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Morocco

Select the 8 day or let's be real, it's a once in a lifetime with a group of great people and ME, and join us for the 2 weeks including the trip into the Sahara Dessert!

We start in Gibraltar and Spain then on to Morocco. The country of Morocco (if laid out over the USA) spans from the Southern tip of Texas to the top of the mitten in Michigan. We will be covering about 2/3 of the country. Morocco in late September to Early October is still going to be hot(77 to 85) during the day and cooler(50-55) at night. Except the Sahara, it will be warmer during the day and cooler at night. A packing suggestion list will come out later with tips on traveling in Morocco. The main languages in Morocco are Arabic, Berber, then French, Spanish in Tangier, and we should find in English in the main tourist spots.

Day 1: Saturday. Arrival Gibraltar/La Linea de Conception

Arrive Gibraltar and settle in at our hotels in La Linea, Spain. Either a Marriott property, or a really fun option if I can make it work! 2 nights. You have been traveling since last night, with a layover likely in the UK and one of 2 arrivals daily between 11a and 2p. The goal is to stay up and dinner with group in La Linea. Group Dinner in Spain; Tapas

Day 2: Sunday. Explore Gibraltar

Sunday sees us exploring the Rock of Gibraltar, The Gondola for the sane, the Hike for the more adventurous (4.5 mile loop with 950 ft of elevation), The Caves and tunnels, The Macaques, The Skywalk and Suspension Bridge. Europa Point in the afternoon followed by a British Pub Crawl dinner (on own) in the historic Square. NOTE: Sunday will have few shops open. We will be moving all day.

Day 3: Monday. Travel to Morocco

Our Transport will pick us up by 10:30a to take us to Tarifa, Spain. We will have a traditional Paella Lunch in Tarifa, then board the ferry to Tangiers, arriving aproximately 3pm. Transport will pick us up at the port of Tangiers and take us to the caves of Hercules and along the beaches to watch the Sun set over the Atlantic (reverse veiw for most of us!) For those only doing 9 days, opportunity to ride down the beach on a Camel (if time permits)! Our hotel is our last "western" hotel with a Hilton Resort on the Beach with a Group Dinner.

Day 4: Tuesday. Travel to Chefchaouen

You'll have time for a beach walk/run/swim before transport arrives (10:00a ish) to start our journey to The Blue City of Chefchaouen. We will stop for Group lunch on the Mediterranean about an hour half in. Then another hour and a half to Chefchaouen, settle into the hotels and be ready for a 5pm sunset hike (about 30 min with about 250 ft of elevation) to the Spanish Mosque for Sunset. Roof top Group Dinner.

Day 5: Wednesday. Explore Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is tiny, a group of 20 to 30 is not ideal. You are on your own today. There is a museum. Photography buffs(or Plein aire painters), you won't be bored, there is a gorgeous picture to be taken in every direction. Hikers, a couple of great day trips including cooling waterfalls and swimming holes. Plan for a 12.5 moderate to challenging 6 to 8 hour day. Shoppers this is your first real opportunity but save the rugs, leather and pottery for Fes! Rendezvous back together for group dinner, not Moroccan.

Day 6: Thursday. Travel to Fes

We say goodbye to Chefchaouen and head to Fes. We will be leaving about 8:15a. At about the 3 hour mark we will stop to visit the Unesco site of Volubilis (3rd century BC Berber/Roman city) with a site history guide and group lunch in the vicinity, before resuming the remaining 1.5 hour ride to Fes. We plan to arrive in Fes around 5pm. Group Dinner and orientation for Fes Stay.

Day 7: Friday. FES

Fes is the Cultural capital of Morocco. As we get closer to the trip you will need to choose (or not) activities. We will as a group visit the leather markets, the rug shops, and the "apothecary". There will be visits to mosques and palaces as well. But there will also be a cooking class at the famous Cafe Clock with dinner to follow. Opportunity for a Mosaic and/or pottery class as well as basket weaving.

Day 8: Saturday. FES

Planning for meals in Fes. We will be all together for one group lunch and on our own or in smaller groups for the other. Official Birthday Dinner will be in Fes! But there will be an opportunity for a quiet evening with out the group and the opportunity for Hammam/Massage one evening.

Day 9: Departures/Full Day Hike/Spa

For those leaving after a week, today is the day. Departures are from Rabat (2 hr by car, 3 by train) or Casablanca (add an hour to each). Direct flts are possible to IAD. Direct flts leave mid afternoon. For those staying: We are on a 7:30am bus. Hikers this is a full day for you with a 12+ mile Point to Point Hike. We (the sane ones) drop you off in the Alpine village of Ifrane and we will see you at the Azrou cedar forest at the end of the day. The rest of us will spend the morning wandering, photographing, painting reading coffee-ing in the Alpine village of Ifrane with an early afternoon arrival at our lodgings at the Forest (forest walk and monkeys), Spa and pool available. All this hotel has a Spa with 2 Masseuse on Staff, getting off the trail what a massage, pre-booking required in advance first come first serve (room for 4 hikers). Others? plenty of time to get in a massage. Group dinner, French!

Day 10: Monday. Travel to Merzouga

After the long Hike, late breakfast with a late morning departure for a 3 ish hour drive to the Ziz Valley. It is harvest season of the date palms. We will arrive with plenty of time for a 2 hr walk along the oasis floor through the date palms and pomegranate orchards. Photo ops abound. For our die hard Hikers another 4 hr hike is available in the canyons and rims.

Day 11: Tuesday. Arrive Merzouga Night in the SAHARA

We depart for a 3ish hour drive to Merzouga, our departure point for the Desert. We will be going in by Camel. In the dessert there will be opportunity for Sand Surfing, extra outings of dune buggy excursions, and more photos.

Day 12: Wednesday. Travel Day Gorges

Sunrise over the dunes not to be missed. Breakfast and transport back to Merzouga. We have about a 6 hour ride today (one of our longest) with some gorgeous views and several stops to break it up. Our first stop is in the Todra Gorges with a group lunch, and continuing on to the Valley of the Roses (bloom in May, sorry) and the Dades Valley.

Day 13: Thursday.Travel to Marrakech

Another long travel day with stops in the cinematic capital of Ouarzazate for a quick stop followed by group lunch and visit at the UNESCO site of Ksar of Ait Benhaddou. We then finish our road trip by climbing to +7000 ft in the High Atlas Mountains with spectacular views before descending back to the plains and Marrakech. Group dinner. Note working on an overnight in the Atlas mountains with time for a trek through some of the beautiful veiws, more to come.

Day 14: Friday. MARRAKECH

If we do spend that extra night in the mountais, we will be arriving Marrakech by 10am for a full day! Guided tour of Marrakech lunch and dinner on own, though scoping out an Italian Feast for tonight

Day 15: Saturday Oct 9th, 2027 MARRAKECH

Final day in Marrakech on own explorations shopping, Hammam experience, Final Group dinner. Departures Sunday.

Let us know if you'll be attending!

I have started the booking process and will be signing contracts before the end of the year. Deposits will be required by Jan 31st, 2027 ($1000.00 single occupancy, $1500 double occupancy) Final payment will be due 60 days prior to departure. I will cap it at 18 rooms and 30 ppl. So we went a little over... Some single occupancy may need or want to double or triple/quad up for a couple of the stops due to room inventory restrictions, (fun option La Linea, Glamping, overnights to and from Merzouga) none of this will happen without full conversations.

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