Casablanca, main port city of Morocco, Safi (Atlantic coast port city, known for its sardines and Safi pottery), Essaouira, windy Atlantic coast port city, local women’s argan oil co-operative, Taroudant (known for its ancient, crumbling ochre rampants and often called little Marrakech), Oulad Berhil, Tazenakht (local women’s carpet co-operative), Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara desert, Kasbah Taourirt (Unesco World Heritage site), the fertile Valee du Draa (Date basket of Morocco), Nekob (Home to the nomadic Ait Atta tribe), camel safaris crossing the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga desert for a night under the stars at a luxury desert camp, with ethnic evening entertainment, Merzouga village with musical performance at Khamlia village, orange limestone cliffs of Todra Gorge, Road of 1,000 kasbah (Dades valley, Kelaat M’Gouna, Skoura palm oasis), local rose oil women’s co-operative, Ksar Ait Ben Haddou (Unesco world heritage site), scenic Tizi n’Tichka high Atlas Mountain pass, Imperial red city of Marrakech historic medina sites, souks and Jemaa el Fna.

Day one-Casablanca: Arrival at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, private transfer to your hotel. Time allowing, optional visit to Hassan II Mosque in afternoon. Late afternoon group meeting with overview of tour, followed by a “meet and greet” group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Casablanca.

Day Two-Casablanca to Essaouira: After breakfast, transfer to Essaouira via coastal road. Lunch in Safi (port city on the Atlantic coast, known for its sardines and Safi pottery) at Place Mohammed V. Arriving in Essaouira, informal orientation tour of the bustling working harbour with its iconic blue fishing boats, tranquil blue, yellow and white medina and ancient Portuguese rampants. Dinner and overnight Essaouira.

Day Three- Essaouira: After breakfast, free time to explore and experience Essaouira at leisure. Optional activities can include exploring the old medina and bustling working harbour with its thousands of hungry squawking seagulls and sassy cats, La Sqala rampants, enjoy a good scrub at a local hammam or take a taxi to the iconic Jimmy Hendrix’s Café in Diabad for coffee! Lunch, dinner and overnight Essaouira.

Days Four- Essaouira to Oulad Berhil: After breakfast, depart to Oulad Berhil, via Taroudant (Sous Valley in the anti-Atlas mountains). On the way, visit a local women’s argan oil co-operative. Lunch in Taroudant, with free time to explore the old medina with its ancient, crumbling ochre rampants (city walls). Dinner and overnight Oulad Berhil. 4 to 5 hours trekking.

Day Five- Oulad Berhil to Ouarzazate: After breakfast, depart to the film city of Ouarzazate and gateway to the Sahara desert. Visit at Tazenakht to a local women’s carpet co-operative (reputed to be the centre of finely woven Amazigh carpets in Morocco). Traditional lunch in a small village. Arriving in Ouarzazate, enjoy a local guided visit to the 17th century Kasbah Taourirt (Unesco World Heritage site), dinner and overnight Ouarzazate.

Day Six- Ouarzazate to Merzouga: After breakfast, follow the road through the Vallee du Draa (vast and lush palmeraie, known as the date basket of Morocco), to Nekob (home to the nomadic tribe of Ait Atta) and Tazzarine to Merzouga. Traditional local lunch on the way. Visit local artisan’s fossil factory. Upon arrival at Merzouga, start 1.5 hour sunset camel ride into the orange desert dunes with an experienced local desert guide, traditional dinner with ethnic (traditional North-African) drumming, singing and dancing around the fire, overnight in authentic nomad Berber tents.Optional sand boarding, star-gazing or sleeping under the stars.

Day Seven- Merzouga Village: After early sunrise coffee/tea, free time to relax and enjoy the early morning dawning in the dunes. After breakfast, depart back to Merzouga town via 4x4. Relax at the poolside where lunch will be served. Optional visit to Merzouga town, take a solitary, mindful stroll into the orange dunes or just relax. Late afternoon visit to Khamlia village for a traditional music show (Village famous for its indigenous black-skinned Africans taken from Mali, Sudan and Senegal centuries ago, and their unique authentic music known as Gnawa). Dinner and overnight Merzouga Village.

Day Eight- Merzouga Village to Todra Gorge: After breakfast, transfer to the stunning orange limestone cliffs of Todra Gorge, with a stop at the fascinating desert Khettaras (ancient underwater system) on the way. Lunch at Kasbah El Khourbat in Tinjdad. Late afternoon, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the narrow gorge with its colourful informal shops on one side and the shallow river on the other. Dinner with a local family, overnight Todra Gorge.

Day Nine-Todra Gorge to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: After breakfast, transfer to the ancient fortified village of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou (Unesco World Heritage site) through Dades Valley, Kelaat M’Gouna (Rose Valley) and Skoura (Road of 1,000 kasbah, with walk through one of the deserted kasbah adjacent to the road). Visit a local women’s rose-oil co-operative. Lunch in the village of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. Rest of afternoon free time to explore the famous Ksar and Kasbah, featured in many movies. Dinner and overnight in Ait Ben Haddou village.

Day Ten- Ksar Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech: After breakfast, depart to the magical Imperial red city of Marrakech by crossing the stunning and scenic Tizi n’Tichka high Atlas Mountain pass. Lunch will be barbequed kebabs in a local village on the pass. Arriving in Marrakech, orientation tour of the famous Jemaa el Fna, labyrinth of medina alleyways, souks and Mosques. Free time rest of late afternoon and evening to explore at leisure. Rooftop dinner, overnight Marrakech.

Day Eleven- Marrakech: After breakfast, free day to explore the Marrakech medina historic sites and souks with its labyrinth of alleyways, local lunch in the souks, farewell dinner in the Jemaa el Fna, overnight Marrakech

Day Twelve- Marrakech to Casablanca: After breakfast, transfer to Mohammed V International airport with drop-off in time for your flight departure schedule.