. Leaving the pass behind, see the landscape gradually change to a tapestry of red ochre. Enter the gates of the red-hued imperial city of Marrakesh, justly considered the most fascinating of all Moroccan cities.
Tonight, experience the vibrant culture and cuisine of the original inhabitants of North Africa with an optional exotic floor show and dinner in traditional Berber style. Today's Distance: 127 mi/ 205 km (B)
Get to know this fascinating city on an included city sightseeing with a Local Guide, featuring Majorelle Gardens, created by the French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle over almost 40 years, starting in 1923, and purchased in 1980 by French fashion designers Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé; Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century and intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style, and former royal residence, and a walk through the ancient quarters to the fascinating Jemaa-el-Fna square and its exotic bazaar. You'll feel as if you've stopped the march of time. (B/D)
Leave Morocco's magical city of Marrakesh for the journey back to Casablanca. On arrival, see the main sights and visit the majestic Hassan II Mosque in the company of a Local Guide. Today's Distance: 155 mi/ 250 km (B)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- Buffet breakfasts daily; 5 dinners
- Casablanca: Kyriad Casablanca Centre Ville (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Fez: Menzeh Zalagh (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Erfoud: Kasbah Tizimi
- Ouarzazate: Ibis Ouarzazate Center (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Marrakesh: Zalagh Kasbah Hotel & Spa (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Casablanca: Hotel Prince De Paris (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Operator
Explore Africa's must-see regions with a great mix of included excursions, free time and affordable value. Read more
Cosmos build free time into every one of their adventures, so you can explore the way you want. Read more
Cosmos' easy going, fun-filled Tour Directors and Local Guides love exploring as much as you do. Read more
Trip Reviews (11)
This is a busy tour, we travelled 2,000km and saw a lot of Morocco. There were only 12 of us on the tour and we were the only Australians. Excellent Tour Director: Paulina from Spain and very safe driver Mohammed. Very windy roads through the mountains and some roads not in a great condition.
The 4 optionals were all very good though if you didn't do the extra camel ride on the sand dunes it's probably not worth doing the desert trip from Erfoud. It would be extremely difficult to visit the Fez medina without a guide. The 2 included dinners were very good.
Hotels were ok and you need to balance quality against the price of this tour. Most included meals were ok, sometimes breakfast was fairly basic. No hotels had tea/coffee making facilities, fortunately we'd packed our travel kettle and a supply of tea bags. My favourite hotel was in Erfoud, it felt like you'd stepped back in time.
Weather was excellent, blue sky and sunshine and quite hot - up to 33C. The heat is very dry away from the coast. You do a fair bit of walking on this tour and at times on uneven ground. You do get hounded by vendors but nothing that you don't experience in other parts of the world. Moroccans were friendly and helpful and wanted us to tell people to visit Morocco.
Our tour director, Anne and coach driver, read more Mohammed were excellent. They made the tour special and really worked hard to cater to everyone's requirements. We really enjoyed meeting such interesting and inspiring fellow travellers. One cannot go travelling and still come back the same person .... we would recommend this tour to you, our family and friends!
We would really like to acknowledge Madeline from Global Journeys who has been a wonderful help and very supportive in all of our travel preparations. It's a true pleasure and privilege to visit such wonderful places.
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Cosmos Worldwide (2025-26)
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cosmos. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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