Uncover the abundant imprints left by ancient civilizations. Immerse yourself in the rich history, culture, and geography of Morocco. Breathe the fresh air of the oases, explore mystical Berber villages, and lose yourself in fascination with each casbah as you let the spectacular gorges and serene dunes become backdrops for your memories of Morocco. Morocco private guides combine the best of ancient yet flourishing Imperial cities with the magic of the desert and spectacular mountain vistas with idyllic beaches.
Your Morocco tour begins upon your arrival at Casablanca. After a brief tour of the highlights of Casablanca, travel by private car to Rabat, Morocco’s present-day capital and principal royal residence. Recuperate from your Morocco private guide tour amid the trees and flowers of the city’s tranquil gardens or its fabulous beaches. Continue to Meknes, a former capital whose medina walls are adorned with exquisite gates considered among the best preserved in the Islamic world. Further into the countryside lays the holy city of Moulay Idriss, a scenic whitewashed town where the first Arab dynasty was founded in 787 AD. Just beyond is revealed the near-perfectly preserved ruins of Volubilis, a thriving Roman settlement until the 4th century. Then your Morocco private guide will take you to Fez, the intellectual and religious heart of the nation. Tour Fez el-Bali (“Fez the Old”) and its medieval medina (old town), a UNESCO world heritage site crammed with narrow, winding streets, tiny squares, and artisan workshops. Visit centuries-old mosques and universities, see the multi-colored vats of the open-air tanneries, and shop for traditional wares made from copper, ceramics, and leather. Also, ask your Morocco private guide to let you visit Fez el-Djedid (“Fez the New”), built in the 13th century. Admire Fez’s Royal Palace and Mellah (Jewish Quarter), the largest in Morocco.
Then head over the Middle Atlas Mountains, as you travel through fragrant, dense pine and cedar forests, terraced farms, and sienna mud-brick Berber villages. Perhaps feed wild Barbary Apes en route. Morocco private guide will offer you lunch in Midelt, a sleepy village bursting with colorful minerals and fossils on display by roadside vendors. As you head toward central Morocco, traveling past dramatic escarpments, plunging ravines, and palm-filled gorges of Ziz Valley, you approach the oasis region of Erfoud, a desert outpost where hand-loomed Berber rugs are bargained for over mint tea. Nearby Merzouga is the point of departure for your Sahara Desert immersion. Explore the mystical landscape with Morocco private guides as you ride on camelback, led by a Bedouin guide robed in the flowing blue garb of the Tuareg people, through the stunning sands. As night falls, delight in a Moroccan feast cooked in the elements. Sleep in a nomad tent beneath the innumerable stars of the clear desert sky, or in a comfortable hotel in searing summer months. Awake with the sunrise to watch the colors of the desert change before your eyes. Continue your journey through the Dadès Valley and its Road of a Thousand Kasbahs that rise up like turreted sand castles along this ancient caravan-trading route. Ask your Morocco private guide to stop in the Todra Gorge to marvel at the natural force that carved this quiet Berber oasis and rock-climbing haven. Overnight in Ouarzazate, a thriving trading post and Morocco’s modern-day Hollywood. Next, traverse the breathtaking snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, the largest mountain chain in Africa. Stop en route at the fortified village of Ait ben Haddou, a UNESCO world heritage site and the backdrop for famous films such as Lawrence of Arabia.
Arrive at Marrakech, an ancient oasis city of weathered pink buildings and orange groves. Morocco private guide will tour you the fascinating local souks (markets), stunning palaces, lush gardens, and historical monuments. Witness the carnivalesque public square Djemaa el-Fna come alive at sunset as water sellers, snake charmers, magicians, and storytellers compete for an audience. Morocco Travel agency will offer you to take an excursion to the seaside town of Essaouira, a former Portuguese settlement where windsurfers frolic near the fringe of silvery beach and camels ferry passengers across fine sand. Explore the old fortress ramparts, browse artisan shops or dream on the beach. Back in Marrakesh, celebrate the conclusion of your Morocco private guides tour by dining at a centuries-old former palace.
Marrakesh
Over the years, Marrakesh has been one of the most preferred destinations in Morocco. Modern Marrakesh represents a reverberating collision of Africa and Europe, west and east, bohemia and high culture, Arab cities, and Berber villages. Framed by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, thousand-year-old palm groves, and wrapped in faded red, ochre walls, Marrakech casts a magic spell. One’s senses are stimulated by the brilliantly colored spices, entrancing music, rich folds of carpets, delectable cuisine, whirling dervishes, intertwining tile geometries, and perfumed gardens shimmering in still waters of reflecting pools. Morocco tours combine the sensual delights of Morocco’s most exciting Imperial city with spectacular mountain vistas and idyllic beaches, making for a most enchanting visit.
Your magical Morocco tour begins with a welcome by your private driver upon your arrival at Marrakech, an ancient oasis of weathered pink buildings and orange groves at the base of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Morocco tours offer you to settle into your accommodation at a historic riad, beautifully restored small private palaces combining traditional Moroccan artisanship and elaborate Moorish design, or into one of the city’s famous luxury hotels. Spend the afternoon with a private guide of Morocco tours as you explore fascinating local souks (markets), ancient palaces, and lush gardens. Capture the city’s historic sites, including the mellah (Jewish Quarter), the Palais de la Bahia, the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts, and the beautiful Jardin Menara, with its reflecting pools surrounded by a large grove of olive trees. Witness the legendary Djemaa el-Fna square come alive at sunset as water sellers, snake charmers, magicians, and storytellers compete for an audience with Morocco tours. Radiating from the Djemma el-Fna are narrow lanes providing entrée to the labyrinthine medina, which hides sultans’ palaces, ornate mansions, and a lively souk. The maze of alleyways leads to tiny shops flaunting Berber carpets, kilims and caftans, leather goods, silver jewelry, copperware, other handicrafts, stylish dresses, medicinal herbs, and gorgeous antiques.
When you need a reprieve from sightseeing and shopping, Morocco tours will let you stroll through the Jardin Majorelle, stunning gardens created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and now maintained by Yves St. Laurent. You also might rejuvenate in a traditional hammam (steam bath), learn the art of Moroccan cuisine in a cooking lesson, take in world-class golf, or enjoy a private henna session as skilled artists adorn your body with the ancient (and temporary) dye.
Marrakech’s position at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes also makes it an ideal base for excursions. Spend a day in the Ourika Valley in the nearby Atlas Mountains as a guest of a local Berber family for a unique perspective on the traditional way of life as a part of Morocco tours. Moreover, in our carefully designed Morocco tour unwind for a day in the seaside town of Essaouira, a former Portuguese settlement where windsurfers frolic near the fringe of silvery beach and camels ferry passengers across fine sand. Explore the old fortress ramparts, browse artisan shops or dream on the beach. Back in Marrakech, celebrate the conclusion of your journey by dining at one of the city’s centuries-old former palaces in Morocco tours.
Morocco Desert Tour
Being a part of Africa, Morocco is known for its mountains and deserts. It has a relatively famous desert on its eastern side called the Sahara Desert. Naturally, the largest desert on Earth entails a few curious adventurers who want to visit the desert and take part in an experience unlike anything else as part of Morocco desert tours.
When you take Morocco desert tours through a Morocco travel agency, you are going to be treated to one of the best Moroccan customized tours money can buy. Our nine-day Morocco Desert Adventure will take you through the Moroccan Sahara Desert, as well as a camel trek in Merzouga.
There are very few places where you can take a camel trekking tour, but Morocco is one of them, all part of a desert discovery tour.
Where else on Earth can you walk through nomadic villages and over dunes in the Sahara Desert? Where else on Earth can you breathe fresh air from the oasis and explore mystical Berber villages while losing yourself in the unbelievable beauty that exists in Morocco?
Your Morocco desert tour will begin in Marrakech, where you will tour the city and its amazing culture, until your journey through the Atlas Mountains, with a quick stopover at Ait ben Haddou, Morocco’s largest casbah. You will stay overnight in Ouarzazate, before journeying into the Draa Valley, Zagora, and Erfoud. Once you hit Merzouga after a couple of days into your Morocco customized tour, you will be able to begin on your journey to discover the Morocco desert known as the Sahara. You will ride by camel, as part of the camel trekking tour part of the Morocco Desert Adventure tour from the company known for Morocco trekking tours.
You will have dinner in the desert, before retiring for the night. The real pleasure of this customized Morocco tour is the sunrise you will see come over the Sahara Desert the next day. From there, you journey to Marrakech and on your way home to tell everyone about the fantastic nine-day Morocco trekking tour you just took with an excellent Morocco travel and tour provider.
You will relate your camel trek in Merzouga, the experience of visiting the Morocco Sahara Desert, as well as how you were a part of the Morocco Desert Adventure, which was indeed a life experience to remember. Contact a tour company today to find out about amazing Morocco desert discovery tours.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
For the past 225 years, the hot air balloon has been one of the most sought after ways to see the landscape. Unlike a plane that is too high and too fast to allow you to appreciate the land below you, the hot air balloon will enable you to take in everything you see. As a result, when you are in a fantastic country like Morocco, you can’t truly appreciate the sheer and awesome beauty of the landscape unless you see it from above. When hot air ballooning in Morocco as part of travel to Morocco package, you will see things in a completely new way. With an excellent Morocco tour operator, your air ballooning tours in Morocco will be an experience that you will remember for years to come.
Travel to Morocco is not complete without trying out some Morocco adventure ballooning. Think about it seeing the dunes of the Sahara Desert from high in the air, or cruising along beside the Atlas Mountains as you look down on the majesty of one of the most beautiful countries in the world while you are hot air ballooning in Morocco.
Morocco Travel Tips
When you are in Morocco, it can seem overwhelming because of the different cultures, but the truth is that Morocco is a great country to visit. With some Morocco travel information, you will feel more like a resident and less like a tourist.
Visa Requirements
First of all, you will need a valid passport that has an expiration date at least six months from the date you enter Morocco. This is an essential piece of Morocco travel information. If you are from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and most of the European Union members, then you do not need a Visa. For more information, contact the Embassy of Morocco at:
Embassy of Morocco
1601 21st St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-7979
It’s a good idea to make a photocopy of your passport, carried separately, in case of any emergency.
Getting There
When you travel to Morocco, there are many options you can take. However, if you are coming from the United States, you can take Royal Air Maroc, which offers direct flights from New York to Casablanca, with a connection in some cities like Marrakech. If you are traveling from Europe, there are many direct flights from major European cities to Casablanca, Marrakech, and more. One great bit of Morocco travel information is that you can travel within Morocco, via Royal Air Maroc, for only $100 each way.
Health
When people begin to travel, they often worry about how the country will affect their health. This could be through pollution, food, or water, but you can be assured that in Morocco, there is very little need to concern yourself about health. However, Morocco travel information is what we provide, so you should bring bottled water to drink instead of tap water when you are outside of the cities. You also do not need vaccinations, and there is little worry about illness, other than a sunburn or upset stomach. You should bring sunscreen and stomach medicine like Pepto Bismol, just in case. Now that is a piece of Morocco travel information you can rely on!
Safety
Another concern for travelers around the world is safety. Thankfully, Morocco is a very safe country to be in. This is no biased piece of Morocco travel information, as you will find plenty of honest and friendly people throughout the country. However, as with any country, carry only small amounts of money, keep your valuables hidden and hold your camera close. You should be careful in crowds, and you should avoid fake guides who offer false Morocco travel information to tourists and travelers. You will have all your guides arranged, and all of them are licensed and can help you discern false Morocco travel information from real Morocco travel information.
Currency
The national currency is the Dirham (DH, Dh, or MAD). Dirhams cannot be exchanged or purchased outside of Morocco. As a general guide, divide the Moroccan price by 10 to get a rough estimate of the cost in $ or €. Current exchange rates can be obtained from several Web sites. International credit cards are accepted in hotels and by many merchants, although you may get a better price for a cash transaction. ATMs are abundant in major cities, so a good strategy is to use your ATM card to get Dirhams every few days as needed and carry some home currency as a backup. ATMs outside the U.S. require 4-digit numerical PINs, so be sure before leaving home that yours complies. It is recommended to keep small change in local currency handy for impulse purchases, tips to restroom attendants, and the like.
Climate and Clothing
Everyone knows that Morocco is a warm country, and there is no need to go deeper into that bit of Morocco travel information. However, it should be pointed out that the country does have extreme temperatures in the desert and mountains, and even on warm days, you should bring a jacket for the evenings. Make sure you bring good shoes, and women should avoid short skirts, tank tops, or other revealing articles of clothing.
Electricity
A critical piece of Morocco travel information is what type of plug is used. In Morocco, they use a French-style 220-volt electrical socket, which is similar to that used in continental Europe. If bringing electronics that need a plug-in, you may need a converter.
Telephones
The country code for Morocco is 212 (no, it’s not New York!). Cell phones operate on the GSM network. American mobile phone holders should contact their provider to set up international roaming. Voice and SMS service of European carriers should work well. To help you keep in touch with friends and family back home, we can provide local cell phone service for you to receive and make calls upon request.
Travel insurance
Another essential piece of Morocco travel information is the importance of travel insurance. We strongly recommend that all of our clients purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance can protect you against baggage loss; missed connections; medical emergency, including evacuation costs; trip cancellation; and trip interruption. Families traveling together, in particular, can benefit from traveler’s insurance, due to the high investment in the trip and the increased risk of one person’s illness resulting in the entire trip being canceled. There are many places on the Internet where you can compare rates and buy insurance.
Languages
It can be hard to get Morocco travel information from locals when you don’t know what language they speak. The truth is, Morocco has two official languages; Arabic and Berber. However, you will also find those who speak English, French, and Spanish. However, one good piece of Morocco travel information is to remember to smile; it is the universal language.
Bargaining
Probably the most crucial piece of Morocco travel information is how to bargain. Bargaining is a sport in Morocco, and outside of hotels, restaurants, and Western merchants, you will be bargaining for nearly everything. The best thing you can do is say Tan Shouf, which means Just Looking. Find out what you want by wandering around and always do comparison shopping. If you are set on buying something, determine a price that is best for you and bargain around that. Merchants will inflate the cost of an item when dealing with a tourist, so you have to stay firm. If you decide its too much, walk away because otherwise, they will believe you can’t live without the item, which gives them the advantage. This can be difficult, time-consuming and tiring, but by staying firm, you will get what you want at the price you can afford. That being said, there is no reason you have to come home with anything!