Morocco
- Morocco
-
Trip leader: Alexis Dean-Shubin
Morocco is one of those countries that changes and surprises you.
For solo female travelers, however, traversing the country alone can be just a little intimidating. That’s why we put together this awesome women’s only group adventure, covering the highlights of this incredible country.
Join us on a wild and beautiful adventure in Morocco this fall. Our trip will begin and end in Marrakesh, and where we will make our way to the high Atlas Mountains, spend a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert, explore the colorful markets of Fez, and experience the tranquility of lovely Chefchaouen (the blue city).
Please note, as we are covering wide ground in Morocco, we will have to make several long drives to get to/from most destinations.
Check dates and availability- Dates
- Itinerary
- Details
- Reviews
| Trip Dates | Availability | Price | Payment |
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Gift this trip!Trip Highlights
- Ride a camel through the Sahara at sunset
- Get lost in the Blue City of Chefchaouen
- Shop the souks of Marrakech & Fes
- Support local women at Moroccan cooperatives
- Relax at a local hammam spa
Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech
It’s arrival day! We will meet you today in the Marrakech airport after your arrival. We know you’re probably pretty tired, so we’ll transfer you to your riad, where you can relax.
Today, our gals are arriving at different times, so if you have an early flight you will have much of the day to yourself to relax.
Meals: D
Day 2: Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Rose Valley, Dades valley
Today we will start our journey southward to Dades valley via the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Along the way we will have lots of exciting stops. The first stop will be a visit the berber village of Ait BenHaddou, established in the 11th century.
Its position as a stopping point between Marrakech and the Sahara made it an ideal stop off for traders taking salt across the desert and returning with goods like gold and ivory.
After lunch you will continue to Dades Valley through the Rose Valley. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Dades valley, Todgha gorges, Sahara Desert
This morning we will depart to the Sahara Desert via Todgha gorge, where you will take a walk to exploring this magnificent limestone gorge, with giant wall faces that jut straight out from the desert. After lunch, we’ll continue to Erfoud city for a visit to a local fossil craft workshop.
We’ll then continue to the dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert. We’ll trek by camelback as the sun sets to our desert camp, where we’ll enjoy a Moroccan dinner, listen to berber music, and maybe join in to a drumming circle. Overnight in a traditional Nomad camel hair tent.
Note: sleeping in the Sahara is a magical experience. Our camp will have facilities for using the bathroom, but you won’t have a full shower until we return. It also gets cold at night, so pack warmly!
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Merzouga oasis, Khamlia village, Visit authentic market of Rissani
After breakfast, you will start an amazing trip alongside the dunes while passing by the oasis and stop to see an old system of irrigation which local people still using to irrigate their fields in the oasis.
We’ll continue to Khamlia village to listen to Gnaoua musicians, then take a short drive to Rissani for a visit to the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif; the founder of the Alaouite dynasty, and experience the authentic local market.
Lunch in Rissani and return to the hotel where you will spend the night.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Sahara Desert – Midelt – Azrou – Fez
After breakfast, we will start our trip to Fes via Erfoud and Ziz Valley enjoying its plam plantation. After lunch in Midelt, you will continue your journey to Fes via Azrou where you will have the opportunity to see the largest forest of cedar trees in the region that is inhabited by monkeys. Arrive to Fes early evening.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Fes & Guided City Tour
Today in this UNESCO World Heritage city you will have a guided visit with a local guide. You will visit the medieval medina with its Attarine and Bou Anania Medersas, Nejjarine fountain, and the Karaouine mosque. After exploring colorful Fes, we will spend the night in your Riad or hotel.
Meals: B, D
Day 7: Chefchaouen
This morning we will leave Fes for Chefchouen, a 3.5 hour drive. We’ll arrive around lunchtime and will have the afternoon to shop and explore this lovely blue city in the Rif Mountains.
While strolling through the narrow cobbled streets and the walls of the medina, you will realize that most men are dressed in wool chilabas and women with colorful straw hats. This is also a great place to do some bargain shopping!
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Chefchaouen – Rabat
Spend the morning exploring the charming city of Chefchaouen located in the Rif Mountains. If you’d like, we can book you in for a massage or bathhouse treatment this morning. We will have lunch today in the main square of the medina, and then we will drive to Rabat (4 hour drive).
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech
Here in Rabat you will visit the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower, minaret of incomplete mosque initiated by the Almohad ruler, Yaacoub al-Mansour. You can also visit the Kasbah des Oudaya.
After we will continue our journey to Marrakech with a visit to Hassan 2nd mosque in Casablanca.
Meals: B, D
Day 10: Marrakech
Today you will have a full day guided tour of Marrakech Medina with a local guide including: the Saadian tombs, Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said Museum, Koutoubia Minaret, Majorelle gardens.
In the afternoon we will visit Gueliz, the modern area of Marrakech and the dynamic Djemaa el fna square where you will get to see the famous snake charmers, singers, acrobats, dancers and storytellers that frequent the area.
Meals: B, D
Day 11: Departures
It’s departure day, and we’re bummed. But we saw and did so much! After breakfast at the riad/hotel, we will transfer you to the airport, depending on your flight departure.
After our trip, we will set up a group chat to keep in touch, share photos, and continue to grow these awesome friendships we formed.
Meals: B
Cost includes:
- Airport pickup and dropfoff
- Accommodation (shared, in a variety of luxury properties)
- All entrance fees to attractions
- Overnight in Sahara Desert Berber Camp
- English-speaking local guide
- Private driver and van
- All transportation
- Most meals
Does not include:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals and alcohol not listed
- Gratuities
- Shopping
What to pack:
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Close-toed, comfortable shoes
- Comfortable clothes for long car rides
- Linens for breathable wear
- Scarf for modesty
- Sense of adventure
- Check out our Packing List for more ideas!
Additional Info:
Lodging Where will we stay?
Your accommodation will be in a variety of 4-star riads throughout Morocco.
This tour is priced for shared accommodation, meaning you’ll be sharing a room with one other gal. If you’d prefer your own space, you can upgrade to solo for an additional $1k -just let us know!
Money How much money should I bring?
Mostly everything is included (yay!), but you’ll need to cover your own alcohol, shopping, meals not listed, and gratuities. We estimate $300 should cover it, but that’s totally your call!
Most larger places will accept credit cards, but it’s great to have some local currency on hand for the smaller markets and gratuities. ATMs are widely available throughout the country. Just remember to let your bank(s) know where/when you’ll be traveling!
Flights Where do I fly into?
You’ll fly into Marrakech airport (RAK). Arrive by 6pm on arrival day, and depart morning or afternoon on departure day (afternoon departures are always the best idea).
Want us to advise on flights? Email us at info@damesly.com
Important Docs What documents are required?
-Passport
-Travel Insurance
-Health Form
Damesly Pro Tip: Use the sherpa website to easily determine which requirements apply to you.
Trip Minimum How many people are needed for this trip to run?
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 (and max of 12) participants.
Trip Payments How do trip payments work?
A $500 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking, or you can opt to pay for the trip in full.
Once we receive your deposit, our accounting team will set you up with a personal account so you can pay the balance of your trip at your leisure.
Payments are due in full 60 days prior to departure.
Insurance Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Damesly requires all guests to have travel insurance, and often the countries we visit do as well. We highly recommend opting for the “cancel-for-any-reason” insurance option, but note that this typically needs to be acquired within 21 days of initial booking (i.e. when you submit your deposit).
Weather What will the weather be like?
Expect abundant sunshine and cool, pleasant evenings in the fall and spring – with temps in the 70s to 80s during the day and significantly cooler at night.
Reviews
UPGRADE TO SOLO
Want your own room? We've got you! Request to upgrade to solo or make this tour private.
jaci –
Hi.
If you’re reading this, that means you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a Damesly trip to Morocco.
Do yourself a favor: DO. IT.
I had always been thinking about visiting Morocco, because after seeing photos of it, how can you not? I found out about the Damesly trip early this year and decided to book it as a present for myself after getting a new job. I had a few misgivings — typically I like to be in charge of my travel itinerary and I wasn’t sure about traveling with a group of people I didn’t know.
Let me tell you — it was absolutely fking incredible. I blew in late on the day of arrival and met everyone for dinner for some of the most incredible tagine I’ve ever experienced. We all did the whole get-to-know-you chat thing, and everyone was so friendly and so chill, with a down to earth sense of humor.. It immediately put me at ease. It was a really small group [just four of us, plus Kelly] which I really liked, because we were a cohesive unit for the entirety of the trip.
There was a lot of time spent in the [very comfortable, air-conditioned, and water-stocked] van with our driver and guide, but we passed the time easily by talking about random stuff, dozing, or watching the landscape change. That was one of my favorite things about the trip — it had far surpassed my expectations of being flat and brown — there were some serious mountain ranges, rolling hills that almost looked like the Italian countryside, farms, and stunning gorges.
We spent a fair amount of time in cities [Marrakech! Fes! Chefchaouen!] and some spectacular time in the desert. For me, the highlights were equally split between:
a] the time in Erg Chebbi, trekking over the red sand dunes by camel. You do so around sunset, so the colors are vibrant and golden and otherworldly. The camp was utterly gorgeous — individual tents with bathrooms! and showers! and beds! and everything was decorated with moroccan lamps and candles and carpets. It honestly looked like one of those insane images you see on instagram where you’re like ‘of course it’ll never be that cool in real life’ but it ACTUALLY IS.
2] Fes. We had an incredible guide, a local woman, who was like the mayor of the medina because everywhere we wandered in those alleyways, people would greet her and shake her hand. She brought us on a tour of a lot of the different artisan shops and we got to see how leather was made, how textiles were woven, and how ceramics were painted and glazed. And yes, we all bought a TON of stuff. Carpets? Yes. Lanterns? Also yes. Blankets made of agave silk which are shiny and luxurious? Definitely yes. Did we haggle and get really good prices on everything? With help, but most assuredly yes.
d] Chefchaouen. The blue city is like the Instagram capital of the country, and while kind of overrun with tourists, it’s a ridiculously photogenic place. Every corner you turn is more beautiful than the last. Pro tip: wake up mad early [like sunrise early] and get out there to photograph yourself and all the doorways and all the kittens before it gets too crowded.
Other random highlights: visiting a traditional hammam and being scrubbed within an inch of your life by a very enthusiastic woman, and coming out feeling shiny and clean with a new lease on life. Monkeys in a cedar forest. Learning pieces of history and trivia by local guides on tours. The doorknockers, everywhere. The riads with fountains and giant plants in the center lobby. The tilework. Visiting and patronizing women-owned and operated businesses. Berber pizza. Dipping your toes into the finest, softest sand in the Sahara. Learning how to tie a headscarf in the traditional Touareg style. Getting to know four new friends and joking about everything [and I -do- mean everything]. Lastly, KELLY. Who is amazing. Her spirit and energy are boundless, and she knows how to take the best photos, and the best group selfies.
So, if you’ve read this far I can only hope you’ve been convinced that this is the trip of a lifetime, because it is.
GO TO MOROCCO WITH DAMESLY.
Callie –
Morocco is magic, there is no other way to put it.
There are a million reasons you should go experience Morocco and if you have any inkling you want to go I say GO. But more than anything you need to go with Damesly. I would not have ever gone to Morocco on my own, I wouldn’t have known where to start but Damesly gave me the permission I needed to go. I didn’t have to worry about a single detail, I didn’t have to worry about a language barrier and most importantly I didn’t have to worry about being safe. Damesly let me show up and focus on making memories as you should on a trip.
I know all the questions and concerns in your head, I had them all myself. Is this company trustworthy? Are the people going to be normal? Is this going to feel like I’m being marched around the country without getting to experience what I want?
This trip was everything I could have hoped it would be. I knew from day one that this group of women was the right group to travel with. We are all every different and yet somehow we all formed a friendship quickly. Everyone was accepting of each other, supportive of each other and up for the adventure at hand. It’s almost like in a family, everyone brings something different to the table but life wouldn’t be as full if you were missing one of the members.
This was not a trip of “influencers” or high maintenance women, every day was not a fashion show and we didn’t spend an hour getting just the right shot. I think I was the most nervous about that because while I like to be cute, I’m just a regular girl and didn’t want to spend a trip feeling less than. Ironically I packed the biggest bag and the most outfits but the only time I felt bad was when the guys had to help me carry my bag up flights of stairs. (please be kind to the guys and yourself and pack in smaller bags, trust me) All that being said, this group of women was awesome! We all supported each other taking photos of each other at just the right angle or encouraged each other to get in just the right pose (let that shaw billow in the wind girl!) I have some of my favorite shots of myself because someone else kindly took it of me and that’s a gift I can never say thank you enough for.
I left this trip in love with Morocco, hoping to go back in the future to experience more. The people were all so welcoming, the food was unbelievably good and I still find myself looking back at pictures mesmerized by the beautiful details. I can’t thank Kelly enough for setting up this trip and helping me see one more corner of the world.
Emily Ethen –
I’ve been dreaming of traveling the world all of my life but was always waiting for the “right time.” Last spring, my college roommate texted me and said, “do you want to go to Morocco?” In the midst of life changes, and 100% against my usual operating life procedures, I said “Yes!” and booked with Damesly. If I could go back, I would do EXACTLY the same thing again. It was the beginning of life as I now know it, excited for my next adventure with the women I connected and traveled with. Now, let me tell you, I’m a loner by nature and very much an introvert so I was pretty apprehensive about traveling with strangers and strange women at that! I never imagined that I would meet Kelly (trip leader) and immediately feel like we were old friends… and that each woman who I met on this trip would become one of those people I now consider a lifelong friend. Okay- enough about that piece…let’s move on to the actual trip:
1). Travel itinerary and communication from Kelly prior to, during, and after our trip was clear, often, concise, and helpful.
2). Our driver and tour guide in Morocco were amazing; explaining the food, culture, customs, and answering 101 questions every day, along with jokes, laughter, and excellent driving in a very comfortable, air conditioned, never ending bottled water, snacks, and creature comforts van.
3). The cities. Just. Book. Your. Trip. We spent time in each of the big cities, as well as some amazing smaller villages along the way. Some of my favorites:
a). Fes. We had a local city guide here and she was basically the queen of the city. She knew everyone, it seemed, and we
were able to shop, (barter- she was super helpful here!), learn about the city as we walked through the city. I want to
return just to see more of Fes with her.
b). Marrakech. Another local city guide took us around and explained the history and significance of each site as we
toured the city and its many wonders. I loved it here!!
c). Chefchaouen. The City of Blue. So much beauty! So many cats!
4). The Sahara Desert. People, if you’re still reading and you haven’t decided that this is the right trip for you, the Sahara is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, in photos or with my own two eyeballs. It was breathtaking! I often dream about the dunes, the sound of nothing, the smell and feel of the sand, and that sunset I experienced while sitting on top of a perfect sand dune ridge, after my transport to that magical place on a camel. It was a darn near religious experience and I’m 100% heathen. Once the sun went down, just before the moonrise, the stars were so bright and so close it felt like I could reach out and touch them.
5). Lodging. Easy, peasy. Comfortable, safe, clean, and every place we went had the most delightful breakfast spread. Wifi at each place worked well, I was able to FaceTime and Video Message people back home easily.
6). Food. I love food and I’m fairly picky. It was so good everywhere. I came back with spices (from the spice market!) to try and recreate some of the food we ate…lots of tagine and so much variation of that dish, couscous to die for, and kabobs too! I liked how the food changed with the region…even though it was still these main dishes, the flavor profiles were slightly different. Delicious.
I realize I’m writing a novel here and there is still so much to tell you! I’ll wrap up with this:
Just go. But go with Damesly. Kelly was an amazing trip leader, there were times that we laughed so hard together that we cried. I’ve been home for a month now, and I’m still daydreaming about the 10 days I spent in Morocco with this group of awesome, funny, adventurous women. There was time to be alone, to zone out and read while in the van, to take a nap in the afternoons if you wanted, to be social and laugh, to learn about a culture not my own. I think often of those evenings, with the call to prayer in the background, drinking tea with these women, talking about our day, our thoughts, our lives. Damesly travel not only afforded me the ability to experience a new corner of the world but also, gave me three new lifelong friends and that is priceless. I am grateful and excited for another adventure.
Meredith –
So lets talk about Morocco. I was originally intriqued by Damesly’s Egypt trip (lets be real, I see that one in my future too) but when I was looking through the website I kept coming back to Morocco. Its a place I probably wouldn’t have though to visit, and could never feel safe visiting on my own. This trip was the perfect balance of activity and experiences and time to rest. The beauty of this type of trip as that I could go in with few worries, expectations or plans and just enjoy myself! We covered so much ground, I had no idea that Morocco was so geographically diverse. We saw red rock mountains, rolling green countryside, forests and desert. The things that I got to experience I could never have done on my own, there was a lot of driving on this trip but it was broken up and well worth it since we covered so much of the country. I took so many pictures, we are talking 4000+ pictures. Everything was stunning, from the historical buildings, to the tile work everywhere, to the landscape. I’m introverted and shy, but our Damesly guide, Kelly, quickly got me talking and out of my shell. This trip is 100% worth the money, when I was on the trip I actually thought about what a good value it was seeing as how we had a comfortable van, a wonderful driver, local guide and Damesly guide the whole 11 days as well as wonderful hotel accomodations each night. And lets talk about the food! As someone who would consider myself a picky eater, I was worried about what I was going to eat while I was there. I loved the food, absolutely loved it! Couscous, tagine, pastilla, things I would have never tried here in the States. So here is my recommendation, go on this trip! Go on the March tour if you prefer cooler weather to hot weather (so glad I went in March), leave a lot of room in your suitcase for beautiful things you didn’t even know you needed until you saw them, and make sure you’ve got a lot of photo storage on your phone!
Alexis B –
I just returned from Damesly’s Morocco trip (Sep 2022). This was my second AWESOME trip with Damesly. All meals and entrance fees were included, except for 3 lunches and one optional mosque inside tour, in the very reasonably priced trip. All the hotels were first class. The last riad where we stayed was breathtaking in every corner you looked and they had a top-notch spa.
We did have some long trips in the comfortable, air-conditioned van but it was well worth it to see all the cities and sites. My favorite city was ChefChaoen, the “blue city”. There are pictures all over the internet about it but seeing it in person; well, is surreal. We also had a relaxing pool afternoon, many shopping opportunities to buy beautiful things at bargain prices, as well as seeing monkeys, trees, landscapes, the amazing Sahara Desert by camel and by 4×4 (OMG fun! fun! fun!), and more. I loved having the chance to see the Moroccan people in their daily lives through our visits to local markets.
I felt completely safe the entire time we were there. Moreover, we had Damesly’s CEO, Kelly Lewis, as our trip leader. She is as kind and helpful as she is knowledgeable. She made the trip extra special. I can’t wait to go on the Cuba trip in January with Damesly.