North Morocco

Day 1: Casablanca: Early evening meet with your guide to share essential trip information, and so that your passport and insurance details can be collected.

Note: we leave early tomorrow for the start of our adventure, so we suggest that you aim to arrive a day earlier so that you can explore this interesting city.

Day 2: Rabat and Moulay Idriss: Today we take an early morning one-hour train to the historical town of Rabat. After storing your luggage we will take a walk through the city's old quarter, then walk up to Kasbah des Oudaias and enjoy views over the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on to Meknes by train (approximately 3 hours), before taking a 45-minute taxi through scenic countryside to the sacred pilgrimage village of Moulay Idriss. Once forbidden to non-Muslims, explore the delightful medina of this ancient town that offers an excellent insight into traditional Moroccan life. See where the faithful gather to pay homage at the tomb of Moulay Idriss I, who was the great-grandson of Mohammed and brought Islam to Morocco. At sunset, enjoy great views over the plains of Volubilis below. Your accommodation for the night is in a guesthouse/homestay with a local family. Bathroom facilities may be shared.

Day 3: Volubilis and Fes: This morning, we take a guided tour of the archaeological site of Volubilis, an impressive World Heritage site at the westernmost limits of the Roman empire. The mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact, are particularly impressive. We will take a few hours over lunchtime back in before we take a one-hour train to Fes, where you'll spend the next two nights. Fes, a vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming city is a highlight of the tour.

Day 4: Fes: Today we take a guided walking tour of the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back into the Middle Ages in the labyrinth of the Medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world) and explore the speciality sections that divide the souk. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. You'll also see (and smell!) the famous tannery, known for the iconic view overlooking its dye pits, and a ceramics factory where you can see potters working in the traditional way. This is an ideal day to do your souvenir shopping with the best quality and value for leather goods and fabrics.

Day 5: Fes to Chefchaouen: Today we bid farewell to Fes, taking a local four-hour bus to the isolated town of Chefchaouen. Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’, is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a very special place. Its medina has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways. Spend the rest of the day relaxing into the laid back vibe.

Day 6: Chefchaouen: Today is a free day to explore Chefchaouen. Perhaps take a guided tour of the sights, sounds, and smells of the medina, or sample the delicious local goat cheese at a cafe in the Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Admire the architecture of the 15th-century Grand Mosque (closed to non-Muslims) and browse the shops in the square selling woven goods and small sweets. Also within the plaza is the walled fortress of the Kasbah. Wander through the tranquil gardens inside, check out the ethnographic museum and soak in wonderful views from the rooftop. Alternatively, you might prefer to visit a hammam, a traditional Moroccan spa.

Day 7: Chefchaouen to Tangier: This morning we take a local three-hour bus to the coastal town of Tangier, a place of strategic importance to the Mediterranean and the gateway to Africa. Once a hotspot for artists, secret agents and millionaires, Tangier has been going through something of a renaissance of late thanks to the arrival of a new monarch in Morocco in 1999. Mohammed VI of Morocco and his forward-thinking ideas about commerce and tourism has suddenly woke up the community to the potential of this city. Today, the city's medina and kasbah are well worth exploring, as are the cafes and patisseries around the Place de la France in the Ville Nouvelle. Perhaps visit the Caves of Hercules. We then board an overnight sleeper train bound for Marrakech.

Day 8: Marrakech: We arrive early into Marrakech on the overnight train. The day is free for you to explore, but we can arrange a local guide for the less adventurous amongst you!. Marrakech is a feast for the senses. Explore the Medina and the city's seemingly endless mosaic of souks. Each is devoted to a separate trade: pottery, woodwork, copper, leather, carpets and spices. Visit the tropical gardens created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. In the evening, join the thronging crowds for dinner in the Djemaa el Fna, the city's main square. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna-painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar, packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. This is sure to be an unforgettable farewell to Marrakech.

Accommodation is in standard hotels (apart from Moulay Idriss when you will stay with a local family and the overnight train) and includes breakfast on all days except the train.