Compare Morocco Real Food Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs Tunisia Discovery by Kensington Tours

Day 1 Casablanca

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travellers. As there's little free time included in Casablanca on this trip, consider coming a day early to fully explore the city. Modelled after Marseille in France, the city is famous for its art deco buildings. A pleasant way to spend a day exploring Casablanca is to wander the old medina and the city walls, then jump in a taxi to visit the Quartiers des Habous, the new medina. Then perhaps take a walk along the Corniche, watching the locals play football on the beach, or take it easy with a glass of sweet mint tea in one of the many great cafes. This evening, join your group for a welcome dinner of delicious traditional specialties.

Day 2 Meknes to Moulay Idriss

Say goodbye to Casablanca and take an early train to Meknes. In the 17th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail turned Meknes from a provincial town to a spectacular Imperial city. On arrival, get to know Meknes on an orientation walk with your leader. For lunch, visit a friendly local restaurant in the medina and try a Moroccan delicacy – a deliciously rich camel burger! Next, drive on to Moulay Idriss and settle in at a local guesthouse, where the art of hand-rolled couscous is lovingly demonstrated along with an authentic Moroccan meal.

Day 3 Chefchaoeun

This morning, drive to Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’ – arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by surprise. Its medina has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways. Much of Chefchaouen was recreated by Andalusian refugees escaping the Reconquista, so you might feel like you're in the hills of Spain while exploring its streets. Ease into the relaxed pace of life in this rural retreat. This evening you’ll get a real insight into Moroccan food with a home-cooked dinner prepared with seasonal ingredients – bursting with flavour and made with love. As part of your meal, enjoy a taste of the town’s famous goat’s cheese. Herds of goats wander the sparse hillsides that surround Chefchaouen, and their cheese makes a great accompaniment to your meal.

Day 4 Fes

Enjoy your morning in Chefchaouen, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the medina, the shops in the square selling woven goods and small sweets. In the afternoon travel to Fes, the most complete medieval city in the Arab world. Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. You’ll have free time for the rest of the day to explore. This evening is a great time to seek out Moroccan specialities like harira (chickpea soup).

Day 5 Fes

Take a guided group walking tour of the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back into the Middle Ages as you explore the labyrinth of the Medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world) and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. Also, visit a ceramics factory where you can see traditional handmade pottery being made. Your local leader will guide you on a 'tasting trail' along the way today before enjoying an evening cooking demonstration, where you’ll learn how to create one of the city's signature dishes – pastilla (or bastilla) – a salty and sweet pastry parcel.

Day 6 Midelt

Start the day right with a tasty street food breakfast of msemmen (flatbread) with olive oil and boiled egg or omelette paired with coffee or mint tea. Then, leave the intensity of the city behind for the simplicity of the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains. On the way, stop at a local supermarket and get a broader view of the contemporary food habits of modern Moroccans. Here, you’ll get an everyday-life insight into the culture, and your leader will pick up some local popular snacks for the group to enjoy. Drive south, inland, through varied and spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. The area is populated with wandering nomadic shepherds attending to their flocks. Pass through cedar forests, home to North Africa's only monkey – Barbary apes – and on to your destination of Midelt. Nestled in a valley, Midelt is a market town, originally built as a mining base and surrounded by farmland and orchards. Stretch your legs as you explore the nearby village of Bremmen and take a closer look at local farming life. In the evening, a special meal will be prepared using the aromatic herbs native to the region.

Day 7 Merzouga

Enjoy a scenic drive towards the Sahara Desert with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the panoramic views of the kasbahs and palm groves (valleys lush with date palms, fields and orchards). You may also have a chance to pause in some of the frontier towns such as Erfoud and Rissani before reaching your destination, the small Saharan settlement of Merzouga. Enjoy a demonstration of medfouna (also called 'Amazigh pizza'), a traditional stuffed bread prepared with meat, herbs and spices by the nomadic peoples of the High Atlas. Traditionally prepared by women to feed local farm workers, this hearty delicacy is a great introduction to the cuisine of the desert region. Later today you will leave your gear at a simple auberge and then ride camels to the edge of the Sahara Desert, enjoying a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets off the colours. Dinner this evening at your desert camp will be a traditional spread of Moroccan soup, tajine and seasonal fruit.

Day 8 M'Goun Valley

After breakfast prepare for a scenic drive filled with stunning landscapes on the way to the M'Goun Valley. The journey will take you past ancient kasbah ruins, former colonial military outposts, austere mountains and valleys of palm trees and irrigated fields. Dinner tonight is an Amazigh tagine prepared in a traditional clay pot cooked over an open fire.

Day 9 M'Goun Valley

While the early morning holds the option of exploring the nearby village souk of Kelaat M'gouna or witnessing Moroccan bread-making techniques in action, today’s adventure will take you out on foot to explore the beauty of this largely untouched Moroccan backcountry. Accompanied by a local guide, pass through Berber villages, meeting local people along the way. You’ll take a trail that undulates slightly but isn't too challenging if you have a basic level of fitness. The walk takes approximately 3 hours, and the scenery is certainly worth the walk! Pass through agricultural land and learn about the produce grown in the region, then find out first hand over a plant-based dinner this evening. Tomatoes, beans, walnuts, almonds, figs, apples and grapes are all grown in the M'Goun Valley, which you might enjoy in tagine, couscous, Moroccan soup and seasonal fruit platters.

Day 10 Marrakech

Today, head to your final destination – Marrakech. On the way, you’ll stop by a women's cooperative, where they produce locally grown argan oil. A product that’s endemic to Morocco and used for both culinary and cosmetic purposes, you’ll see the trees that produce the argan oil and learn the process of how the workers extract it. Learn about how it’s used and all the benefits before continuing to Marrakech. When you arrive, a local guide will take you on an orientation walk and tasting trail through the medina. Visit a locally-owned coffee shop for an insight into how this cultural practice uses hot sand to brew a unique, spiced coffee. This evening, maybe join the crowds for dinner at the famous Djemaa el-Fna – one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. When night falls on this square, it transforms into a hive of activity, with henna painters, performers and storytellers sharing the square with a street food bazaar (where you can try snail soup)!

Day 11 Marrakech

Start your day by learning to prepare splendid Moroccan salads, a staple of the table, at the amazing Amal Women's Cooking Centre – a non-profit empowering women through culinary skills and education, then feast on your creations for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore the sights of the city – you might like to drop by the Koutoubia Mosque or the dazzling Bahia Palace. In the evening, perhaps ascend the stairs of one of the surrounding restaurants for a birds-eye view of the action or head back into the medina for some shopping, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift to buy. This evening, you may like to join your group for a farewell dinner.

Day 12 Marrakech

Your food adventure across Morocco comes to an end this morning. If you are extending your stay, perhaps stroll through the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle, or return to the medina. The Saadian tombs are another recently uncovered gem of the medina. Be sure to take a break from the bustle to sip on tea or eat a tagine, filled with the quintessential flavours of Morocco.

Day 1: Tunis

Accommodation: Dar El Medina

A private vehicle with driver will provide a transfer to the airport.

This 12 room hotel is a converted traditional house located right in the Tunis Medina. It features whitewashed and tiled surroundings, with latticed windows. The many-levelled mansion is a surprise after the narrow street, with inner courtyards providing light, space and shade.

Day 2: Tunis

Accommodation: Dar El Medina

Enjoy this day of touring beginning with a visit to the National Museum of Bardo. This museum holds an extensive collection of ancient Roman mosaic, considered one of the largest, complete collections in the world. Next, visit the Medina of Tunis, exploring the narrow souk lined streets before heading to lunch.  Next, head out to visit the ancient city of Carthage.  Explore the ruins which surround this once prosperous Roman city including stops at the Tophet, the Phoenician cemetery, the Punic Harbours, Antonin's Bath, the Carthage Museum and the Saint Louis Cathedral. Continue from here to the village of Sidi Bou Said, boasting spectacular breathtaking views of the Gulf of Tunis.

Day 3: Tunis - El Kef

Accommodation: Dar Chennoufi

Private Vehicle & Guide & Driver.

Depart from Tunis and travel to one of the best preserved Roman historical sites in all of Tunisia, Dougga. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Dougga is an outstanding example of ancient Roman architecture, with numerous well preserved columns and structures spread across this 65 hectare site. Next, head out to explore the archaeological site of Bulla Regia, known for its semi-subterranean housing, and outstanding collection of Roman mosaics.

The charming Dar Chennoufi lies in the heart of a region once known as the kingdom of Jugurtha, amidst a six hectare olive grove, only a few kilometres from the medina of Le Kef.  This hotel welcomes its guests with its truly convivial and authentic atmosphere. Surrounded by nature and exquisite quietness, Dar Chennoufi is an excellent starting point to visit the numerous historic and geological sites of the region and a perfect place to relax, discover or refresh oneself.

Day 4: El Kef - Tunis - Kairouan

Accommodation: La Kasbah

Private Vehicle & Guide & Driver.

Enjoy breakfast, bright and early in the morning before departing toward the city of Makthar. Formerly known as Mactaris during the reign of the Roman Empire, this ancient location is littered with ruins of Roman architecture. Explore the many arches, amphitheatres and temples of this once occupied city, before traveling to the holy city of Kairouan.

Set out to Kairouan for a walk through this holy Islamic city, founded in 671 by Okba Ibn Nafâa. It centralized location, proved beneficiary in adding to its renowned reputation for unique, elegant carpet manufacturing, which feature across a wide range of mosques. Visit the impressive Mosque Sidi Okba, founded in the 7th century; this marvel reflects the greatness of the Islam Empire during this era. Visit the Aghlabiden pool, the city's main water reservoir, followed by a stop at Saint Abou Zemaa El Balaoui, also known as the "prophet Berber".  Explore the old town (Medina) and enjoy walking through its characteristic markets (the souks).

La Kasbah is seated in Kairouan, the focal point for many Muslim pilgrims traveling from around the world. With a simple, Arab-influenced layout and design, the hotel is host to 94 rooms, 2 junior suites, and a presidential suite. Each promises all the amenities of home as well as international phones. Rakada, the hotel restaurant, promises a menu with all sorts of dishes from around the world. Dine a la carte at Sofra. Pass the time lounging by the pool or sipping Turkish coffee at the cafe.

Day 5: Sousse – Kairouan

Accommodation: El Mouradi Palace

Private Vehicle & Guide & Driver.

Depart for El Jem, a once thriving Roman agricultural region, with its grandiose Colosseum, second only in size to that of Rome, attests to the area's great wealth during the Roman reign. The sight of this amphitheater rising in the distance like a Colossus is both wondrous and slightly strange as the present surroundings give no hint of its former importance. It was the scene of games and circuses during the ancient Roman times, with a capacity of holding 35000 viewers. Next, depart to Mahdia, the first capital of the Fatimid dynasty, situated on a rocky peninsula, 1500m in length and less than 500m in width. Upon your arrival a time slot is allocated to explore the Medina.

El Mouradi Palace is an Arabian style hotel which offers high standard accommodation and leisure facilities.

Day 6: Sousse – Tunis

Accommodation: Golden Tulip

Private Vehicle & Guide & Driver.

After breakfast, the tour begins with a visit to Zaghouan. This quaint town is famed for its roses, which were originally cultivated by Muslim refugees whom departed Spain in the 17th century.  Zaghouan is also known as the source location of water used to feed the city of Carthage, via aqueduct, during Roman times. Next, depart to Tuburbo Majus, or Colonia Julia Aurelia Commoda, as it was referred to during the Roman era, which was originally a Punic town converted into a Roman veteran's colony. Continue to Tunis, stopping along the way to take photos of some ancient Roman aqueducts.

The Golden Tulip Carthage Tunis hotel is on dazzling Gammarth Bay, overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean, combining Business and Leisure.  We have chosen this oasis of calm, tucked amid greenery, for the splendid views as well as nearby ancient sites.

Day 7: Tunis

A private vehicle with driver will provide a transfer to the airport.