Weeklong Journey Through Morocco's Medinas, Kasbahs, and Desert Wilderness

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Morocco and Spain, and they’re only about 8 miles apart at the narrowest point. Cross that stretch of water, though, and there’s a striking shift in culture and climate. Scattered throughout the Moroccan desert landscape, there are medinas—old town squares surrounded by medieval walls. Within these ancient Islamic fortresses, you’ll typically find winding streets with open-air markets that brim with colorful clothing, woodwork, and sweet-smelling cuisine.

During an eight-day guided tour, G Adventures will lead you from Casablanca to Marrakech to show how Morocco's rich history and traditions intermingle with modernity. Along with a group of 10–15 people, a "Chief Experience Officer" will lead each trek and encourage the group to try new things to get an understanding of the Moroccan culture. Breakfast is included each day, as are hotel accommodations with one roommate from your group, but airfare is not.

View the full itinerary here.

Day 1: Upon arrival in Casablanca, you'll meet for a powwow with your tour group at the hotel. There, you'll make introductions and go over logistics before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: After breakfast, you and your compadres will pile into an air-conditioned van for the four-hour drive to Meknes. You’ll take a guided tour of its medina, which was once ruled by Moulay Ismail. Artifacts from his reign still remain intact, including an ingenious granary and stable that accommodated the sultan's legendary 12,000 horses and their swimming pools filled with delicious oats.

A 45-minute ride north soon lands at Volubilis, an ancient skeleton of a Roman town complete with bathhouses and pillars that have stood for nearly 2,000 years. The day then winds down with a two-hour drive into Fez, another medieval town that, in the 11th century, was the largest city in the known world.

Day 3: A half-day guided walking tour of Fez's vibrant medina kicks off day 3. Here, you'll have a chance to browse traditional Moroccan souks, or bazaars, which overflow with everything from fresh produce and spices to handmade brass, wood, and copper goods. The rest of the day is set aside for you to explore this exotic city as you see fit.

Day 4: During a 10-hour drive across the Atlas Mountains, city scenes transform into desert. The first stop is Merzouga, a gateway town to the Sahara. Here, you'll condense your luggage into a single pack and trek out into the desert wilderness on camelback. As dusk falls, the group gathers at a Bedouin-style tent camp to sleep under a dazzling canopy of stars.

Day 5: Today, your tour troupe will rise at dawn and hike back to Merzouga as the sun rises. Later in the afternoon, you’ll take a hike through Todra Gorge, which has spectacular sheer-walled canyons, before heading to a local palm-tree farm.

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou is one of the Morocco's best-preserved kasbahs, and it’s the groups next stop after a drive through the Atlas foothills. You’ll also make an early lunch stop in the town of Ouarzazate, which served as the shooting location of several Hollywood films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Days 7–8: After emerging from the mountainous Tizi n'Tichka Pass, take the day to explore Marrakech's famous Djemaa el Fna square, where you can bargain on anything from lanterns to sheep's heads. Before the end of your tour on day eight, it’s worth it to check out Marrakech's resplendent Koutoubia palace, the Saadina tombs, or see what else the city's been up to since its founding in 1062.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.