Magical Morocco
April 11 - 23, 2024
Itinerary:
Day 1: Casablanca (Arrival Day)
Arriving in the bustling city of Casablanca, our Morocco trip officially begins. A private driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you directly to our hotel in the city center. The remainder of the day will be yours to recover from jet lag and meet your fellow travelers. We'll have a tour orientation in the evening followed by our welcome dinner.
Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Casablanca / Rabat / Fes
We'll get started with a 1.5-hour drive to Rabat, the beautiful capital city of Morocco. We'll explore the quiet lanes of this stunning, non-touristy imperial city on a guided walking tour before having a great lunch in the heart of the old town. After lunch, we'll continue to Fes, only 2.5 hours away. Upon arrival we’ll check into our gorgeous riad accommodation in the medina, enjoy a short rest and finish the day off with a great dinner prepared by our welcoming hosts.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Fes
Heading straight into the heart of the ancient medina (the old walled city - a UNESCO site), we'll enter through the main gate for a half-day walking tour that will include colorful souks, leather tanneries, traditional weavers and all kinds of craftspeople and shopkeepers. We'll also visit a beautiful mosque and wander through markets selling everything from spices to artwork to housewares to soaps to shoes and more. You'll then have some free time to wander the vibrant markets on your own before dinner.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Fes / Volubilis / Wine region / Fes
Heading out after a leisurely breakfast, we'll drive 1.5 hours to the incredible Roman ruins of Volubilis. These ruins, located in the countryside, consist of homes and temples, detailed mosaics and well-preserved columns that look out across beautiful low hills. After our guided tour of the site, we'll continue to the main wine region of Morocco where we'll visit a winery for some great wine-tasting and lunch. Morocco's wine industry is starting to grow and gain recognition and you'll be able to taste several of their unique varieties. After our lunch, we'll return to Fes for a relaxed evening.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Fes / Middle Atlas / Ifrane / Ziz Valley / Merzouga
Today involves a scenic journey to Merzouga, straight across the magnificent Middle Atlas Mountains and ending up at the edge of the great Sahara Desert. The trip will take approximately 8 hours, but will involve several stops along the way, including the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, the gorgeous Ziz Valley, and a forest that's home to the unique Barbary Apes. We'll then arrive at our fantastic riad in the small town of Merzouga in time to catch the sunset over the desert.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Sahara Desert
After breakfast, we’ll head over to a local Gnoua village where we’ll learn about the daily life of these tribal people who generally only live in remote Morocco. For those who wish, there will also be a chance to stop at a Berber carpet collective, where beautiful hand-woven carpets from villages around the region are brought to be sold. In the afternoon, you can choose between a 1.5-hour camel trek or a 30-minute jeep ride across the mesmerizing Erg Chebbi sand dunes to reach our idyllic Sahara Desert Camp. We'll spend the late afternoon and evening in the picturesque desert with traditional music around the campfire, wonderful food. Be prepared to be dazzled as you gaze up at the night sky before retiring for the evening in our wonderful (and very comfortable!) yurts.
Hotel: 4* desert camp
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Sahara Desert / Dades Valley
Today, as the sun rises over the dunes, we’ll have breakfast and then head out of the desert, via jeep and return o Merzouga. We'll then take a few minutes to get organized before driving towards the Dades Valley. En route we'll visit a few small villages as well as an excellent fossil workshop in the town of Erfoud, where spectacular marine fossils are discovered underneath the desert. Once we cross the Jebel Sahro Mountains, we’ll soon reach our next beautiful spot located in the absolutely stunning (but un-touristy) Dades Valley. After checking into our rooms, we’ll enjoy a delicious multi-course dinner prepared by one of the most impressive chefs in Morocco. The beautiful Dades Valley, its picturesque gorge and its spectacular serpentine road is one of the absolute highlights of The Women’s Travel Tribe Moroccan adventure. To drive through this canyon is a very special experience. Expect to be thrilled by the color contrasts and the incredible scenic beauty.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Dades Valley
After breakfast, we’ll embark on a spectacular day trip through the plains, high deserts, valleys and mountains of the Dades region. From nomadic Berbers to the remote town of Bou Tharar, from some of the most dramatic landscapes you’ll see anywhere to the Valley of the Roses and beyond… This is a truly unforgettable experience that only our local contacts can arrange. You will be in awe at the landscapes, hospitality and magic of this region. We’ll then return to our accommodation in the late afternoon in time for another excellent dinner.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Dades Valley
The day’s activities all take place in the center of the Dades Valley, a local community that is as welcoming as it is remote. You’ll begin with a visit to a local friend’s home, where you’ll spend time with the several generations of women who live here. They'll teach you how to cook local cuisine, share information about their village and their lives and they'll even do some henna tattoos on your hands and feet if you wish! You'll also have a chance to wander through the village, interact with more local Berbers and catch glimpses of the ancient kasbahs (fortified homes shared by several families) and awesome natural formations all around. People are very friendly so you'll be able to see their homes, enjoy tea, ask questions and take photos as well.
Hotel: 4* riad
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Dades Valley / Marrakech
Starting after breakfast, we'll make the 8-hour drive to Marrakech, often considered the most lovable city in Morocco. We'll drive over the grand High Atlas Mountains, stop in the film studio town of Ouarzazate and in the village of Tisseldei for a lunch overlooking the valley. Once we come back down to the coastal plains, we’ll soon arrive at our hotel in the center of Marrakech. After checking in to our rooms, we'll have time to go for a short orientation wander in the city before having dinner nearby.
Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Marrakech
There is no other medina (walled city) quite like it. Marrakech is full of bustling markets, incredible architecture, centuries old crafts, intense colors and aromas, constant celebrations and a positive vibe that is truly contagious. Our guided walking tour of the city will take us to several quarters, home to the awe-inspiring Bahia Palace, as well as local markets focusing on textiles, crafts, clothing, leather shoes, ceramics, metal work, spices and so much more. We’ll wander slowly through the medina with our local guide as we explore as many hidden nooks and crannies as possible. After the walking tour, you’ll have some free time in the medina for shopping, additional exploration or simply enjoying a tea in the bustling main square. In the evening, we’ll head out for a local dinner near the historical center.
Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Marrakech
On this day, you’ll have free time to enjoy this wonderful city at your own pace. Stroll through the never-ending markets, get pampered at a wonderful luxury hammam, people-watch from a rooftop cafe, visit one of the museums or simply relax at the hotel... the choice is yours! We'll be on hand to help make anything you might want to do possible. We’ll then meet up in the evening for our final group dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants.
Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: Marrakech / Departure day
You'll be picked up at the hotel for your airport transfer to the Marrakech airport according to your departure flight time. (If you choose to depart from Casablanca, we can arrange a private transfer from Marrakech to the Casablanca airport at an extra cost. The travel time is approximately 2.5 hours by vehicle.)
Included meals: Breakfast
About the Travel Tribe and Our Trusted Travel Partners
In August of 2019, Janet Jaffe, founder of The Women's Travel Tribe, was looking for other like-minded women with whom to travel. Unable to find the sense of camaraderie she was seeking in already established Facebook groups, she impulsively started one of her own—The Travel Tribe for Women 50+. Flash forward and that group is almost 9,500 women strong and that little impulse has turned into a thriving small business organizing specialty tours for mature women.
Janet meticulously searches out and, carefully vets, a tight, select group of small-group tour operators. Working together, in partnership, they co-create unique itineraries for small groups of women.
We're more than happy to connect you to our tour operator for this (or any) trip if you'd like. They are known for their incredible responsiveness and dedication to customer service. Our partners go out of their way to try to accommodate the specific needs of each traveler since their continued success depends on our satisfaction! .
What’s Included?
Small group (maximum 12 participants)
Group tour leader throughout
All accommodation (12 nights - 4* hotels, riads and a desert camp)
Breakfast every day, 6 lunches, 10 dinners
Transportation in Morocco (Mercedes van)
Local English-speaking guides throughout the trip
All mentioned activities and entrance fees
All airport transfers (arriving in Casablanca / departing from Marrakech)
What’s not included?
Flights to/from Morocco
Passport/visa fees
Meals and activities not mentioned
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Other gratuities
Accommodation Style
On this tour, we’ll stay in comfortable and convenient 4* accommodations. All rooms have a private bathroom. There is a maximum of 6 single rooms available. These rooms will be offered on a first come-first served basis. The remainder of the rooms will be shared. Solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room, in two single beds.
Participant Minimum/Maximum
This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12 participants in order to ensure the best small-group tour experience.
***We urge you to refrain from making flight arrangements until you have been notified that the minimum number of travelers has been met.
Is This Trip Right For You?
While the tour itself is not very strenuous, please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, walking tours in the cities, being outside in potentially warm temperatures or inclement weather, a couple of long journeys, walking on surfaces in cities and rural areas that may be unpaved, uneven and may include inclines and flights of stairs. There may be early morning wake-ups, long days and other similar scenarios. Although this isn’t a rigorous trip and time to relax is incorporated into the itinerary, it is still an active tour and requires a certain level of physical activity. Participants need to be in good health in order to join us. For this trip in particular, a typical day might include long days, walking tours lasting an entire morning or afternoon, (with occasional breaks). and you may have to navigate flights of stairs. Travelers may also be responsible for handling their own luggage.
If you have chronic or acute medical conditions, limited mobility we urge you to discuss with us whether or not this trip is one for which you are well-suited before you book.
Participants need to be in good health in order to join us. If your mobility or overall health is compromised in any way, we kindly request that you discuss with us the suitability of this trip for you before booking so we can make appropriate recommendations based on your individual needs. Our goal is to have all travelers participate as much as possible in order to help you get as much out of your experience as you can!
IMPORTANT: It’s extremely important to understand that in small group travel, one woman’s health and well-being, have the power to impact us all. Not sure? Let’s talk about it.
Tour Operator:
This private group tour experience is led by Wandering Earl Tours. Unlike tour operators that use the exact same itinerary over and over again, Wandering Earl Tours ensures that every trip is 100% unique. They choose the ideal route, best lodgings, most rewarding activities, tastiest restaurants, and more, for the most extraordinary trip possible. Since 2013, they’ve been providing highly-regarded, excellent-value trips to dozens of groups in dozens of countries around the world.
Tour Cost:
€4,899 per person (single)
€4,044 per person (twin-share)
Please note that this trip is priced in EUROS. All payments can be made in USD but the amount will be converted from the current Euro/USD exchange rate.
Payment Terms
Deposit: In order to secure your spot on this tour, a 500€ deposit is required. However, our peace of mind policy ensures that this deposit will be refundable - minus a 3% transaction fee - for 10 days (or until 90 days before the tour starts, whichever comes first). After that, the deposit becomes non-refundable.
Balance: The payment balance will be due 90 days prior to the start date of the tour.
Cancellations: If you cancel between 60-89 days before the tour start date you will receive a 50% refund of the balance amount, minus a 3% transaction fee. For cancellations made 59 days or less before the tour start date, the balance is non-refundable.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance for this trip is required. Let’s face it, things happen. Why is a risk of losing money if you’re forced to cancel for any reason? We recommend a policy with a “cancel for any reason” clause. Better safe than sorry.
Dietary Considerations:
If you have restrictive dietary requirements, we encourage you to reach out to us ahead of booking to ascertain our capacity to accommodate you in a way that suits your needs. While we can guarantee an awesome experience, we cannot necessarily guarantee a destination’s ability to provide nourishment to satisfy every diet.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) We urge you not to book your flights until we’ve met the minimum number of participants required for this trip (8). We will notify you once we can confirm this departure.
2) Details in the day-to-day itinerary may be changed and tweaked as our arrival date draws near or during the trip. Rest assured, that any changes will serve only to further enhance and enrich the quality of the experience.
LIMITATION OF RESPONSIBILITY
The organizer shall not be liable for any damage/injury (physical or otherwise) to participants as a result of the physical activity performed during the trip, the consumption of alcohol, breakage of equipment and materials or for any other reason which, within the limits of professional diligence, could not have been foreseen or resolved. The organizer is not responsible for expenses (transportation, meals, hotels) not included in the program but necessary to reach the meeting point or to leave the finishing point on conclusion of the trip.
PHOTO / VIDEO RELEASE
Wandering Earl Tours and/or The Women’s Travel Tribe occasionally videotapes and photographs guests and activities for promotional use. Please notify us if we are not free to use images of you or your group. If re-produced, we would be happy to provide you with photos or video clips where you are present.
QUESTIONS??
Got questions? Need more info?
Contact The Women’s Travel Tribe - info@thewomenstraveltribe.com