Discover Morocco from its ancient cities to the Sahara Desert on a Tailor-Made Journey. You can explore the imperial cities of Marrakech, Meknes,  and Fez, and venture to ancient kasbahs and everyday villages along the “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs”.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary Request Itinerary or Ask Us A Question or Call 855-215-8690
 Courtyard of a madrassah in Fez
Courtyard of a madrassah in Fez
 Dunes of the Sahara
Dunes of the Sahara
 Traditional spices of Morocco
Traditional spices of Morocco
 Traditional mint tea
Traditional mint tea
 Colorful Moroccan ceramics
Colorful Moroccan ceramics
 Collage of doors, Morocco
Collage of doors, Morocco
 Colorful architecture in Rabat
Colorful architecture in Rabat
 Roman ruins of Volubilis
Roman ruins of Volubilis
 Roman mosaics at Volubilis
Roman mosaics at Volubilis
 Traditional architectural design in Fez
Traditional architectural design in Fez
 Entrance to the Royal Palace, Fez
Entrance to the Royal Palace, Fez
 Gateway to the Atlas Mountains
Gateway to the Atlas Mountains
 Berber village in the Atlas Mountains
Berber village in the Atlas Mountains
 Riding camels in the Sahara
Riding camels in the Sahara
 Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou
 Kasbah in Sourqua
Kasbah in Sourqua
 Djemaa El Fna Square and Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech
Djemaa El Fna Square and Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech
 Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech
Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech

Morocco's Imperial Cities and the Sahara : A Tailor-Made Journey

11 days from $6,595

Discover Morocco from its ancient cities to the Sahara Desert on a Tailor-Made Journey. You can explore the imperial cities of Marrakech, Meknes,  and Fez, and venture to ancient kasbahs and everyday villages along the “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs”.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690
Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Riad Kniza

Marrakech, Morocco

An intimate 18th century guesthouse, located in the heart of the old medina. The entire property has been restored by one of the most renowned antiques dealers in the city. With its tastefully decorated rooms and suites built around three inner courtyards, it is an excellent base from which to explore the city.  Riad Kniza offers a spa with hammam, Jacuzzi, sauna, massage room and an attractive small pool, as well as two open-sky patios and a terrace-solarium with sitting areas, perfect for the hot summer months. 

Kasbah Ait Ben Moro

Skoura, Morocco

A restored 18th-century kasbah set within a lush oasis, the Kasbah Ait Ben Moro is decorated with the tasteful simiplicity of a typical kasbah. En suite guestrooms feature exposed beams and earthen walls, rustic wooden furnishings, and evocative lighting. The restaurant serves delectable local dishes, and the roof terraces offer expansive views of palm groves and the distant Atlas Mountains.

Gold Sand Camp

Merzouga, Morocco

Gold Sand Camp is a luxury tented camp set among the Saharan dunes. Each private tent is fully furnished with a king, double, or twin beds; a sitting area, and a bathroom with a hot-water shower. Traditional Moroccan meals are served by candlelight in the restaurant tent. The entire camp is carpeted with Berber carpets and lit at night by traditional Moroccan lanterns, and a bonfire. Electricity is provided by a generator.

Ryad Salama

Fez, Morocco

Located just off the main streets of the Fez medina, the Ryad Salama is an intimate guesthouse built more than a hundred years ago and recently restored by local craftsmen. Its six rooms and suites are beautifully appointed with Moroccan furnishings and design.  Some have private balconies and all look out on a leafy courtyard garden—a tranquil oasis in the busy souk. Breakfast and dinner are served in a cozy dining room or outdoors in the courtyard.

Le Doge Hotel & Spa

Casablanca, Morocco

Nestled in the heart of Casablanca’s art deco district, Le Doge is a stylish boutique hotel housed in a 1930s mansion. Guestrooms are individually decorated in bold colors and furnishings that draw from Moroccan artistic traditions of the past and the present. Moroccan and international fare are served in the hotel’s stunning restaurant and its adjoining library, and a rooftop bar and lounge offers views across the city.

Gift Membership – Friends of Smithsonian

When you travel on a tailor-made journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership*. Benefits include:

  • A Smithsonian annual engagement calendar with full-color images of exceptional art and artifacts, mailed in the fall.
  • Subscription to Smithsonian, the award-winning magazine of the arts, sciences, and history. Early access to Smithsonian magazine produced events.
  • Invitations to four exclusive virtual programs for Friends of the Smithsonian members with Smithsonian experts.
  • 10% discount in Smithsonian Museum Stores (good on purchases up to $200); 10% discount with the SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Recognition in the Friends of the Smithsonian Honor Roll, displayed electronically on the National Mall in the Membership Reception Center
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian’s IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium.
  • Free admission to the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
  • A complimentary copy of the annual Smithsonian museum guidebook.
  • Invitation to a special welcome event for new members at a Smithsonian venue.

*Offer only available for first-time Smithsonian members. 

Reading List

Highly Recommended

A Year in Marrakesh
Peter Mayne (1908-1979) is to Morocco what Peter Mayle is to Provence or Lawrence Durrell to Greece. This 1953 classic in a new edition captures the very essence of the people and place. Having already learned to appreciate Muslim life when he was in Pakistan, Mayne bought a house in the labyrint...
In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams
In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams [Shah, Tahir] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams
Morocco - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Amazon.com: Morocco - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture: 9781787023048: York, Jillian C., Culture Smart!: Books
DK Eyewitness Morocco (Travel Guide)
DK Eyewitness Morocco (Travel Guide) [DK Eyewitness] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. DK Eyewitness Morocco (Travel Guide)

Also Recommended

Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary 4
Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary 4 [Bacon, Dan, Andjar, Bichr, Benchehda, Abdennabi] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary 4
A History of Modern Morocco
Morocco is notable for its stable and durable monarchy, its close ties with the West, its vibrant cultural life, and its centrality to regional politics. This book, by distinguished historian, Susan Gilson Miller, offers a richly documented survey of modern Moroccan history. The author's original...
A Traveller's History of North Africa
This volume covers the countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria and is written by an expert on the area. It provides a concise and readable history of the region's journey from its earliest beginnings right up to the politics and life of the present day.
Beyond the Veil, Revised Edition: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society
Amazon.com: Beyond the Veil, Revised Edition: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society: 9780253204233: Mernissi, Fatima: Books
The Food of Morocco
The Food of Morocco [Wolfert, Paula, Bacon, Quentin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Food of Morocco
How to Read Islamic Carpets (The Metropolitan Museum of Art - How to Read)
Carpets made in the "Rug Belt"―an area that includes Morocco, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and northern India―have been a source of fascination and collecting since the 13th century. This engaging and accessible book explores the history, design techniques, materials, craftsmanshi...
Memories of Absence: How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco
Amazon.com: Memories of Absence: How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco: 9780804795234: Boum, Aomar: Books
A House in Fez: Building a Life in the Ancient Heart of Morocco
A House in Fez: Building a Life in the Ancient Heart of Morocco [Clarke, Suzanna] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A House in Fez: Building a Life in the Ancient Heart of Morocco
Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert (Vintage Departures)
Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert (Vintage Departures) [William Langewiesche] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert (Vintage Departures)
Spider's House: A Novel
Spider's House: A Novel [Bowles, Paul] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Spider's House: A Novel
Sheltering Sky
Sheltering Sky [Bowles, Paul] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sheltering Sky
Women Artisans of Morocco: Their Stories, Their Lives
Morocco: Ancient cities, adobe fortresses of centuries past, fertile plains of wheat and olives, carpets of wildflowers, endless deserts, wild mountains, and isolated rural villages. And of course, the fabled open-air markets framed with stacks of woven rugs and other handicrafts, exotic scents w...
Arts and Crafts of Morocco (Arts & Crafts)
Arts and Crafts of Morocco (Arts & Crafts) [Jereb, James F.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Arts and Crafts of Morocco (Arts & Crafts)
History of the World Map by Map (DK History Map by Map)
Buy History of the World Map by Map (DK History Map by Map) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.

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