29 Day Magical Morocco, Egypt & Jordan Premium Small Group Tour

Enjoy breakfast, and take some time to soak up the morning atmosphere of tranquil Chefchaouen before driving out of the city to the ancient ruins of Volubilis. Once a provincial Roman capital, Volubilis was a distant outpost of the empire, and the well-preserved archaeological remains make for an impressive sight. Volubilis is the foremost Roman site in Morocco and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Upon arrival we'll take a tour around the ruins with a local guide. Don’t forget to take your camera as the town is filled with fantastic mosaics, many of which remain intact.After time spent exploring Volubilis and imagining the bustling city it once was, continue on to the living museum of Fes. After checking in to your hotel in the late afternoon, the remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you please.Inspiring HighlightsVolubilisSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a true feast for the senses. It is made up of three distinct ‘cities', or quarters, and we will stay on the edge of the huge, well-preserved medieval old city in elegant, riad-style accommodation (a riad is a large traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard). This morning, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby at 9am. We'll head to the Royal Palace (viewed from the outside) and visit the Jewish Quarter, before continuing into the old city, known locally as Fes el-Bali — arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding medina. Medieval Fes was one of the world's great centres for education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and libraries are legendary, its mosques of great renown.Stop at a tannery to take in the view, with optional shopping. Then wander the twisting streets and alleyways and explore the speciality sections that divide the souk. Stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups line the passageways; the fragrant smell of spices floods the air; and the sound of metalsmiths hammering at copper can be heard echoing throughout the labyrinthine streets.Continue through the Old Medina, visiting Madrassa Bou Inania and Foundouk Nejjarine, then enjoy lunch at leisure. This afternoon is free to keep exploring this ancient city.In the evening, enjoy dinner with your group. Inspiring Highlights Fes el-Bali Jewish Quarter Madrassa Bou Inania Foundouk Nejjarine Tannery

The Erg Chebbi is one of the world's most iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 metres high. Located at the end of a sealed road, and just 20 kilometres from the Algerian border, this wild stretch of land truly feels like frontier country. Leave your large bags at the riad, ready to ride camels into the edge of the Sahara Desert, and enjoy a spectacular sunset along the way (camel ride duration is approximately 40 minutes). The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets the landscape ablaze with colour. Tonight we'll enjoy an Inspiring Stay, taking cues from the Berbers and bedding down in a desert camp, with the chance to try some fantastic local cuisine while we sit around an open-air fire. Enjoy dinner, lively music, drumming, Berber stories and dancing under the stars. Inspiring Highlights Sahara Desert Camp Special InformationIn the camp you will sleep in a raised bed, and each tent have a private bathroom.If you do not wish to ride a camel, there is the option to travel to and from the camp by 4WD (The cost is approx. 110EUR for a group of 5 people - to be organised and paid locally).

Enjoy a real Lawrence of Arabia moment this morning, with a sunrise camel ride (duration is approximately 40 minutes) across the desert on the return journey to the riad. From here we'll continue on to the Todra Gorge, a canyon, or wadi, that rises for more than 250 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. We'll enjoy a short, yet exhilarating, walk through the narrow orange limestone walls. Later we'll drive on to the beautiful Dadès Valley, where we'll spend the night. The valley is a popular spot for tourists and spans several kilometres, offering a wide variety of activities for adventurous types. Tonight's accommodation is a traditional, locally owned, Moroccan kasbah with spectacular views over the Dadès Valley. In the evening, enjoy a Moroccan dinner with your group. Inspiring Highlights Sunrise Camel ride Todra Gorge Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Today after breakfast we'll leave the Dadès Valley to set off on the fabled Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. A kasbah is a type of keep, or citadel, usually a part of the defensive structure of a city and often where the local leader would reside. Our first stop today is the majestic oasis of Skoura, home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here, we'll pause to admire the exterior of Kasbah Amridil, renowned for its ornate detailing and impressive mud-brick fortifications, before continuing on to Aït Benhaddou, perched on a hilltop and largely unchanged since the 11th century. Aït Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites, its grand kasbah one of the most beautiful in Morocco and the fortified village a fine example of clay architecture. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. We will then drive to the bustling hub of Marrakech. After check-in to your hotel, enjoy some free time to discover the city.This evening, feast with your group in one of the many great restaurants lining the square. Inspiring Highlights Skoura Kasbah Amridil Aït Benhaddou Special InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Today will begin with a morning tour of the old medina with your local guide, who will take you through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood of the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace. This splendid property was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. Next we'll stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; its famous minaret (a tower with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer), is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. From here we then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jamaa el-Fna, the main square of Marrakech. The rest of the day is yours: explore further, relax back at the riad or go shopping in the souk. Perhaps you'll visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle, or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, long known as one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, head back into the medina, where every step brings a new scent or sight. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practise your haggling skills or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine. Inspiring Highlights Marrakech Souks Koutoubia Mosque Jamaa el-Fna

Today marks the beginning of our journey towards the fabled site of Petra. En route we'll visit Madaba, an ancient market town that's home to a number of fine Byzantine mosaics, the most outstanding of which lies within Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church. Here, a map of the Holy Land once carpeted the whole floor, said to contain more than two million pieces. Crafted around 560 CE, a large swathe of this mosaic map can still be viewed, providing the oldest map of Palestine in existence.Next we'll enjoy breathtaking scenery and stop off at the viewpoint overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve.Later, we'll drive along the King's Highway, up to Shobak Castle, sometimes known as Montreal. Perched at the top of a hill in the desert, this ancient Crusader castle was originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Muslim sultan Saladin in 1189. Stroll the site and discover a small chapel, original gatehouse, and find out where a long, dark secret passage leads.Inspiring HighlightsMadabaDana Reserve viewpointShobak CastleSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.