Amazigh Trails 9-day Morocco Escorted Tour

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A Morocco Amazigh Trails 9-day Tour in Morocco with AFC Morocco Tours is full of diverse experiences. On the one hand, you have the city of Marrakech which gives an old-world charm, and on the other hand, you have the more cosmopolitan Casablanca that’s famous across the globe, partly thanks to the Oscar-winning romantic movie with the same name. From the dunes of Erg-Chebbi, you get a thrilling view of the Sahara Desert.

In this brilliant 9-Day Tour in Morocco, you will understand what makes Morocco so cosmopolitan, yet too old-worldly, and so traditional, yet so forward-looking. You will understand the different cultures that have shaped Morocco, right from the Berber tribes and the Arab rulers to more recently the French and Spanish settlements. One of the only few countries in the world where you can witness a desert at one end and coast at the other, grand palaces in some cities, and extremely small alleys in some others. Let’s undertake the perfect Moroccan travel experience!

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TOUR MAP

6+ Age

Best Morocco Escorted Tours

Departure

Casablanca
Departure Time

Depends on your arrival time
Return Time

Depends on your return flight time
Dress Code

Casual
Included

Camel trek (one camel per guest)

Entrance Fees

Local guides in major cities: Fes; Marrakech, Casablanca mosque, Volubilis; Essaouira, Atlas Mountains

Meals as per itinerary

New air-conditioned vehicle 4WD or Minivan/Mini Bus

Overnight in Desert Luxury Camp

Pick-up and Drop Off Service

Professional driver/Tour guide during the tour
Not Included

Flights

Lunches and drinks unless specified

Personal expenses

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Tour Plan

Day 1: Casablanca – Arrival

Your driver/guide will welcome you at Casablanca airport and drive to your hotel in Casablanca one of the most important cities in Morocco travel and the first stop of your Morocco tour. It was earlier a French colony and is now a cultural and commercial hub. Once you reach Casablanca.

Day 2: Casablanca to Fes

Leave for the cultural capital of Morocco, Fez. On the way, you will pass the capital of Morocco Rabat, where you can enjoy the Hassan Tower and the Mohamed V Mausoleum, and, then we will continue to Meknes to explore the second imperial city after Rabat. Meknes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the 4 Imperial cities of Morocco. However, off late, it has always been overshadowed by more popular tourist destinations like Fez. There are so many things that you can enjoy here starting from Bab Mansour, which is the ginormous gate that serves as an entry point to this city. The wood carvings and beautiful tile work make this one of the most beautiful gates in the whole of Morocco. After Lunch in Meknes, we will head towards the Roman Empire ruins, Volubilis, an ancient Roman occupation that dates back to 225 BC! While the structures are in ruins, they are still magnificent as ever, showing the might that the Roman Empire once possessed. A lot of the magnificence can be attributed to the fact that these ruins have been maintained really well over the years. Due to the preservation of these historically important structures, UNESCO has granted world heritage site to Volubilis, continue to Fes after visiting Volubilis for an Overnight.

Day 3: Exploring Fes

You will be taken to our private tour of Fes on this day and will surely enjoy the local history and love indulging into the delicious Fes cuisine which makes them the top things to do in Fes. You can also visit the beach and enjoy a good time there. Then you will visit the old city of Medina which has some brilliant alleys and tunnel systems within the city. The Jewish Quarter and Royal Palace are some astounding buildings to witness. The Quaraouine Mosque must also not to be missed among the things to do in Fes. You will spend the rest of the day in Fes.

Day 4: Fes – Midelt – Erfoud – Merzouga

Today, you will be visiting Erfoud, an oasis city in the Sahara Desert. It is famously known as the Doorway to the Sahara and is also the place where famous American flicks like Prince of Persia and The Mummy were filmed. Fancy a spoof if you’ve got some time? You will have quite a lot of fun while riding camels when you reach the desert and also enjoy the local food which will be served.

Day 5: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is the real doorway to the Moroccan deserts. Situated just at the edge of the Sahara Desert, this town is also known as the Hollywood of Africa. The Dades Valley is the principal route between the desert and the ancient trading oasis of Tifilalt. The main High Atlas Mountains are to the north, but at Todra the valley descends to a dramatic gorge that cuts through the mountains. It’s one of Morocco’s greatest natural sights, completed by a gently burbling stream and a welcoming cafe to rest at. At its eastern end, the valley joins that of the Ziz River, where towering palms threaten to spill over the canyon edge into the valley hundreds of meters below. Ouarzazate boasts a significant role in the history of the south of Morocco, lying as it does at the confluence of the three major southern oasis valleys – the Draa, the Dades, and the Ouarzazate. Extensive fortifications built by successive sultans trying to dominate and control this traditionally subversive region have come and gone, the pisé walls washed away in sporadic rains. The only lasting impression has been left by the French, who made Ouarzazate their southern garrison town, and laid out a grid of streets and built modern buildings to line them. There are, however, a couple of well-preserved kasbahs in and around the town, and Ouarzazate is a great base for exploring the surrounding scenery: steep desert valleys filled with palms, leading into rocky desert plains. It has some famous studios where films like The Lawrence of Arabia and the modern favorite TV drama Game of Thrones have been shot. You can visit the studios for a guided tour

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Ait ben haddou – Marrakech

Today, you will leave for Marrakech. Close to Ouarzazate lies the spectacular ancient ksar town of Ait Ben Haddou, an extraordinary example of traditional clay-brick dwellings in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, many movies were shot here, including the Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven. Ridley Scott returned to Morocco to use the atmospheric Ait Ben Haddou for many scenes in Gladiator; the town’s stunning cinematic location against the snow-capped mountain backdrop making it perfect for the silver screen. Michael Douglas was also here for Jewel of the Nile, flying a plane into a specially built archway that remains part of Ait Ben Haddou today. The town has also been used to film parts of popular TV show Game of Thrones. There are so many things to do in Marrakech that it will take a good 2 days to explore. At night, you can take a stroll at the Jemaa el Fna, which is the lively and vibrant marketplace

Day 7: Exploring Marrakech

Today, you can experience much more of this medieval city, a lively, colorful city, Marrakesh is defined by its old medina and souqs, which lattice the center and resound with the hum of craftsmanship and the tantalizing aroma of exotic spices. At the heart of the medina is the Djemaa El Fna, an open space that comes alive at night with entertainers and soothsayers amid the food stalls. Over its turbulent history, the city has fallen in and out of favor with the ruling sultans, but its function as a trading place has continued regardless. Rising above this activity are proud reminders of the city’s past in the towering minarets, ornate tombs, and cavernous palaces. These are encircled by ochre ramparts, shaded beneath palms, and framed by the distant backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh’s many gardens offer a haven of tranquillity in this busy city. The best known of these is the Majorelle Garden, where vibrant plants surround a striking cobalt-blue Art Deco pavilion.

Day 8: Marrakech to Casablanca

Today, you will return to the ocean city of Casablanca. If you are wondering what to do in Casablanca tonight, check out the Hassan II Mosque from outside. At night, the lighting makes it look stunning!

Day 9: Casablanca – Return Flight

The Driver will drop you to the airport. Return home after having experienced the highest level of Morocco tourism!

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20 Things You Must Know Before Visiting Morocco Travel Tips

More and more people are visiting Morocco every year. It’s a beautiful country. If you plan on going, here are a few pointers to help you prepare for your trip.

Dress Appropriately

Overall, guys can dress however they like, but women need to dress more conservatively. Although you see many tourists wearing whatever they want, we chose to cover up as much as possible to avoid unwanted attention. Even if you’re traveling with a group of guys, you may still get harassed. Some of the girls in our group got groped on multiple occasions even though we were paired off with a male buddy. It was mostly really old men, and it happened more often in crowded places. When visiting mosques, you need to cover down to your wrists and ankles. For the ladies out there, it really helps to have a shawl/scarf handy in case you need it.

Currency and Cost

More established shops will take credit cards, but most smaller markets, street vendors, and cabs will not. Be ready with the local currency. The Moroccan Dirham (DEER-HAM) goes for roughly 9.20 Dirhams (DH) per 1 USD or 10 per 1 euro. We thought things would be cheaper in Morocco, but because of how touristy the country has become, the prices were comparable to Europe. Our tour guide recommended each person exchange 100 euros per day.

ATMs.

Exchange enough money when have a chance. ATMs can run out of money especially during a holiday or on the weekend also keep in mind some machines will let you withdraw up to $400.00 a day. There are many exchange offices especially in the big cities, your tour guide will help you get the best exchange rates. Also, traveler’s checks are pretty much useless in Morocco. It’s hard to find a place to cash them.

Keep Correct Change with You

Moroccan cab drivers rarely “have change” when you need it. To avoid overpaying, keep your coins. Most of our cab rides within the city were roughly 30 Dirhams, be careful when the cab driver says I will charge you a flat fee (it’s illegal), once you’re inside the cab look at the meter it should read something like 2.3 DRS during the day and 3.2 DRS during the night, roughly a 10 minutes cab ride should cost you around $8.00, do the best you can to have small change with you (coins).

Tipping

Have some change ready for tips. A good general rule of thumb is 3 to 5 DH at a local place and 5 to 10 DH at nicer places (coffee shops), when you dine at a restaurant a 10% tips is greatly appreciated. For your driver and guide 15 to 20% is greatly appreciated.

Be Wary of Local Guides.

It’s definitely great to hire a local guide to help you get an inside perspective on the country and navigate through the maze of the medinas (old towns) but be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. The local guides have built relationships with many different stores, and they are most likely getting a cut of the sales. Don’t be fooled when they say they are trying to help you haggle to get the best price. I always offer them a 70% off the asking price, we start negotiating until we meet somewhere in the middle, put your poker face on. For this reason, our guides and drivers will stay with you from the beginning to the end of the tour to avoid such miss-step.

Stay Away from Strangers Offering Free Tours or Directions.

Even if you don’t hire a local guide, there will be a lot of locals offering you tours while you’re walking around the markets and medinas. If you go with one of them you may end up completely lost and pressed to spend money. Most of the time they will ask for a tip afterward too. This is the same as asking for directions. A lot of them will offer to walk you to where you’re going but then ask for a tip. If you’re so inclined, always have money to pay them off or just plan ahead and ask your hotel or pull up some maps when you have WIFI. And this is the reason why we have well-trained staff professional chauffeurs and nationally certified guides that offer you protection to your experience.

Fridays are Holy Days and Prepare for Holidays

Keep in mind that it is a Muslim country, so pay attention to their holidays otherwise you might be there when everything is closed. Also, most shops and attractions are closed during the mid-day prayer then everything is back to normal after that. During Ramadan most food places will be closed until late afternoon, however, you can still find some places where you can eat, the restaurant at the hotels, and Riads are always open. If you arrive in Morocco on Eid al-Adha, where they slaughter and sacrifice helps. Shops restaurants will be closed for at least 4 to 6 days and banks will be close for at least 2 days.

Careful What Water You Use

To stay on the safe side, drink bottled water and even use it to brush your teeth. the water bottle is really useful when you’re in Morocco.

Pack Some Immodium

Because the food, the meat, and the vegetables are all organic and they are not processed in most cases you will be fine but just to be in the safe case, bring some medication with you.

Watch Your Pockets

Most Moroccans are friendly and honest, but be careful about pickpockets in any major city especially in crowded places like the markets.

What Language Do They Speak?

Moroccans speak a mixture of Arabic, Berber, English, Spanish, and French. You’ll be fine with English in most of the larger cities, but you’ll probably need a translator in the rural parts of the country. Here are a few basic Arabic words that came in handy:

Hello(Peace Be With You): Salam Alikome (salaam a eleikum)
Thank You:Choukran (shokran)
No Thank You: La Choukran (la shokran). This one is useful when you have a bunch of street vendors hassling you to buy something.
Watch Out: Although you won’t use this yourself, you’ll most likely hear this in the medinas or souks (outdoor markets). It will be said by locals coming by with a mule, motorcycle, or cart and is a warning to move to the side.

Visiting Mosques:

If you’re hoping to visit Mosque in Morocco, you might be out of luck unless you’re Muslim. Most mosques are off-limits to non-Muslims, with the exception of the massive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. They are still beautiful to take photos from outside though!

Do I Need a Visa or Vaccines?

Almost all English-speaking countries (except South Africa) do not require visas to enter the country. The CDC also doesn’t require any vaccines although many would recommend Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots. Find out more details from the CDC here.

Ask Before Taking Photos (And You May Have to Pay).

When you’re walking through the markets, be careful about taking photos of people and shops. Unless you are purchasing something, they may get angry at you and even demand money for the photos. When taking photos of the snake charmers, you need to pay 20 DH. Some may even hassle you for more, so it’s good to first establish a price before taking a photo.

Souvenirs to Bring Home:

Leather and carpets are well known in Fez. Fragrances, oils, and spices (like saffron) are famous in Morocco. Your tour guide will have recommendations for each product you want to get as a souvenir.

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Overall, Morocco is a beautiful country, and you will be happy to experience it. As long as you’re completely aware of your surroundings, and you go in with the right mindset and expectations, you can have a wonderful experience.

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Amazigh Trails 9-day Morocco Escorted Tour