Join me as we visit an incredible country by way of Private Small Group Touring. My name is Elana Christiansen, and I own a Travel Agency specializing in group trips. My father was born in Morocco and I haven't been yet! This trip will be fairly active with a good blend of fast-past activities and personal downtime. The proposed itinerary is below. Please ask if you have questions. I'm always available.
The map on the left shows our proposed route.
The tour starts today! Make your way to the hotel for a brief welcome meeting. Please arrive at the hotel meeting point by 2:30PM.
This will be your opportunity to meet your Chief Experience Officer and fellow travelers, and learn more about your tour. This will last about 1 hour. (The CEO is not me. We'll have a local guide with us for the trip that will be our tour leader.)
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle for our drive to Ouarzazate for an overnight stay.
I'll be arriving in Marrakech at least two days ahead of time to acclimate to the time zone and city. I recommend this! Travel days can be tiring and being able to see Marrakech ahead of the tour will be fun.
Meals included: Dinner
In the morning, the group will explore the famous atlas film studios in Ourzazate and learn a bit about film making in Morocco. Then we'll drive to Zagora and then to Mhamid. From here we'll make our way into the Sahara desert for two nights of camping under the stars. The walk will take about two hours and we will arrive at the camp around sunset. Enjoy a cup of tea and watch the colors change in the sky as the sun slips below the horizon.
Our luggage will be brought to camp by jeeps. Dinner will be served fireside. Our camps will be comfortable, but still somewhat basic. We'll be sleeping in tents. You’ll see some spectacular night skies.
Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
Wake up to a stunning sunrise, enjoy some breakfast at camp and then start the day. This is our second day of the Berber desert journey.
Then you have a choice of walking or riding a camel to our lunch stop. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Sahara as you travel like people have for millennia. After lunch we’ll travel to the next desert camp by 4x4. Arrive at the oasis of Rass Nkhal to catch sunset before having dinner fireside with stories and music. This temporary overnight camp is more basic, and has been set up just for the group. We'll be sleeping in tents.
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
After waking up to another beautiful sunrise in the desert and some breakfast at camp, the group will travel to Zagora by 4x4.
Take advantage of some free time in Zagora to freshen up at the hotel. Grab a hot shower washing the desert dust away and spend some time by the pool before lunch. It's the perfect way to feel refreshed after our desert adventure.
After lunch continue on to Skoura. Wander the town, visit the palm plantations, visit the markets, and imagine discovering this haven after days or months traveling through the desert.. Have dinner as a group in Skoura.
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Travel back to Marrakech and enjoy a free morning to see the city. In the afternoon the group will attend a cooking demonstration and learn how to make tanjia, a different form of tagine.
We'll make the dish and seal it in the clay pot to cook overnight in the hamman. Then, explore the various food vendors in the Medina with your CEO and learn about the different ingredients. End the day with evening tea on the rooftop terrace overlooking the main square of Jemaa El Fnaa.
There will be optional tours and excursions on this day. More to come.
Meals included: Breakfast
Visit the important sites within the medina this morning. Make stops to Jardin Secret and Bahia Palace. End the morning adventure with a trip to the bakery to learn how Moroccan bread is made and have a taste.
Then collect your tanjia lunch on the way back to the Riad. Enjoy your own cooking as lunch on the terrace. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore Marrakech on your own. Don't miss a chance to visit Jardins Majorelle with their vibrant blue garden houses and thriving plants.
There will be optional tours and excursions on this day. More to come.
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch
Set out on a full day excursion to Ouzoud, a beautiful oasis waterfall near the Atlas Mountains. North Africa's highest multi-tiered waterfalls at a height of 360ft (110m). Hike to the top of the falls, enjoy breathtaking views, and then take a refreshing swim in the flowing water. After a delicious lunch right near the falls the group will travel back to Marrakech. Enjoy a local dinner in the heart of Jamee Lafna Square.
Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Depart at any time, take tour, or extend your stay in Marrakech!
Meals included: Breakfast
- Tanjia Cooking Experience, Marrakech
- Film Studio visit in Ouarzazate
- Welcome Tea and bonfire at Erg Lihoudi desert camp
- A camel ride and 4x4 jeep excursion to desert oasis camp
- Cooking class in Marrakech
- Food tasting in the medina
- Tea on terrace overlooking Jemaa El Fnaa
- Visit to Jardin Secret or Bahia Palace and Ben Yousset Medressa
- Local bakery stop for some moroccan bread
- Tanija pots lunch
- Visit to Ouzoud, an oasis waterfall
- Dinner in Jamaa Fnaa Square food stall
- Free time in Marrakech
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
- All accommodations
Accommodations
Hotels (2 nts), Desert Camp (2 nts), Traditional Riad (3 nts)
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Allow $110-$145 USD for meals not included.
Transportation
Private vehicle, walking, camel, 4x4.
Staff & experts
Professional guide for the entire trip.
Please Note: I'm inviting people on this trip that will be good travel companions. We'll be spending the week together so flexibility in attitude and a "go-with-the-flow" mindset is crucial. We'll be on the move everyday and some of our days will be long. My ideal scene is that we're a supportive group that can have fun together.
Click here to schedule a consult with me about the trip after you've read through the information below:
$1,039.00 per person, not including air to Morocco.
This is based on double occupancy. If you're traveling solo and want to book a room alone, the single traveler supplement is $259.00/per person. There is a max of 2 single spaces available.
Deposit is $350 to hold your space due by Nov. 30, 2024, and is non-refundable, but it is transferrable or you can apply it towards another tour. If you would like to join us and this date has passed, please contact me and I will check if there is hotel space available.
Final payment is due on or before Jan. 15, 2025.
I have 5 spots left of 14. We need at least 8 people for the trip to go, so please do not purchase flights until you hear from me. This trip is for people 18 years old and over only.
Optional Pre-trip and Post-trip hotel nights to add in Marrakech will be posted here as soon as I have that information.
Travel Insurance is required for this trip. I have 2 companies that I can recommend or you can purchase on your own.
A U.S. Passport with at least 6 months validity is required for this trip. If you don't have a passport, please start the process now. The passport office is receiving record numbers of applications, and your application can take longer than anticipated.
Please talk to your doctor about any possible vaccines recommended for traveling to Morocco.
Fitness Level: Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging. If this is a concern at all, call me and we'll talk.
Please note that Morocco is a developing country and as such the infrastructure is not as reliable as you would expect at home. Expect quirky plumbing and the odd cold shower.
This itinerary includes one night at a developed desert camp that includes a restaurant, toilet facilities, and simple showers, and one night at a simple camp with pop-up tents with portable toilets and no access to showers. For three nights we will be staying in Riads which are traditional Moroccan houses that typically include indoor gardens or courtyards and showcase Moroccan architecture.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation 60 days or more prior to departure = Deposit paid will become a Lifetime Deposit (LTD) and stay on file in your name to use on a G Adventures trip in the future.
- Cancellation between 30 and 59 days prior to departure = LTD + 50% loss of final payment
- Cancellation within 30 days of departure = LTD + 100% loss of final payment
While it is our intention to adhere to the route outlined here, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document, which I will email you upon registration, is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
I'm partnering with G Adventures for this trip and they support Planeterra International Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
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