Small Group Tour of Morocco

8-Day Small Group Tour

Morocco had always been on my bucket list, and the opportunity to explore its vibrant culture, taste it’s traditional food, and experience the enchanting riads finally came when I embarked on an 8-day "Highlights of Morocco" tour in October. This whirlwind adventure took me on a journey through the heart of this North African country, offering an unforgettable taste of the country's diverse landscape and rich heritage.

We started our small group tour in Casablanca, continuing to Meknes, Fez, The Atlas Mountains and Marrakech. Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and is best known for Hassan 11 Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa. The night before we joined our group of 10, we had dinner in Rick’s Café. This restaurant with its elegant atmosphere and intricately decorated interior was inspired by the restaurant of the same name in “Casablanca” the movie. Our group leader arranged an early morning viewing of Hassan 11 mosque before the public arrived, and afterwards we travelled to Meknes in our private mini-bus. With our guide we explored the lesser-known Berber medina of Meknes dating from the 11th century. It felt like travelling back in time as we strolled through the narrow streets and souks.

Fes, the cultural capital of Morocco, was like stepping into a living time capsule. The UNESCO-listed medina is a maze of narrow streets, and we explored the labrinth of souks, sampled fresh street food, and marvelled at the artisans practicing their craft. My culinary highlight was a visit to a local family for home-cooked pastilla pie. Our accommodation for the next 2 nights was in a charming riad where we were offered mint tea in a peaceful courtyard surrounded by lush gardens.

Leaving the beautiful city of Fes behind we journeyed on to Widiane Resort in the Middle Atlas Mountains, where we stayed for 2 nights. We visited traditional Berber villages, sipped tea with locals, and gained insight into their way of life. We ate in local restaurants featuring traditional dishes like harira soup, vegetable tagine and couscous. The cooler climate of the resort was welcome after the heat of the cities. On our way from this relaxing resort to Marrakech we stopped at the impressive Ouzoud Falls. We met many day-trippers from Marrackech - only 2 and a half hours away - as we explored this beautiful location.

Arrival in the city of Marrakech is an assault on the senses in the best possible way. The vibrant markets were full of spices, textiles, food and artisan wares . Jemaa el Fna square was alive with musicians, monkey handlers, snake charmers and henna artists. The souks are off the main square and it is advisable to use a guide to avoid getting lost, and to help with haggling. We stayed in another fabulous riad within walking distance of Jemaa el Fna square, for 2 nights. One thing to remember when staying in a riad is that taxis may not be able to get through the narrow alleyways, so your cases will have to be taken there in a handcart.

My "Highlights of Morocco" tour was a remarkable journey filled with fabulous cuisine, cultural immersion, enchanting riad stays and friendly welcoming people. Morocco's landscapes, from the bustling medinas to the serene deserts and mountain villages, showcased the country's stunning diversity. This type of small group tour is also perfect for solo travellers because of the company and security a group provides. There is normally a mix of couples, friends and solo travellers on these trips. Group trips are available in many different parts of the world so if this is something you are interested in, please get in touch

Hints and tips Cash is king. Outside large towns and cities it may even be difficult to find an ATM so always have cash with you. Larger hotels and restaurants will take cards but for the souks and smaller restaurants you need cash.

You must haggle. It’s rare to see a price on goods and the shop owners like to haggle. Offer half of what they asked for and work from there. A guide is definitely worth paying for especially in the souks or medinas in the older towns. They helped us save money when haggling and we didn’t get lost in the maze of alleyways.

Morocco is a mainly muslim country so it is best to cover shoulders and knees especially when visiting a mosque.