Morocco: Souks & Spices

Touch down along Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. Feel the first blast of Moroccan sunshine as you spot your Topdeck rep outside the arrival terminal (hint: they’re holding a placard with our logo on it), then brace yourself for Casablanca’s mix of sparkling waters, palm-fringed avenues, street art and colonial buildings. Dump your stuff at the hotel, meet your fellow explorers and get ready for our first group dinner.  

Swap glittering blue coasts for bluer-than-blue cities – we’re rolling onto Chefchaouen. Nestled between the looming peaks of the Rif Mountains, this enchanting city is totally out of this world. Brilliant blue buildings. A maze of narrow alleyways. And all the local vibes.  

We’ll get our bearings on a stroll with our Trip Leader, then it’s cheese o’clock. Goat’s cheese to be specific – a local specialty in this region – with a sprinkle of olives on the side. Tonight, Chefchaouen’s yours for the taking. Track down the food spot that calls to your stomach – will it be fried chicken or tanjia, another regional favourite, on the menu this evening? 

Free time in a new destination is important – agree? So here’s 24 hours to just do you. Our suggestion? Check out the Spanish Mosque. Try your hand at cooking some local tagine. Or venture further afield to Akchour to play in glistening waterfalls and turquoise pools for the day. Then, gather everyone together for some tasty street food treats at the city square. Whatever you end up doing, it’s your day, your way. 

Glue your face to the coach window as we take the scenic route to Morocco’s sacred heart: Moulay Idriss. This place is considered to be so holy, it was pretty much inaccessible for non-Muslims until 2005. Take in the relaxed local vibe on a welcome walk – before we tuck into a salivating home-cooked lunch with a local family.  

Then: put on your archaeology hat, we’re off to Volubilis to check out the Roman ruins with a local guide. Want more history? Tonight we’ll be heading deep into the heart of old Morocco on our journey to Fes. 

Mausoleums, mosques and medinas are on the cards today as we hit the streets on a full-day whip around the city with a local guide. The 9,000 narrow cobbled streets in Fes el-Bali are lined with spices, food stalls and tanneries, so there's little time to waste! Visit a local tannery (hint: say yes to the mint, you’ll need it). Or hunt down a hammam for a body shine and polish. Tonight, hunt down local eats to make you drool.  

Today's a driving day from Fes to Erfoud – with a lunch stop to keep you going. Plug in the AUX cord and catch up with your latest read or show as we wind our way through acres of cedar forests and stunning scenery.  

We’ll stop in Ifrane (Morocco’s take on Switzerland) and Midelt for some breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains. Midelt is where we'll find our lunch, too – homecooked by a local Berber family at their home, complete with a Moroccan mint tea demonstration.  

Then, it’s time to adjust to the altitude in alpine-fresh Erfoud: the ‘Door to the Desert’. Dinner tonight is on us. 

Endless stretches of blazing red dunes. A kaleidoscope of burning colours at sunset. Vast clear skies filled with dazzling stars. Welcome to the Sahara Desert. After a free morning in Erfoud, we’ll make our way into the sandy abyss – stopping at the dunes of Erg Chebbi before reaching our isolated desert camp, Merzouga *.  

Later, you can jump aboard Alice the camel for a ride against an orange-hued sunset. Tonight, we’ll gather round the campfire and dig into a traditional dinner.  

*We’ll be staying in modest tents whilst in the Sahara. We probably don’t have to say it, but just in case – there are no plugs for chargers, hairdryers or any other electricals you might have stashed away. 

Wake up and stretch astride a camel during a sunrise ride. Then, buckle up – we’re making our way to Aït Benhaddou. First up? Todra Gorge. With a 3D landscape of imposing orange sandstone peaks, trickling streams and the odd camel playing outside your window, this place is likely to take your breath away.  

Yell lights, camera, action as we roll into ‘Ouallywood’. The sprawling Taourirt Kasbah of Ouarzazate has played backdrop for plenty of big-budget blockbusters – try and name them as we walk around with our in-the-know Trip Leader.  

Later, hunt down some couscous at our included dinner at Tawesna Association – a local organisation that employs and supports women from the community. You’ll be tucking in at the edge of ancient Aït Benhaddou, surrounded by the dramatic maze of clay buildings in this ksar (aka fortified village). We’ll explore its winding lanes before we eat. 

This morning, we’ll witness locals weaving carpets in beautiful colours and patterns at a women’s co-operative, followed by a brief spell of free time to take in the otherworldly atmosphere at the UNESCO protected kasbah.  

Afterwards, we’ll wind our way through the spine-tingling Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass to Marrakech. Then? The rest is up to you. Head to Jemaa el-Fnaa square for all the night-stall craziness. Wander the narrow streets of the medina. Or head to Gueliz for stylish restaurants and live music. Our only piece of advice: embrace it all.  

Okay, nobody panic: this is our last full day. We’ll kick things off with some free time. Relax and unwind with an optional massage and hammam experience at a local spa, or the craft among us can try their hands at an immersive broderie workshop, led by local artisans. Wander the streets for your last taste of tagine. Or sleep in at the hotel – it's been a week filled with memories! 

This afternoon, we’ve arranged a locally guided walking tour. Stroll through the old medina (sampling local snacks like doughnuts, flat bread and olives most of the way), past vibrant stalls of buzzing souks; check out the famous Koutoubia Mosque minaret, and wriggle past the snake charmers in Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Let’s not forget wandering through Bahia Palace, either – ‘peaceful’ is a word we’d use to describe this place. 

Tonight, we’ll swap stories over our last group meal.  

Just like that, it’s all over. Get down to breakfast and make future travel plans – whether you stick to them or not is down to you.