Join us on an inspirational journey through Morocco, where ancient architecture and modern craftsmanship sit side by side. Wander round breathtaking mosaic-clad buildings and into the bustling souks with us. Come and meet artisans who stitch immaculate designs, weave richly patterned rugs and create bold ceramics. Feel the textures and delight in the shades as you witness traditions passed through generations. 

Our route will take us from busy cities through cedar forests and over the Atlas Mountains towards desert country. We’ll visit traditional mud-brick fortified villages, travel through dramatic limestone gorges and imagine ourselves back on that ancient Saharan caravan route.

Joyful color combinations, patterns and forms will catch the eye everywhere, and we’ll have time to make a lasting record to inspire future projects.

This trip has been announced a "Go!" Unless otherwise stated, our regular Terms and Conditions apply to this trip and for any cancellations (click here to see our Terms and Conditions).

Please Note

Rowan Tree Travel reserves the right to alter any part of this itinerary in order to address weather conditions, unforeseen circumstances or to improve the participant experience.

While our Tour Activity Level describes what to expect on a tour, our Mobility Comfort Level is personal to each traveler.

We would describe this trip as an Expedition with a mobility comfort level of 3+

Expect hotel stays of 1-3 nights in each location, with total bus times on a few days of 5 hours+
Walking up to 3 miles per day while visiting a wide variety of historical, cultural and natural sites over mixed terrain.

Rowan Tree Travel highly recommends purchasing travel insurance. You may purchase through our preferred partner Arch RoamRight here or through your own provider.  

*Arch RoamRight is an affiliate of RTTF and we will receive a small commission for policies bought through the provided link.

In order to gather easily for the tour, we provide an arrival and departure "window" at a major transportation hub - typically an international airport at your destination country. Flights scheduled outside the provided windows may result in additional transportation costs and/or missed tour activities. For this reason, we greatly appreciate your cooperation in booking travel that accommodates our specifications. 

Please Note

Rowan Tree Travel reserves the right to alter any part of this itinerary in order to address weather conditions, unforeseen circumstances or to improve the participant experience.

Morocco is in the north west of Africa, directly south from Spain across the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.

Fly in the day before and take a taxi to our city hotel. Settle in and rest. Next morning wake refreshed and ready to launch into the tour!

Welcome to Morocco!

We’ll meet you at Casablanca Airport and whisk you to Morocco’s capital, Rabat. There you can settle into our hotel and explore at leisure.

A full day in this quiet elegant city is the perfect introduction to the country. We will participate in a stitching workshop and enjoy a demonstration or two. We’ll also fit in tours of some of the outstanding buildings in the city, from the Hassan Tower to the Kasbah des Oudaias which houses a museum showcasing Moroccan art and history.

Our journey towards Fes will take us further back in time, as we stop along the way to admire 18th and 17th century edifices and then the Roman site of Volubilis. Be prepared to get up close to ancient mosaics in the ruins of this 3rd Century BC town. Days in our riad (a large traditional house built around a central courtyard) in Fes will give us the opportunity to explore the old quarter of the city, participate in a woolly workshop, meet ladies of a button co-operative, see mosaic tile work up close and of course visit more masterpieces of Islamic architecture and craftwork. Mint tea will certainly feature too.

A day of contrasts as we drive through cedar forests, stop in a positively Alpine town on the snowline, and try to spot Barbary macaques by the roadside. As we head south through the Middle Atlas mountains we’ll visit a weaving school founded by Franciscan sisters in 1926 and now expanded to incorporate embroidery workshops as well as an orphanage and primary school.

Our mountain travels continue south, with time to stop and wander through a ksar - a fortified village built of mud bricks  - which offers an insight into Berber life and desert architecture in its museum.

The Dades Valley is famous for its deep gorges where the exposed stone changes hue as the sun travels across the sky. We’ll enjoy two nights at a quirky hotel at an altitude of 1600 meters, basking in sunshine and with a view to snowy mountains. It is furnished with African artefacts and also features a spa, pool and baths for your delight.

We’ll travel west to Marrakech, through the Valley of Roses where we can pop in to visit a sweet-smelling rosewater co-operative and, more dramatically, climb up to explore Ait Benhaddou, a huge UNESCO-listed fortified village set against the dramatic desert landscape. There may also be time to visit a rather wonderful rug weaving workshop and gallery. They ship…

In Marrakech itself the stunningly elegant Bahia Palace will call to us - stuccos, paintings, mosaics, gardens, fountains - it has them all. We will be sure to visit the famous Jardin Majorelle too; it's a huge contrast to the Palace but such a celebration of color and form.

ESSAOUIRA

We’re off to the seaside, and the charming town of Essaouira. The walled city was designed by a Frenchman and is much airier than those older examples we will have encountered in Fes and Marrakech. It’s a comfortable place to slow down and wander the wide streets after the buzz of the cities. Stroll on the beach, watch fishermen in the harbor unloading their catches, indulge in people-watching; it’s yet another side to this fascinating country.

We'll have a guided walking tour of Essaouira in the morning before we board our coach and drive up the coast all the way to Casablanca. There we’ll settle in for a final night on Moroccan soil and share our favorite memories of the tour over a meal together.

A morning coach transfer to Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport will ensure an easy start to our journeys homeward.

Lindsay, aka  “The Border Tart”, is a stitcher, a printer, a maker and a lover of words. Inspired by color and pattern and passionate about world artisans and textiles, she values most highly all things made by hand. She’s a proponent of mindful stitching and hand work of all kinds. In her words, “Making with your own hands brings pleasure, calms the heart rate and imbues each piece with love.” You’ll find her images, thoughts and adventures on Instagram at @bordertart. We’re so pleased to collaborate with this wonderful Scottish artisan and teacher.