Casablanca, Marrakesh, Dades, Erfoud, Fez and Rabat
Spiced with North African culture and a soupçon of French flavor, Morocco captivates with its old-world traditions and magnificent landscapes. Our escorted Morocco tour from the U.S. encompasses must-see destinations like Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fez and Rabat. And, if you like, a noble camel will take you on an unforgettable ride during a full-day Sahara Desert excursion. (Cue theme song from Lawrence of Arabia!) You’ll also have time to savor the country’s delightful customs, like the ritual of Moroccan tea, and delectable cuisine—couscous, tagine and pastilla. From ocean to oasis, mountains to mosques and souks to UNESCO World Heritage sites, majestic Morocco will charm you with its vibrant contrasts and warm Mediterranean lifestyle.
Itinerary at
a Glance
- 1 night in Casablanca
- 3 nights in Marrakesh
- 1 night in Boumalne Dades
- 2 nights in Erfoud
- 2 nights in Fez
- 1 night in Rabat
Tour
Highlights
Your Tour
Includes
- Round-trip airfare from New York (JFK)
- Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Morocco ground transportation and transfers
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 17 meals: 10 full buffet breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L) and 5 dinners (D)
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
TOUR ITINERARY
Arrive in Casablanca
Apologies to Bogie, but here begins a beautiful friendship with Casablanca and this amazing country. After a morning arrival in Morocco’s economic and cultural center, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Tour Director. Casablanca’s history—well, it’s complicated. Influences range from French to Spanish to Portuguese to Arab to British. You’ll catch a few of these influences on a guided tour, starting with a visit to the ornate Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret in the world. You’ll see some of Casablanca’s neighborhoods along the way to the city center….
Casablanca/Marrakesh
Today we’ll experience another medina, which is a historic part of a city, typically walled and with labyrinthine streets. After a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll travel to Marrakesh, home of a UNESCO World Heritage medina. Our afternoon tour starts at the 16th-century Saadian Tombs and continues to the Koutoubia Mosque and a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, Bahia Palace. The highlight will be wandering past palm readers, snake charmers, acrobats and musicians to the medina’s main square, the famous Jemaa el-Fna. Evening is at leisure.
2021…
Marrakesh/Essaouira Excursion
Our destination for a full-day excursion is Essaouira, a town on the Atlantic coast with beautifully preserved Moroccan charm. Along the way, we’ll stop at the Marjana Cooperative to see how argan oil, highly in demand for cosmetics and cooking, is extracted. In Essaouira, we’ll walk along a beautiful fortified wall north of Moulay Hassan Square and on to Skala de la Ville for gorgeous views of bright blue fishing boats in the harbor. We’ll have time to explore yet another medina, where artists hone centuries-old crafts and merchants in the many souks (markets) sell spices and…
Marrakesh/Boumalne Dades
Our journey through majestic Morocco continues across the High Atlas Mountains and the spectacular Tichka Pass to Boumalne Dades. We’ll stop for a brief tour of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This giant fortification, which showcases a unique example of pise clay architecture, has been a filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You’ll have time for lunch on your own before we continue to our final destination today: Boumalne Dades. Prepare to be wowed by this town set on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Tonight, savor an included dinner at your…
Boumalne Dades/Erfoud
Today, we’ll marvel at one of Morocco’s most visited natural sights, the lush Todra Palmeraie Gorge with its dramatic 985-foot-high walls. Our walking tour affords plenty of spectacular photo ops! Our travels continue to Erfoud, described as an oasis and “the Door to the Desert.” Enjoy dinner at the hotel and rest up for tomorrow’s once-in-a-lifetime Sahara itinerary.
2021 Departures: Kasbah Hotel Xaluca Erfoud or similar
2022 Departures: Kasbah Hotel Chergui or similar
| Breakfast,…
Sahara Desert Experience
The only word for today’s full-day excursion is unforgettable! We’ll start in Rissani, a caravan center with a large vibrant souk at its heart, where we’ll hop into a 4×4 caravan to venture into the desert, winding through small villages before stopping in serene Tissardmine for a picnic lunch. As we ascend the peak of Erg Chebbi, prepare to be blown away by the desert vastness. We’ll “trade up” to camels for the real deal: a ride through the Merzouga dunes on camelback! Loaded with memories (and photos) you can’t wait to share, we’ll return to the hotel after sunset…
Fez
Fez is home to the oldest university in the world, and today we’ll join a local expert to learn more about this 1,200-year-old city, which was Morocco’s capital for 400 years and stands as one of the world’s largest, best-preserved medieval fortified cities. Our full-day exploration includes the Fez el Bali Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where life unfolds as it did centuries ago. We’ll wander the famous souks known for authentic Moroccan carpets and ceramics. After the high energy of the souks, a quiet lunch in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard)…
Rabat
After breakfast, drive to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and fifth largest city. Upon arrival, spend the afternoon touring the many fascinating historic sites in Morocco’s coastal capital of Rabat. You’ll see the 19th-century Royal Palace and the city’s “Gate of the Winds” (also known as Bab Rouah). Visit Hassan Tower, the minaret of an incomplete mosque that was originally intended to be the world’s largest. Construction started in 1195 and then came to a halt in 1199 after Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour passed away. Continue on to the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the…
Guided Tour Pricing
Price includes round-trip airfare from the U.S. (Land-only pricing available on request.)
| Depart | Return | Depart - Return | Best Value Pricing - Reserve by Apr 30, 2021 | Reserve after Apr 30, 2021 |
Select Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021 | w/ eCheck Discount | Sale | After Sale | ||
| September 21 | October 2 | Sep 21 - Oct 2 |
$2,999 | $3,099 | $3,399 |
Book Now: |
| October 5 | October 16 | Oct 5 - Oct 16 |
$2,899 | $2,999 | $3,299 |
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| November 2 | November 13 | Nov 2 - Nov 13 |
$2,799 | $2,899 | $3,199 |
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| 2022 | 2022 | w/ eCheck Discount | Sale | After Sale | ||
| February 1 | February 12 | Feb 1 - Feb 12 |
$2,599 | $2,699 | $2,999 |
Book Now: |
| March 15 | March 26 | Mar 15 - Mar 26 |
$2,799 | $2,899 | $3,199 |
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| April 19 | April 30 | Apr 19 - Apr 30 |
$2,799 | $2,899 | $3,199 |
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| May 10 | May 21 | May 10 - May 21 |
$2,799 | $2,899 | $3,199 |
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| September 6 | September 17 | Sep 6 - Sep 17 |
$2,999 | $3,099 | $3,399 |
Book Now: |
| October 4 | October 15 | Oct 4 - Oct 15 |
$2,799 | $2,899 | $3,199 |
Book Now: |
| November 8 | November 19 | Nov 8 - Nov 19 |
$2,599 | $2,699 | $2,999 |
Book Now: |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
2021 & 2022 Departures: Single room supplement is $599
Mar 10 Departure: This is a women-only departure. To learn more about the added experiences, please click here.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am – 5:30pm EST) at 800-337-7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made by phone (1-800-337-7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $99 per person for all 2021 departures, and $300 per person for all 2022 departures. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Baggage fees may apply. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Optional Tours Customize your trip with these optional tours.
*NEW* Indicated optional tours are now available to pre-book when you reserve your trip. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Availability and pricing are subject to change. Optional tours require a minimum number of participants in order for the tour to operate. If you choose to book your optional tour while on your trip, payments are non-refundable and should be made by cash or credit card (VISA, MasterCard or AmEx, subject to service charge).
Couscous Cooking Demonstration and Gardens with Lunch
- Marrakesh
- From approx. $95 Per Person, lunch included
Proceed to the Majorelle Gardens. First created in the 1920s, these beautiful botanical gardens have been owned and maintained by French artists since their creation – first by painter Jacques Majorelle, then fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Once on the grounds, also visit the
Majorelle Museum which displays a collection of Berber objects such as art, jewelry, and clothing. Later we begin with an instructional cooking demonstration of how the traditional Berber dish, couscous, is made. In a beautiful authentic restaurant near Djeema el Fna Square, learn from a local chef how to…
Local Farm Full-Day Excursion & Retreat
- Marrakesh
- From approx. $189 Per Person, light lunch and dinner included
Full-day tour starting at 11:00 AM
This retreat experience will start with a pickup from your hotel at 10:00 AM by our English-speaking driver aboard a deluxe car for a short trip to the Ourika region. Upon arrival at the entrance to the trail, you will switch to a camel ride for transfer to the farm. A welcome drink is served by the farm host, followed by a small tour of the property. Enjoy a light lunch served at 12:30 PM followed by a 20-minute meditation on the roof of the farmhouse (yoga class optional at request). Enjoy your leisure time at the swimming pool,…
Majorelle Garden & Yves Saint Laurent Museum
- Marrakesh
- From approx. $32 Per Person
Half-day tour starting at 9:00 AM
Enjoy a morning tour of Majorelle Gardens. It took French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) forty years of passion and dedication to create this enchanting garden in the heart of the “Ochre City”. You will walk along shady lanes, passing exotic trees, plants, and streams as well as pools filled with water lilies and lotus flowers. You will experience the air laden with sugared fragrance and hear the chirping of the numerous birds that take refuge here. Your visit also includes Yves St Laurent and the Berber Museums.
Please…
Farm to Table Cooking Experience
- Marrakesh
- From approx. $77 Per Person, dinner included
Half-day Tour starting at 3:00 PM
Drive to a local farm 20 minutes from Marrakesh. Upon arrival, you will have an exceptional gastronomic experience with an award-winning Executive Chef. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of North Africa’s rich food culture, the chef has curated a custom tour of his culinary world. Join him as he walks you through the mind of a Moroccan chef. From picking out fresh produce in the souks of his hometown of Marrakesh, to sampling spices for the perfect flavor, to watching artisanal fillo dough made from scratch in front of your eyes, the chef will…
Featured Accommodations
Before You Depart
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Flights from the U.S. and back are on the following schedules. Please make sure to allow sufficient time for clearing customs and immigration if you are planning a connecting flight. We recommend at least three-and-a-half hours. Please note that flight schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
| Departure Date | Airline | Depart | Return |
| 2021: Sep. 21, Oct. 5 | Royal Air Maroc | 8:45PM | 4:00 PM |
| 2021: Nov. 2 | Royal Air Maroc | 8:45 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 2022: All Dates | Royal Air Maroc | TBA | TBA |
ADVANCE SEAT ASSIGNMENT
Royal Air Maroc does not assign seats in advance, and smarTours® is not involved in seat assignments. Seat assignments can only be arranged at the airport upon check-in.
LAND-ONLY TRAVELERS
International flights to/from the U.S. are not included. Land-only travelers are responsible for arranging entry and exit flights, as well as their arrival and departure transfers. smarTours cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by air schedule changes and delays. Unused land services are non-refundable.
Main Tour: Land-only services start upon independent check-in at Casablanca hotel on Day 2 of the itinerary listed on our tour page. Land-only services end after breakfast at your hotel in Rabat on Day 13 of the itinerary listed on our tour page. Transfer to Casablanca airport is not included.
PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION
You must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. U.S. citizens do not require visas. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the respective consulates for current visa requirements to all their travel destinations. Please remember that it is your responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents before the trip.
TICKETS AND FINAL DOCUMENTS
Your airline tickets, along with final instructions and additional travel tips, will be sent to you 7–10 days before the scheduled departure of your tour. Please make sure to advise us in case your address changes.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Immunizations are not currently required. However, you may wish to consult your personal physician, local public health authorities or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as to their suggestions.
CLIMATE
The temperature in Morocco ranges from the mid-50s to the mid-70s in the fall and spring, the mid-60s to mid-90s in the summer and mid-40s to mid-60s during the winter.
Clothing
Some religious sites may require more conservative attire (no sleeveless tops, short skirts or shorts).
NON-INCLUDED MEALS
You may dine at the hotels or restaurants recommended by your Tour Director. Average cost for a hotel dinner (excluding drinks) is about $15-20 per person. Your hotel will accept credit cards for your non-included meals, but not all restaurants will do so.
CREDIT CARDS AND LOCAL CURRENCY
Hotels and some stores accept major credit cards. However, for “street shopping” you will need local currency or U.S. Dollars. Your hotels will be able to exchange cash to local currency or you can withdraw local currency from an ATM. It is recommended that you bring along cash in small denominations.
BAGGAGE
Each passenger may bring one piece of checked-in luggage (suitcase) max. 44 pounds, and one carry-on not exceeding 18”x10”x8”. We recommend that you do not overpack and that you take a variety of casual separates with climate and comfort in mind.