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
Accommodation: 9 Classic nights (hotels)
Travel by trains and air-conditioned private minibus
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Countries visited: Morocco
What's Included
Nine breakfasts and one dinner included
All accommodation
Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone
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 hereand 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.
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.
With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
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
Casablanca
Marrakech
Fly to Casablanca
The adventure begins upon our arrival in Casablanca, a modern port city and business hub on the edge of the Atlantic. We have a transfer to the hotel then 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: Oum Palace (or similar)
Day
1
Start Casablanca
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: Oum Palace (or similar)
Day
2
Hassan II Mosque; train from Casablanca to Tangier
We couldn’t leave Casablanca without first visiting the Hassan II Mosque, an intricately decorated place of worship 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)
Drive time: One hour and a half hours
Train time: Two hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
3
Explore the Atlantic Coast of Tangier
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 15th-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)
Drive time: Four and a half hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
4
Optional walk in the Rif Mountains or free time in Chefchaouen
We have the choice today of exploring Chefchaouen on our own or taking an optional guided walk to Akchour Waterfalls. (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)
Optional tour drive time: Three hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
5
Drive to Fez
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)
Drive time: Four and a half hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day
6
Full day in Fez
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
Day
7
Volubilis and Meknes; to Rabat
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)
Drive time: Six hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
8
Rabat, train to Marrakech
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)
Train time: Four hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
9
Marrakech; guided city tour
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
Fly to London
Transfer to the international airport in Marrakech for our return journey home. However, if you’d like to spend more time in this electric city, speak to your sales representative to extend your stay.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day
10
End Marrakech
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
Is this trip for you?
This trip is graded 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.
It provides an excellent introduction to northern Morocco with a relatively busy itinerary. We travel by train and private minibus. Morocco is stunning but large and the cities and country areas are spread out. This means there are sometimes long journeys, but this is the only way to see all the country offers. We are not confined to our vehicle though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch your legs. The approximate drive times are noted on the daily itinerary. Although there is an organised itinerary every day, the walks are optional.
The temperatures in Morocco are hot in the summer months but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day for our sightseeing so you can expect some early starts. Expect it to be hot to very hot in the desert from May through to September.
Morocco can get cold in the winter months though usually daytime temperatures are mild. It is advisable to pack winter clothes for November through to March when nighttime temperatures especially in the desert and the mountains can drop considerably. During these months there can also be rain throughout the country and snow in the mountains. As Morocco is generally mild to hot it is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available. Please pack winter clothes and nightwear to ensure you are comfortable. Of course you can also ask for more blankets from the hotels. Please be prepared for the colder months.
Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by 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 than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.
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.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Mohamed، 12-14 avenue des Far, Rue M Kamal, Casablanca Phone: +212 5222201500 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening if everyone has arrived or the next morning. If you miss it the leader will update you separately. Airport: Casablanca Airport (CMN)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Marrakech Airport (RAK) from the end hotel.
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.
Departing from Marrakech Airport
Upon departure from Marrakech, we suggest allowing three hours to navigate the airport, including check in, bag drop, immigration and security. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid subjecting yourself to further delays.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. A polio vaccination certificate may be required for some travellers. Please confirm your needs and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.
Visa
Morocco
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.
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.
Well-located hotels and a riad
We spend seven nights in hotels and two nights in a riad (a small boutique guesthouse offering an insight into traditional Moroccan living).
Casablanca: Hotel Imperial (night 1)
Our first accommodation is centrally located in Casablanca, within 10 minutes’ drive of Hassan II Mosque and the Central Market. Post-exploration, enjoy a cocktail in the lounge-bar or dine in Restaurant Le Marius, a modern bistro serving a Mediterranean-international menu.
Tangier: Hotel Chellah (night 2)
Hotel Chellah is in the heart of Tangier, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the beach. There is a dining terrace, where you can enjoy both local and international dishes, plus a bar and lounge. Relaxation also comes in the form of a palm-shaded outdoor pool.
Chefchaouen: Hotel Ziryab (nights 3-4)
Wrapped by the Rif mountains, Hotel Ziryab is our home for two nights. If you need to cool down, there’s an outdoor pool and loungers, plus a few parasols for shade. If you decide to walk into town, the Grand Mosque is just over a 10-minute walk away, while the medina is even closer.
Fez: Riad Tafilalet (nights 5-6)
Experience a traditional 19th-century home at this restored riad in Fez medina. The restoration respected the character of the house while ensuring maximum comfort for guests. There’s a hammam spa (additional cost) plus a roof terrace with views over the medina. A riad is a traditional Moroccan home where the wealthiest people would historically live. The riad is built around a central courtyard. The rooms are not standardised and come in different sizes and shapes.
Rabat: Imperial Boutique Hotel (night 7)
In the capital of Morocco, we stay at the Imperial Boutique. The location is ideal, just a five-minute walk to the Hassan Tower and about 15 minutes’ walk to Rabat Medina.
Marrakech: Hotel Meriem (nights 8-9)
We end our Moroccan adventure at Hotel Meriem, where you can beat the heat in one of two outdoor pools. There’s also a trio of restaurants (serving Moroccan and international cuisines) plus a bar.
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
*Please note any date & price adjustments will be displayed on the next step of booking. You will be able to revert back to booking without flights if the options aren't suitable for you.