The Trail of 'The Marrakech Express' with Road of the Kasbahs add-on - Sahara dunes at Merzouga

You will stay at the Novotel Casa Hotel or similar in Casablanca, the Ramada in Fez, the Mercure Sheherazate Hotel in Rabat and the Hotel Imperial Plaza or similar in Marrakech. Most have a swimming pool. All hotels are well located and rooms have private facilities including air-conditioning, TV and telephone. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

(Days 2, 4 and 5). Train travel will be in first-class air-conditioned carriages, many of which have comfortable six-seater compartments.

During your Road of the Kashbahs add-on, you will stay in good centrally situated tourist class hotels.

Day 1: UK/Casablanca

Depart on your scheduled flight to Casablanca for an overnight stay.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Casablanca

After breakfast, join our included morning sightseeing tour of Casablanca before boarding the train for a scenic journey via Rabat and Meknes to Fez where we stop for a two night stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 3: Fez

Today we include a sightseeing tour of Fez, one of the world’s best-preserved medieval Islamic cities. You will visit the souks, the 9th century Karaouline University, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Tanneries and the Royal Palace. This evening there is an optional Folklore Show featuring a magician, belly dancing and live Berber music.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 4: Volubilis/Moulay Idriss/Meknes

We drive to the spectacular ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, then on to the hilltop setting of Moulay Idriss, a holy sacred town. You have some free time to explore and have lunch if you wish (extra cost). We continue to nearby Meknes, where you will see the monumental Khmiss Gate, the city walls, the Jewish quarter and the tomb of Moulay Ismail, before boarding the train to Rabat for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 5: Rabat

On our included sightseeing tour of Morocco’s capital you will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the unfinished Hassan Tower, the Medina and the Oudaias Kasbah, before boarding the afternoon train to Marrakech for a three night stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 6: Marrakech

We include a morning sightseeing tour of Marrakech which takes us to the Badia Palace, before walking through the vibrant Jewish Quarter and spice markets to the Bahia Palace. From here we continue to explore the medina and famous souks, walking on to Djemma el Fna (Mosque of the Dead) Square, the heart of Marrakech. This afternoon you are free to relax or discover more of this fascinating city at your own pace.

At night, Marrakech comes alive in a blaze of colour and activity as the food stalls, fortune tellers and musicians entertain the crowds around Djemma el Fna Square.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 7: Marrakech

Today you are free to relax or join our optional excursion to the popular Ourika Valley within the High Atlas mountain range. This evening you can enjoy dinner in the hotel plus a spectacular optional show at Chez Ali Fantasia.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 8: Marrakech/Quarzazate

Depart for Ouarzazate, driving through the upper Atlas Mountains and to the Kasbah ‘Ait Ben Haddou’ for a visit. Arrive in Ouarzazate for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 9: Erfoud

Drive to Tinerhir past Boumalne Dades, the Dades valley and El Kelaa M’Gouna, famous for its annual roses festival. Lunch is taken in a Bedouin Tent. Continue eastwards through an increasingly desolate and barren landscape, broken only by the occasional oasis to the town of Erfoud - the 'gateway to the Sahara' - for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 10: Tinghir

We start early, travelling in 4 x 4 vehicles to reach the sand dunes at Merzouga which mark the start of the Sahara desert. Transfer to camels for the ascent to the top of the dunes to watch the sun rise. We return to the hotel for breakfast, before driving back to Tinghir for an included lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the nearby Todra Gorges with its sheer rock face towering 300 metres above you. Continue to Boumalne Dades for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 11: Marrakech

After breakfast return to Marrakech where overnight accommodation has been arranged.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 12: Marrakech/UK

Transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast