Discover North Morocco & Chefchaouen

New

8 Days Excluding Flights From

8 Days from

£ 1095

Culture

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

5 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AMZ

Head north to experience the many sides of Morocco – mazey medinas, magnificent mosques, and majestic mountains

Spice-scented markets, glittering coastlines, ancient cities. The north is Morocco beyond Marrakech and the Sahara, packed with authentic experiences. This immersive adventure combines cultural exploration, including the mind-blowing blue city of Chefchaouen, with the extraordinary natural beauty of Tasslemante National Park and the Rif Mountains, where we spend an unforgettable night. But, of course, the true Morocco is found in the people you’ll meet – the bread makers, riad owners, and local guides – all keen to share their culture and history with you.

Highlights

Immerse yourself in authentic Morocco, exploring with an expert tour leader
Discover the blue city of Chefchaouen, wandering the shaded medina and meeting artisans
Stay at a remote refuge in the Rif Mountains with wonderful valley views
Walk to a waterfall in the scenic Talassemtane National Park
Visit Tangier, the gateway to Africa, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean
Stay in a traditional Fez riad and wander the ancient medina

Key Information

Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (4 hotel, 2 riad), 1 Simple night (mountain refuge)
Travel by private minibus and train
Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Combine this trip with Marrakech & the Sahara

Countries visited: Morocco

What's Included

All breakfasts and three dinners
All accommodation
Tour leader throughout
Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

AMZ - Discover North Morocco & Chefchaouen

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Itinerary

Casablanca Casablanca

Begin your adventure in the port city of Casablanca, the economic hub of Morocco.

Around 6pm, say salam alaikum to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Casablanca or Marrakech? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel Idou Anfa (or similar)

Meals included: Dinner

Join our tour leader for a walking tour of Casablanca. The highlight will undoubtedly be our exploration of the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world. It has a soaring 655ft (200m) minaret and a sliding ceiling to enable the sea breeze to cool the building.

Please note: knees and upper arms must be covered.

After, we bid farewell to Casablanca and transfer (three hours) to Tangier, stopping at a supermarket en route so you can purchase lunch. We enjoy our food at Perdicaris Park with views over the sea and, on clear days, to the island of Gibraltar.

Arriving in Tangier, the rest of the day is free to explore. You may wish to visit the nearby Caves of Hercules on the Atlantic Coast, where the ancient Greek hero is said to have slept before completing his 11^th labour, followed by a relax on the beach.

Accommodation: Hotel Charf (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning has been left free, allowing you to relax or choose your own adventure. Options include visiting the American Legation Museum, the only US National Historic Landmark in a foreign country, or the Caves of Hercules if you didn’t go yesterday.

At midday, we transfer (three hours) to Chefchaouen, in the foothills of the Rif Mountains. After arrival, there’s free time to explore the unique, blue-washed streets or visit the hillside Spanish mosque for sunset. It’s a popular stop for many, but the views over the cerulean town are worth it.

Accommodation: Hotel Puerta Azul (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Join a local guide this morning for a walking tour of Chefchaouen, which takes us through the shaded medina, past the blue-washed walls and artisan shops.

After, enjoy free time to explore solo or watch the world pass from a café at Uta el Hammam Plaza, a meeting point for the town’s residents.

At 3pm, we head to the community-minded Café Clock, where the staff are given opportunities to travel and train across the country, and provided access to the American Language Centre in Fez to improve their English.

Here, we enjoy an interactive cookery class, learning how to create Moroccan breads and patisseries and visiting the local ferran (communal bread oven). We feast on our creations at the end, accompanied by Moroccan mint tea, fresh butter, olive oil, and jam.

Accommodation: Hotel Puerta Azul (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Discover the natural beauty of the region, driving (one hour) to Akchour in Talassemtane National Park, where scenic landscapes are home to barbary macaques, Bonelli’s eagles and Atlas flycatchers.

Here, we walk (30-45 minutes) to a peaceful waterfall, where we can relax on the viewing platform and gaze over the cascade. We can also visit an impressive rock arch known as God’s Bridge, which you can traverse if you like.

After lunch, we journey deeper into the park, heading into the Rif Mountains to stay in a remote refuge. Our home for the night is simple but spectacularly located with views over the rugged valley – a night to remember!

Accommodation: Caiat Lounge Refuge (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Bid farewell to our mountain home, as we transfer (four hours) to the largest and best-kept Roman ruins in Morocco: Volubilis, once a large Roman town and now a World Heritage site. Wander through the streets, discovering the remains of townhouses with mosaic floors and see baths, oil presses, aqueducts and shops, all of which reveal the daily lives of the inhabitants.

After exploring this site with a local guide, we continue our drive (approximately two hours) to the ancient city of Fez, the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Here, we get another taste of Moroccan hospitality, staying in a traditional local riad.

Accommodation: Riad Tafilalet (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Join a local guide this morning for a walking tour, which takes us into the car-free medina; it’s the largest medina in the world, an immense warren of souks, home to thousands of craftsfolk with tiny shops opening onto the narrow alleyways.

We also visit the Chouara Tannery for a striking view of the vivid dye vats and end at the ninth-century al-Karaouine University, a cornerstone of Islamic learning and the oldest university in the world. We have a late lunch today, around 3pm-4pm, and free time after for independent exploration.

Accommodation: Riad Tafilalet (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We rise early today (taking a breakfast bag with us) to catch the train from Fez. You can either go to Casablanca or Marrakech (additional cost) – let us know which one you’d prefer when you book the trip.

It’s the same train to both, arriving in Casablanca around 11.30am and Marrakech at 2.15pm. If you’d like to extend your adventure, you can join our Marrakech and the Sahara trip – speak to your sales representative to book.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: This is a slow-paced trip, but the walk to the waterfall in Talassemtane National Park is uphill for around 20 minutes on uneven terrain. The pathway is covered in small rocks, and some larger step-up areas, which would be difficult for those with mobility issues. The waterfall can be optional, as there is a market, restaurants, and smaller pools of water to enjoy looking at/paddling in.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Idou Anfa, 85 Bd d’Anfa, Casablanca 20000
Phone: +212 5222-00235
Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm, there will be a welcome meeting around 6pm
Airport: The closest is Casablanca International Airport (CMN), but you can also travel from Marrakech

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 45-minute drive from Casablanca Airport. We provide one group transfer from Casablanca Airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves.

Alternatively, we have a group transfer from Marrakech Airport (RAK) to the Casablanca hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves.

Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

The whole group catches the train from Fez, which stops at Casablanca and Marrakech (additional cost). From Casablanca, there is one group transfer to the airport, which arrives at the airport around midday. Speak to your sales representative to extend the journey to Marrakech (additional cost) and to arrange any private transfers you may need.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Casablanca
Location end: Casablanca

Vaccinations and Health

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. A polio vaccination certificate may be required for some travellers. Please confirm your needs and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels. This trip includes camel rides to and from our camp in the Sahara, which is undertaken at your own risk. Alternatively, it is possible to book a vehicle locally at additional cost (780MAD per vehicle – price subject to change) for these transfers. We suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.

Visa

Morocco

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Morocco. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html

Food & Drink

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent, though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Where meals are not included, budget for the following approximate prices.

Lunches: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Dinners:
- In cities: 80-200 dirhams (US$8-US$19)
- In small towns and villages: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10)
Drinks in restaurants
- Soft drinks: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-US$1.90)
- Beer: 30-50 dirham (US$2.85-US$5)
- Wine: 150 dirham (US$14) and more

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. If you have any special dietary requirements, you should inform us prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (eg coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

Weather

The north of Morocco is cooler than Marrakech, but it is more humid. Winter can be colder, so if they want to enjoy the beaches of Tangier, April/May is good. Chefchaouen and the Talassemtane National Park are in the Rif mountains, so this area can also feel colder in winter.

TRIP

AMZ - Discover North Morocco & Chefchaouen

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels, mountain refuge and riad

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we pair solo passengers together in a room. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.