Tourist Visas: You do not need a visa to visit Morocco. You simply need your passport and you will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival at the airport.
Immunizations: Apart from the COVID-19 vaccine, Morocco does not currently require any immunizations in order to enter the country. If you are interested in getting other immunizations before you travel for your own comfort and safety, you can find suggestions on the CDC website.
Meals: For the included meals listed above, many of them will be family style, a common way of eating in Morocco. There will always be both meat and vegetarian dishes available. For meals that are not family style, you may order a reasonable amount of food and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is not included with these meals. For other meals that the group eats together, bills can usually be paid separately or we will simply collect all the money at the end of the meal to pay the total bill.
Packing: Packing lightly will make it easier to load up the van and will also be less of a hassle as you move from place to place. There may be times when you’ll need to walk with your luggage for a short while to reach our accommodation.
SIM cards: If you do not have an international plan for your phone, you can obtain a local SIM card upon arrival in Casablanca so that you will have internet on your phone during the trip. Otherwise, you can also plan to use the WiFi at our hotels during the tour. Please bring a photocopy of the details page of your passport as this is sometimes needed to purchase a SIM card as a foreigner. It costs about $20 USD.
Local currency: As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which can be found in all cities and towns in Morocco. This method ensures you’ll get the best exchange rate and you won’t have to carry around a large amount of cash. However, please check with your bank to make sure they don’t charge high foreign ATM fees.
If your bank fees are too high, you can also exchange USD, GBP or Euros at money exchange offices located throughout the country.
With rules and regulations regarding Covid testing constantly changing, our team will ensure that you have all the information necessary to properly prepare for your entry into Morocco and return to your home country. You can expect additional communications specific to Covid-19 and travel testing as the tour gets closer.
Currently, all travelers entering Morocco will be required to present proof of full vaccination as well as a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before boarding their plane to Morocco. Additionally, passengers must complete and present a mandatory health form before boarding. Upon arrival, travelers may also be required to take a rapid antigen test.
Before returning to the US, a negative Rapid-Antigen test is required and must be performed within 24 hours of your departure from Morocco. We will arrange for these tests to be taken at our hotel in Marrakech and the cost will be approximately $50 USD for the Antigen test.
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Casablanca’s International Airport:
Please note: When arriving into Morocco, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Casablanca. Here are the details:
Mid Town Casablanca Hotel, 3 Rue Badr Assayab, Quartier Gauthier, Casablanca, 20060, Morocco
A couple of weeks before the trip starts, we’ll send out details for you to join a WhatsApp group that will only be for members of this tour. This way, we can all start communicating, answer any questions and keep everyone in the loop at all times. This will be very useful for keeping in touch with everyone during the tour as well.
Arriving in the bustling city of Casablanca, this Morocco trip officially gets off to a start. A private driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to our hotel in the city center. The remainder of the day will be yours to recover from jet lag and meet your fellow travelers. We’ll then have a tour orientation in the evening followed by our welcome dinner.
Meals Included: Dinner
We’ll get started with a 3 hour drive to Meknes, where we’ll explore this stunning non-touristy imperial city. After a visit to the Royal Stables, we’ll enjoy a private lunch inside of a beautiful inn owned by our friends, right in the heart of the medina. From here, we’ll take a walk through the expansive local markets, stopping at hidden craft workshops along the way. After checking out the bustling main square, we’ll continue with a 90 minute drive to the incredible city of Fes. Upon arrival we’ll check into our accommodation, enjoy a short rest and finish the day off with a great dinner prepared by our hosts.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Heading straight into the heart of the ancient medina (the old walled city – a UNESCO site), we’ll enter the main gate for a half-day walking tour that will include the colorful souks, leather tanneries, traditional weavers and all kinds of craftspeople. We’ll also visit an impressive traditional school and wander through markets selling everything from spices to artwork to housewares to soaps to shoes and more. You’ll then have some free time to wander the vibrant markets of the largest medina in the world on your own before dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today involves a scenic journey to Merzouga, straight across the magnificent Middle Atlas Mountains and ending up at the edge of the great Sahara Desert. The trip will take approximately 9 hours but will involve several stops along the way including the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, the gorgeous Ziz Valley and a forest that’s home to the unique Barbary Apes. We’ll then arrive at our fantastic riad in the small town of Merzouga in time to catch the sunset over the desert.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll begin our day by visiting a local Gnoua village. Here is where we’ll learn about the daily life of this group of people that generally lives in remote Morocco and is known for their wonderful style of music. After lunch at the only eatery in the village (a very cool experience!), we’ll head to the center of Merzouga village to prepare for our trip into the desert. You’ll be able to choose from a 1.5 hour camel trek or a 30 minute jeep safari across the mesmerizing Erg Chebbi sand dunes to reach our idyllic Sahara Desert Camp. Upon arrival, we’ll settle into our tents, watch the sunset over the dunes and spend our evening in the picturesque desert with traditional music around the campfire, wonderful food and stargazing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll begin our trip out of the desert, via jeep, and head back to Merzouga. We’ll then take a few minutes to get organized before driving towards the Dades Gorge. En route we’ll visit a few small villages as well as an excellent fossil workshop (fossils from when the desert was an ocean!) in the town of Erfoud. Once we cross the Jebl Sahro Mountains we’ll soon reach our next beautiful spot located in the truly amazing Dades Valley.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We’ll embark on a spectacular full day 4WD offroading excursion through the plains, high deserts, valleys and mountains of the Dades region. From nomadic Berbers to the remote town of Bou Tharar, you’re about to witness some of the most dramatic landscapes you’ll see anywhere…this is a truly unforgettable experience that only our local contacts can arrange. We’ll return to our accommodation in late afternoon in time for another excellent dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day’s activities all take place in the center of the Dades Valley, starting with an optional hike through the otherworldly Monkey Finger Gorge and a visit to a local village that sit at the foot of these impressive natural formations. From here, we’ll visit the home of a friend whose family will cook us up a traditional lunch as they share information about their lives and even do some henna tattoos on your hands and feet if you wish. You’ll also have a chance to wander through the village, interact with more local Berbers and catch glimpses of the ancient kasbahs (fortified homes shared by several families) all around. People are super friendly here so you’ll be able to see their homes, enjoy tea, ask questions and take photos as well.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll start the trip out of the valley. Our first stop will be in the sparkling town of Ouarzazate, the main center of the film industry in Morocco. With its impressive kasbahs and film studios, this town feels very different than the others you’ll have visited. After a break here, we’ll continue on to Ait Ben Haddou, the most well preserved and famous fortified village in the country. We’ll have time to view this intriguing village and enjoy lunch near its edge before heading on to our riad for the night, in the time tiny village of Tisseldei.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Starting after breakfast, we’ll finish the drive to Marrakech, often considered the most lovable city in Morocco. We’ll drive over the grand High Atlas Mountains, with several stops along the way, before arriving at our hotel in the afternoon. After checking in to our rooms, we’ll have time to go for a short wander before having dinner nearby.
Meals Included: Breakfast
There is no other medina (walled city) quite like it. Marrakech is full of bustling markets, incredible architecture, centuries old crafts, intense colors and aromas, constant celebrations and a vibrancy that is truly contagious. Our guided walking tour of the city will take us to several iconic spots including the Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fnaa (main square), tin workers lane, wood workers section and endless hidden areas of this fascinating market town. You’ll also have some free time to roam the markets and shop if you wish. In the evening, we’ll head back to the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, for dinner at one of the popular local restaurants that pop up each night after sunset.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we’ll take a day trip to the lovely seaside town of Essaouira. With a guided tour, we’ll visit the city ramparts overlooking the water and stroll around the narrow streets of the laid-back medina in order to observe and interact with woodworkers, potters and silversmiths in their workshops. Essaouira is particularly famous for its intricately detailed wood products. The day will include a fresh fish lunch and some free time as well before driving back to Marrakech in the evening. On the way back to Marrakech we’ll make a stop at an argan oil collective in the region of Morocco where argan oil is actually produced.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
On this day, you’ll have free time to enjoy this wonderful city at your own pace. Stroll through the never-ending markets, get pampered at a wonderful hammam, people-watch in the main square, visit one of the museums or simply relax at the hotel…the choice is yours! We’ll be on hand to help make anything you might want to do possible!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
As the tour comes to an end, you’ll be picked up at the hotel for your airport transfer according to your flight time. (If your return flight is out of Casablanca, we will provide transportation for the 2.5 hour trip at an extra cost.)
As the tour comes to an end, you’ll be picked up at the hotel for your airport transfer according to your
Meals Included: Breakfast
Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
