Ancient Cultures of Morocco Tour

Ruins of ancient Merenid tombs in Fez, Morocco

What to expect on this itinerary

Handcrafted with Morocco’s most intimate cultural experiences, this one-week tour will lead you from Berber villages to Gnawa backroads and artisanal cities to glasses of mint tea in ancient medinas. Morocco is a melting pot of fascinating cultures, where traditions ring true, and heritage is part of daily life. This is a journey that is defined by the people you meet and the traditions you can experience, from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert.

Countries Visited

Morocco

Places Visited

Marrakech, Fes, Ouarzazate, Merzouga

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Marrakech – Berber Storytelling

Today, you will land in Marrakech and be greeted at the airport by a local guide. It is a short transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you will have time to rest and refresh before gathering your first impressions of the mazy streets. Rather than visit set attractions, today’s Marrakech walk will focus on absorbing the atmosphere. So, you can wander the lively labyrinthine streets and use all your senses to admire what is happening before an evening of sunset colors and Berber traditions on the main square.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Marrakech – Highlights of an Imperial City

Day 3

Ouarzazate – Exploring Berber Villages

Day 4

Merzouga – Intimate Experiences

Day 5

Fes – The Sahara At Sunrise

Day 6

Fes – Artisanal Culture in Meknes

Day 7

Fes – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Enjoy intimate experiences with the Gnawa people and feel how their mystical drumming calls on another world
  • Discover traditional Berber culture, from listening to storytellers on Djemaa el-Fna to lunch and community involvement in small High Atlas villages
  • Marvel at the artisanal culture of Meknes, which is Morocco’s lesser-known imperial city
  • Inhale the atmosphere of yesteryear with a journey along the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs, which is an almost mythical landscape that showcases the ancient Saharan culture
  • Absorb ancient Islamic heritage and celebrate charming old customs
  • Explore fabulous landscapes that hold incredible cultural secrets, including a camel journey into Saharan sand dunes and the mazy streets of Fes
  • Immerse yourself in Morocco’s old-world culture, especially in the imperial cities and their souks
  • Feel the past by visiting old Saharan caravanserai towns and tanneries that have not changed for over a millennium

Detailed Description

Morocco’s culture is a mixing pot of exotic histories and influences. This cultural melting pot is peaceful and invites visitors to come and explore. This is not a culture that you witness in museums, but one that is omnipresent across Morocco. On this one-week tour, you will immerse yourself in Morocco’s wonderful complexities.

You will begin your Morocco tour with two nights in Marrakech, which is a Berber-dominated city that is packed with souks, vibrant streets, and an immersive atmosphere. Here, you will listen to traditional storytellers, explore millennia of heritage, discover the city’s essential sites, and watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace. From here, it is an easy journey into the High Atlas, where Berber villages offer insight into community and tradition. Following a road of mud-brick kasbahs, you can really experience cultural tradition.

After a night in Ouarzazate, you will reach Merzouga on day four, where the Gnawa people can further your cultural immersion. Through drumming and Sufism, you will experience the culture of these people who came across the Sahara from Sudan as slaves. The following morning, you can experience some desert history. In the Sahara, you will ride a camel and acquaint yourself with the unique landscape. You will fly to Fes the same day, where an Arab and Moorish history will provide a brilliant cultural contrast.

Fes has the greatest of all the medieval centers in Morocco, and with two nights, you can get to know tanneries, cafe culture, and the city’s surprisingly laid-back lifestyle. There will still be time to discover Meknes and Volubilis. You will only have one week in Morocco, but you will experience three very different histories and cultures in addition to the mountains and desert.

Starting Price

$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 785 reviews

Rebecca P.
Morocco Travel Review: Marrakech, Essaouira, Agafay Desert, Atlas Mountains, Food Tour, ATV Ride, Pottery Class, Local Cuisine, 9-Day Trip

Our experience in Morocco was nothing short of amazing, thanks to the very talented team at Zicasso’s travel company. Our family was absolutely delighted with the level of care and attention to detail for each activity and lodging we enjoyed during our nine days in Marrakech, Essaouira, Agafay Desert, and, finally, our hotel in the Atlas Mountains.

Let's start with our driver, who impressed us daily with the way he navigated our very comfortable van through very challenging streets and roadways. We always felt extremely safe with him behind the wheel and he was so nice with our kids! When our youngest started to feel carsick going through the Atlas Mountains, our driver did everything he could to make the journey smooth—drove extra slow, pulled over whenever we asked for a little break, and made sure the car was always stocked with plastic bags and plenty of water. We highly recommend our driver, along with each tour guide arranged through the travel company.

Our travel specialist, and the owner, has assembled a fantastic group of people who clearly love their work. You will leave the country with an authentic cultural experience, not just a stamp in the passport. If you get an opportunity, do the backstreet food tour with our guide in Marrakech. She was so hospitable and introduced us to some truly tasty food. My children (ages seven and 12) even ate snails in the market with us! So yes, try the snails, along with whatever else she recommends.

Another tip: if you want a desert ATV experience, but do not want to trek to the Sahara, please consider visiting Essaouira and book an ATV tour there. There are some impressive sand dunes near the beach and we had an absolute blast trekking over those. The ATV route is gorgeous; you get the beach and the desert landscape in one go.

If you want an overnight desert experience, without going to the Sahara, then absolutely go to the Agafay Desert. A camel ride at sunset was a magical first for our children.

Finally, I want to say that the travel company goes above and beyond if there are travel hiccups. On our final night in Morocco, we received a text from our airline saying our flight had been cancelled (part of the massive Airbus recall). There were zero flights out of Marrakech and we needed to be back in the States in two days. My husband found a flight from Casablanca the next day and the travel specialist graciously provided transportation for us for the three-and-a-half-hour drive. We felt like booking with the our travel specialist was like having extra travel insurance! Sincere thanks to him and the entire team.

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minerva D.
Morocco Travel Review: Sahara Desert, 1-Week Trip

The trip exceeded our expectations.

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Charles D.
Morocco Vacation Review: Atlas Mountains, Marrakech, Art, 11 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist is a consummate professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and supportive. Excellently planned bespoke itinerary.

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Shoba K.
Morocco Tour Review: Agafay Desert, Fes, 13-Day Trip

Our experience with Zicasso’s travel specialist and the tour operator was fantastic!!

Our trip went smoothly and seamlessly, and exceeded our expectations.

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Douglas H.
Morocco Vacation Review: Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Berber Home, Markets, 13-Day Trip

The trip was thoughtfully planned, with an excellent driver and local guides. Each of the riads and hotels chosen for the trip provided excellent service and beautiful rooms. Zicasso's tour operator was a joy to work with. The pace of the trip was perfect for us. Mary and I have not enjoyed a holiday more thoroughly than this tour of Morocco.

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James J.
Morocco Travel Review: High Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Marrakech, 12-Day Trip

We recently returned from a 12-day trip to Morocco. It was an incredible trip! We started in a kasbah in the High Atlas Mountains and then traveled to Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, and ended in Marrakech. We had excellent accommodations, transportation, and local guides.

The trip was planned and booked through the tour operator. Zicasso’s travel specialist was easy to communicate with and addressed all of our concerns. It was a pleasure to meet him in Marrakech for tea and an escort around the square. The people of Morocco were warm and kind. We look forward to returning and spending time in the desert, and we would definitely book with the tour operator again.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews