Handcrafted with three distinctive Moroccan destinations, this one-week tour is perfect for families who want something a little more intrepid than a standard vacation. Ancient souks arouse the senses, historical villages immerse you in tradition, and there is so much to do and see. From Sufi drumming to horseback rides and movie scenes to Berber villages, you will fall in love with this incredible country.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Essaouira – Colorful First Impressions
Essaouira evokes many dreamy impressions of Morocco, but it is much smaller than famous cities like Marrakech and Fes. Ancient castle walls keep guard over the city center, and the streets are broad and pedestrianized. You will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in the medina. A local guide will take you on a walking tour orientation so that you can feast on some of the exotic flavors and scenes. You will already be able to notice the reverie that Moroccans have toward family. It will all be very exciting and much calmer than being in Marrakech. This evening, you can continue the exotic narrative with a Sufi drumming workshop.
What's Included:
Day 2
Essaouira – Water Sports and Horse Rides
Day 3
Marrakech – Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Day 4
Marrakech – Family Cooking Class
Day 5
Ouarzazate – Mountain Trekking in the High Atlas
Day 6
Ouarzazate – Recreating Famous Movies
Day 7
Ouarzazate – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Ride a horse-drawn carriage through Marrakech’s evocative medina and feast your senses on the traditional scenes
- Enjoy a family hike in the High Atlas that will have you traveling with mules between ancient Berber villages
- Lounge around a beautiful Atlantic Ocean beach and find some solitude for sharing family time
- Recreate a variety of Hollywood movies by visiting Ouarzazate’s studios and the setting for Gladiator
- Learn how to craft local food with an immersive Moroccan cooking class for kids
- Have your choice of water sports in Essaouira, which includes learning to surf, before relaxing on the town’s rooftops for a dose of traditional Morocco
- Drum the night away with a Sufi workshop that is tailored for children
Detailed Description
Morocco is enchantment at every turn with new experiences every day. The country welcomes you to indulge in a dreamy vacation through the country’s premier family highlights with three very distinctive destinations in one week of travel. Essaouira is a charming old city that is complemented by golden beaches and an easy-going atmosphere. Marrakech will provide your cultural immersion. Then, in the High Atlas, you will savor mountain experiences and local Berber connections with a chance to venture off the beaten path.
Morocco is perfect for families. This is a country that loves visitors. The people are famously friendly and place a large focus on the family unit. Every evening, you will see local families playing on city squares. In remote areas, you will find that local women pick up their children and wave to you from their doorways.
Such a warm welcome always helps a vacation run smoothly. Morocco is also an experiential place for families. You will learn Sufi drumming and journey briefly into its mystical realm. A local cooking class will bring fun in the kitchen and plenty of exotic flavors. There can be downtime and water sports on the coast, hiking in breathtaking mountains, and dozens of famous movie locations within easy reach of each other. The country is perfect for parents who want to continue the intrepid travels of their youth with their new travel companions.
After flying to Essaouira, you will spend two nights in the town, which will include a horseback ride on the beach and a Sufi drumming workshop. Marrakech is only a short distance away, and you can celebrate most of its treasures, from a horse-drawn carriage ride to a cooking class. It is only 90 minutes from the city to the High Atlas mountains, where you will spend a day hiking between Berber villages. Ouarzazate is an offbeat and unknown place to finish, but it is perfect for families because it contains the continent’s largest movie studios. All your tours will be private and customizable, plus you can sink into some of Morocco’s finest accommodation for families.
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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.87 stars based on 750 reviews.
I'm not sure it's possible to be any more satisfied with the service provided by the Zicasso travel partner's team.
Ahead of the trip, our travel designer was in constant contact, by phone and email. In terms of the itinerary and the logistics/preparation for the trip, we discussed the right locations, iterated on the excursions, and ultimately planned out a wonderful holiday in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary. He listened (for example, that we wanted more food experiences vs wine), suggested (for example, Segovia vs Toledo, Nerja vs Marbella), and coordinated all of the details.
And our concierge was amazing once we were on the ground. Coordinating with drivers and guides (especially since our inbound flight was delayed), making suggestions for restaurants and booking reservations, and providing guidance for myriad logistical situations (for example, the best route to take while driving from Sevilla to Ronda).
The travel company's team really delivered for us and we cannot thank them enough for our incredible Spain experience!
Reviewed By Alex G.
Our trip to Morocco was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Our driver was excellent and an excellent companion throughout the journey—reliable, friendly, and always helpful.
The guided tour through the medina in Marrakech with our guide was a standout experience, especially with the bonus of dining at a fantastic restaurant he recommended. Two major highlights of the trip were the unforgettable hot-air balloon ride and our magical night in the desert.
Although our time in Casablanca was brief, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide in Rabat was knowledgeable and made the experience engaging and informative. We ended our trip in the stunning town of Chefchaouen, where another guide provided an exceptional tour—he was informative and passionate about his city.
The accommodations were perfect at every stop, and we truly appreciated the welcome gifts and meals provided by Zicasso's travel specialist and his team. Their attention to detail made all the difference.
I would highly recommend him and his company to anyone planning a trip to Morocco. It was an unforgettable experience that I will be sharing with friends and family for years to come.
Reviewed By Joan F.
We had an amazing time in Morocco. The entire trip went very smoothly and we truly felt immersed in the Moroccan culture. Our guide and driver were efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly.
Reviewed By Jeff E.
We enjoyed a spectacular journey encompassing Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. Our guide and driver were very professional, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Each of the special events enabled us to interact extensively with everyday Moroccans. Our accommodations were superb and gave us a real feel for the country. We loved every moment of the adventure!
Reviewed By Ryan D.
If you are looking for a white-glove, red-carpet experience, Zicasso's tour planner and his company are your go-to. He created an amazing itinerary that fit our budget. He was terrific with communication and follow-up. The minute we set foot in Morocco, his team was there, ready to go. They were 10 to 15 minutes early every day. We traveled through four cities, with wonderful stops, sights, commentary, and tours.
Our tour guide first introduced himself as the fixer. I was wary. Four days later, it proved true. He saved me and my dresses. I left my dresses in the Casablanca hotel room. Five hours later, I discovered the "Oh no!". Our guide hopped on the phone, called the hotel numerous times, contacted several colleagues, and found someone to drive my dresses three hours to our Marrakech hotel. The dresses arrived by noon the next day.
Most of all, our tour planner created and delivered a magical, memorable experience, without mishap. My 80-year-old mother said it was the best vacation she's ever taken. We are truly grateful.
Reviewed By Tracey R.
We had the most amazing time in Morocco, thanks to our wonderful Zicasso trip planners. From the very beginning of the planning stages, our agents were not only super-accommodating, but provided great ideas to make our trip as special as could be!
Once we landed, our guide and driver made sure we were comfortable throughout our trip. We visited Marrakech, Merzouga, Fes, and Chefchaouen. Each of these destinations were special in their own way and we had amazing tours in the medinas, visited gardens and museums, had a cooking class and, of course, a wonderful night in the desert.
None of this could have been possible without the expertise of the entire team at the travel agency. The logistics were impeccable, the hotels so beautiful, and suggestions for shopping and meals were perfect as well!
We cannot thank the team enough for such a special experience and we hope to work with them in the future! Thank you so much!
Reviewed By Florencia T.
