
Morocco
February 29 – March 9, 2024
Highlights
- See several UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Spend a luxurious night in the Desert Camp
- Watch the sun rise atop a Camel
- Meander the Old Medina in Marrakesh
- Taste freshness with a Farm-to-Table Cooking Class
- Time to explore personal interests
- Suggestions for things to do
- And More…See itinerary for details
Itinerary
Thursday, 29 February 2024: Arrive Casablanca; Welcome Dinner (D)
Arrive Casablanca at your convenience, but no later than 4:00pm. Group transfers based on flight arrival times are included from the airport to the hotel. The tour begins at 6:00PM in the lobby of the hotel. The Welcome Meeting will be followed by dinner together at the hotel to get better acquainted. Casablanca is the largest and most populated city in Morocco. With Art Deco architecture dating to the French protectorate, this beautiful city features several historical monuments, including the second largest mosque after Mecca. Overnight Casablanca – 1 night
Friday, 01 March 2024: Morning Sightseeing in Casablanca; Travel to Rabat (B)
Our morning tour of Casablanca introduces us to Morocco’s commercial and financial center. Highlights include the medina (old quarters), the residential suburbs, the Hassan II mosque, Palace Mohammed V and the Gates of Royal Palace of King Mohammed VI. We then travel north along the coastline to Rabat, the capital of the kingdom. Overnight Rabat – 1 night
Saturday, 02 March 2024: Travel to Fes Via Volubilis (B,L)
This morning we’ll visit the picturesque Kasbah des Oudaias overlooking the Atlantic and see the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, who achieved independence for Morocco in 1956. We continue east towards Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. We’ll stop at a vineyard with beautifully manicured gardens for lunch and wine tasting. We also visit the nearby town of Moulay Idriss: the holiest Islamic site in Morocco. Our day ends in Fes where you can enjoy the evening as you wish. Overnight Fes – 2 nights
Sunday, 03 March 2024: Fes City Tour; Weavers’ Workshop (B,L)
We begin with a sightseeing tour of the old city of Fes, which dates back six centuries. We’ll visit the medina of Fez El Bali and stop in at a traditional weavers’ workshop to discover how artisans weave “Moroccan silk” on ancient clattering machines. After lunch we’ll explore Fes J’did, the newest part of the city, and its chic cafe-lined avenues that provide a jarring contrast to the ancient city. We’ll take in the mellah (Jewish district) before we end our day. Tonight, be sure to pack a separate overnight bag with only your essentials to take into the desert camp tomorrow; otherwise you may find sand making its way into all of your belongings.
Monday, 04 March 2024: Travel to Desert Camp via Coach and Land Rovers (B,D)
We are up early today as we embark on a long day of travel overland through the heart of the desert. At Erfoud, we transfer to 4-wheel-drive Land Rovers for the ride through the sand dunes to our desert camp near Merzouga to spend the night in the Sahara. We close out our evening with a simple Moroccan dinner before retreating to our tents, which are decked out with hand-woven rugs, plush cushions and comfortable beds. Note: all women must share a room this night, regardless of room type selected for the rest of the tour. Overnight Desert Camp – 1 night
Tuesday, 05 March 2024: Sunrise Camel Ride; Berber Carpet Women’s Coop Artisans; Ouarzazate (B,L)
We wake early to ride camels to the dunes and watch the sun rise over the Sahara. After breakfast back at camp, we head through the scenic Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley, areas wonderfully sculpted by Mother Nature. Hugging the lush riverbed are many of Morocco’s most scenic kasbahs and ksour. We continue down the route of kasbahs past acres of roses and stop for a walk at a date oasis, one of the largest, most decorated kasbahs in Morocco. A highlight of our afternoon will be a stop at a women’s cooperative where the famous Berber carpets are made. This is an activity at the heart of Moroccan rural life. The day concludes at the foot of the Atlas Mountains in Ouarzazate, film capital of Morocco, where movies including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars were filmed. Overnight Ouarzazate – 1 night
Wednesday, 06 March 2024: Kasbah at Aït Ben-Haddou; Marrakesh Museum (B)
After breakfast, we depart for Marrakesh. En route we visit the Kasbah Taourirt, a UNESCO-restored kasbah at Ait Ben-Haddou. This Berber village preserves the most impressive ksar of Morocco – unchanged from the Middle Ages. Overnight Marrakesh – 3 nights
Thursday, 07 March 2024: Full-Day Marrakesh Tour (B,L)
Today, we explore Marrakesh on foot and by horse-drawn carriage. We begin at the Yves St. Laurent Museum, a place entirely devoted to the work of the legendary fashion designer who was inspired by the colors of the country. We’ll stop in at the Berber Museum, housed in the former painting studio of the artist Jacques Majorelle and visit the Majorelle Garden, which was bought and restored by YSL in 1980. We also stop at Bahia Palace, an eye-popping display of stucco, painted wood, ceramic tiles and symmetrical gardens. It is often said to be the most beautiful palace in Morocco. This evening we will regroup to visit Djemaa el Fna, the central square and the heart of the city. The square is surrounded by bazaars, mosques and terraced cafes, and hosts snake charmers, fire eaters and fortune tellers. There will be time to walk through the old medina and the labyrinth of souks and take in the soul of the city.
Friday, 08 March 2024: Free Day; Moroccan Cooking Class (B,D)
Today is yours to explore as you wish! Your Tour Leader will have suggestions and can help pair travelers with similar interests. Perhaps you’ll want to visit a hammam, or public steam bath, for a relaxing and invigorating way to dip into Moroccan culture, or do a little more shopping at the Medina, or seek out a place to get a henna tattoo. There is no shortage of things to see and do here. We regroup late this afternoon for a special culinary experience as we travel to the countryside for a farm-to-table cooking class with an executive chef. Here we will gain an inside perspective on one of the world’s most highly cherished cuisines, delighting in dinner together as we recount our adventures during our time together.
Saturday, 09 March 2024: Return Home from Marrakesh (B)
Sadly, our time in Morocco has come to an end. Schedule your return flight home at your convenience, remembering that you will need to depart the hotel 3 hours before your flight departs. Your Tour Leader can assist with ride-sharing to the airport (departure transfer cost not included).
Morocco
February 29 – March 9, 2024Room Share
$4,141.00Single Room
$5,465.00 (Sold Out)Non-Members
ADD $100.00Status of this Tour
Trip Full and Closed
Tour Pricing Includes
- All meals and activities expressly listed in the itinerary, PLUS…
- Tipping of local guides who do not travel with the group and drivers who are not also the guide
- Arrival airport transfer
- Arranged room sharing with another solo traveler
- Travel Dollar credits (a benefit of WTT membership) toward future travel with WTT
Not Included In The Price
- Airfare or other transportation from your home and return to your home
- Departure transfer
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Beverages beyond still water, coffee or tea.
- Any personal expenses or expenditures
- Any pre- or post- tour arrangements
- Passport fees
- Tipping of guide(s) or driver/guide that travel with the group for multiple days (budget $20-$30 for the entire tour)
- Any gratuities for the WTT Tour Leader
- Travel Insurance
Payment Dates -and- Cancellation Terms for This Tour
You have 3 days to cancel and receive a refund. Thereafter, the amount required at time of reservation is non-refundable and the following cancellation penalties will be enforced.
Saturday, 29 Jul 2023: Last day $500 deposit can be converted to a credit for use on a new reservation; thereafter the deposit is forfeited.
Friday, 15 Sep 2023: Balance Due. Cancellation after this date but before Sunday, 26 Nov 2023 results in a cancellation penalty of 75% of your Total Tour Cost.
Sunday, 26 Nov 2023: Cancellation on or after this date results in a cancellation penalty of 100% of your Total Tour Cost.
Using Parked Credits: If traveler cancels during the 3-day cancel without penalty period, used credits will be re-parked with the original expiration date(s). Thereafter, cancellation will result in forfeiture of the total amount of parked credits used. If applicable, additional cancellation penalties will be assessed based on date of cancellation.
To Cancel: Should you need to cancel after your space on this tour is confirmed, you must use the Cancellation Form. Cancellation penalties are based on the date we receive your cancellation form. No other method of communicating a cancellation will be accepted.
How Room Sharing Works
On the Reservation Form there are 3 choices regarding room-sharing.
Note: Certain room-types may be unavailable at the time you make your reservation. If a room-type is unavailable the choice will be greyed out.
- Select “Yes, I want to share a room” and WTT will assign you a roommate when Final Travel Instructions are sent.
- You can specify a roommate by entering her name where indicated. If your named roommate is not on the tour, for any reason, WTT will assign you a roommate unless you pay to have your own room, if available.
- Select “No, I do not wish to share a room” if you want to have your own room. Additional costs apply.
- All shared rooms have 2 beds
- All shared rooms are non-smoking
- No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
- See “Frequently Asked Questions” TAB for more details