Highlights
* Explore the “Royal Cities” of Marrakech and Fes
* visit an authentic Argan Oil cooperative run by a group of Moroccan women
* Stay in beautiful traditional hotels known as riads
* Visit the Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira with its laid-back vibe and cool ocean breezes
* Cross the Atlas Mountains and stretch your legs with an easy hike through dramatic rock formations
* Enjoy delicious cuisine, including the locally produced wines
* Travel into the Sahara Desert for an unforgettable experience by camel or on foot
* Journey through dramatic gorges and across the highest mountain pass in North Africa
* See the colorful “Blue City” of Chefchaouen
* Tour astounding fortresses that used to control trade through the area
* Travel in comfortable 4×4 vehicles with friendly and informative local drivers
* Make a traditional Berber-style “pizza”
* See the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean at the Lighthouse of Cap Spartel
* End your tour in the Mediterranean seaport of Tangier, which lies just across from Spain and the Rock of Gibraltar
Trip price includes
13 nights accommodation in comfortable riads (upgrades available at some of them); 13 breakfasts, 7 dinners plus 2 lunches (one winery, one pizza-making); all visits and transfers as per itinerary; bilingual guide/drivers to accompany you throughout the week in 4×4 vehicles
Not included
6 dinners, 10 lunches, drinks other than water at meals, and anything not listed in the inclusions
ITINERARY
Morocco is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, with a rich history and dramatic landscapes that will have you dreaming of desert caravans and Medieval walled cities. This two-week trip begins in Marrakech and hits all of the cultural, culinary, and natural highlights before ending in Tangier. Enjoy delicious cuisine, try the fabulous local wines, ride a camel through the Sahara, pass through spectacular gorges and across high mountain passes, and visit some of North Africa’s most beautiful palaces, forts, and religious buildings. Travel by sturdy 4×4 vehicles and get to know your friendly local guides. Stay the night in lovely traditional riads with tiled floors, wooden balustrades, an interior courtyard, and often a rooftop terrace. Manu & Claire plan on joining this “light active” departure which is suitable for all fitness levels (there is one optional hike but we’ll get in plenty of steps as we explore).
We begin in Marrakech and have two days to explore the city’s rich history and beautiful streets and monuments. From there we head to the Atlantic Coast at Essaouira, where you stay the night and visit an argan oil producer. The adventure heats up after that when we spend six days traversing the mountains and deserts of the country’s interior. Comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicles take you through remote and spectacular scenery as you cross the Atlas Mountains and spend a few days in the desert. The second week of the trip takes you to amazing Fes, a Medieval walled city with a rabbit warren of streets, alleyways and markets inside. From there we spend a night in the charming “blue city” of Chefchaouen. Our final night is in the colorful port town of Tangier, once a favorite of artists and travelers looking for an “exotic” escape. This is an adventure you won’t want to miss!
Pat Wright –
We had an amazing 14 day, 13 night trip through Morocco organized by Claire of Wild Sage (international active travel). 5 stars all the way. History, culture, geography, great food, beautiful small riads for lodging, interaction with residents, both natural and man-made beauty, all woven together in an excellent immersive experience. On this trip, we covered almost the entire country, so this style of travel might not be for everyone. There is a lot of car time (SUVs with wonderful local drivers, formerly nomads!); this is necessary if you want to see all of Morocco. The geography, culture, and weather change as you cross the terrain. The country is approximately the size of California. On this itinerary, you drive across the breadth and length of the country. During the 14 days, we usually stayed 2 nights in beautiful riads run by locals. Occasionally, we stayed one night. We had native drivers and guides to educate us throughout. The tour included the cities of Marrakech, Essaouira, Fes, Tangier, and Chefchaouen (the Blue City), plus the natural beauty of the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara desert (amazing camel ride!) and Dades Gorge. Our food was always good and of the region. Claire has immense knowledge of world history and culture. Thus, she provides amazing perspective. All the guides and drivers were flexible and did their best to accommodate the individual needs of each group member. The trip was superlative in every way. Take the camel ride; It’s magical!
James Mizes –
What an amazing tour of Morocco. So much to see and learn and Claire and Wild Sage make this adventure so special, comfortable and cultural. The cities we visited were fascinating and the desert was spectacular.
Mary Lou and Gary –
Wow! Such an amazing trip, and as always Claire delivered a top-notch experience in every way! From the medinas of Marrakech to the dunes of the Sahara and everything in between, it was everything we had hoped for and more!