Day 1: Casablanca
Salaam alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. When you arrive at Casablanca Airport, you’ll be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel. The option for a transfer from Marrakech Airport will also be provided (at an additional cost). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and the other families joining you for your trip. After the meeting, get to know the other families over a welcome dinner at Dar El Kaid, where you’ll get your first taste of traditional dishes like tagine, pastilla (a sweet and savoury chicken pie flavoured with saffron, cinnamon and almonds) and plates of warm, fluffy couscous.
Day 2: Chefchaouen
Take a private transfer to the city of Chefchaouen this morning. Set in the Rif Mountains, this city is known for the distinctive wash of cobalt blue that paints many of its buildings. Today’s drive is a long one, so make sure you and the kids are prepared with some good books and car games for the ride. After you arrive in Chefchaouen and settle into your accommodation, you’ll head out for a guided tour of the city by night. As the sun sets, you’ll stop at a viewpoint that overlooks the city – a great photo op that’ll head straight to the family photo album. Tonight, join your group for dinner at a restaurant in the city.
Day 3: Fes
You and your family will have some free time this morning to continue exploring Chefchaouen at your own pace or to simply rest at your accommodation. Then, you’ll head to the mountain village of Moulay Idriss for a home-cooked lunch. After, you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman city of Volubilis, where you’ll see the ancient hilltop ruins that once formed one of the Roman empire’s most remote bases. You’ll then continue to Fes – the most complete medieval city in the Arab world and the cultural heart of Morocco. The rest of your evening is free. If you’re feeling peckish, briouat make the perfect snack – these triangular pastries can be savoury or sweet with fillings like cheese, lamb or almond paste. For dinner tonight, maybe go out in search of local specialties like harira (fragrant tomato chickpea soup) or merguez (lamb or beef sausages spiced with harissa and paprika).
Day 4: Fes
Get to know Fes on a walking tour this morning, winding your way through busy markets, tanneries and mosques. Donkeys piled high with goods are a common sight – this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world. You’ll see the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania, Medersa al-Attarine and Funduq al-Najjarin – a restored 18th-century inn that showcases fine examples of Moroccan woodwork including intricate prayer beads and musical instruments. Next, visit Fes' famous Chouara Tannery, where you’ll see the vibrant colours of the dyeing pit. Continue to a ceramics workshop to watch some potters at work. Then, have a go yourself during a pottery workshop! Skilled local artisans will teach you some traditional techniques to mould, shape and decorate your own ceramics. The kids will love the chance to get messy and you’ll all go home with your own handcrafted piece. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring Fes at your own pace.
Day 5: Erfoud
Today, you’ll make the drive to the desert oasis town of Erfoud. Make sure you and the kids are ready with your favourite playlists or a good book and ensure your camera is fully charged – you’ll stop for photos against the backdrop of the transforming Moroccan landscape along the way. Watch as olive groves, shepherds tending to their flocks and forests of cedar, pine and oak fly by your window and see the Atlas Mountains in the distance. Make a stop in Ifran, often called the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’ due to its European architecture, red-roofed houses and snowy winters. Then, you’ll arrive in Erfoud – your gateway to the Sahara Desert, this town is packed tightly with red sand buildings that seem to blend into the desert landscape. While you’re here, make sure you try the local specialty of dates. The dates grown here are so popular and delicious that the town celebrates an annual Date Festival! These sweet little morsels are sure to be a hit with the kids. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at your accommodation.
Day 6: Sahara Desert
Spend this morning on a walk through Erfoud’s palm groves, then explore a kasbah that houses an abundance of fascinating fossils. The kids will love discovering the variety of shapes and textures while the adults will get to uncover a different perspective on the intriguing local history. This evening, share an unforgettable family memory as you go on a camel ride across rolling golden desert to reach your Feature Stay accommodation – Camp Lemnaouar, hidden in the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. The remote location doesn’t mean you lose out on comfort – your tents will include large beds, ensuite bathrooms and air-conditioning. Tonight, have a traditional dinner under the North African sky, followed by some live Gnaoua music around an open fire. After dinner, take part in a stargazing experience. With minimal light pollution and nothing but the vast open sky above you, this is an evening that’s sure to leave you and the kids full of wonder.
Day 7: Dades Valley
Head to Todgha Gorge for a guided tour, where you’ll encounter a series of wadis. Sit down for a home-cooked meal, then continue to Dades – a valley set between dramatic rock formations. Here, you’ll get a glimpse of rural Moroccan life as you explore the quiet villages and terraced fields that scatter the landscape. As you explore, see if you and the kids can spot the distinctive ‘Monkey Fingers’ rock formations. You’ll have free time this afternoon to continue exploring. Maybe take a stroll through the nearby villages or search for the ancient kasbahs scattered throughout the valley.
Day 8: Marrakech
Follow the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains on your way to Marrakech this morning. You’ll stop in Ouarzazate, home to the Atlas Film Studios – one of the largest film studios in the world, earning Ouarzazate the nickname ‘Ouarzawood’. During your visit to the studio, the kids can explore the props and sets of ancient Egyptian temples, bazaars and fortresses, while the adults will love seeing some familiar sets from the likes of Gladiator, The Mummy and Game of Thrones. Then, continue to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou. Explore the ancient clay buildings, then take part in an Arabic calligraphy class led by a local artisan. You and the kids will learn to write some Arabic letters, creating your own written keepsake. Continue your journey through the Atlas Mountains until you arrive in Marrakech. Check into your accommodation, then you’ll have some free time. Maybe kickstart your exploration of the city with a visit to Djemaa El Fna, the city’s bustling main square. At night, it comes alive with henna painters, performers and street food stalls.
Day 9: Marrakech
You’ve had your fill of delicious Moroccan cuisine, now it’s time to learn a thing or two in the kitchen. You and the kids will get hands-on with a cooking class at the Amal Association, an Intrepid Foundation Partner. This not-for-profit cooking centre aims to provide local women with access to culinary education. Learn to make some traditional Moroccan salads – these will be dishes the whole family can make together when you return home - then feast on your creations for lunch. Later in the afternoon, go on a guided tour of Marrakech with your local leader, including stops at the Koutoubia Mosque and Bahia Palace. Then sit down with your local leader and the other families and enjoy a final dinner today to celebrate a trip well-travelled!
Day 10: Marrakech
With no further activities planned today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. A departure transfer to Marrakech Airport will be provided. If you’d like to extend your stay in Marrakech, and it’s highly recommended you do, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
