Day 1 (26th March): Let the journey begin!
Finally, the much awaited day! Departing Malta at 17.10hrs, we will make our first stop in Frankfurt. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2 (27th March): Let the journey begin…Marrakech! (B, D=dinner)
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for our direct flight to Morocco. We are expected to land at 14.35hrs. Marrakech is a fantastically mesmerising city where the senses come alive; colours, smells and sounds from early in the morning till late at night. In the evening the square will turn into one big party where locals and tourists come together. As you arrive in Marrakech, you will check in your hotel and join this vibrant energy in one of the most lively squares in the world. We will overnight in Marrakech for next 2 nights.

Day 2 (28th March): Ouzoud Falls (B, L=lunch)
On our first day in Morocco we will journey toward the splendid landscape and stunning scenery of the Moroccan countryside. We will be visiting the scenic Ouzoud falls. On arrival, we will hike and explore the waterfalls while admiring the vegetation and breathtaking views which surround them. We will encounter flora and fauna; daffodils, wet meadows, frogs, the Moorish gecko, falcons and the crimson winged finch.
Late lunch will be served and then we will head back to Marrakech. We will enjoy the bustle of the shops and lose ourselves in the souks, discovering riads and meeting locals and sellers who make a living selling foodstuff, fabrics and handicrafts. We will watch sunset over the timeless city from the rooftop of one of the cafes. After the sun sets, we will head to Jemaa El Fnaa square, and spend the rest of the night with storytellers, jugglers, animal leaders and fire eaters. A truly unique experience!

Day 3 (29th March): Essaouira, Morocco’s Bohemian Coast (B)
Essaouira is a UNESCO world heritage site, an exceptional example of a late 18th century fortified town. On our way, we will make a stop at an Argan Cooperative, where women make Argan oil, nut butter and cosmetics from the Argan nut. On our journey we will stop to take photos and watch the goats make their way up the steep and narrow trunks of Argan trees. As soon as we arrive in Essauoira we will head to the medina, which boasts lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, and is free of cars and motorcycles, the complete opposite of Marrakech. Essaouira always gives us the feel of our Mdina, but located by the sea.

At the far corner of the old town, we will come across the citadel and fortified walls. Climbing to the top will give us the opportunity to admire the view over the ocean. Following the sound of seagulls, we will reach the port, a very traditional place where we can observe fishermen trading their daily catch, and eventually a small beach where we will take a stroll admiring picturesque blue boats, the laughter of children playing and windsurfers jumping from wave to wave. As the sun starts to set, we will make our way back to the Medina, and sit at the place that caught our eye for dinner. We will overnight in Essaouira for 1 night.

Day 4 (30th March): Essaouira – Marrakech (B)
This morning we will first start by exploring the alleyways and navigating the medina. Here you will find a bustling market atmosphere, with anything you can imagine for sale. Pottery, paintings and wooden handicrafts are on display for your admiration. Soon you will realise that you are in the set of Game of Thrones, as many of the scenes were filmed here. Several rooftop restaurants look over the city and if you
fancy any one, why not stop for lunch? But if you are a fish enthusiast, you cannot miss the food in the market. This is a really fun experience! Buy your fish, take it to the small kitchen/restaurant and let them cook
it for you. They add salad, olives and bread. Essaouira is firmly established as a hippie place and Jimi Hendrix once stayed here. If you are a fan, a 45minute walk out of the Medina will lead you to Diabat, often referred to as the Jimi Hendrix village. Later in the afternoon, we will meet again, say good bye to Essaouira and head back to Marrakech for an overnight stay.

Day 5 (31st March): Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will head South through the length of the Atlas Mountains at a height of 2260m on the winding Tizi n’Tichka Pass, looking over the green lush river valley, with women by the river washing clothes, men herding their goats while others relaxing along the sides of the road, children in their uniforms walking to school, stands selling brightly coloured pottery along the side, and the smell of smoke coming from hand made fire places. We will make a stop to watch the spectacular views.

Then we will drive to the UNESCO world heritage site, the ancient Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This is a mud brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains built by Berbers, a beautiful example of southern Moroccan architecture which has featured in many films. We will then move on to Ouarzazate – the gateway to the Sahara- where we will stop for lunch. We will make our way to our first night’s stop in Dades Valley.

Upon arrival we will take 4×4 jeeps to the Berber camp in time for sunset, riding through the sand dunes, and looking at the amazing colours in the sky. We will have dinner with the nomads, and enjoy an evening under the stars of the Sahara, then immerse ourselves in the desert culture; bon fire, dancing and singing…a majestic night.

Day 7 (2nd April): Sunrise in the desert – Adventure activities – Midelt (B, L, D)
We will wake up early and experience the stillness the desert offers, a unique experience. We will have breakfast and then take the traditional method of transport – the camel. But that’s not all! We will allow time to ride quad bikes across the Sahara desert and on the dunes…a thrilling experience which will complete our time in Merzouga.

Following an adventurous morning, we will start our journey up North to Midelt. It takes 4 hours to reach here, but we will take the nomads route and make several stops along the way, including; Erfoud. This oasis town on the dessert’s edge will give us the opportunity to visit a very laid-back town. Rounds of fresh bread are sold everywhere you go and locals will make sure we stop and say hi. The meandering Ziz Valley is a sight to behold. Densely-packed groves of date palms are everywhere you look and in the midst of it all one will find the hidden gem and tiny village of Aoufous. Get ready to get a glimpse of the rural Moroccan life right inside the palmeries. We will walk around this village and as we wander, expect to be invited in for tea and the country’s best dates, as this area is renown for its truly genuine Moroccan hospitality. Continuing along the Ziz river, we can admire the spectacular and dramatic scenery until the landscape opens up to reveal the huge dam Al-Hassan Addakhil. It’s glittering turquoise colour creates a stark contrast to the surrounding orange hills, adding another stunning image to your sight. Finally we reach Midelt, situated between the Middle and High Atlas mountain ranges showcasing beautiful nature and breathtaking landscape that seduce and charm its visitors.

After a full day out, we will allow time to shower before we meet again for dinner. We will gather around the table and let the night unfold as we reflect on the Berber’s simplicity and warm vibes.

Day 8 (3rd April): Midelt – Zaida – Timahdite – Ifrane – Fes (B)
Our destination today is Fes, but there is so much more to experience! A mere 45 minute ride away is Zaida, where meat hangs from hooks and smoke billows from curbside grills. From here, the landscape changes dramatically as hills turn verdant green. As we are traveling in the peak of spring, we’ll be showered with red poppies, dandelions and lavender, but as we reach Timahdite, every kilometre that goes by you will see flocks of sheep, sheepdogs and shepherds. No wonder this is known as the city of wool! We will make sure to stop and walk to really immerse ourselves in this. Heading north, the landscape becomes more mountainous until we reach Ifrane, also referred to as Little Switzerland. Ifrane is a city of pristine natural beauty and lush vegetation surrounded by the largest cedar forest in the world.

One of the main attractions is Ain Vitel, a mesmerizing collection of cascading waterfalls. We will walk to the falls and explore the verdant leafy forest. We’ll head to the charming town, which is very different to what we have seen so far. It will feel like you have stepped in a French Alpine village, making it one of the most attractive cities in Morocco. Leaving Ifrane, we will continue to Fes, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, and one of the most authentic, known for its traditional artists and artisans. Upon arrival, we will check-in our hotel to freshen up, and then we’ll meet again to get lost in the maze of 9000 delightfully cobblestone alleys.

Day 9 (4th April): Fes, the Imperial City (B)
Good morning Fes! Fes is divided in 3 areas; Fel el-Bali old town, Fes El-Jedid new town and the contemporary Ville Nouvelle quarter. What is fantastic about Fes is that it can be easily explored on foot. History, artistry, craftsmanship, gardens, architecture, markets, food… all in one charming place. Today will be a free day to explore as you wish. However, you can also join our TROP leader for a full day out. The quaint cobblestone alleys are bustling with activity 24/7. The Royal Palace, old medina, and crafts workshops, are a few places we will be visiting. One of the biggest highlights will be discovering the old tanneries. We will end our day in the Rainbow alley, which as the name reveals, is a colourful picture perfect street full of carpets, jewellery, and trinkets. And have you heard about the Moroccan hammam? This is the perfect place to experience the purification ritual feeling refreshed in body and spirit once complete.

Day 10 (5th April): Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl (B, D)
Chefchaouen is the blue pearl of Morocco. To reach here it will take us around 4 hours, but you cannot be so close and miss this. To really make the most of it, we will depart Fes early and overnight in the blue city.
This enchanting little town is surrounded by stunning green valleys that contrast beautifully with the vibrant blue of the town’s buildings. Upon arrival, we will check-in our hotel and meet again. You can choose to roam freely, or else join us for an exploration of one of the most magical places you will probably ever visit. The Medina is an endless maze of narrow winding alleys which lead us to decorated streets, cute little spots, and colourful stalls. You will be making may stops as it is hard to control your fingers from clicking the camera. The Medina will lead us to a hilltop overlooking the town. The walk to here is very scenic and on the way we will make sure to enjoy a mint tea next to the small waterfall. Once we reach the top we will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the rooftops and surrounding countryside, before we head back down for our dinner together.

Day 11 (6th April): Chaouen – Rabat – Casablanca (B)
Leaving Chedchaouen, we will start our journey south to Casablanca. It will be a long traveling day but we made sure to keep this exciting.

Rabat is the 3rd imperial city we will be visiting in Morocco, one that includes many UNESCO Works Heritage sites. We will allow time to explore Rabat on foot including the new town and neighbourhoods, garden and the famous Hasson Tower. Driving through breathtaking scenery of fertile coastal plains, we will then take the road to Casablanca to visit the majestic Hassaon II mosque, the largest mosque in the world. The mosquw is only open to Muslims during prayer time, but at times they organise tours for non-Muslins, and if we’re lucky enough, we can just join in for a minimal fee. As the day is coming to an end, we will gather in alocal restaurant for our last dinner together (Extra).

Day 12 (7th April): Back Home (B)
Sadly, our experience in Morocco has come to an end. After dinner we will take a transfer to the airport for our flight back home. We are expected to depart at 01.15hrs, transit for 3hrs in Frankfurt, arriving in Malta on he same day at 11.35hrs.