Imperial Cities, the Great Sahara, and Marrakesh
Morocco Private Journey
Overview
Morocco's sensuous beauty is legendary, from imperial cities with labyrinthine souks to the awesome grandeur of the Sahara. Our Private Journey discovers this graceful land in Fes—a walled city suspended in a medieval dream—and in the storied casbahs of Marrakesh, in the red-rock canyons of the High Atlas, and in a stunning desert oasis where dunes stretch to the horizon. You have a private guide with you from Day 1 through the afternoon of Day 8, and your accommodations are in hotels as well as riads, traditional mansions that have been converted into boutique hotels of character, with charming Moorish and Andalusian architecture, tiled central courtyards open to the sky, and peaceful rooftop gardens. Each riad is unique and has its own special personality and decor. At journey's end, you can extend your travels to the enchanting walled town of Essaouira on the edge of the sea.
Arrive: Casablanca, Morocco
Depart: Marrakesh, Morocco
Highlights
- Roam the labyrinthine medina of medieval Fes and the bustling bazaars of Marrakesh
- Experience the magic of the Sahara's golden dunes from your private desert camp
- Enjoy authentic riads, perfectly-located boutique hotels, and a private guide throughout your trip
- Tailor your activities to your interests: Jewish history, architecture, cooking, hiking
Itinerary
The glory of medieval dynasties shines through in Morocco's ancient imperial cities. In seaside Rabat, Morocco's capital, stroll through the winding streets of the picturesque Oudaia Kasbah and visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (the current king's grandfather), with its costumed royal guards and brilliant marble surface.
Travel inland through wheat fields, vineyards, and olive groves to Moulay Idriss, a hilltown and revered pilgrimage site. Stroll in the evocative ruins of Volubilis, Rome's ancient provincial capital, then continue to Fes, nestled in a high valley and resplendent with minarets and domes. Fes's renowned walled medina is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world, full of visual delights. Enter through one of its four arched gates and discover a mile-long network of souks, open-air cafes, courtyards, hammams (traditional steam baths), and gardens. On a privately guided walking tour, explore winding alleys of Arabic-Moorish architecture, savor the scent of spices, orange blossoms, and sizzling lamb kabobs, and watch scenes unchanged for centuries, from donkeys laden with goods to children carrying boards of bread dough to communal ovens.
Cross the cedar forests of the Atlas Mountains descending into the Ziz Valley to Erfoud, and come face-to-face with the epic expanse of the Moroccan Sahara. At the frontier town of Merzouga, below the celebrated dunes of the Sahara, meet your Berber guides and set out for a camel ride, the ultimate way to explore this spectacular environment of wind-sculpted dunes.
Head through the "Valley of a Thousand Casbahs," an ancient caravan route dotted with lush palm tree groves, and into the narrow red-rock canyon of the Todra Gorge. Visit the dramatic Dades Gorge, a deep fault in the High Atlas, and the famed mud-brick turreted fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, a 16th century ksar (fortified village) now protected as a World Heritage Site. A palm-fringed city more Berber than Arabic, fabled Marrakesh has been a metropolis for the tribes of the Atlas since the 11th century. Experience Marrakesh's delights, from bustling souks to Djemma el Fna, the lively central square filled with acrobats, snake charmers, fortune tellers, and a parade of other entertainers. Depart on Day 9.
Moroccan Cooking Class
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 2, Easy to Moderate, according to the Wilderness Travel trip rating system. It is an overland touring trip with optional hikes of two to four hours on some days and can be enjoyed by anyone in good health who has no mobility restrictions.
Review Trip Level Details
Morocco has a wide range of climatic variations. In the Atlas Mountains, temperatures can drop below zero and mountain peaks are snow-capped throughout most of the year. On the Mediterranean coastal plains, temperatures are moderate and subtropical. February through May and September through December are the best seasons for travel; Marrakesh daytime temperatures average in the 70s and 80s during these months, and quite a bit cooler at night. Winters (November to February) are generally very mild, although temperatures at night in the desert and High Atlas can get down to the 40s and be rainy (especially along the coast).
Ramadan, the Islamic month of daytime fasting, occurs from approximately March 10 to April 9, 2024, and March 1 to 30, 2025. During Ramadan, there may be reduced restaurant/bar facilities in hotels, but this will not make an impact on the trip overall.
Client Testimonials
"We want to put in a special word for our guide, Mohamed. His energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm put a positive stamp on the entire journey. He was a delight—professional, courteous, and efficient. I feel like we made a wonderful friend, and it was sad to leave him behind! It was really a pleasure to travel with Wilderness. I hope to come back to you in the future."
Alison V.
Peapack, NJ
"We really enjoyed our trip to Morocco. Everything was just wonderful…the hotels, the food, the sightseeing, the shopping, the hammam. And the desert camp was one of the highlights of the trip."
Amie S.
Golden, CO
"Our guide was outstanding in every way and exceeded any expectation we had each and every day. He was incredibly well educated, kind, easy going, smart, attentive, and an overall delight. He was the greatest asset on the trip."
Annette J.
Port Washington, NY
"The trip was incredible and we packed a lot into every day. We loved every riad or hotel."
Bob A.
Charlotte, NC
"Our Morocco trip exceeded expectations in every way, and those expectations were already incredibly high. Our guide and driver were incredible in every way. They took great care to make sure that we were happy and comfortable at all times, taking breaks out of the itinerary to show us things that they knew that we were interested in, and went over and above to make sure that this was an extraordinary journey for us. My memories of Morocco will always be some of my most fondest, thanks to all of the planning, care and consideration both of our guide and driver but also Wilderness Travel in general. This was our third trip with you, and each one has been unique. It won't be our last."
Carolyn H.
Summit, NJ
"This was truly one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. No need was overlooked. Every detail was planned and executed effortlessly."
D. Gauthier
Miami, FL
"Great trip. Having a guide like Ali in charge to show us his country made for "the trip of a lifetime.""
Dan C.
Seattle, WA
"A very special experience for me. I learned so much about the Moroccan culture and geography. Beautiful country!"
Deborah P.
Oakland, CA
"My husband and two of our children thoroughly enjoyed our Private Journey in Morocco. We were introduced to a beautiful country; the Moroccan landmarks visited daily along with the opportunities to interact with the merchants, hotel and restaurant staffs, and the city guides added a deeper appreciation to the Moroccan people and their country."
Deborah S.
Jonesborough, TN
"We felt we were in good hands and had a really good experience with the trip."
Emese W.
Bristol, RI
"Everything was extremely well organized and we absolutely loved our guide."
G. Ferrer
Miami, FL
"Best trip we've ever had...period!"
Henry V.
Willemstad, Curacao
"This was a very good overview of the country. The desert camp was fabulous."
Jon B.
Villa Grande, CA
"This was a trip of a lifetime. Everything was wonderful!!"
Laura H.
Tulsa, OK
"Truly a wonderful, once in a lifetime trip. It was fascinating to go from an incredibly modern city like Casablanca to Berber desert camps in the Sahara. Everything was handled perfectly—we never had to worry about a thing!"
Lauren G.
San Jose, CA
"Wonderful trip—couldn't have managed Morocco without our wonderful guide. Navigating and learning about the culture would have been very difficult on our own."
Lori D.
Mequon, WI
"The Morocco private trip itinerary was perfect for us; each day was different and we were able to see so much of a very diverse and beautiful country."
Martha B.
Turner, OR
"We can’t say enough good things about our guide's knowledge, personal skills, warmth—and most of all his patience. He dealt with five different people with different needs, who often asked questions that had already been answered—and never did he show anything but the utmost care and good will. He is a treasure—Wilderness Travel should be very proud."
Marty and Paul S.
Falls Church, VA
"Everything was perfect!"
Melissa S.
Larkspur, CA
"I travel a lot and it was easily one of my best trips."
Michelle D.
Alexandria, VA
"Morocco was wonderful and we loved the trip, which was extraordinarily well-designed as usual for Wilderness Travel. When we compare WT itineraries and experiences to other companies, we consistently find that WT provides unique access to sites that other companies might ignore. There is a commitment to a complete, special experience that we appreciate."
ML P.
Cambridge, MA
"We loved Morocco with its diverse beauty, culture, and rich history. It was really the perfect trip to do with the kids. And Ali, our guide, was perfect—wonderfully conscientious, informative, and delightful. The kids were greatly enthusiastic and said they will remember the trip forever."
Pamela M.
Lopez Island, WA
"We loved our 2-week tour through Morocco! So many varied sights and destinations: ancient ruins, rock canyons, riding camels to watch the sunset in the Sahara Desert, villages, markets, and grand vistas. An absolutely fabulous trip! One we will long remember!"
Shari R.
Singer Island, FL
"We so enjoyed our trip to Morocco. The sights were fabulous, our guide, Ali, was fantastic, our driver, Hamid, was a gem. We couldn't believe how much we were able to see in one week! We agreed that we are spoiled for any other way of travel now."
Therese and Elliot P.
Berkeley, CA
"We loved the way you tailored the personal trip to suit our time frame, which was shorter than the usual trip in Morocco. It was a wonderful experience to see so much in such a short time; we really felt we got to know the country much more than if we had tried to figure it out ourselves!"
Therese O.
Berkeley, CA
"Our third WT trip and clearly in our ‘all time top five’ trips. We learned a remarkable amount about a very different culture, particularly the human side of a moderate, modern, North African country."
Victor S.
New York, NY
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.