Expedition Overview
Expedition Overview
SPECIAL OFFERS
- Limited Time Offer – Returning Guests Save on Select Trips!
For a limited time, past National Geographic Expeditions travelers can save on their next exciting trip! Book by May 31, 2023 and save $500 per person on select departures. Take advantage of this special offer by calling (877) 728-7282, contacting your Travel Agent or booking online with code BPOSL24.
Available Departures- Sep 16-27, 2023
- 2024 Early Booking Offer – Select Signature Land & River Cruise Departures
For a limited time, save $400 per person on North America itineraries or save $500 per person on international itineraries when you book select 2024 National Geographic Signature Land departures by April 7, 2023. Or, save $750 per person when you book a 2024 River Cruise by April 7, 2023.*
Take advantage of these special offers by calling 1-888-966-8687 or contacting your Travel Agent, or booking online and mentioning codes EBRSL24 for Signature Land departures and EBRRC24 for River Cruise departures.
This is offer has limited availability, so reserve your trip soon!
Available Departures- May 4-15, 2024
- Capture the late afternoon light on ancient clay walls during a photo shoot in the hilltop village of Aït Ben Haddou.
- Ride into the Sahara on a camel to photograph the sun setting on the dunes.
- Take portraits of the magicians and musicians of Marrakech, tanners knee-deep in dye vats, and traditional Amazigh (Berber) families.
- Photograph Morocco's diverse landscapes: palm oases at the foot of soaring plateaus, lush cedar forests, the rugged Atlas Mountains, and the soft curves of the Saharan sands.
Itinerary
Itinerary
With your camera in hand, discover the enchanting cities of Marrakech and Fez, venture into rose-colored kasbahs, and snap portraits of traditional Amazigh families in their mountain villages. Photograph the ancient adobe village of Aït Ben Haddou lit up by the late afternoon sun, and ride into the Sahara on a camel to capture the sun setting on the dunes.
Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca and transfer to your hotel. This evening, meet your fellow travelers for a welcome orientation and gather for a festive welcome dinner.
This morning, stroll through the city’s Habous district and the mechouar, the ceremonial meeting place outside the Royal Palace. Drive through the elegant Anfa neighborhood on the way to Marrakech, Morocco’s legendary “pearl of the South.” Get a fresh angle on the splendid Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian Tombs, and focus on the mosaics and traditional architecture of Bahia Palace. With your camera in hand, explore the labyrinthine streets of the medina, lined with market stalls and craftspeople. Capture the colorful chaos of Djemma el Fna Square, where there are great photographic opportunities around every corner, from magicians and artists to cooks and musicians. Tonight, gather for a rooftop reception and dinner accompanied by traditional Gnaoua music in the heart of the old medina.
Spend another full day experiencing Marrakech through your viewfinder. Photograph a range of exotic plants in the stunning Majorelle Garden, once owned by Yves Saint-Laurent, and see an exclusive collection of Berber objects originating from diverse regions of Morocco at the Berber Museum. Explore historic Moroccan architecture at the 14th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa. After lunch, head back into the lively medina for a photo shoot.
Immerse yourself in the rich culture of the High Atlas Mountains and capture your experience on camera. Settle into your hotel set on a hilltop beneath the highest peak in the range. Experience Amazigh hospitality on walks in the village and visits to family homes and markets. During a half-day excursion in the mountains, practice landscape photography on a variety of hikes and walks, and return to relax in typical Moroccan style: with a mint tea on the terrace or a steam bath in the traditional hammam. Dine on delicious cuisine and warm bread baked in clay ovens on site, and soak up the timeless atmosphere of rural Morocco.
Cross the High Atlas Mountains over the Tichka Pass, stopping to board 4x4’s for the trip to the Kasbah of Telouet. Once home to the powerful Glaoui clan, the kasbah’s crumbling exterior belies its rich tile and woodwork. Then drive through the Ounila Valley to the ancient fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou, and delve into its warren of twisting lanes.
Continue to Ouarzazate, a former colonial trading post and learn about traditional adobe architecture in Taourirt Kasbah this morning. Then set out on the fabled Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, stopping to take photographs as we pass lush oases and dramatic geology. Arrive in Boumalne Dades, a small town nestled amid the crags and plateaus of the semidesert landscape. After lunch, head out on a photo hike in the dramatic Dades Gorge.
Continue along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs to Erfoud, passing spectacular rock formations, oases, and rose plantations. In Erfoud, climb into 4x4s for the drive into the desert. Later, ride into the desert on a camel to photograph the sunset on the Saharan dunes. Arrive at our deluxe Berber tented camp in time to dine under the star-studded sky and enjoy an evening of Amazigh folk music and tales around the campfire.
Awaken early for a photo walk across the sandscape as the rising sun paints the dunes orange and gold. Return to the camp for a hearty breakfast. Then head north into the high-mountain plains on your way to Fez and arrive at our hotel.
Spend the day exploring this magnificent imperial city. At the 14th-century Bou Inania madrassa, photograph intricately carved stucco walls, arches, and cornices. Zoom in on the exquisite mosaics that cover Nejjarine Fountain, and visit the Kairaouine Mosque. Venture into the vibrant medina, where merchants preside over colorful mounds of spices and tanners soak skins in vats of dye. Later, visit the Royal Palace and Fes Jdid, home to the historic Jewish quarter. This evening, enjoy a special dinner at a traditional Moroccan home, where you will enjoy a three-course private dining experience and Sufi musical entertainment.
Today you may choose to explore Fez at your own pace or take an excursion to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a World Heritage site, and Meknès, Morocco’s 17th-century capital. Toast our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner tonight.
After breakfast, transfer to the Fez Saiss Airport (FEZ) and catch your flight home. Or choose to transfer to the Casablanca airport via motorcoach. Please note that flights out Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) should depart in the afternoon.