The Memory Road of Morocco
A delicate balance between East and West - Morocco is home to a spiritually uplifting culture grounded by gracious hospitality and compelling customs. With its strategic location in North Africa, Morocco stretches across fertile valleys, snow-capped mountains, two extensive coastlines and an immense desert. Every region harbors a distinct local culture, tied to a distant past that shapes Morocco’s distinguished personality in the Muslim World. Over thousands of years, various tribes, legions, conquests, and colonists have contributed to the formation of its heritage, and have left their mark on its history and cities.
A delicate balance between East and West - Morocco is home to a spiritually uplifting culture grounded by gracious hospitality and compelling customs. With its strategic location in North Africa, Morocco stretches across fertile valleys, snow-capped mountains, two extensive coastlines and an immense desert. Every region harbors a distinct local culture, tied to a distant past that shapes Morocco’s distinguished personality in the Muslim World. Over thousands of years, Berber tribes, Roman legions, Arab conquests, and European colonists have contributed to the formation of its heritage, and have left their mark on its history and cities.
Marrakesh | December 20–23, 2024 | 3 nights
December 23–29, 2024 | 6 nights
Casablanca | December 29–30, 2024 | 1 night
In December, Morocco experiences mild to cool weather, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F) depending on the region. Coastal areas like Casablanca and Agadir are generally mild, while inland cities such as Marrakech can be cooler, especially at night.
U.S. passport holders do not need any special visa to visit Morocco. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your travel dates.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
Check out our personalized guide to visiting Morocco, which includes:
- Tipping guidelines
- Useful Arabic phrases
- Dishes to try
- Packing list
- and more!
Founded almost 1000 years ago, Marrakech beckons with an irresistible blend of ancient mystique and modern vibrancy. A sensory symphony unfolds in the historic medina, where narrow alleyways lead to Djemaa el-Fna, a UNESCO World Heritage site and pulsating heart of the city. Here, vibrant souks burst with the colors of handwoven textiles, aromatic spices, and masterfully crafted leather goods, creating an immersive marketplace experience. Beyond the labyrinthine streets,
Upon landing at Marrakech airport, you will be met by a representative – they will be holding a sign with your name. The representative will assist you through customs, help you collect your luggage, and then you will be met by your private driver.
Booked by Scenset
Meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel in the Marrakech medina.
Booked by Scenset.
Visit Jardin Majorelle, a gift to Marrakesh by Yves Saint Laurent in 1964. Explore the electric-blue villa and its gardens that preserve the vision of its scenset owner, landscape painter Jacques Majorelle. Afterward, step into the Yves Saint Laurent Museum on the premises for a look into the visionary designer's life.
Booked by Scenset.
Dining recommendations will be provided closer to your travel date, and reservations can be made on your behalf.
We will provide a list of recommendations of what to do in Marrakesh closer to the time of travel.
Why we love it for you: The orange trees that give the riad its name also give the sensation that you’ve stumbled upon a hidden palace. The stately bedrooms with leather furniture and private terraces only add to the royal ambiance, especially with the thick scent of citrus and flowing sound of fountains as a backdrop. The only thing not traditional about this riad is that there are two pools: one secluded under the trees and another on the roof for watching life in Marrakech go by.
- 1x Millesime Suite with 1 double bedroom, 1 room with twin beds + extra rollaway bed, 2 bathrooms
- Breakfast and light lunch included
Visit Marrakech’s main historical attractions in style: by motorbike with sidecar. Hop on a tour of the Red City in the most unique way after designing your exact itinerary with your driver based on what you want to see. Wizz by the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, an ancient university, and a palace. Continue on to explore the souks by sidecar and get a unique perspective of the medina.
In each motorcycle, one person rides on the back of the bike and one person rides in the sidecar.
Booked by Scenset.
La Maison Arabe’s long culinary history dates back to 1946, when two enterprising French women were granted the right by the pasha Thami el Glaoui to set up the first restaurant open to foreigners in the medina. The pasha provided a servant from his nearby palace to teach them the intricacies of Moroccan cuisine, and La Maison Arabe quickly became one of the leading restaurants on the African continent.
Learn step-by-step the secrets of authentic Moroccan cuisine from our dadas (traditional Moroccan cooks), using modern, everyday kitchen equipment to make precious recipes passed down from generation to generation.
Booked by a user.
Villa des Orangers
- 1x Millesime Suite with 1 double bedroom, 1 room with twin beds + extra rollaway bed, 2 bathrooms
- Breakfast and light lunch included
Today you will set out with your expert hiking guide to explore the valleys and passes of the incredibly beautiful High Atlas Mountains. The hike will be tailored to your preferences and fitness levels.
With your expert guide, visit a Berber village for lunch. Follow the road past the Kasbah up to the village of Imlil. Enjoy dazzling views as you traverse the Toubkal National Park, home to highest peak of North Africa. From here, take an off road track to the highest village in North Africa– a village at a high altitude (2000m). An excellent traditional Berber lunch will be served on the highest roof terrace of the village with stunning views down the mountain.
Booked by Scenset.
Villa des Orangers
- 1x Millesime Suite with 1 double bedroom, 1 room with twin beds + extra rollaway bed, 2 bathrooms
- Breakfast and light lunch included
Three houses, a desert camp, an ancient village in ruins – this 1,200-kilometer journey from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the gates of the Sahara Desert of Morocco is exclusively designed for your family in complete privacy. A tailor-made adventure of six nights through Morocco’s lesser known south that will introduce you to the country’s most authentic communities and stunning natural wonders.
After breakfast this morning, you'll be picked up and taken in private transfer to begin your journey through southern Morocco.
Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Booked by Scenset
Enjoy a gentle walk through the valley with a local guide. Visit their vegetable garden and learn about Moroccan herbs used in cooking and traditional medicine. Stop by a women's cooperative to learn about the making of Argan oil. At the end of the day, experience a candle-lit dinner with a stunning sunset view.
- Clinging to a hillside village, this stunning three-bedroom private home reveals a unique perspective on the argan tree valley near Agadir. Located in a remote village, this white stone house is on two levels with panoramic terraces, a stunning living room, three bedrooms and three bathrooms with showers. Accommodations include heating, air-conditioning and a fireplace.
- Meals and drinks are included
After breakfast in the argan orchards, pack up and head off to your next destination.
Journey Time: about 3.5 hours
Explore the 600-year-old abandoned village with its perfectly restored mosque and unique granary located in the heart of the kasbah. Explore the oasis with its genius aqueducts that weave through the grove. Meet with the women who lead the cooperatives in the village, reviving their traditions.
Every meal along the Memory Road is incredible, but tonight in particular is a meal you won't soon forget. Dine on local delights accompanied by the traditional music and chanting of the region.
- Sleep in three scenset homes of the village, refurbished and transformed into private homes for a stay in the heart of Moroccan ancestral culture. These rooms, devoid of electricity, are softly lit by candles and lanterns, with a wood stove.
- All meals and drinks included
Rise early to prepare your traditional bread for breakfast and learn about the different kinds of tafarnout breads. The methods for making this bread on a ceramic oven haven't changed for centuries.
After breakfast, continue your journey through the scenic Atlas Mountains to your next destination.
Journey Time: about 1.5 hours
Perched on a cliff, this house is situated adjacent to a traditional village, offering the opportunity for a leisurely stroll and an immersive experience in Moroccan traditions by meeting a local family. Explore the intricate water system that sustains the village's farming practices, while also indulging in gentle hikes amidst the striking red rock formations.
- Located near a matriarchal village, this house offers a stopover in a timeless property with 180° views of the surrounding mountains of the Small Atlas. Built in traditional red stone, the house is in Aoujou with terraces, a beautiful lounge, three bedrooms and three bathrooms with shower. Accommodations include heating, air-conditioning, and a fireplace.
- Meals and drinks are included
Heading into real adventure, into the depths of the Sahara, the town of Fam el-Hisn heralds the vast Saharan ergs.
After breakfast this morning, pack up and head out into the vast Sahara Desert to your campsite.
Journey Time: about 1.5 hours
The rhythm changes once again during this stay in the Sahara – the concept of time dissolves. Cave paintings bear witness to human presence in the area 12,000 years ago. Around the fire, exchanges become more intimate with local musicians. After watching the sunset atop a large dune, settle in for a dinner you won’t soon forget.
After dinner around the campfire while people play traditional instruments, lay out on beds under the stars for a night sky view unlike any you've seen before.
- Around a splendid acacia tree, three traditional Mauritanian tents await. With its trunks and comfortable cushions, one could almost believe it’s a mirage. In the Acacia Camp, nomadism takes on its luminous attire.
- Meals and drinks included
Today you'll head from the desert to L'Oasis. This is the ideal place to end your adventure, by relaxing in your adobe house topped with a Bedouin tent.
Wake up early this morning for an unforgettable sunrise experience. Watch as the sun peeks over the sand dunes while there is no one else around you. Without rustling leaves or trees, the solitude of the desert is accompanied by complete silence.
Enjoy your morning in the desert before heading off to your next stop, L'Oasis, with a pitstop along the way.
Journey Time: about 2 hours
Stop for an intense hike up to a massive granary: Amtoudi dating back 800 years. You walk about 30 minutes up the mountain, or you can go up by mule or donkey. The granary is impressive and recently restored. Explore the different sections and reach a surprise location for a picnic lunch overlooking the valley.
After dinner, enjoy a movie projected onto a big screen while sitting outside under the stars.
- The two small villas within the property are inspired by the Berber culture and showcase local materials and craftsmanship. Moucharabiehs, cream-colored lounges, precious fabrics, and carved wooden stools.
- All meals and drinks included
Head back to where your journey started: Les Arganiers.
Journey Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
- Clinging to a hillside village, this stunning three-bedroom private home reveals a unique perspective on the argan tree valley near Agadir. Located in a remote village, this white stone house is on two levels with panoramic terraces, a stunning living room, three bedrooms and three bathrooms with showers. Accommodations include heating, air-conditioning and a fireplace.
- Meals and drinks are included
Casablanca, Morocco's coastal gem, effortlessly blends modern elegance with historical charm. The city's skyline is dominated by the iconic Hassan II Mosque, a masterful architectural marvel perched on the Atlantic shores. Stroll along the palm-lined boulevards to discover chic cafes, Art Deco buildings, and a dynamic urban energy. Casablanca, with its cosmopolitan flair and coastal allure, invites travelers to savor the intersection of tradition and progress on Morocco's western edge.
This is your final drive through Morocco, this time heading north to the country's largest city: Casablanca.
Journey Time: about 4.5 hours
Why we love it for you: The Four Seasons is a great property to end a trip to Morocco as it has endowed itself with a Guerlain Spa and boasts the best views of Casablanca. Perched atop Anfa Hill in Casablanca’s classiest purlieu, the hotel has its eyes set on the vast Atlantic Ocean. The iconic seafront Hassan II Mosque makes for a leisurely downhill stroll, while Anfa Place shopping mall is 10 minutes away by car.
- 2x Premier Room
- Breakfast included
You've seen a side of Morocco that few tourists get to experience. We hope it's left you with the desire to come back and explore even more of what Morocco has to offer.
After one final day in Casablanca, you'll be picked up in the afternoon and taken to Casablanca Airport in time for your international flight home.
Booked by a travel agency.
