Moroccan Dream Solar Eclipse

Welcome to Morocco! Keep your eyes peeled at Morocco airport for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel. Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 7:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards you have free time to start exploring vibrant Marrakech or go out for an optional group dinner and mingle with fellow travellers.

After a delicious breakfast, start your discovery with the key sites of bustling Marrakech such as Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace & Dar Si Said Museum. Then hop on board for destination: Essaouira. But first, make a stop at Argan Women Cooperative to learn all about the making of Argan oil. A ‘magical’ product that’s native to Morocco, it is used in delicious meals and extensively in cosmetics. As you arrive Essaouira, you can go out to explore its charming Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Follow the ocean north to the largest city and commercial hub of Morocco, Casablanca. Start off with a guided tour of the gigantic Hassan II Mosque, the largest in all Africa. Continue to impressive highlights including the United Nations Square, Anfa Residential Quarter finished with a short visit to the medina. Before dinner, have a short photo stop by Rick’s Café from the classic Hollywood movie named after the town & watch the sunset by the ocean.

Continue along the charming coastline to Rabat. The beautiful capital of Morocco is set in a rich, amber-colored landscape, blending ancient history and modern Moroccan culture. The guided walking tour will unfold the beauty of the imperial town as you visit the Kasbah overlooking the Bouregreg River, the Royal Palace, Chellah Ruins, Mohammed V Mausoleum and Hassan II Tower. At the end of the extensive city tour, make your way to Chefchaouen, the Blue City. Prepare your cameras and wander the narrow streets of the breathtaking blue-washed mountain village.

Today we will continue to explore the blue-city, Chefchaouen! Roam the magical streets of the medina, Outa el-Hammam Square, visit waterfall of Ras el-Maa and the Spanish Mosque presenting an astounding view of Chefchaouen. In the afternoon, continue on towards the city of Meknes with visits at Bab Mansour Laleuj’s monumental gate and the ancient Berber ruins of Volubilis. Make a final stop in Moulay Driss Zarhoun, Morocco’s cultural capital surrounded by olive groves, green hills, and cacti. While you’re here, learn from your guide about the region’s remarkable history and significance in Moroccan culture. Tonight we’ll rest up at our 4-star hotel in Fes.

Wear your walking shoes and embark on a cultural journey through the imperial city of Fes. Get to discover all the highlights on an intensive tour with your local guide covering Bab Bouloud Gate (Royal Palace), Bou Inania Madrasa, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, Quaraouiyine Mosque, Najjarine Square, Spices Market, Attarine Medersa, the surroundings of Karaouine Medina, Mellah (Jewish Quarter), Pottery, and of course the famous Tannery! Share your favourite sites with your mates over dinner and rest up, you’re heading inland tomorrow!

Hop on board early and drive through Efran City in High Atlas Mountains with stunning panaromic views and Midelt to reach the desert village of Merzouga. On the way, pass via Tazzarine, the last city to be found before the mighty dunes of the desert and arrive in Ziz Valley. As Ziz River feeds the charming oases in the region, we feed ourselves over a lunch-break. Arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon and soak in the majestic sand dunes. It is the perfect depiction of the famous Moroccan desert landscape and lifestyle. Our camel ride will start here to catch the sunset. Share your highlights of the trip with travel mates and enjoy the local cuisine under a starry sky. You’ll experience the authentic desert life in the Sahara and stay in sedentary tents tonight.

Wake up to the sunrise over the golden sand dunes and take a mental picture to last forever. Have a delicious local breakfast and hop on, you’re going on a 4×4 jeep safari. Enjoy the 4-hour adventure at the astounding desert atmosphere watching the magical landscapes, isolated Berber villages, oases, dunes and real nomads. In the afternoon you can relax by the pool, sand-board or climb high up the sand dunes.

Time to bid farewell to the Sahara desert. Our journey now continues with Todra Gorges to witness the jaw-dropping gorges and limestone river canyons. Later we make our way to Dadès Valley. You can put on your hiking shoes and get set for an afternoon filled with adventure and trek through Dadès Valley.

Today we’ll depart for Ouarzazate. Known as the gateway to the desert, Ouarzazate has been made famous in modern-day for its spectacular ‘Ouallywood’ studios and landscapes which have provided a convincingly exotic backdrop for movies such as Gladiator, Lawrance of Arabia, Games of Thrones, and plenty more. Take it easy in the evening at the 4-star hotel accommodation, relaxing with your new travel mates.

After breakfast depart for the Berber Village Ait Ben Haddou. The site is well known for its stunning Kasbah used in many wold-famous Hollywood films, a perfect example of traditional Moroccan fortress towns.  In the afternoon, we start our journey to the fascinating city of Marrakech. It is where the Arab city culture meets the Berber culture of the desert and mountain villages. Here, the sub-Saharan traders would trade their wares with European merchants, who would then bring them to Europe. Wear your haggling hats as you discover Djemaa el-Fna Square and brace for the mayhem! Marking the entrance to the huge bazaar, the area is packed with story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, musicians and folk dancers.

Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!