Overview
Discover the magic of Morocco on a journey that takes you from bustling markets to soaring desert dunes. Meet enchanting musicians and storytellers steeped in Amazigh (also known as Berber) heritage, and try your hand at cooking up colourful local dishes. Hike past stunning rock formations, climb windswept sands, and uncover ancient secrets in green oases and grand palaces.
Trip Length
9 Days
Trip Starts
Marrakesh
Trip Ends
Marrakesh
Departures
Nov 2026 to Dec 2028
Countries Visited:
Trip Style
National Geographic Family
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
7-99 Years
Max. Group Size
20
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
DCKNF
Itinerary
Welcome to Marrakech–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
Accommodation:
Dellarosa Boutique Hotel
Included Experiences
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. 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.
- Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Explore Experiences
Marrakech
Wind past red slopes and green terraces as we make our way south through the stunning valleys of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, stopping to enjoy lunch along the way. Arrive in Ouarzazate, known as the “gateway to the Sahara,” and step behind the scenes at a film studio to see how the surrounding dunes have starred on the silver screen.
Accommodation:
Berbere Palace
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
- Guided Atlas Film Studios Tour: Discover the sets of blockbusters from years past at Atlas Film Studios, the largest film studio in the world. Get behind-the-scenes access to the sets and props used in the making of films like Raiders of the Lost Arc and Gladiator (2000), as well as TV show Game of Thrones. Wander past jetplanes, through a colosseum, and into a tomb as your guide reveals the scenes that they were used in and how they were built.
Today, travel between jagged peaks and palm oases toward the desert town of Merzouga. Settle into our hotel near the incredible Erg Chebbi, a sweeping sea of dunes formed by wind-blown sand. As the sun sets, savour a traditional Amazigh dinner, then spread a blanket on the sand for an evening of desert stargazing.
Accommodation:
Hotel Nomad Palace Merzouga
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, hop aboard a 4x4 and ride across the dunes to discover fossils left behind by an ancient sea, and be entranced by Gnaoua musicians in a local village. Return to the hotel for free time to cool off in the pool. Enjoy a tasty Amazigh dinner, then gather around a glowing bonfire for a storytelling session.
Accommodation:
Hotel Nomad Palace Merzouga
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- 4x4: Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
- Free Time: Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the area or relax at your hotel.
- Sahara Dunes & Culture Excursion: 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.
Venture into the rugged landscape of the Dades Gorge, a dramatic and colourful valley carved by the waters of the Dades River. Visit a local village for lunch and enjoy a special dish—traditional Amazigh pizza! Continue to the hotel and enjoy free time to relax.
Accommodation:
Hotel Xaluca Dades
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Medfouna Lunch: Make a stop for lunch and indulge in traditional Medfouna, also known as Amazigh pizza. This local delicacy is a tasty combination of flatbread dough filled with meat, onions & spices.
Take a morning walk and learn about the amazing geology behind the weird and wonderful rock formations of the Gorge. Drive through the Ounila Valley to the ancient fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site where clay houses crowd together in a traditional ksar behind defensive walls. Explore alleyways twisting between historic structures, and stand guard atop the clay brick ramparts, taking in views of the green oasis around this imposing fort. Entertain your taste buds at a hands-on tagine cooking class, followed by a delicious dinner.
Accommodation:
Riad Maktoub Ait Ben Haddou
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Dades Gorge Guided Walk: Traverse the winding Dades Gorge, taking in the dramatic landscape and rich colours of the mountains all around you. Listen to weird and wonderful facts about the fascinating geology of the area. Max elevation 1400m (4593ft) above sea level.
- 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.
- Tagine Cooking Class: Learn all about the quintessential Moroccan dish — tagine. Start with an introduction to the tagine itself (a clay pot) and the different ingredients and spices used. Get hands on with the ingredients and then tantalize your taste buds by indulging in your delicious creations for dinner.
Explore Experiences
Ait Benhaddou
Journey through the mountains to Marrakech, known as the “red city” for its walls, houses, and many mosques built from red clay. After checking into your hotel and resting up, head to a local henna workshop to have your hands painted in this ancient temporary tattooing art. Then, explore the lively Djemaa el Fna, an ancient marketplace still used as the main square in Marrakech. After, enjoy free time to discover more of Marrakech.
Accommodation:
Dellarosa Boutique Hotel
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Guided Marrakech Henna Art Café Experience: The Henna Art Café is located in the heart of the Marrakech Medina. Pick your design from a gallery or ask for something unique, then watch as a skilled artist adorns your skin with intricate patterns of all-natural henna. Admire your new body art as you enjoy a cup of tea.
- Djemaa El Fna Market Square Walk: Wander past fresh orange juice stalls and water sellers in colourful costumes reminiscent of an era past. See storytellers, magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines as the day progresses. When the sun sets, the square fills with dozens of food stalls, and is packed with locals, entertaining chefs, and waiters.
- Free Time: Spend free time relaxing at one of the tea houses around the square, indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea, or opt to take a city tour to see more of the city.
Explore Experiences
Djemaa el-Fna Square
Wake up as the call to prayer echoes across the city. After breakfast, set out on a guided walk through the narrow, maze-like streets of the medina, lined with colorful shops brimming with rugs, spices, and much more. Spend the rest of the day exploring Marrakech on your own, or opt to explore the Marjorelle Garden. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner in a traditional riad, a grand house with an elegant interior courtyard.
Accommodation:
Dellarosa Boutique Hotel
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Marrakech Medina Guided Tour: Head into the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina to really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech. Shop to your heart’s content in the souk and search out spices, traditional jalabas and slippers, or the famous Moroccan lanterns. Visit the Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Madrasa - an Islamic college in Marrakech built in the 14th-century and reconstructed in the 16th-century. Rebuilt by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib in 1564, it housed up to 800 students across 130 small dormitory cells. Explore this fine example of Moroccan craftsmanship, featuring a central marble courtyard with a reflective pool, elaborate Zellij tilework, and intricate carvings in cedar wood and stucco.
- Free Time: Spend free time relaxing at one of the tea houses around the square, indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea, or opt to take a city tour to see more of the city.
- Farewell Dinner in a Traditional Riad: A traditional Moroccan house with a beautiful interior courtyard is the setting for tonight's farewell dinner with the group. Enjoy a meal with your new found friends and reminisce about the fantastic adventure you've all had.
Optional Experiences
- Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Museum: One of Marrakech's most iconic sites, Jardin Majorelle was a masterpiece from French artist Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Take in the beautifully designed botanical gardens, exotic plants, fountains, and the famous cobalt-blue architecture known as "Majorelle Blue". Next, visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum located next to the striking gardens, dedicated to the life and work of Yves Saint Laurent. The museum showcases a rotating collection of the designer’s iconic creations, sketches, photographs, and personal archives, highlighting his connection to Morocco and his influence on fashion and art. **Please note - This activity cannot be purchased locally due to limited availability and must be confirmed in advance
- Marrakech Medina Walk and Spice Shop: Let a local guide show you the best of Marrekech. Head into the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina to really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech. See the Koutoubia Minaret and head to a spice shop to discover an array of Moroccan spices.
Explore Experiences
Majorelle Gardens
Palais Bahia
Depart at any time.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Trip Inclusions
- Explore a maze of narrow alleys in the walled village of Aït Ben Haddou.
- Learn to cook traditional Moroccan tagine.
- Discover a sea of sand on an expedition into the Sahara.
- Enter a world of color in the medina of Marrakech.
- Experience Morocco’s rich Amazigh (Berber) heritage.
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Sahara Dunes & Culture Excursion, Merzouga
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
- Your Family Journeys Moment: Guided Atlas Film Studios Tour, Ouarzazate
- Your Foodie Moment: Tagine Cooking Class, Aït Ben Haddou
- Your Family Journeys Moment: Guided Marrakech Henna Art Café Experience, Marrakech
- Arrival transfer
- Amazigh village visit and Amazigh pizza lunch
- Dades Gorge guided walk
- Visit Aït Ben Haddou
- Tagine cooking demonstration
- Walk in Djemaa el Fna square
- Marrakech medina guided walk including Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa square
- All tips included for activities and meals, except for Expedition Leader and porterage
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Private air-con minivan/coach, 4x4 vehicle, walking
- 2 National Geographic Expedition Leaders throughout, local guides
- Hotels (8 Nights)
- Rooming is based on double occupancy (2 passengers / 2 beds per room); all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will try to accommodate triples/quad requests whenever possible and it's important to note that rooming configuration can change from city to city and 2 single beds are the standard configuration in a room.
- Please remember that hotel/lodge standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel.
- Morocco is a developing country and as such the infrastructure is not as reliable as you would expect at home. Expect quirky plumbing and the odd cold shower!
- 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, more giving you meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: National Geographic Journeys
These small group tours combine meaningful cultural experiences with upgraded comfort and expert insight. Many itineraries include visits to community projects supported by G Adventures or National Geographic, offering a chance to connect with people and places in a more impactful way.
With more inclusions than other travel styles, character-filled accommodations and exclusive pre-trip reading to set the scene, these adventures are ideal for travellers who want to explore thoughtfully and return inspired.
Dates & Pricing
AUD
Saturday
01 Aug 2026
01 Aug 26
Marrakesh
Sunday
09 Aug 2026
09 Aug 26
Marrakesh
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$2,549
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
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 Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
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 Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
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 G Adventures. 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.
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 G Adventures. 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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