Morocco 2021: Exotic Morocco with Five-Star Sofitel Luxury & Insider Experiences Including Cooking Class & Wine Tasting
Discover the magic of Morocco on an incredible eight-day luxury, small-group tour (max. 16 travellers). From Casablanca to Fes, Rabat to Marrakech, explore ancient cities, mazes of medinas, epic mountain ranges and Saharan dunes. Marvel at ancient mosques and medinas, learn to craft Moroccan cuisine with a cooking class in a Berber village, enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at Morocco’s premier wine-making estate and explore Marrakech and Fes on insider tours with local guides. Including luxury accommodation with stays at the five-star Sofitel in Casablanca and Marrakech, daily breakfast, a selection of gourmet dining experiences, private return airport transfers and transportation throughout, the services of expert local guides, insider experiences and so much more.
Your Itinerary at a Glance:
- Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque & Morocco’s capital Rabat
- Private tour of Fes including its medinas and tanneries
- Private tour of Volubilis and the ancient city of Meknes
- Evening walk around the vibrant Djemaa El Fna
- Insider tour of the old city of Marrakech
- Visit the new YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) museum
What You’ll Love…
The Accommodation – French Sofitel elegance meets exotic Moroccan touches
After days of exploring, relax in some of the finest accommodation Morocco has to offer.
French elegance meets exotic Moroccan design at the beautiful five-star Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche. Nestled opposite the exquisite Hassan II Mosque, close to the medina and overlooking the rooftops and minarets, it’s perfectly located for enjoying everything this mesmerising city has to offer.
Get a taste of boutique luxury staying in a plush Junior Suite at Hotel Sahrai, part of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection and located in the heart of medieval Fes. During your stay be sure to treat yourself to a blissful treatment at the hotel’s Givenchy Spa, the first in North Africa from the French luxury fashion house.
You will find yourself in the midst of the action at the five-star Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial, where you will also be staying in a luxurious Junior Suite. This palatial residence rises from exotic gardens of palm trees and scented bougainvilleas, and its interior is equally beautiful: beyond the Arabian-inspired lobby is the So Spa, hammam and sauna, exquisite Moroccan and international cuisine and more.
The Tour – Discover ancient treasures, dine on authentic Moroccan cuisine, see breathtaking landscapes and explore with the locals
Together with your local guides, enjoy tours of the ancient cities of Fes and Marrakech, where the smell of freshly-baked bread wafts from the backstreets of the souk, the sounds of scents of the ancient medina mesmerise you and the colours of ornate mosaics jump from the walls.
Head to a Berber village on the outskirts of Marrakech to take part in a hands-on farmhouse cooking class, where you’ll explore the traditions of Moroccan cuisine using aromatic local spices sourced from the village souk. Feast on your creations on a terrace surrounded by views of the stunning Atlas Mountains before enjoying a traditional tea in the company of a Berber family.
Enjoy a wine tasting and a delicious lunch at Les Célliers de Meknes, Morocco’s premier wine-making estate nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
Sit down to an authentic Moroccan lunch in a traditional riad together with a local family, who will show you how to dine the ‘fassi’ way.
See some of Morocco’s most famous attractions including the magnificent Hassan II Mosque partially suspended over the ocean, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, Jardins de Majorelle and the new YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) museum.
Your Package Includes:
- Seven nights of luxury accommodation, including stays at the five-star Sofitel in Casablanca and Marrakech and Hotel Sahrai in Fes
- Daily breakfast and a selection of additional dining experiences including a welcome dinner, lunch in a traditional riad with a local family and authentic local cuisine
- A hands-on cooking class in a Berber village in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, where you’ll discover the secrets behind fragrant Moroccan cuisine
- A wine-tasting experience with lunch at ’Les Célliers de Meknes, Morocco’s premier wine-making estate
- Private return airport transfers
- Private transportation throughout
- The services of expert local guides
- All sightseeing and entrance fees
- Insider experiences
Extend your stay and experience the majesty and mystique of the Sahara Desert
You have experienced the hustle and bustle of the cities: now experience the serenity and splendour of the breathtaking Sahara Desert.
Sleep under the stars amidst the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi at the award-winning Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp and dine on authentic Moroccan cuisine beside the campfire with breakfast, lunch and dinner included during your stay. Experience the serenity of the sweeping desert as you embark on a camel ride into the red dunes and enjoy a four-wheel drive followed by an unforgettable picnic in this most magical of settings.
Plus, admire spectacular vistas from the High Atlas Mountains, visit the famous UNESCO World-Heritage-listed fortified city of Aït Benhaddou, marvel at the beauty and incredible fragrance of Morocco’s rose valley, where up to 4,000 tonnes of roses are harvested yearly, and more.
Your Extended Tour Includes:
- Three nights of luxury accommodation, including sleeping under the stars at the award-winning Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp
- Daily breakfast, nightly dinner and one lunch
- Camel ride into the desert at sunset and sunrise
- Private transportation throughout
- Economy flights from Errachidia to Casablanca
- All sightseeing and entrance fees
The tour begins in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech. The extended tour ends in Casablanca.
Your international flights are not included in your package. Flights to Casablanca from Australia will typically take a minimum of two stops and approximately 24 hours, departing from most major cities with Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways and various other airlines.
Private return airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only.
You MUST complete your booking form within 48 hours of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.
A visa may be required. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visa’s Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Day 1: Casablanca
On arrival in Casablanca, you will need to collect your luggage and exit the building to the arrivals area (located outside the terminal) where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time the day is at your leisure.
This evening you will meet with your leader and the rest of your group for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Sofitel Casablanca
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Casablanca - Rabat - Fes
After breakfast, enjoy a morning tour of Hassan II Mosque. The largest mosque on the African continent, this stunning building with its soaring minaret is partially built over the ocean, and its beauty extends from the outside in with painted wood ceilings, beautiful mosaics and marble floors.
Continue on to the city of Fes, stopping en route in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. The gate of winds, Bab Er-Rouah, is a spectacular monument granting direct access to both the Hassan Tomb and the famous tomb of the late king Mohamed V, who fulfilled Morocco’s independence.
We enjoy lunch in Rabat, before continuing on to Fes. Arriving in the late afternoon, the evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Sahrai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Fes
Enjoy an insider’s tour through Fes, the oldest of the Imperial Cities. Go back in time by six centuries as you step into the medieval Medina, whose narrow, cobbled streets are lined with ancient mosques, soaring green minarets and historic fondouks. Peek into peaceful courtyards bedecked with carved cedar wood, brightly-coloured mosaic tiles and stucco ornaments.
Enjoy lunch in a traditional riad with a local family where you will enjoy a real Moroccan meal the ‘fassi’ way.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Explore the city on your own or go shopping with your guide in search of traditional pottery, handicrafts and homewares. Your guide will also be able to assist with suggestions for dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Sahrai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Volubilis - Meknes - Fes
After breakfast, depart for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis. Nestled below Zerhoun mountain, they offer breathtaking views of the valley, the holy city of Moulay Idriss and the surrounding rolling hills.
Next, we enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at Les Célliers de Meknes, Morocco’s premier wine-making estate.
After lunch we visit Meknes, also known as the Moroccan Versailles. The city, with its gates and city walls, was founded at the end of the 17th century by the Sultan Moulay Ismail. Visit the Bab el Mansour (considered one of the finest gateways in Africa), the old Medina, and the old granaries and stables.
Arriving back in Fes in the early evening.
Accommodation: Hotel Sahrai
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5 - Fes - Marrakech
Today we drive to Marrakech, known as the ‘red city’ due to its red mud brick buildings. The drive will take approximately five hours, so we will stop along the way to break the journey.
Arriving in the late afternoon the rest of the day will be at your leisure. Take the opportunity for an evening walk around the vibrant Djemaa El Fna square, where an endless parade of performers and entertainers are stationed at night.
Accommodation: Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Marrakech
After breakfast, spend the day exploring Marrakech. Enjoy a morning guided tour of the old city and head off the beaten path into the lanes of the labyrinthine souk, where locals live their daily lives, cook bread in the bakeries, go for public hammams and escort their children to the local schools. Visit a traditional bakery where Moroccans have been baking bread, tagines and pastille for centuries. It wasn’t so long ago that it was very uncommon for people to have their own shower or bath in their homes – water (particularly hot water) was a precious commodity before the era of hot water heaters. A practical solution was created to get around this difficulty: the hammam. You’ll have the opportunity to see the traditional wood-burning furnace of one of Moroccan hammams.
Next, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before paying a visit to the Bahia Palace and discovering the city’s renowned gardens of Menara and Koutoubia. Finish the day at the beautiful Jardins de Majorelle and explore the new YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) museum.
Returning to the hotel, the evening is at your leisure.
Accommodation: Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: Marrakech
After breakfast, head to the Berber villages on the outskirts of Marrakech where you’ll take part in a hands-on Farmhouse cooking class to discover the flavours and traditions of Moroccan cuisine. Learn to identify aromatic Moroccan spices and cook a full Moroccan meal with classic side dishes before enjoying them on a terrace surrounded by views of the Atlas Mountains. You’ll also have the chance to visit a village souk to purchase some of the ingredients required for the class. After lunch, continue towards Amezmiz.
Your last evening in Marrakech is at your leisure. You may choose to enjoy a final dinner together as a group and your leader can help with arrangements (additional cost).
Accommodation: Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Depart Marrakech
Your tour ends after breakfast and you will be transferred to the airport in Marrakech for your onward flight (transfers to Casablanca can be arranged at an additional cost).
Meals: Breakfast
Sahara Desert Extension
Day 8: Marrakech - Atlas Mountains - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Skoura
This morning you will be collected from your hotel in Marrakech and set off east toward Ouarzazate via Tizi N’Tichka Pass through the High Atlas Mountains. Take the chance to snap some incredible photos on the way of the panoramic views and magnificent landscapes dotted by small Berber villages typical of the region.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ait Benhaddou, one of the most impressive and well-preserved fortress cities in Morocco. Built on a hilltop, this ancient kasbah inspired and featured in many movies such as Gladiator or Lawrence of Arabia. The view from the upper heights of the Kasbah is breathtaking and worth the climb through winding, narrow streets.
You will continue to Ouarzazate where Morocco’s version of Hollywood movie studios are found, also a good opportunity to stop for lunch (optional).
After a small break, you’ll continue through the Skoura, an extensive oasis of palm groves, showcasing a beautiful mix of greens, reds and pinks. Here you will see the beautiful Kasbah Amrhydil, dating back to the 17th century. Reaching the hotel in the late afternoon, the rest of the evening will be at your leisure.
Accommodation: Ksar El Kabbaba
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Skoura - Boumalne - Tineghir - Erfoud - Merzouga
After breakfast explore the Rose Valley, where Morocco’s most celebrated roses are grown and are used for making the country’s fine rosewater. Every May, 3000-4000 tonnes of roses can be gathered in a single week from these valleys. When the harvest is over, the town hosts a festival to celebrate complete with dancing, craft exhibitions and local music.
Visit the Dades Gorges, along the road of 1000 kasbahs that runs through the colourful Berber villages of the Dades Valley. Stop at Tineghir and admire its beautiful palm groves before continuing to the Gorge of Todra, where an easy trek along the 300-metre canyons awaits. Afterwards, head to Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Here you will take a camel ride while watching the sunset over the dunes.
Spend the night at a beautiful traditional luxury camp and enjoy the Sahara dunes under shooting stars by the campfire. Locals will entertain you with traditional music and songs.
Accommodation: Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Erg Chebbi
Today you will enjoy a full day in the desert. After breakfast, your experienced cameleer will share with you the serenity and silence of the desert during your camel ride into the red dunes of Erg Chebbi. Afterwards enjoy four-wheel driving through the desert before stopping for a picnic in the dunes.
This evening you can enjoy star gazing and the tranquillity of the Sahara Desert.
Accommodation: Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Depart Errachidia
This morning after breakfast you will transfer to the airport in Errachidia for your flight to Casablanca, where your tour ends on arrival.
Meals: Breakfast
The ‘7 day change of mind guarantee’ does not apply for Tour bookings. Due to the high demand and limited departures any cancellation / refund requests must be made within 48 hours of purchase. Otherwise, the standard Refund Policy applies.
After you have made your booking, please follow the instructions on your confirmation email and ensure you complete your traveller information details within 48 hours.
Valid for select departure dates:
11 April 2021
23 May 2021
13 June 2021
19 September 2021
13 October 2021
Important: Please allow for travelling time from Australia. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in Casablanca, Morocco on your chosen tour start date.
Instant Booking: To secure your dates at purchase, click ‘Instant Booking’ and select your preferred package. Once your preferred package is selected, you’ll click through to ‘Choose Your Dates of Travel’ and will be able to enter in your preferred tour commencement date.
The package is valid for ONE PERSON aged 18 years or older (based on twin share). If you are travelling with another person you must purchase TWO PACKAGES, otherwise if travelling alone, you must purchase the Solo Traveller package option. See the package options for further details. Solo travellers will get their own room throughout the tour.
Private Departures Available: Guests must be aged 18 years or older. If you wish to travel with children, or on your own private tour together with friends, please enquire for further information (minimum four travellers - surcharges apply).
Tour includes accommodation at the following hotels:
Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche
Hotel Sahrai
Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Extended tour only:
Ksar El Kabbaba
Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp
Accommodation is subject to availability and may be substituted for a hotel of a similar standard.
Maximum tour capacity is 16 people, minimum tour capacity is two people.
Tipping and gratuities are not included in the package and are at your own discretion (as a guide, approx. US$10-15 per person, per day is the industry standard).
Arrival and departure transfers are only available on the first and last day of the tour. Any arrivals and departures outside of these days will need to make their own arrangements to/from the airport.
Travellers should have a basic level of physical fitness and mobility and must be able to negotiate uneven surfaces, climb stairs and board boats.
Travellers are advised to check with their local health professional at least 45 days prior to departure, as some vaccinations require 30 days or more to be effective. Proof of vaccination is not usually required unless you are coming from an infected area.
Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond your intended stay overseas.
All surcharges are payable directly to Luxury Escapes.
Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated) and menu options are subject to change.
Additional expenses such as (but not limited to) international flights are not included with this package.
Package cannot be split.
Travel insurance is compulsory. We suggest purchasing travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package.
Strictly no refunds for this package for amendments and change of date.
Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or on existing reservations.
Any unused portion of the package is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for other services or cash.
Please note: Disability access is limited during the tour, please consider this when making your booking.
The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving.
Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time.
All activities and services are subject to availability.
Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to website’s terms and conditions.