Signature: Morocco's Fez, Marrakech & the Sahara Desert

Welcome to Morocco. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Casablanca, where the salt-heavy Atlantic breeze mixes with the kinetic energy of the country’s cultural traditions. You will be met at the airport and whisked to your hotel to settle in. As the city lights flicker to life against the darkening ocean, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers. An engaging presentation sets the historical stage for the days ahead, followed by a welcome reception and dinner to mark the start of your Moroccan exploration.

Included Experiences

• Airport Transfer: Sit back and scan the scenery during your included arrival transfer.
• Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group. There will be an included welcome dinner after the meeting.

Explore Experiences

Stand at the edge of the Atlantic beneath the soaring minaret of the Hassan II Mosque, where the sound of crashing waves combines with the call to prayer. Step inside to feel the cool marble underfoot and admire the sheer scale of this modern masterpiece. Travel north for the day to Rabat, the capital, where the 12th-century Hassan Tower stands sentinel over the city like a sandstone giant. Pay respects in the hushed silence of the Mausoleum of Mohammed V before winding through the medina souks, inhaling the scent of spices and cured leather. Emerge at the walled Kasbah of the Udayas, walking its blue-and-white alleys before sipping mint tea where the Bouregreg River meets the sea.

Included Experiences

• Hassan II Mosque Visit: See Africa’s largest mosque and the world’s tallest minaret (210 m, 689ft) with a visit to Hassan II Mosque. Admire this massive work of art completed in 1993, and strikingly located on land jutting into the Atlantic. The tour includes the prayer hall, ablution room, and museum. This mosque is one of the largest in the world, accommodating up to 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,000 in the courtyards
• Guided Rabat Tour: Arrive to Rabat and start the city visit with your local guide. See Kasbah des Oudaias, a walled quarter with gardens and views of the Atlantic Ocean. Then visit the Medina and souks with a stop for mint tea and local sweets. Stop by the resting place of King Mohamed V and Hassan Tower.

Explore Experiences

Leave the coast for the sanctuary of the Rif Mountains, winding upward until you arrive in Chefchaouen — a city draped in mesmerizing washes of indigo, powder blue, and azure. Follow your National Geographic Expedition Leader through this enchanting labyrinth, the cobblestones echoing underfoot as you climb steep streets past the historic kasbah and intricate Hispano-Moorish architecture. As the late afternoon light softens into the "golden hour," hike up to the Spanish Mosque. From this vantage point, watch the city glow against the mountain peaks as the sun dips below the horizon, casting the valley in deep violet shadow before you travel to your accommodation in Akchour.

Included Experiences

• Chefchaouen Visit: Join your Expedition Leader for a visit of the blue city. Pass by the historic Kasbah dating back to the 15th century and get to know this unique northern Moroccan city. Finish the walk at Rass Elma and climb to the Spanish Mosque to watch sunset glow over the tops of the Rif Mountains.

Breathe in the crisp mountain air with a short morning hike or yoga session in Akchour, surrounded by the sound of rushing water and rustling leaves. After lunch in the small mountainside town of Moulay Driss Zarhoun, travel south to Volubilis, the evocative ruins at the western edge of the Roman Empire. Walk across intricate mosaics baked by the sun and stand beneath the triumphal arch, tracing the layers of history in this ancient outpost. Continue to Fez. Step into the cool, tiled tranquility of your traditional riad , where the chaos of the city fades away and refined hospitality awaits. End the day with dinner on the rooftop, watching the lights of the ancient city flicker below like a sea of stars.

Included Experiences

• Volubilis Guided Tour: Listen to a certified local guide explain life in the Roman Empire at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the impressive, well-preserved Roman ruins. Peer into old bathhouses, marvel at the still-present mosaic floors, and gaze up at towering marble pillars. Hear stories about life in this Roman city that will leave you in awe of just how far their empire stretched.

Explore Experiences

Immerse yourself in the sensory labyrinth of the Fez Medina. Pass through the grand gates into the world’s largest walled old city, navigating thousands of winding streets defined by their craft. Hear the rhythmic tapping of coppersmiths, smell the sawdust of cedar woodworkers, and brace yourself for the distinct, pungent aroma of the famous tanneries, viewing the honeycomb of dyeing pits from above. Visit the historic Al Qarawiyin University before escaping the bustle for an exclusive rooftop tea experience, finding a moment of quiet above the medina’s chaotic charm.

Included Experiences

• Fez Medina Guided Tour: Follow a local guide through the Fez medina, one of the world’s largest medinas with more than 9000 winding streets lying within 365 hectares. See buildings in the medina that date back to the 9th century; there are 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today. Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Explore the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers. Visit the mausoleum and the Al Qarawiyin University. A highlight of the tour is the view of the famous Fez tannery from the balcony of a leather shop, where you can observe the men hard at work treating and dyeing the different hides. Take some time to shop for leather goods before returning to your hotel.
• Rooftop Tea Experience: Escape the hustle and bustle of the Fez medina and enjoy a private rooftop tea experience. Savour the delicious tea and engage with the expert to gain further insights into this incredibly vibrant and historic place.

Explore Experiences

Engage all your senses with a unique cooking experience. Join Chef Najat at a local market to touch, smell, and select fresh ingredients before heading to an open-air kitchen in Sidi Harazem. Hosted by a local family, featuring a world-famous chef, you’ll learn the secrets of Moroccan cuisine — the balance of sweet and savory, the heat of the oven — and bake bread in a traditional clay kiln. Share the feast you’ve created at a long communal table outdoors. In the afternoon, travel to the calm, reflective waters of Sidi Ali. Relax on the terrace with cocktails as your expert shares insights into the deep traditions of Moroccan hospitality.

Included Experiences

• Market Visit and Cooking Class Experience with a Talented Chef: Begin the experience by meeting the chef for a brief introduction to the activity and the day ahead. Then visit a local market to select fresh ingredients for the dishes you will prepare together. The hands-on cooking class takes place in an open-air setting in Sidi Harazem, approximately 30 minutes from Fez. A local family will host the group and provide essential facilities, including water and a traditional oven for baking local bread. After the cooking session, participants will enjoy lunch at a long, picnic-style table set up outdoors. The chef will design the menu according to the group’s dietary requirements.

Journey toward the gateway of the Sahara, watching the landscape shift from rocky plains to the endless, shifting sands of Merzouga. Transfer by Land Cruisers to reach your secluded desert camp. As the heat of the day fades into the golden hour, climb a high dune to witness the desert panorama stretch to the horizon. Watch the sands shift from burning orange to cool violet while the sun sets. Dinner is served at camp, accompanied by the hypnotic, rhythmic music of local Berber musicians under a canopy of stars so bright they feel within reach.

Included Experiences

• 4x4: Traverse the Erg Chebbi dunes in a private 4x4, enjoying sweeping desert views as you head to your luxury camp.

Venture deeper into the dunes of Erg Chebbi by Land Cruiser to meet Amazigh nomads. Share mint tea in the shade of their traditional dwelling, listening to stories of life in the sands. Continue to Khamlia to hear the hypnotic rhythms of Gnaoua music, the castanets echoing the history of the Sahara. Later, roll up your sleeves for a cooking class to prepare Medfouna — the traditional "hidden pizza" of the desert. Enjoy your creation for lunch back at camp, surrounded by the absolute silence of the dunes.

Included Experiences

• 4x4 Sahara Desert Excursion and Cooking Class Lunch with the Amazigh Nomads: View the golden dunes of the Sahara desert on a 4x4 excursion. Drive around the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi and take in the view of the seemingly endless sea of sand. Watch the dunes as the colours creep across the landscape and look out for the kohl mine en route to the village of Khamlia. Here you will meet Gnaoua musicians and learn about the history of Gnaoua music in the Sahara. Enjoy a performance by these talented artists. Depart back through the desert region and visit local Amazigh living in the area, learning about their way of life and sharing in some mint tea in one of the homes. The culinary delights of the Moroccan Sahara await you in Taous village, where you'll partake in a Medfouna cooking class. Discover the cherished secrets of this traditional dish, a culinary gem of the region. Relish the flavours and aromas as you savour the fruits of your culinary endeavours. As the day draws to a close, return to the Land Cruiser, leaving behind a trail of memories etched in the sands of Erg Chebbi. Head back to your camp with a heart full of experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Leave the desert behind and ascend toward the High Atlas Mountains. Stop at the Todra Gorges, where massive rock walls soar 400 meters (1,300 ft) above the valley floor, creating a cathedral of stone. Walk the path that winds through this natural canyon, feeling the scale of the geology and the cool air trapped between the cliffs. After lunch near the gorges, continue the drive through the dramatic Dades Valley, where the road carves through red rock landscapes dotted with green oases. Arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon to refresh before dinner.

Included Experiences

• Todra Gorges Visit: Upon arrival at the stunning Todra Gorges, located approximately 5 kilometers from the main road, you'll begin exploring this natural marvel. The terrain here is relatively flat and accessible, with a well-marked path that winds through the towering rock walls, which reach up to 400 meters high. Take a leisurely walk of about 1 kilometer, offering breathtaking views and perfect photo opportunities. This brief exploration, ideal for capturing the grandeur of the gorges and immersing yourself in their beauty, will take approximately 20 minutes.

Explore Experiences

Step back in time at Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s best-preserved ksars . Wander the earthen alleyways of this fortified village, admiring the traditional clay architecture that glows red against the blue sky — a scene straight out of a movie. Continue the journey by crossing the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains, winding down toward the red city of Marrakech. Check into your superb hotel and refresh before dinner.

Included Experiences

• Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah Tour: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley, located in the foothills of the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. It's a collective grouping of dwellings inside defensive walls and was once one of the many trading posts on the route linking Sudan to Marrakech. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.

Explore Experiences

Leave Marrakech behind and participate in a G Adventures-supported community initiative dedicated to sustainability in the Atlas foothills. Start with a visit to the Ancient Jewish Cemetery and tree nursery to learn about reforestation. Plant a sapling and leave a living mark on the landscape that will be given to land owners to replenish their soil. Meet a local farmer to understand the project’s impact before a short walk to the Ashbarou Women's Cooperative. This women-led initiative is focused on preserving Amazigh heritage and fostering economic empowerment through traditional carpet weaving. Share a homemade lunch prepared by the women and feel the texture of raw wool as you try your hand at traditional weaving, connecting directly with the artisans who sustain their community through this craft. Travel back to Marrakech for a free evening at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Tree Nursery and Women's Cooperative Visit: Transfer to the town of Akrich to learn more about the work this G Adventures-supported initiative is doing to support the local community and preserve cultural heritage. Visit the tree nursery alongside an ancient Jewish Cemetery, where the workers start the fruit and olive tree saplings that will be given to land owners to replenish their land. We will see how the planting and irrigation work was done to reforest the area with crop producing trees. Meet with one of the farmers who planted his trees in previous years to understand the impact this has had on his family and the community. We then move on to the Women's Cooperative site “Ashbarou” to meet the ladies who have prepared a homemade lunch for us. After lunch they share the weaving work they do and invite visitors to participate in a hands-on weaving experience.

Discover the soul of Marrakech through the ancient art of Hikayat (storytelling). Join a master storyteller to navigate the Medina, where history and fable intertwine in the smoky air of the souks. Visit the intricate Bahia Palace and the stunning Medersa Ben Youssef, admiring the craftsmanship of a bygone era. Enjoy a traditional tangia lunch in the heart of the old city. Conclude your expedition with a farewell dinner on a rooftop terrace, toasting the sights and sounds of Morocco as the city hums below.

Included Experiences

• Marrakech Medina Tour Through Storytelling (Hikayat): Join the leader of the storytelling revival taking place in Marrakech to explore the Medina in a way that is true to the National Geographic tradition of storytelling. Experience the Medina coming to life as you listen to the ancient fables, stories of the places you are seeing that highlight why they are special. Visit the Bahia Palace and the Medersa Ben Youssef, two landmarks that highlight the country's rich cultural heritage, offering an unforgettable journey through time and beauty. Navigate the narrow streets and market places all while being taken on a special journey by your storyteller.

Explore Experiences

Your expedition to Morocco concludes today. After breakfast, individual transfers are provided to the airport at any time during the day.

Included Experiences

• Departure Transfer: You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.