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 women-only 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. Meet a Moroccan designer at her boutique and learn more about how Kaftans are made from the fabrics and materials to the assembly and finishes. You’ll also enjoy a cooking class and dinner in the home of a local Berber family, and discuss “History, Culture, and Female Sovereigns in Morocco” with a university professor in a traditional Riad. 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.
Looking for a roommate or to connect with other women before your trip? Join our smarTours Women-Only Facebook group! Visit the group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145762302478350/) and click the + Join Group button!
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 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
- Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)
- Koutobia Minaret (Marrakesh)
- Jemaa el-Fna (Marrakesh)
- Essaouira Medina
- Cooking Class with a Berber Family
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Todra Palmeraie Gorge (Erfoud)
- Erg Chebbi Desert
- Camel Ride in the Dunes
- Royal Palace (Rabat)
- Kaftan-Making Demonstration
- Henna Workshop & Tattoo Experience
- “History, Cultures, and Female Sovereigns in Morocco” Presentation
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Morocco ground transportation and transfers
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 20 meals: 10 full buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 8 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
Max Group Size: 20 travelers
Activity Level: Intermediate
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Balanced
Expect either half-day or full-day tours most days with a free day or free half-day to explore independently in most cities. There may be a few early mornings or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 3+ nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
In Dades, the accommodation is a riad. Riads are traditional multi-story Moroccan homes that have been converted into hotels. Riads do not have elevators and will require the use of stairs. In the Sahara, there is uneven and bumpy terrain. You may choose to opt out of the camel ride in the desert and stay in a restaurant or enjoy free time at the pool. There are two long days of driving with sightseeing along the way.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Find your special women-only tour experiences in bold in the itinerary below.
Click the Day by Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Apologies to Bogie, but here begins a beautiful friendship with Casablanca and this amazing country. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will have a morning arrival in Morocco’s economic and cultural center and will be greeted at the airport by our 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. Sights include Mohamed V Square, the French-inspired Habous Quarter (also known as the New Medina) and the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral. Your day concludes with an orientation meeting and a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Odyssee Center or similar
Meals: Dinner
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.
Accommodations: The Savoy Le Grand Hotel Marrakech or similar
Meals: Breakfast
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 jewelry, before returning to Marrakesh for a free evening.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, attend a Kaftan workshop! We'll meet a Moroccan designer at her boutique and then continue to her workshop where we'll draw from her extensive knowledge and experience in fabrics and the other materials used to make the garment. Learn more about her process from the design ideas and first sketches to assembly and finishes with each step executed with the greatest care and mastery.
Then, head to a Henna Workshop and meet local women highly experienced in the art of Henna. You can choose to have your own design or choose from a collection of henna tattoos. Enjoy a discussion about the history of Jenna in Morocco while you wait for your Henna to dry.
Afterward, we'll discover the gorgeous Atlas Mountains, North Africa's greatest mountain range. En route, admire majestic views of snowcapped mountains and spy the tiny Berber villages nestled in the hills. First, we'll stop in Asni, a small town on the way to Toubkal Mountains and then Imlil, a favorite hitching post for mountain trekkers. Our mode of transportation shifts from car to mule as we ride to the hilltop Imlil where we’ll be greeted by a local family and invited into their home for traditional Berber bread and mint tea. With the help of our guide, you’ll have the opportunity to talk with the family and immerse ourselves in their way of life. Join them for a cooking class and unlock the secrets of the recipes they’ve mastered over the years. You’ll end the evening with an inside perspective on one of the world’s most highly cherished cuisines and with an early dinner with the family.
Note: Please note that the only way up Imlil hill is by mule or walking.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 hotel.
Accommodations: 2022 Departures: Hotel Riad Bahammou or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodations: 2022 Departures: Kasbah Hotel Chergui or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 4x4 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 for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After departing Erfoud, we’ll journey through the scenic Middle Atlas mountain range, while admiring it’s lush forested slopes brimming with cedar and oak trees. You’ll have a chance to see Ifrane, a picturesque ski area, and in the evening, when we reach Fez, catch the magical city lights as we arrive.
Accommodations: Hotel L'Escale or similar
Meals: Breakfast
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) will be most welcome. We will also see the Nejjarine Fountains and Museum and the 14th-century Attarine Medersas (a place of education) before visiting Fes Jdid, the modern district of the city, in the afternoon. Here, we’ll explore the Jewish Quarter and the Royal Palace. This evening we’ll head to a traditional riad to enjoy a discussion of Moroccan history and culture over dinner with a prominent Moroccan academic. Our host this evening is a University Professor carrying out multidisciplinary work focused on the reigns of female sovereigns in the kingdom of Morocco from the medieval period through the early modern era.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll tour Rabat’s fascinating historic sites, including the 19th-century Royal Palace, the “Gate of the Winds” (also known as Bab Rouah), and Hassan Tower, the minaret of an incomplete mosque that was originally intended to be the world’s largest. Our tour continues to the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the mid 12th century, where you’ll walk through the French-colonial gardens and explore the fortress built to shield royalty from attacks. We’ll end at Chellah, a necropolis and the site of the ruins of the Roman town, Sala Colonia. After some free time in the afternoon, we’ll gather together for a farewell dinner.
Accommodations: The View Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchase our air-inclusive program will transfer to the airport for our non-stop return flight to the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Jun. 2, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or 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 $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
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.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
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 successfully prepare the famous dish at home.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Enjoy an optional dinner at an authentic Moroccan restaurant, where you’ll enjoy live music, bellydancing, and of course, delicious Moroccan cuisine.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
85 Boulevard d'Anfa, Casablanca, 20000, Morocco
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More than just a place to stay, Hotel Riad BaHamou is full of incredible corners ready for you to have a unique experience.
Km 26 route des gorges du dades – Douar Ait Ouffi – Boumalne Dades – Maroc
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The Chergui Kasbah Hotel is a newly constructed hotel standing on a site that brings together the largest and most spectacular dunes in Morocco.
Carretera de Arfoud a Errachidia, Km 5,5. Erfoud, Morocco
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Immersing you in stylish luxury, Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace is a welcoming respite for discerning travelers. Unpack your bags in elegantly appointed accommodations enhanced by refined design elements and bathed in natural light.
8 Avenue Ahmed Chaouki, Fes 30000 Morocco
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26, Avenue Chellah BP 14. Rabat – MAROC
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