Tangier & the Rif Mountains to Marrakech

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Nature First Adventures

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10 Days from

USD 1,849

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AMN

Unlock a diverse land of medinas and mountains, riads and ruins, blue towns and buzzy souks

Journey deep into northern Morocco to visit unique towns and cities, each thick in a one-off blend of history and intrigue. Taking two time-saving train rides, we visit dramatically diverse destinations; there’s the bright-blue town of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, the remarkable Roman ruins at Volubilis, the intellectual and religious hub of Fez and the surprisingly calm capital - Rabat. We end in vibrant Marrakech, touring mazey souks and standing in Djemaa el Fna square, a pulsating mix of snake charmers, juice vendors and trinket sellers.

Highlights

Tour the mighty oceanside Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
Wander the bright blue streets of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains
Step back in time with a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis
Visit the myth-soaked Cave of Hercules near Tangier
Meet artisans and makers in the souks and tanneries of Fez
Navigate the Marrakech souks in search of a bargain

Key Information

Travel by trains and air-conditioned private minibus
Nine nights in hotels
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone

Countries visited: Morocco

What's Included

Nine breakfasts and one dinner included
All accommodation
Airport transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas or vaccinations
Single supplement

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income used to upkeep and develop these important sites. We visit several heritage sites on this trip.
We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Our local partners have reached B Corp Certification which requires that they demonstrate high levels of social and environmental performance.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

The adventure begins in Casablanca, a modern port city and business hub on the edge of the Atlantic. We have a welcome briefing in the evening, in which we gather for the first time as a group and you can ask any questions you may have.

Accommodation: Hotel Imperial (or similar)

We couldn’t leave Casablanca without first visiting the Hassan II Mosque, an intricately decorated temple with room for 105,000 people. A picturesque position on a promontory in the Atlantic is complemented by exquisite Moroccan stylings, including wood and stone carvings, marble floors and fine local tiles known as zellige. It’s also one of just two Moroccan mosques that non-Muslims can visit. Please note, knees and upper arms must be covered to enter.

After, we travel two hours’ north by high-speed train (TGV) to Tangier, a coastal city perhaps best known for being a one-time favourite for artists, counter-culturalists, Beat writers and rock stars, before investment brought economic development and a more modern sheen to the city. We visit the medina this afternoon, where an ancient kasbah and stalls selling food, spices, rugs, textiles are wrapped by the walls of an ancient Portuguese fortress.

Accommodation: Hotel Challa (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we head across the coast; if it’s a clear day, we may even be able to see Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar. We head to the rocky promontory of Cape Spartel, which marks the extreme northwest of Africa, to visit the atmospheric Cave of Hercules where the ancient hero is said to have rested after dividing the European and African continents. We also visit Parc Perdicaris, a tree-filled green space with Mediterranean views, for a gentle stroll.

Next, we transfer to Chefchaouen (2hr 30min), a painted-blue city layering a slope in the Rif Mountains. On arrival, we have a short orientation tour around the narrow vibrant streets, stopping outside the 15^th-century Grand Mosque, and (dependent on time) walking to the hilltop Spanish Mosque for sunset and beautiful views.

Accommodation: Dar Mounir, Hotel Ziryab, Puerta Azul (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have the choice today of exploring Chefchaouen on our own or taking an optional guided walk to Akchour Waterfalls, about an hour's drive away (extra cost).

For the latter, we explore the area around the falls, where mountains, rivers and waterfalls create an idyllic landscape. We also take a detour to the God’s Bridge rock formation before walking through the cool, verdant forest to visit the Akchour Waterfalls.

Accommodation: Dar Mounir, Hotel Ziryab, Puerta Azul (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Following free time in Chefchaouen this morning, we leave the Rif Mountains and drive to Fez, a scenic journey of about 4hr 30min, passing through rural landscapes that become increasingly agricultural. In Fez, we enjoy a pastilla for dinner, a pastry-wrapped savoury dish and a Moroccan delicacy.

Accommodation: Riad Dar Tafilalet (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we discover Fez, the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, the city has many mosques and medersas (theological colleges), including the ninth-century al-Karaouine University, said to be the oldest still-running university in the world.

We join our city guide on an intriguing exploration, cutting through the souks where vendors sell leather, brass, copper and ceramics, and visiting the tanneries. We also journey outside the medina to visit the Jewish District and admire the elaborately decorated doors of the Royal Palace, before driving to a viewpoint for vistas over the medina.

Accommodation: Riad Dar Tafilalet (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast we travel to Volubilis, a Unesco World Heritage site housing the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Despite damage caused by an earthquake in 1755, this important Roman town retains detailed (and very beautiful) mosaics.

We travel to Meknes for lunch (not included) and explore the medina, where we see Lahdim Square (a scaled-down version of Djemma el Fna in Marrakech) and the monumental Bab El Mansour gates. We continue by road (two hours) to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.

Accommodation: Imperial Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have the morning in Rabat, a city that feels calmer than many in Morocco and is less visited by tourists. We start with a visit to the Kasbah of the Udayas, originally a small Arab fortification, later settled by Andalucians. Next is the unfinished (yet still impressive) Hassan Tower, a 140ft (43m) tall red-stone minaret dominating the Rabat skyline. Adjacent is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the resting place of the eponymous king and his two sons, Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.

From Rabat, we take a late afternoon train, travelling in first-class compartments to Marrakech, a journey of just under four hours.

Accommodation: Hotel Meriem (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

In Marrakech, we have a half-day guided tour to soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city. Our guide will take us to the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, and end in Djemma el Fna, where the town becomes a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. It is also worth visiting at night when this renowned landmark comes to life with food stalls, snake charmers, juice sellers and acrobats.

Accommodation: Hotel Meriem (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our tour ends after breakfast in Marrakech. If you’d like to spend more time in this electric city, speak to your sales representative to extend your stay.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Vaccination

Eating and Drinking

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent, though not particularly varied. 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: 80-200 dirhams (US$8-US$19)
- Small towns and villages: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Soft drinks in restaurants: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-US$1.90)
Alcohol:
- Beer: 30-50 dirhams (US$2.85-US$5)
- Wine: 150 dirhams (US$14) 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.

Please note, if you have any special dietary requirements, you should 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.

Weather

From April to June and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly hot with temperatures averaging 26C (79F) in the day and 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 similar to those in Marrakech with the nights usually a little cooler and the days a little hotter. Mountain temperatures are cooler than in Marrakech.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

It provides an excellent introduction to northern Morocco with a relatively busy itinerary. We travel by train and private minibus (usually 18-seater for a group of 16) and there are a couple of long drives. Although there is an organised itinerary every day, the walks are optional. Morocco generally enjoys a good year-round climate (sun-soaked in the summer and reasonably warm in the winter, though rain is certainly possible in winter months).

Ramadan is expected to run from 10 March 2024 to 10 April 2024. This is one of the most important periods in the Muslim calendar and a special time to visit. Each evening the streets empty as people break the fast and then there is an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower. Opening times for tourist sites, restaurants and more may be altered, but your leader will know how to adapt the timings to experience all the inclusions on this trip.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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