Geminids Meteor Shower - 15 Days
Geminids Meteor Shower - 15 Days
Geminids Meteor Shower - 15 Days
15 Days Starting and ending in Marrakech
Visiting: Marrakech, Casablanca, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Fes, Midelt , Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira
Tour operator:
Tour code:
1294/GMS
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
15+ yrs
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Become starstruck! Camel trek into the Sahara for an unforgettable night of stargazing at the peak of the spectacular Geminids Meteor Shower. In fifteen action packed days, you'll also get to Wander through the labyrinthine souks of Fes and Marrakech, explore legendary Casablanca, relax by the Atlantic coast in Essaouira and chart Roman ruins at Volubilis.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Meals Included: Dinner
7th December. Welcome to Morocco! You'll be met at Marrakech Airport and transferred to your hotel. Be sure to arrive in time for our welcome meeting and dinner at 18:00.
Day 2: Casablanca
Location: Casablanca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Marrakech - Casablanca. En-route this morning we travel up to Casablanca. Made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the film “Casablanca”. We then have the option of visiting the stunning Hassan II mosque, which has the tallest minaret and the third largest mosque in the world, it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time.
Day 3: Meknes
Location: Meknes
Meals Included: Breakfast
Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes. This morning we head straight to Rabat, Morocco’s capital city. We will spend the morning visiting Oudaia Kasbah, Hassan tower, the Royal Palace and Chellah. After lunch we will move on to the third of our Imperial cities Meknes to enjoy some free time.
Day 4: Chefchaouen
Location: Chefchaouen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Meknes - Chefchaouen. After breakfast, we’ll embark on a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the largest ancient site of Morocco. UNESCO-listed, the site dates back to AD40 and once ruled the entire Roman province of Mauritania. We’ll then head on to Chefchaouen for a guided tour this afternoon. High up in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen boasts a beautiful blue door and white-walled medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah (built back in the 18th century), central mosque and cafes with authentic menus. The busy market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist fare.
Day 5-6: Fes
Location: Fes
Meals Included: Breakfast
Chefchaouen - Fes. Enjoy some free time in Chefchaouen this morning - relax at the hotel or spend your time exploring this beautiful city. We travel on to Fes in the afternoon. Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world, and its medina is a heady mix of aromas, sounds and sights. To navigate, follow one of the five, themed tourist circuits. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco.
On day 6 we embark on a fully guided tour of the city of Fes. Explore the tanneries, souks, potteries, and the Medina, and learn the fascinating history of the city. We’ll later return to the hotel to get ready for an optional night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town.
Day 7: Midelt
Location: Midelt
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fes - Midelt. This morning we journey over the Moyen Atlas to stop at Midelt. This is a beautiful alpine area. Surrounded by huge pine trees and a tranquile mountain setting, this is a great spot to cool down and relax after the hustle and bustle of Fes. We will enjoy a small hike in the afternoon. We spend the night in this mountain location.
Day 8: Erg Chebbi
Location: Erg Chebbi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Midelt - Erg Chebbi. Today we embark on a scenic drive followed by an optional tasty Moroccan lunch (not included) and an afternoon relaxing and swimming. Then we head out to towards the Erg Chebbi dunes located near the remote frontier town of Merzouga. The dunes are renowned for their incredible height and size. In parts the vast sand pile reaches skyward to heights of 150 metres! Transferring to our camels we trek into the Sahara for a night at our Berber Camp. Tonight, we enjoy a local meal, music and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.
The stars in the Sahara are fantastic at the best of times - however tonight they should be extraordinary as we hope to witness the peak of the Geminids Meteor Shower. This annual event has been observed for over 500 years and gets its names from the constellation Gemini, because it is said to emanate from here. The shower is one of the world's brightest, has been known to produce fire balls and can create 100-150 meteors an hour at its peak.
Day 9: Todra Gorge
Location: Todra Gorge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorge. Leaving the desert, we move on to Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. We will have an early lunch at the village co-operative where you can see and buy authentic, Berber, handmade rugs, kilims and carpets. The afternoon can be spent exploring the Gorge, walking through the palmerie or if you’re feeling adventurous, there is the option to rock climb.
Day 10: Ait Benhaddou
Location: Ait Benhaddou
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Todra Gorge - Ait Benhaddou. Leaving the impressive Todra Gorge we continue our journey to Ait Benhaddou, stopping en route in Ouarzazate for lunch and the opportunity to tour its famous film studio (book/pay locally). After lunch we tour the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, where Lawrence of Arabia was once filmed.
Day 11-12: Essaouira
Location: Essaouira
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ait Benhaddou - Essaouira. Todays drive offers panoramic views as we traverse the high Atlas Mountains on our way to Essaouira. A colourful old city and fishing village is located within 15th century Portuguese fortifications. Just outside the town great beaches and an Atlantic surf beckon.
Relax on the beach or alternatively explore the UNESCO-listed medina with its various souks and woodcarving workshops. Any city gate leads to the Medina, so you’re unlikely to get lost. The beach is in front of the Medina and there are plenty of cafés with terraces, both ideal for relaxing for a few hours. Blue doors and window frames abound as do the artists shops – buy a carpet or Thuya wood carving or sit on the beach sipping a mint tea as the sun sets, an antidote to the bustle of the Imperial Cities. During our time here there's the option to take part in horse trekking or quad biking.
Day 13-14: Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Meals Included: Breakfast
Essaouira - Marrakech - breakfast. We take a supratours public bus from Essaouira back to Marrakech this morning, to explore the last of Morocco’s four Imperial cities we visit on this tour. Marrakech set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Its great pride and landmark is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the city’s UNESCO-listed medina & Djemaa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. An optional guided tour of Marrakech is offered with a local payment of 200 Dirhams, alternatively you can explore the city yourself or relax by the pool.
Day 15: Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Meals Included: Breakfast
21st December. Marrakech - Breakfast. Spend the morning relaxing or picking up a few last minute souvenirs. Our tour concludes upon hotel check out at 12 noon.
What's Included
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Accommodation
2 - 4 star hotels -
Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 6 dinners inclusive of a Berber camp dinner
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13 nights 2-4 star hotels and 1 night camping at a Berber camp in the Sahara
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Guided sighting - Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes and Ait Benhaddou
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Camel trek into the Sahara Desert
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Escorted by an English speaking tour leader
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Specialist local guides at some sites
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All entrance fees to included sights (excl Hassan II Mosque - budget 130DH)
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Arrival transfer from Marrakech Airport on day 1
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Transportation and transfers in private 4x4 or mini van/touring vehicle, public bus Essaouira to Marrakech on day 13
What's Not Included
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International flights and visa
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Tip for your tour leader. We recommend you allow USD$4-5 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture
Age Policy
15+ yrs
Check out our Q&As
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Saturday - Saturday
Dec 07, 2024 - Dec 21, 2024Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.