Morocco Signature: Mosques, Medinas and Desert
About This Trip
October 1–14, 2024 | 14 Days
Morocco is famous for the mystique of its colourful markets, the drama of the Sahara Desert landscape and Casablanca, of course. This 14-day trip lets you experience the most authentic – and beautiful – version of this enchanting North African country. You’ll start in Casablanca and take in the stunning architecture of the nation’s largest mosque and bustling open-air markets, before moving onto the UNESCO-protected ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. Next is Fes, where you’ll tour the Royal Palace and enjoy a private cooking class. Then, head out to the desert and camp out at the magical Merzouga Luxury Camp for stargazing, before driving through the Dadès Gorges. Don’t forget glamorous Marrakech, where you’ll tour historic monuments, the renowned Yves Saint Laurent Museum and learn how to make your own Moroccan slippers.
Member Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours/cruises.
- $25 CAD Beverage card†
- 50 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Extraordinary Experience
CAA has curated an exceptional experience unique to your tour. Details of this experience are listed below:
Artisan Moroccan Slipper Workshop
Enjoy a do-it-yourself babouche (Moroccan slipper) workshop with a local artisan. Learn traditional techniques from the artisan who’ll then assist you in making your own pair of babouche to take home.
Package Includes:
- Return airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Casablanca
- 1+1-night stay in first-class accommodation in Casablanca
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Fes
- 2-night stay in first-class accommodation in Merzouga
- 1-night stay in first-class accommodation in Dades
- 4-night stay in first-class accommodation in Marrakech
- Breakfast daily, 6 lunches, 4 dinners and 1 tasting
- Land transportation via first-class motorcoach
- All bridge, ferry, and road tolls
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Local English-speaking guides
- Hotel porterage of 1 suitcase per person
- Destination transfers
Morocco Signature: Mosques, Medinas and Desert
Activity Level: Active. From a sunset camel ride to expert-guided tours through lively sooks, experience the best of Morocco on this epic, curated adventure.
Day 1
Depart from Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Casablanca.
Day 2
Casablanca – Transfer from the airport with a stop for lunch. This afternoon, visit the Habous district and the Hassan II Mosque. Dinner is at the iconic Rick’s Café. (D)
Day 3
Fes – Visit Volubilis then continue to Fes. The rest of your day is at leisure. (B)
Day 4
Fes – Tour the city’s monuments, followed by a tour of the Medina, including a tasting of Moroccan treats. (B/T)
Day 5
Fes – Enjoy a private cooking class. The rest of your day is at leisure. (B/L)
Day 6
Merzouga Desert – Set out on a scenic drive to the Sahara. Enjoy dinner this evening with your group. (B/L/D)
Day 7
Merzouga Desert – Visit the villages of Khamlia and Gnawa followed by a camel ride. Arrive at Merzouga Luxury Camp for dinner and stargazing. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Dadès – Set off through the Dadès Gorges. Visit Todgha before continuing on to Dadès. (B/L/D)
Day 9
Marrakech – Visit Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, then drive the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Check in to your hotel, with the rest of your day at leisure. (B/L)
Day 10
Marrakech – Spend your day touring the monuments, medinas and the Spice Market with your guide. This evening, tour Jemaa el-Fna Square. (B)
Day 11
Marrakech – Visit the Majorelle Garden. This afternoon is your Extraordinary Experience: A Moroccan slipper workshop. (B)
Day 12
Marrakech – Visit the village of Imlil and hike the High Atlas Mountains before exploring Berber villages. (B/L)
Day 13
Casablanca – Transfer to Casablanca, with the rest of your day at leisure. (B)
Day 14
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits.
†Beverage card is one per person, in Canadian funds and has no cash value.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance is underwritten by Orion Travel Insurance Company, a CAA Company. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2024. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to the promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from Toronto or Winnipeg on your overnight flight to Casablanca.
Day 2
Casablanca
Transfer from the airport with a stop for lunch. In the afternoon, experience a guided visit of the Habous district, and a visit to the opulent Hassan II Mosque. It took over 10,000 of the Kingdom’s artists and craftsmen to build this mosque – the largest in Morocco and the one with the tallest minaret in the world. It’s a stunning display of Moroccan-Andalusian architecture. Later, check in to your hotel. Dinner is at the iconic Rick’s Café, where the decor is still faithful to the set from Casablanca. (D)
Day 3
Fes
Drive to Fes with a stop to visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. These UNESCO-protected ruins are one of Morocco’s most significant places of archaeological interest. Continue your drive to Fes. Spend the remainder of your day at leisure. (B)
Day 4
Fes
This morning, a guided tour of the city’s monuments takes you to the Royal Palace, Medersa Bou Inania and Al-Qarawiyyin University, the oldest existing educational institution in the world. Enjoy lunch at your leisure. In addition to these city monuments, Fes is known as the city of craftsmen. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Medina (old town), see souks and artisan’s quarters. Teeming with Moroccan artifacts and souvenirs, the Medina is an enthralling shopping experience. Discover fascinating outdoor tanneries, where the tanning process is still done using traditional methods. Huge earthenware vessels contain a mix of ingredients and colourful natural dye for the skins, while large racks are used to dry out the leather in the intense sun. During your tour, try all manners of Moroccan treats in the souks, from pastries to potato cakes to cured olives and more. (B/T)
Day 5
Fes
Today, enjoy a private Moroccan tagine cooking class with a souk visit. Venture into the souks with your chef to shop for local ingredients, which you’ll then use to create your very own dish. Under the guidance of a professional chef, learn how to make classic Moroccan dishes, then enjoy what you’ve made for lunch. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure. (B/L)
Day 6
Merzouga Desert
After an early breakfast, set out for a scenic drive to the Sahara Desert. Enjoy lunch en route, then dinner at your Riad after arrival and check in. (B/L/D)
Day 7
Merzouga Desert
Start today with a visit to Khamlia Gnawa, the “little desert village with a big story”. The inhabitants of this village are direct descendants of the Gnawa tribe. After a picnic lunch in the Oasis, you’ll visit the Nomads, continuing with a sunset camel ride. Arrive at Merzouga Luxury Camp, where you’ll stay in a tent with double beds and access to a comfortable central terrace for lounging on traditional plush pillows and rugs. Here, indulge in dinner, stargazing and sit by a campfire while being accompanied by the sounds of local tribal music. (B/L/D)
Day 8
Dadès
Enjoy the spectacular sunrise in the Saharan desert – it will have the perfect light for a photoshoot. Depart Dadès and drive through the Dadès Gorges, also known as “Morocco’s Grand Canyon”, on your way to Marrakech. The gorges are an ideal stop en route, making for a great photo opportunity while you stretch your legs. Next, visit the village of Todgha before continuing to Dadès with stops along the way. Dinner at the hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 9
Transfer from Dadès to Marrakech
Your first stop today is at Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a picture-perfect fortified village located on the ancient caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. This is a phenomenal lunch spot where you’ll get a deep dive on the customs and architecture of Southern Morocco. After lunch, continue to Marrakech through the breathtaking Tizi n’Tichka pass. Upon arrival in Marrakech, check in to your hotel with the remainder of your day at leisure. (B/L)
Day 10
Marrakech
This morning, take guided tours of monuments such as Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs and Medina. This afternoon, continue your guided tour of the souks and spice markets. In the evening, experience a nighttime guided visit of Jemaa el-Fna Square, a symbol of the city and arguably the main cultural space of Marrakech. Take a walking tour of the square for the ultimate souk experience, and see everything from snake charmers to acrobats to the famous orange juice-sellers and vast arrays of street food. Dine at your leisure. (B)
Day 11
Marrakech
Visit the picturesque Majorelle Garden and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum followed by lunch at your leisure. This afternoon is your Extraordinary Experience: A do-it-yourself babouche (Moroccan slipper) workshop with a local artisan. Learn traditional techniques from the artisan who’ll then assist you in making your own pair of babouche to take home. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. (B)
Day 12
Marrakech
After breakfast, take a drive to the village of Imlil where you’ll go on a hike in the High Atlas Mountains. Lunch is at a local Berber restaurant. Explore Berber villages and have a tea break with a local family before driving back to Marrakech. Dinner is at your leisure. (B/L)
Day 13
Casablanca
Return to Casablanca and have lunch at your leisure before checking in to your hotel for your last night in Morocco. (B)
Day 14
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting