Best of Morocco Family Holiday

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco – a city modelled after Marseille and famous for its art deco buildings and, of course, the Humphrey Bogart and Ingred Berman classic. Your family adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm. If you have time, a trip to the Hassan II Mosque is a definite highlight of the city – or why not wander around the old medina, watch the locals play football on the beach or sip a glass of sweet mint tea in one of the many cafes? There’s lots to see and do here, so it’s recommended that you arrive a few days earlier and soak up everything Casablanca has to offer.

After breakfast this morning, you and the family will catch a train from Casablanca to Meknes – one of Morocco's four historical capital cities. Foreign trains are always exciting, especially for the kids, so why not play eye as you watch the scenery pass you by along the way? When you arrive, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around town with an opportunity to have lunch at a local cafe in the medina, then the rest of the day is free to explore as a family. Sultan Moulay Ismail turned Meknes from a provincial town into a spectacular Imperial city during the 17th century, and you can now visit his immense Heri es Souani granary and crumbling palaces. Dinner if free for you to explore and find a nice local restaurant for some delicious tagine or barbequed meats. (B/L)

Travel through rolling hills and olive groves to the archaeological site of Volubilis this morning. This World Heritage site was once a provincial Roman capital, a distant outpost of the empire, and the remains are impressive to say the least. Take a tour around the ruins with a local guide, checking out the buildings and fantastic mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus. Continue to Fes, where you’ll spend the next two nights. This is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. It's vibrant, noisy, fascinating and a feast for the senses with a huge, well-preserved Old Town that's the mother of all medinas. The afternoon is free to explore the winding streets and hustle and bustle of this amazing city – there'll be something to surprise and entertain the family at every corner. (B)

After breakfast, take a guided walking tour of the Old City, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back into the Middles Ages as you explore the labyrinth of the medina, which buzzes with craftspeople, markets, tanneries and mosques. This isn't your average shopping centre – donkeys pass through the car-free streets piled high with goods. Watch some traditional potters at work in a ceramics victory and then head to a cosy pottery workshop to make something of your own! Experience the art of this craft with a pottery class from the skilled craftsman, all while supporting the local artisans. The kids will love to get their hands dirty – as you watch your ideas come to life, using the traditional methods of sculpting and modelling the clay. After, explore the speciality sections of the souq and spend some time overlooking the dye pits at the Chauwara Tannery. Tonight, you’re free to find the best spot for dinner. Maybe get together with the other families and enjoy a delicious feast of harira (chickpea soup) and chicken-stuffed pastilla with couscous. (B)

Today it's time to leave the city behind and head for the beauty of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Take a private transfer through fertile valleys, pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. Tell the kids to look out for wandering nomadic shepherds as they tend to their flocks – you might even catch a glimpse of barbary apes – North Africa's only monkey. Arrive in Midelt, a market town originally built as a base for mining and surrounded by farms and orchards. Take a walk exploring the village of Bremmem for an insight into the local farming life, or perhaps check out an optional traditional music performance in Midelt’s heart. (B)

This morning after breakfast, take a private transfer to the mighty Sahara, with plenty of chances to stop and take in the views of kasbahs and palmeries – lush valleys with date palms, fields and orchards. As you pass through towns like Erfoud and Rissani, you'll see the scenery change between barren mountainsides and fertile valleys until you reach the small Saharan village of Merzouga. On arrival, leave your baggage, pack a daypack and saddle up for a one-hour camel ride into the desert at the Erg Chebbi dunes – huge windswept dunes located just 20 kilometres from the Algerian border. Ride your camels into the edge of the Sahara at sunset – this is a core memory waiting to happen! The dunes are truly breathtaking as the evening light plays across them and sets off the deep colours of the desert. Tonight, you’ll camp out in traditional style under the North African stars. Try some fantastic local cuisine while you sit around an open fire, enjoying lively music and dancing under the night sky. (B/D)

If you’re game, rise and shine early enough to catch sunrise over the dunes. This morning, take a scenic drive past ancient kasbahs, former military outposts, mountains, valleys and fields that will take you to Ait Benhaddou. For lunch, stop at Ouarzazate. Does it look familiar? This location is used for many Hollywood blockbusters – be sure to ask your local leader about what's been filmed here! Arrive in Ait Benhaddou – once a crucial stop for caravans as they carried salt across the Sahara. Today, its grand kasbah has been listed as a World Heritage site and you'll enjoy a tour of it in the afternoon. Game of Thrones, Gladiator and many more blockbusters were also filmed here! For dinner, enjoy some classic Moroccan tajine and couscous. (B/L/D)

This morning after breakfast, make your way to the High Atlas Mountains, passing Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2260 metres above sea level!) and Toubkal National Park. Along the way, pass snow-capped mountains and valleys in full flower – there will be some great photo ops here! When you arrive in the town of Aroumd, the kids can climb aboard donkeys and make their way to Imlil (the adults will be on foot and the walk takes about an hour). Witness traditional mountain village life far from the reach of the modern world and arrive in the remote village of Imlil. Perched on a rocky outcrop, Imlil offers stunning views across the High Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to experience traditional Amazigh culture. You’ll spend the night in a family-run mountain home (or gite). Surrounded by the smell of woodstoves and bread, you’ll meet the host family and enjoy some traditional Amazigh hospitality and homecooked food as you swap stories and learn about their lives in the village. (B/D)

This morning, enjoy a bread making demonstration for breakfast and if the kids feel up to it, maybe an early morning walk around the village of Imlil. Head west towards the Atlantic Coast and the old fishing town of Essaouira – a city where the medina brushes up against the Atlantic Ocean. Sandstone walkways contrast with whitewashed houses, bright blue sky and the sand of the surrounding beaches and dunes. This artists' town was once home to sizeable British and Jewish populations, and its charm has seduced people like Orson Welles and Jimi Hendrix, who (according to local legend) spent much of his time here in the 1960s. As you will arrive in the afternoon, there will be still some time for exploring. Your tour leader will guide you through some options for the rest of the day. Observing the daily seafood auctions is always a fun thing to do, and you might like to visit one of the small local cafes and do a spot of people watching. In the evening, maybe catch up with your group to share a seafood dinner. (B)

After breakfast, join your leader on a walk around the town. The remainder of today is free for you to explore Essaouira as a family.  Everything in the small centre is within walking distance, and the coast is perfect for a beach day. Why not wander the harbour and its adjacent fish markets where you can witness the daily auction? A fresh-cooked plate of the day's catch is highly recommended. Browse some of the many shops and art galleries where unique local pieces are on display. This town is also becoming renowned for its burled Thuya wood, delicately formed and inlaid in tiny shops. The scent from the oils used to polish the richly coloured wood permeates the air and makes walking through the streets incredibly rich for the senses. (B)

Leaving Essaouira behind, journey inland to Marrakech. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the city centre with your leader when you arrive, taking in the main sights on your way to the sprawling Djemaa el-Fna Square and souq. As is usual in a souq, individual trades and crafts are concentrated in one street or area, so the shoemakers are all next to each other, as are the jewellers, potters and weavers. This is the best place in Morocco to sharpen your bargaining skills, and you are almost certain to be tempted by some of the extraordinary merchandise on display – maybe a pair of traditional Moroccan slippers or some spices? The market almost has the atmosphere of a medieval fair – so the kids are sure to love it. Street performers vie to entertain you and there are so many sights, sounds and smells to draw you in. In the evening, wonderful smells waft by as food stalls cook up their local delicacies – you’ll no doubt want to try as much as you can for dinner tonight! (B/D)

Your family adventure comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for the final day and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time. (B)