Morocco cultural tour
First time travelers to Morocco will revel at this excellent introduction to the landscapes, cities and cultural shocks to be had just a hop, skip and a jump from Europe.
Views of High Atlas Mountains Ait Benhaddou fortifications Marrakech Essaouira Fes Sultan's palace in Meknes camp in the Sahara Berber culture Todra Gorge Casablanca Hassan II Mosque Kasbahs and souks
Price
US $1235US $952ToUS $1345excluding flights
More info
Single supplement $415.
Offers
Up to US $180 off selected dates.
Late availability on these dates: 30 Oct, 01 Nov, 12 Nov, 04 Dec, 15 Dec, 20 Dec, 22 Dec, 27 Dec, 30 Dec, 02 Jan, 05 Jan, 09 Jan, 12 Jan, 16 Jan, 19 Jan, 23 Jan
Late availability on these dates: 30 Oct, 01 Nov, 12 Nov, 04 Dec, 15 Dec, 20 Dec, 22 Dec, 27 Dec, 30 Dec, 02 Jan, 05 Jan, 09 Jan, 12 Jan, 16 Jan, 19 Jan, 23 Jan
Description of Morocco cultural tour
Map
Price information
US $1235US $952ToUS $1345excluding flights
Single supplement $415.
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
There is something intrinsically romantic about traveling in the desert. The harsh beauty of landscapes shaped by the elements; the honour and genero...
Morocco vacations whisk us into a rainbow of raucous colours and enlightening Islamic culture. Marrakech is called the Red or Rose City, with its ancie...
Vacation information
Our top tip:
Keep stocked up with water and try to get plenty of smaller notes and coins in order to tip the grateful locals. Also, evenings can get a bit chilly in the desert so pack plenty of layers.
Trip type:
Small group. Max. 16 people. Min age 15.
Activity level:
Leisurely-moderate.
Accomm:
1 night campsite, 1x gite, 2x guesthouse, 8x hotel, 2x riad.
Included:
All transport (including camels), entrance fees and guided tours.
Meals:
13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners.
Solos:
Solos welcome. Single rooms available with surcharge.
Reviews
11 Reviews of Morocco cultural tour
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 09 Sep 2021 by Stephanie Chapelliquen
It was a great trip, but important for people to be open-minded and leave their expectations at home, this is North Africa after all Read full reviewReviewed on 13 May 2019 by Richard Peters
The huge variety of activities we did over the two weeks was the most memorable part of our vacation; from castles, the old medinas to Roman ruins, camel riding in the desert to walking in the Atlas mountains Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Apr 2019 by Ann Howard
Meeting local people was the most memorable part our vacation. This vacation certainly gives you a good overview of a wonderful country. Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Nov 2018 by Jeanette Woodman
Awesome vacation. Our tour leader Khalad was exceptional. He was extremely patient and tried to accommodate everyone. He was very passionate and knowledgeable. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 May 2018 by Vittoria Carbone
The most memorable was the desert. So different from everything I know.... It has been a fantastic trip. Very tiring but this tour allows to see the many different faces of Morocco: cities, countryside, desert. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Dec 2017 by Emilia Majcher
Variety of landscapes, very efficient guide, nice and welcoming people. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Nov 2017 by Lynette Crowe
Had an amazing trip, our tour guide Abdoul & driver Samira were fantastic as were all our other guides. The highlight for me was the Berber family we stayed with and meeting Abdouls family. Am grateful for the time and insight into their family lives and work loads. Met and had a fantastic time with the other people on the tour. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Oct 2016 by Philip Leavey
We were fortunate to have had such a great experience...Climbing up to the Kasbah at Ait Benhaddoo and watching the sunset over the Atlas Mountains followed by the moon rising from the opposite horizon Read full reviewReviewed on 30 May 2013 by Elizabeth Wingate
Very enjoyable...Chefchaouen, meeting nomads and the Atlas Mountains scenery Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Aug 2012 by Graham Jackson
A huge variety of sights, places, experiences and people - we gained an insight into the size, diversity and history of Morocco. We were made welcome at each visit, at each accommodation and by all the local guides. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 May 2012 by Sandra Goldman
ATV driving on the Dunes and beach in Essoeira was the most memorable part of the vacation Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
Whilst using public transport is the most sustainable way of traveling, in Morocco it’s not always easy to. Aside from good train connections between the major cities, it’s often tricky to travel to more rural or remote areas by public transport. On this trip we use private transport in a few places, but wherever we can we jump on public transport. For instance, our journey from Marrakech and Essaouira uses a local bus. Not only is this a very comfortable way of traveling, but it’s also a scenic ride. As this bus is used by people living or working between Essaouira and Marrakech it offers a great opportunity to chat freely with the friendly Moroccan people. The bus also stops once or twice at local roadside restaurants where you can snack on Moroccan delicacies and enjoy a local coffee.We also suggest that passengers use refillable water bottles, and our leaders will suggest purchasing bigger bottles of water to store in our vehicle whilst on the road.
With the help of our Moroccan suppliers, we also contract local specialists to run all our activities on this adventure. Before signing them up, we’ll always make sure that these individuals share our philosophy and stance on important environmental issues. Therefore, you can be sure that your local guide in the Atlas Mountains will never contribute to the problem of waste management. Hardly any waste collection takes place in the High Atlas, but our guides will always carry their rubbish back with them to Marrakech, something we actively encourage our passengers to do too.
People
We provide our travelers with advice on responsible travel behaviour and encourage them to share their cultures with the people they meet as a way of improving understanding of our two very different lifestyles. The trip begins with a brief language lesson to learn a few words of Arabic (or Berber, depending on the background of your leader), which will enable to you talk to locals when at shops and restaurants or exchange some words of Arabic with locals on the bus.Our leaders are all Moroccans from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they are very proud to share their country and culture with their groups. Throughout the trip, they will share with you their favourite local restaurants and food specialties, from cous cous and tagines to berber pizza and picnic lunches with food bought from roadside markets.
Throughout this fantastic trip, there are many opportunities to really experience how Moroccan people live, eat, and travel. We stay in locally run hotels, dine in local restaurants and use public transport whenever possible. Life is always locally flavored, whether it be by drinking an avocado juice at a local bar, or trying Kefta (minced lamb mixed with spices and then grilled) at a roadside stall. The emphasis on this trip is on building and enjoying relationships within the communities we travel and throughout the trip you will stay in a variety of accommodation, all of them locally owned and run. We enjoy a homestay and home cooking in the Atlas mountains and a small family-run riad in Essaouira.
We have our breaks at local cafes selling mint tea or café au lait and if we are feeling hungry, we can snack at street stalls selling chickpeas, nuts and even snails. Souqs (markets) sell olives, preserved lemons, dates and spices and our desert safari sees us sharing a meal with the Berber people. Even when we go shopping we like to get our travelers to shop at cooperatives where the artisans receive a fair price for their wares, therefore cutting out the middle man.
This trip also supports various organisations along the way. In the Middle Atlas mountains, we visit Kasbah Myriem, an organisation run by Franciscan nuns who educate and train local women to weave and use traditional patterns for their carpets and other hand-made products. Their mission is to give unmarried woman an education and guaranteed paid employment, and have the support of the local communities since they buy all their wool and dyes from nearby farmers. Passengers learn about the project and have the opportunity to buy some of their high-quality products.
In Tinerhir, we visit our foundation's supported organisation which works with physically and mentally handicapped people who learn to read, write and work with computers at school, and learn the basic skills to function in day-to-day life. They also receive professional instruction by local artisans on weaving, ceramics, woodwork and metalwork, so that they can become useful and valuable members of society and earn an income of their own.
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