MARRAKECH to MARRAKECH (9 days) Moroccan Circuit

This 9-day Morocco small-group tour uncovers both ancient cities, impressive ruins and busy medinas in the north of the country, and then crosses the Atlas mountains to discover the sand dunes of the Sahara desert. As such we get a real taste for everything that North Africa's most beutiful country has to offer. The tour starts and finishes in Marrakech, perhaps Morocco's most famous and beguiling city. You'll have plenty of time here to explore the medina and see more of this enchanting city. Next you take in three more of Morocco's great Imperial Cities, visiting the capital Rabat, the walled city of Meknes, and the ancient city of Fes with its huge medina, tanneries and dye pits. Other stops in the north of the country include Casablanca on the Atlantic coast, and the extensive UNESCO listed Roman ruins at Volubilis. After a full day in Fes you then head up into and across the Atlas mountains for a scenic drive to the small town of Merzouga, which sits on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Here youi board camels and take a trek into the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes before spending the night in an authentic Berber desert camp on the edge of the desert. Time in the deep Todra Gorge follows, with the opportunity for a short hike through the canyon and Palmerie area, or to try some rock climbing. Then you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate and the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, which you may find familiar as it has appeared in several movies, some of which were also partially filmed in the nearby Atlas studios which you'll also have the opportunity to visit. The tour then ends by crossing North Africa's highest mountain pass, the Tizi n'Tichka, before descending back into Marrakech to finish the tour. Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels and the desert camp, and the tour can also be extended by adding extra nights in Marrakech at either end if you wish. The tour can also be arranged privately if you would rather not join a small group, or if our group dates do not work for you. Please contact us for details. Accommodation is in shared rooms (between 2 people of the same sex from your trip unless you are a couple). We use basic 3 star hotels along with a night camping in a traditional Berber camp in the Desert. Some hotels even have swimming pools and sun-lounge areas. In some hotels you may be able to upgrade to a single room (at your own expense). Temperatures in Morocco are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, so take sunscreen. However in winter temperatures can drop right down in the evenings, but as long as you bring some warm clothing and a sleeping bag for this night in the desert then you should be more than comfortable.