Recommended

Highlights of Morocco

Name: Highlights of Morocco
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.4 (132 reviews)

132 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Sleep in the Sahara, walk through the Atlas Mountains and tour the great Imperial cities

Experience the very best of Morocco, from mazey medinas and lively souks to the broad-shouldered Atlas Mountains and stretching sands of the Sahara. Over two immersive weeks, we ride a camel over desert dunes, sip mint tea with friendly Amazigh hosts, navigate the ancient ksar of Ait Benhaddou and enjoy a remote village walk through the High Atlas range. There’s also time to visit the Todra Gorge and tour all four great Imperial Cities of Morocco: Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech.

One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why
We run so many incredible trips to Africa that it takes something truly special to be top of the pack. This adventure has done just that, being one of our most popular Africa trips of last year. Upgraded hotels for the 2026 season mean this adventure will be better than ever! − Holly Parkinson, destination expert

Key Information

Trip Code: AMH
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Morocco
Carbon Footprint: 16kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 13 Classic nights (6 riad, 4 hotel, 2 lodge and 1 auberge), 1 Simple night (Sahara camp)
All breakfasts and five dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Immerse yourself in the very best of Morocco, guided by our expert tour leader
Discover all four Imperial Cities: Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech
Journey through the Sahara by camel and stay in a traditional desert camp
Explore the grand ksar
Visit Tighza, a remote Amazigh village that has welcomed our groups for years
Relax in laid-back Essaouira, an old Portuguese fishing port on the Atlantic

Itinerary

First Destination: Marrakech
Next Destination: Marrakech

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Marrakech
Next Destination: Marrakech

Buzzy Marrakech is a whirlwind of tradition and culture, an invigorating introduction to Morocco. However, today is a relaxing one, a chance for our group to congregate and settle in.

Usually around 6pm, you’ll say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome over dinner together.

Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Dinner

We drive (3hr 30min, including a coffee stop) to Casablanca this morning, a modern and commercial seaport. Here, we visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, which has a soaring 655ft (200m) minaret and a sliding ceiling to enable the sea breeze to cool the building. We have a guided tour of the mosque and the stunning ablutions hall with a local specialist. Please note: knees and upper arms must be covered.

After, we drive (1hr 30min) to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, but second to Casablanca in importance. Here, we have free time to explore. Although mostly modern, Rabat has an excellent old town, where you can see distinctive buildings with Moorish and Andalusian designs. Also visit the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) before continuing to the busy souk to sample locally made treats, such as harsha (a semolina bread) with the special almond paste, amlou.

Accommodation: Hotel Musee/Executive Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Strike out from Rabat on a 2hr 30min drive (with a stop in Khemisset) over the northern plain towards Meknes. The scenery changes as the land becomes more cultivated, this being one of the most fertile areas of Morocco. In Meknes, we meet our local guide for an exploratory walk in the old town. Built in the Spanish-Moorish style, the medina has crumbling ramparts with nine immense gates. We plunge into a busy local market, where vendors vie for attention and craftsmen sharpen their tools, before walking to El Hedim square, a scaled-down version of Djemaa El Fna in Marrakech. Then, we stand before the monumental Bab El Mansour gate, which was built in 1732.

In the afternoon, we take a 45-minute drive to the largest and best-kept Roman ruins in Morocco: Volubilis, once a large Roman town and now a World Heritage site. Under the Romans, it was an affluent city. This can be seen in the beautiful second-century forum, the basilica and the capitol. We wander through the streets, discovering remains of townhouses with mosaic floors and see baths, oil presses, aqueducts and shops, all of which reveal the daily lives of the inhabitants.

After exploring this site with a local guide, we continue our drive (approximately two hours) to the ancient city of Fez, where we spend two nights.

Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

The fascinating city of Fez is the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, it has many mosques and medersas (theological colleges), including the ninth-century al-Karaouine University, whose architecture is very similar to that seen in Moorish Spain. Fez medina is one of the largest in the world, an immense warren of souks, home to thousands of craftsfolk with their tiny shops opening onto the narrow alleyways. Noisy and pungent, the medina is an absorbing experience. Our city guide walks us through different sections of the souk, including those selling leather, brass and copper. No visit to Fez is complete without a visit to the tanneries. Outside the medina, we visit the Jewish District (mellah), the exterior of the Royal Palace and drive up to a panoramic viewpoint over the city.

Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today, we travel to the edge of the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world. It’s a nine-hour journey but with frequent stops and beautiful scenery along the way. We travel over the stunning Middle Atlas, down through the picturesque Ziz Valley and to the spectacular site of the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. We stay in a small and welcoming auberge (inn) by the dunes. Tonight is a good time to pack your overnight bag for the Sahara.

Accommodation: Auberge La Caravane (or similar)

Drive time: Nine hours

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

A free morning means we have time to explore the largest erg (sand sea) in Morocco, or to relax in the shade of a palm tree by the dunes. The sand sea is famed for its pink tones that take on a spectacular rose colour at sunset.

In the late afternoon, we take part in a classic Saharan experience – a 45-minute camel trek through the dunes, where we watch the sunset (it is also possible to walk). We then return to the edge of the desert to spend the night in a camp. This evening, we enjoy a home-cooked meal and sit under the stars.

Accommodation: Azawad Camp (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

After sunrise, we leave our desert camp and head towards the little city of Skoura, which is nestled on a beautiful palm grove near Ouarzazate. Following the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, we have vistas of ancient kasbahs nestled in lush palm groves.

After around four hours of driving, we stop to explore Todra Gorge. We take a short walk along a narrow road through the gorge and have time to take photos. Of course, there is also the usual pop-up souvenir stalls to tempt you.

Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)

Drive time: Seven hours with three stops

Meals included:Breakfast

There is the opportunity to take a one-hour drive to Toundout Valley and enjoy a four-hour guided hike through an Amazigh village, where you learn a little of their culture. Alternatively, relax in and around the lodge, walking through the lush palm groves. Considered the palm grove capital of Morocco, Skoura offers peace and relaxation through its various walks discovering multiple palm groves and kasbahs.

Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving Skoura, we rejoin the main road and drive west along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs via the desert city of Ouarzazate and to the well-preserved ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most spectacular in the Atlas range, and the location of several Hollywood films including Gladiator (2000). Here we tour atmospheric alleys and see the earthen walls of the dwellings.

Continuing into the mountains, we branch east through a wide flat mountain valley, finally arriving at Anmiter, where we leave our bus and take a 1hr 30min to 2hr walk on an uphill gradient to the Amazigh village of Tighza, where we spend the next two nights. Tighza is a rural village set in the Atlas mountains. From the terrace of our Riad you can look down into the valley and enjoy the sunset over the surrounding mountains. It is a peaceful retreat and provides the opportunity to meet local villagers and share their way of life. Our luggage is transported to the village for us. For those who do not want to walk, mules are available (170 dirhams, payable locally).

We’re greeted with a mint tea on arrival at the village.

Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)

Drive time: 1hr 30min

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

We start our day with an optional walk through the villages of the Tighza Valley, heading into the hills on mule tracks with the High Atlas peaks as our backdrop. The length of our trek depends on the group’s ability, but it is likely to be approximately four hours. The afternoon is free to relax with a book, enjoy the mountain views, take a stroll through the beautiful landscape or challenge the village children to a game of football.

Tighza is one of just four villages in this remote valley and has been supported by us for more than 10 years through various responsible tourism projects. We visit the village hammam, built with money raised by our clients. This is an authentic experience and terrific fun. It is very much a traditional hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. A standard treatment is included, but you need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20 dirhams (US$1.90) plus a customary tip of 20 dirhams. Refreshed, we return to the accommodation for our final dinner in the mountains.

Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)

Drive time: 1hr 30min

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving the riad, we take a 2.5mi (4km) walk back to our bus on an unpaved road for a short drive to the palace of Telouet. This once-grand building stands abandoned and crumbling and we have deemed it unsafe to enter; however, we can walk around the outside and take photographs. We continue our scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which at 7,415ft (2,260m) above sea level is the highest road in Morocco. The scenery is spectacular and there are some wonderful views of the mountains. We also stop at a women’s cooperative argan oil farm, where you can see the trees, get a demonstration of the production process, and purchase products if you’d like. Our journey finally brings us to the flat arid plains of Marrakech, and then onwards to the pretty seaside town of Essaouira.

Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)

Drive time: 7hr 30min

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Essaouira, an old Portuguese fishing port overlooking the Atlantic. The settlement dates to the 15th century but the present town was constructed around 1760 by Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah, who needed a base from which to suppress a revolt from Agadir. Today, the town is extremely relaxed and its whitewashed houses with painted shutters, artisan workshops, boatyards and fishermen provide a marked contrast to the desert, kasbahs and cities we have so far visited. Our hotel is situated in the heart of the old walled city, where we have plenty of time for shopping in the souks or strolling along the beach. With many pleasant cafes and some outstanding seafood restaurants, there is plenty of choice for our evening meal.

Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, we drive back to Marrakech. In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour to find our bearings and soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city. Our guide takes us to the opulent Bahia Palace, a one-time royal residence, and ends the adventure in the Djemaa el Fna square, where the town becomes a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. It is worth seeing this renowned landmark in the evening, as Marrakech revolves around this open-air central square, with food stalls, juice sellers and acrobats. It is a place of night-time entertainment for both local people and tourists.

Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Drive time: Three hours

Meals included:Breakfast

Today is free in Marrakech and there is no shortage of things to do. You might wish to visit the largest mosque in the city, Koutoubia, or venture through the souks and old streets of the medina. After bartering for souvenirs, we have time for a short visit to the Koranic School and Museum of Marrakech. After, you could take a 30-minute calèche ride (a bright green horse-drawn carriage) to the Jardin Majorelle. These gardens are decorated throughout in indigo blue and were once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

For lunch, we recommend the Amal Women’s Training Centre and Moroccan Restaurant, which we support in their cause to empower women from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are a non-profit organisation dedicated to training students to become self-sufficient and improving their quality of life through acquiring new skills in a professional restaurant setting. For a superb traditional Moroccan meal and the opportunity to support this worthy cause, do pay them a visit. This evening, it’s common for the group to enjoy a final meal together on Djemaa el Fna.

Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy your final breakfast this morning and take the chance to reflect on your unforgettable Morocco adventure. You’ve navigated lively medinas, ridden a camel in the Sahara and experienced a traditional hammam in the Atlas Mountains. Now, however, is the time to start your journey home and start planning your next adventure.

Alternatively, if you would like to extend your time in Morocco please speak to your sales representative who will be happy to advise.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Call us on 0203 733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Enjoy upgraded hotels

Starting in 2026, we have upgraded some of the accommodations on this adventure, providing an improved experience and an even deeper journey into the culture of Morocco.

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Room upgrades: Upgrade to a higher category of room on Day 1, 13 and 14 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.
Single rooms: You can request a single room on this trip subject to availability. The single supplement applies to hotel nights only and therefore does not cover any nights in the mountains, desert or Sahara camp.

Worth knowing

Morocco is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available at the hotels. Of course, you can ask for more blankets.
In the Sahara camp, we typically stay in two-person tents; however, if the campsite is full, we use four-person tents.

Extend Your Trip

Exclusive Add-ons

Marrakech Hotels & Riads

A city of vibrant souks, ornate palaces and fragrant gardens, where ancient traditions meet modern energy. Extra nights here give you time to wander the medina, relax in hidden courtyards and soak up the city’s atmosphere at your own pace. Here are a few of our favourite hotels to inspire your stay:

Kenzi Rose Garden: Set within expansive landscaped gardens in Marrakech’s Hivernage district, this comfortable hotel offers a peaceful retreat close to the city’s main attractions. With multiple pools, spacious rooms and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s an ideal base for unwinding after exploring the medina.

Riad Moullaoud: Tucked away in the heart of the medina, this traditional riad offers an intimate and authentic Moroccan experience. Centred around a tranquil courtyard with a small pool and rooftop terrace, it’s perfect for travellers wanting charm, character and easy access to Marrakech’s souks.

Es Saadi Marrakech Resort: Located in the upscale Hivernage area, this stylish resort combines luxury accommodation with lush gardens, art-filled interiors and excellent dining. With a large spa, pools and views towards the Atlas Mountains, it offers a refined and relaxing end to your adventure.

This is just a glimpse of what’s possible. Speak to your sales representative, who can guide you through the options and arrange everything for you.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Journeys: To see the highlights of Morocco, there are some long journeys. We are not confined to our vehicle though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch our legs. The approximate drive times are noted in the daily itinerary.

Weather: Temperatures are hot in summer (May to September) but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day for our sightseeing, so expect some early starts. During winter (November to March), the daytime is usually mild, but it can get cold at night, particularly in the desert and mountains, so pack some winter clothes.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today, but we recommend flights that land around midday to ensure you can pass through security and get into the city in good time before our welcome briefing at 6pm. Hotel check-in is from 2pm.
Airport: Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Marrakech Airport (RAK) from the end hotel. If you’re not taking the Exodus transfer, allow three hours for check in, bag drop, immigration and security.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Marrakech airport
The amount of time it takes to get through Marrakech Airport can vary considerably. Therefore, we suggest you mitigate for delays and allow two hours to get through immigration, security and baggage reclaim on arrival. Take a pen with you to complete the arrivals form and have the details of your accommodation to hand for this purpose. Operators are not allowed to wait inside the terminal building for clients, so please find your Exodus representative outside the main doors.

Upon departure from Marrakech, we suggest allowing three hours to navigate the airport: check in, bag drop, immigration and security can take even longer on exit. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid subjecting yourself to further delays.

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis vaccines are all recommended.

There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels. This trip includes a sunset camel ride , which is undertaken at your own risk; we suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Morocco. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Where meals are not included, budget for the following approximate prices.

Lunches: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Dinners:
- In cities: 80-250 dirhams (US$8-US$25)
- In small towns and villages: 60-120 dirhams (US$6-US$12)
Drinks in restaurants
- Soft drinks: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-1.90)
- Beer: 40-80 dirhams (US$4-US$8)
- Wine: 180 dirhams (US$18) and more

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. If you have special dietary requirements, inform us prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (eg coeliac or vegan), you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

From April to June, and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly hot, with temperatures averaging 26C (79F) in the day and falling to 16C (61F) at night. It is unusual for there to be much humidity, so it is quite pleasant except at midday when the sun is very strong. Desert temperatures are like those in Marrakech, with the nights usually a little cooler and the days a little hotter. Mountain temperatures are cooler than in Marrakech.

In winter, the daytime temperatures in Marrakech are around 18C-22C (64F-72F) with night temperatures falling to 4C-7C (39F-45F). The days should be sunny and a particularly attractive feature of winter is the clear views of the snow-covered Atlas. The temperatures in the south are generally a couple of degrees higher than those north of the mountains. There is a small chance of rain and it has even been known to snow very infrequently in January and sometimes February on the higher desert plateau (in which case it is cold at night and early in the morning on the southern side of the Atlas).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Stay in the remote Amazigh village of Tighza to experience mountain life and visit a traditional hammam built with money raised by Exodus travellers
Visit a women’s co-operative argan oil farm to learn firsthand about their business and production process

Mark Nakamura

Added September 2025

An Excellent Value!

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip with Exodus, from Marrakesh to Fez to the desert to the mountains and sea.

Most Inspirational Moment

My highlight was hiking to the mountain hotel and then hiking from there on a day trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sorry, but I forgot.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with Exodus for the best value and experience.

Mark Nakamura

Added September 2025

An Excellent Value!

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip with Exodus, from Marrakesh to Fez to the desert to the mountains and sea.

Most Inspirational Moment

My highlight was hiking to the mountain hotel and then hiking from there on a day trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sorry, but I forgot.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with Exodus for the best value and experience.

Read all reviews

Highlights of Morocco

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Sleep in the Sahara, walk through the Atlas Mountains and tour the great Imperial cities

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Enjoy upgraded hotels

Extend Your Trip

Marrakech Hotels & Riads

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Reviews

A fabulous trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

HIghlights of Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

AMH: Highlights of Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highlights of Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bucket List Trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highlights of Morocco trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

A fabulous trip to Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highlights of Morocco

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

An Excellent Value!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

An Excellent Value!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

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