The Culture of Hospitality
in Morocco
An immersive journey into daily life, tradition, and the rituals of food.
SMALL GROUPS • TRUSTED MOROCCAN EXPERTS • FULLY REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT
Your Journey at a Glance
2026 Departures
May 10 – May 21
May 24 – June 4
Sept 26 - Oct 7
12 Days
Starts: Casablanca
Ends: Marrakech
Small group
up to 14 travelers
Founding Traveler Rate • $400 Savings
Why travelers feel confident traveling with us
Based in the United States, we collaborate closely with trusted Moroccan travel experts who bring decades of regional knowledge, operational experience, and cultural insight to every journey.
Rooted in Moroccan Expertise
Your journey is led by licensed Moroccan guides and specialists who have spent years welcoming travelers
into their regions. Their knowledge, relationships,
and cultural insight shape every day
of the experience.
Vetted Stays and Hosts
Every Riad, guesthouse, and cultural
partner is selected for authenticity,
comfort, and genuine hospitality,
not volume or contracts.
Transparent, Protected Booking
Our deposit structure and clear payment timeline are designed to give travelers clarity and confidence, especially as a small operator
committed to transparency.
Curated With Intention
I personally design each itinerary in close collaboration with these local experts, choosing the hosts,
workshops, and moments that reflect the warmth, artistry, and living traditions of Morocco.
Overview
In Morocco, food is how stories are shared, guests are welcomed, and traditions are carried forward. It helps you understand how geography shapes flavor, how history influences technique, and how meals become moments of connection rather than transactions.
In Morocco, food is how stories are shared, guests are welcomed, and traditions are carried forward. It reveals how geography shapes flavor, how history shapes cuisine, and how meals become moments of connection rather than transactions.
For travelers who value culture, curiosity, and depth, food offers one of the most genuine ways to understand Morocco.
Highlights of our journey:
◆ Share meals that carry stories and memory
Gather over tea and home-cooked dishes while locals share family stories and traditions.
◆ See how history shapes culture and cuisine
Explore historic cities where trade routes, belief, and geography shape local cuisine and food traditions.
◆ Discover Morocco’s cuisine by region
Taste regional dishes from the north, the Rif Mountains, the Sahara, Fez, and Marrakech.
◆ Experience Morocco beyond restaurant tables
Meals in family homes, mountain villages, palm oases, the desert, and Marrakech rooftops.
◆ Learn traditions you can carry forward
Hands-on cooking, rituals, and demonstrations taught by local hosts.
◆ Experience Morocco’s landscapes up close
Snow-capped mountains, green valleys, palm oases, rock canyons, and the majestic Sahara.
Have questions about the journey?
Feel free to email me if you'd like to talk through the itinerary or the group.
Email Sue:
hello@moroccobahjatours.com
Available Departure Dates
Reserve your place with a refundable deposit
SPRING 2026
May 10 – May 21
SPRING 2026
May 24 - June 4
FALL 2026
Sept 26 - Oct 7
Departures are confirmed once the minimum group size is reached. If a departure does not confirm, your deposit is fully refunded.
Question about this journey?hello@moroccobahjatours.com
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Activity level: Easy to Moderate | Minimum Age: 16 Years
Day 1: Welcome to Morocco
Casablanca is your first glimpse of the country, a lively coastal city with ocean air, wide boulevards, and a mix of modern energy and everyday Moroccan life.
After you settle in, your guide will meet the group before dinner to walk you through the journey, share helpful tips for traveling in Morocco, and answer any questions you might have.
In the evening, you’ll gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. It’s an easy, comfortable first night where you start getting to know one another, find a few things you share, and get your first taste of Moroccan food on the journey.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Asilah’s Art & Coastal Life
We’ll start the morning in Casablanca with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. It’s one of the largest mosques in the world, and the fact that it sits right on the edge of the Atlantic makes it especially striking. Even if you have seen photos, being there in person gives you a real sense of its size and beauty.
Next, we’ll follow the coast north to Asilah, a small seaside town with whitewashed walls and a relaxed, easygoing rhythm. It is also a surprisingly artistic place. Each year the town hosts a cultural festival that brings in artists from around the world to paint murals across the old medina. Many of those murals stay up, so the whole town feels like an open air gallery.
As you wander the lanes, you will notice how much of daily life here revolves around the sea. The smell of grilled sardines drifting through the streets, simple local dishes, and that easy coastal rhythm give you a real feel for what everyday life is like here.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Tétouan to Chefchaouen
Today we'll drive into the Rif Mountains, stopping in Tétouan along the way. Tétouan’s medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Andalusian influence is everywhere. As we walk through the medina, you’ll see how Spanish and Moroccan cultures have blended in the architecture, the layout of the old city, and its food. We’ll try Andalusian pastries as we explore. The flavors here are simple and local, shaped by both the mountains and the sea.
From Tetouan, we’ll continue to Chefchaouen, the blue city. The walls, stairways, and winding paths through the old medina all carry different shades of blue, with textiles adding even more color. Built into the mountainside, the town is especially picturesque.
At lunch, you’ll taste how Andalusian influence shows up in northern Moroccan cooking with lighter spices, bright herbs, and a real focus on fresh, local ingredients. The rest of the day is yours to explore this quaint town full of character at your own pace.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Chefchaouen, the Blue City
Spend the day immersed in Chefchaouen’s calm rhythm, wandering blue‑washed lanes that open onto small plazas and artisan workshops. Each turn shows a different shade of blue and a glimpse into daily life in the mountains.
Today’s culinary focus is the mountain cuisine that Rif communities have been cooking for generations. During the day, we’ll sample the region’s prized mountain goat cheese, made using traditional methods that families still use today.
In the evening, we’ll head to a nearby mountain village for a home‑cooked dinner with a local family, sharing a simple, delicious meal and getting a glimpse into their daily rituals and way of life.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss to Fez
We’ll leave the blue serenity of Chefchaouen this morning as the journey carries us through different layers of Morocco’s history on the way to Fez.
We’ll start at the Roman ruins of Volubilis, where remarkably preserved mosaics still show scenes from daily life nearly two thousand years ago, making it easy to imagine how this was once a thriving provincial city.
From there, we’ll continue to the hillside town of Moulay Idriss, Morocco’s most important pilgrimage site. We’ll share a home‑cooked lunch with a local family, an intimate meal that offers a window into Moroccan cooking in this region and the warmth of local hospitality.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll arrive in Fez, the country’s spiritual and culinary capital. We’ll stop by a traditional bakery to see the communal bread baking tradition that still anchors daily life.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Fez Through Its Flavors
Today is dedicated to the culinary traditions of Fez, a city that has preserved its medieval character and gastronomic heritage like no other.
We’ll start with a hands‑on pastilla class, preparing the city’s beloved sweet‑savory pie. While it bakes, you’ll learn the Moroccan tea ceremony and how this everyday ritual carries far more meaning than simply brewing tea.
Then it’s into the Fez medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to meet artisans shaping zellige tiles, crafting intricate patterned copper trays and lanterns, and working in the historic tanneries where leather is still dyed using centuries‑old methods. You’ll also step inside one of the city’s beautifully preserved Islamic schools, known for architecture as striking as any European cathedral.
We’ll round out our culinary adventures today by learning the secrets of preserving lemons and producing the olive oil that forms the foundation of Fez’s celebrated cuisine.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Toward the Sahara Dunes
Today we travel south through the Middle Atlas, moving from cedar forests and cool mountain air toward the desert. Along the way you'll pass Berber villages and cedar groves where Barbary macaques wander through the trees.
We’ll stop in Midelt, a mountain town known for the fresh river that runs through it. Lunch here is all about the trout, caught from the cold, clear water and cooked in the mountain style the region is known for, a Midelt specialty best enjoyed right here.
By late afternoon, we reach Merzouga at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Your camels will be waiting here, and this is where the day naturally slows. You ride across the sand as the dunes turn gold in the late-day light, a calm, beautiful way to arrive at camp.
At our luxury camp, we'll learn the desert tradition of baking bread in sand ovens before gathering for a traditional Berber dinner. The night ends with mint tea around the fire under a sky full of stars.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Todra Gorge & Dades Valley
A gentle shift from the desert begins as we make our way west toward Todra Gorge, where limestone walls rise several hundred meters above the valley floor and create one of Morocco’s most dramatic natural wonders. It’s one of those places that fills you with a simple, honest sense of awe at the beauty around you.
Continue to the Dades Valley, known both for its peculiar rock formations nicknamed “monkey fingers” and its fertile soil that produces exceptional fruits and vegetables. In this peaceful stretch of countryside, we’ll roll up our sleeves for hands‑on traditional tagine preparation and learn the simple techniques that give this dish its depth and warmth.
Dinner reflects the valley’s mountain cuisine, with ingredients gathered from local gardens and prepared using methods passed down through generations of families who call this valley home.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Following the Old Caravan Roads
Today’s journey follows ancient caravan routes through the pre-Saharan landscapes of southern Morocco. We stop in Ouarzazate, the “Gateway to the Sahara,” where we learn about the regional spices and herbs that have been traded along these routes for centuries.
We continue to the lush Skoura Oasis, an unexpected green paradise in the middle of a dry, open landscape, where we will have lunch in the garden of a boutique lodge in the palm grove, enjoying a refined Moroccan meal prepared with fresh herbs from the garden and ingredients sourced from local producers at the nearby souk.
Our destination is the magnificent Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified village and one of Morocco’s most remarkable architectural sites. Spend the afternoon exploring its mud-brick alleys and towers while learning how trans-Saharan trade routes shaped its strategic importance.
We spend the night within these historic walls, experiencing the quiet atmosphere of this timeless place.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: High Atlas to Marrakech
We start the morning with an introduction to argan oil, Morocco’s liquid gold. We taste different grades and styles and learn how it is traditionally produced and why it is so prized.
From here, our journey climbs into the High Atlas Mountains as we make our way over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters. The road winds through snow capped peaks and small Berber villages that seem to cling to the mountainsides.
We arrive in Marrakech, a city alive with color, sound, and movement. In the evening, we head into the medina with a local guide for a short walk through the souks to get comfortable in the narrow lanes and understand everyday customs like how to haggle respectfully.
At night, we explore the city’s street food scene with an expert guide, weaving through the medina to try dishes like snail soup, tanjia, Marrakech’s slow cooked meat stew, a few baked treats, and other local favorites. It is a flavorful introduction to the diversity and daily energy of Marrakech’s food culture.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Marrakech, the City of Bahja (joy)
Spend the day immersed in Marrakech, a city where layered history, daily ritual, and vibrant street life come together.
Begin with a guided cultural tour, including the elegant Bahia Palace, known for its refined courtyards and detailed craftsmanship, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, once the largest Islamic college in Morocco and a remarkable example of traditional design. Along the way, stop to observe the communal ovens that continue to serve local neighborhoods today.
In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace. Wander the souks, relax at a traditional hammam, or simply take in the rhythm of daily life in the medina.
The journey concludes with a farewell dinner in a warm, traditional setting, an opportunity to reflect on the experiences and connections made throughout the trip.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye for now. Airport transfers are arranged to match your departure schedule.
As you leave, may Morocco stay with you in the memories shared, the flavors experienced, and the spirit of bahja that welcomed you throughout the journey. The door remains open whenever you’re ready to return.
Meals included: Breakfast
What’s Included
✦ Boutique stays: Handpicked Riads and hotels
✦ Meals: Daily breakfast; most lunches and dinners as outlined in the itinerary. We intentionally leave some meals open so you can explore local favorites on your own.
✦ Culinary experiences: Cooking classes, market visits, spice workshops, family meals
✦ Cultural connections: Guided visits to major historic sites and cities, plus time with artisans and community partners
✦ Experts: Local chefs, food historians, spice masters, supplemental guides
✦ Tour leadership: One English‑speaking leader throughout
✦ Private transportation: Comfortable, air‑conditioned vehicle
✦ Airport transfers: Pick‑up and drop‑off at the airport for a smooth start and finish to your journey
✦ Entrance fees: All included sites and experiences
✦ Baggage handling and porterage
What’s Not Included
✦ International airfare and related travel costs
✦ Passport and visa fees, if required Gratuities for hotel staff, guides, and drivers
✦ Personal expenses such as alcohol, laundry, and phone calls
✦ Travel insurance and medical coverage
✦ Expenses resulting from delays or circumstances beyond the control of Morocco Bahja Tours
Thoughtfully Selected Boutique Stays
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![Spacious modern hotel room with two beds, neutral tones, desk and TV, seating area by a large window, and soft warm lighting creating a comfortable, contemporary feel.]()
Location: Casablanca
Hotel name: Hotel Barceló or similar
Hotel description: Set in the heart of Casablanca, Barceló Casablanca offers a comfortable and contemporary retreat amid the city’s vibrant rhythm. Modern rooms, thoughtful amenities, and easy access to lively boulevards make it an ideal place to settle in, unwind, and ease into your journey through Morocco.
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![View through an arched green hallway into a room with two white couches facing each other, a small lamp on a side table, and a striped wall behind.]()
Location: Asilah
Hotel name: Riad Dar El Maq or similar
Hotel description: Located in the heart of the Asilah medina, Dar el Maq Asilah is a welcoming guesthouse tucked among whitewashed lanes, colorful murals, and the nearby Atlantic coast. Blending modern comfort with traditional design, it offers a relaxed base for exploring Asilah’s artistic spirit, seaside walks, and local cafés just beyond the door.
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![A hillside view of a city with white and blue buildings, a swimming pool in the foreground surrounded by trees and lounge chairs, with mountains in the distance and a partly cloudy sky.]()
Location: Chefchaouen
Hotel name: Dar Echchaouen or similar
Hotel description: Set just outside Chefchaouen’s blue-washed medina, Dar Echchaouen offers a peaceful retreat with sweeping views over the town and surrounding hills. A short walk from the historic kasbah, the riad features comfortable rooms, tranquil gardens, and a refreshing pool, an ideal place to relax after exploring the medina and mountain paths nearby.
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![Interior courtyard of a traditional Moroccan riad with a central small swimming pool, decorative mosaic tile flooring, lush green trees, and ornate arches and lanterns.]()
Location: Fez
Hotel name: Riad Salam Fez or similar
Hotel description: Set just steps from the heart of the Fez medina, Riad Salam Fes is an intimate retreat known for its handcrafted cedarwork, mosaics, and romantic atmosphere. A rooftop terrace overlooks the medina and Atlas Mountains, while a traditional hammam offers a peaceful place to unwind after exploring the city.
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![A desert scene at night featuring illuminated tents arranged in a semi-circle around a central tent with red curtains. A red patterned carpet lines a pathway leading to the central tent, dotted with lit lanterns and candles, under a starry sky.]()
Location: Merzouga
Hotel name: Tiziri Camp or similar
Hotel description: Located among the dunes near Merzouga, Tiziri Camp is the area’s only luxury eco desert camp. It features elegant tented rooms, furnished with natural fabrics and handcrafted details. Expect home-cooked meals with a thoughtful twist, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, followed by evenings around the fire under the stars in a secluded desert setting.
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![Terrace pool overlooking the Dades Valley, with palm trees, lush greenery, and dramatic red rock cliffs under a clear blue sky.]()
Location: Dades Valley
Hotel name: Chez Ichou or similar
Hotel description: Set in the heart of the Dades Valley, Chez Ichou Dades Valley is a family-run guesthouse surrounded by dramatic rock formations and fertile valley landscapes. Warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and home-cooked meals made with local ingredients offer a simple, authentic stay rooted in the rhythms of valley life.
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![A luxurious hotel with a pinkish stone exterior, surrounded by lush trees, a swimming pool, and outdoor lounging areas, under a clear blue sky.]()
Location: Ait Ben Haddou
Hotel name: Ksar Ighnda or similar
Hotel description: Just outside the UNESCO-listed village of Aït Ben Haddou, Ksar Ighnda is an ancient kasbah carefully restored over decades into an intimate riad-style retreat. Built in the purest local tradition, its layered terraces, staircases, and quiet courtyards invite a gentle sense of wandering, opening onto views of the valley, palm groves, and surrounding mountains as the day begins.
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![Interior of a Moroccan style lounge with a red sofa, a turquoise tiled floor, and ornate white walls with archways and intricate mosaic designs. A central fountain is decorated with flower petals, and there are large potted plants on either side.]()
Location: Marrakesh
Hotel name: Riad Elegancia & Spa or similar
Hotel description: Set within the historic medina of Marrakech, Riad Elegancia is known for its refined design and intimate, tranquil atmosphere. Thoughtfully restored with a balance of traditional architecture and contemporary touches, it offers a peaceful retreat just moments from the medina’s lively streets, complete with a rooftop terrace overlooking the old city and a traditional hammam.
Our Difference
We design each journey with care and intention, balancing comfort, curiosity, and depth to
create experiences that feel seamless and memorable.
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Cultural Integrity
Our encounters are genuine and participatory, never staged. We honor traditions by connecting you directly with local hosts, artisans, and community partners who carry them forward through daily life.
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Small Groups, Meaningful Access
With intentionally small groups, we can enter settings larger tours cannot like family kitchens, private workshops, and intimate gatherings that offer deeper context and quieter moments.
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Thoughtful Pace and Design
Itineraries are crafted to balance immersion and rest, giving you space to take in each moment even on our fullest days.
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Boutique Standards
From hand‑selected riads to premium hotels, every stay is chosen for comfort, character, thoughtful design, and a location that enhances your experience.
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Guided with Care
Your tour leader travels with the group throughout the journey, supported by licensed local specialists in each region who add depth and regional insight.
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Bahja at the Core
Inspired by the Moroccan spirit of bahja—joy, generosity, and presence—our journeys emphasize warmth, hospitality, and moments of true connection.
Your deposit reserves your place on the journey. Limited spaces are available.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Essentials
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All accommodations, daily breakfast, some lunches and dinners (as noted in the itinerary), guided tours, cultural experiences, entrance fees, a dedicated guide throughout the tour with local specialists in select destinations, private ground transportation, baggage transfers, and airport transfers.
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For culturally curious travelers who enjoy food, value depth, and appreciate shared experiences with like‑minded people. It blends authentic sightseeing with culinary discovery, showing how food connects people, tells stories, and reflects Morocco’s geography, climate, and history, making each meal a window into the soul of the country.
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We keep our groups small, up to 14 guests, to ensure a relaxed pace and genuine connections with local hosts. Traveling in an intimate group also gives us access to experiences larger tours cannot, such as private visits with artisans, family‑style meals, and boutique riads that capture Morocco’s charm.
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You will stay in premium and boutique accommodations chosen for their comfort, character, and location. In the cities, these are typically riads — traditional Moroccan homes built around a courtyard and beautifully restored. In rural areas, we use welcoming guesthouses, selected with the same care and attention to quality. Each property offers modern amenities while reflecting authentic Moroccan design and warm hospitality.
Food & Dining
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All breakfasts, and some lunches and dinners as noted on the day to day itinerary are included.
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Meals in Morocco are a celebration of flavor and tradition. Lamb, chicken, and beef are the most common meats, often paired with fresh herbs, vegetables, and fragrant spices. You will taste slow‑cooked tagines, couscous layered with sweet onions, and warm bread served with local olive oil. Food is never just fuel here; it is a highlight of the journey, woven into daily life and shared with joy.
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Please let us know in advance, and we will do our best to tailor meals to your needs. Most meals on this tour feature traditional Moroccan cuisine, which often comes with a relatively limited menu. Vegetarian options are available and typically include couscous, legume‑based stews, soups, fresh and cooked salads, and vegetable tagines. While we work closely with our local partners to accommodate dietary restrictions, options may be more limited in rural areas.
For meals not included in the itinerary, your group leader or local representative can suggest restaurants that suit your preferences. This flexibility allows you to choose where and what to eat. Moroccan food is excellent, though not always highly varied, so advance notice of any dietary requirements helps us prepare and ensure you feel comfortable throughout the journey.
Travel Logistics
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You will travel in a private, air‑conditioned minibus between cities and excursions, with your main guide accompanying the group throughout the journey. In certain destinations, local specialists join us to share their expertise and enrich the experience, offering deeper insights into Morocco’s history, culture, and traditions.
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Yes. We provide arrival transfers from Casablanca airport and departure transfer to Marrakech airport.
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This journey balances comfort with exploration. Some days involve longer drives. These routes are part of Morocco’s geography and allow us to experience the country’s incredible variety of landscapes. Rest stops are built in and the scenery is spectacular, with mountain passes, kasbahs, and palm groves. On these days we may depart early to make the most of our time at the next destination. Daily activities are moderate, with plenty of walking through medinas, markets, and historic sites, plus optional easy hikes around towns and villages. Guests who are comfortable walking and navigating stairs will be able to fully enjoy the experience.
Payments & Booking
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A deposit secures your place, with the balance due 40 days before departure. Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.
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A deposit amount as mentioned on the tour page secures your place on the tour.
The remaining balance is due 40 days prior to departure.
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Tours are typically confirmed approximately 45 days before departure, once the minimum group size is reached.
If the minimum group size is not met and the tour does not confirm, the tour will not run and all payments are fully refunded.
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Prices are based on double occupancy.
A single supplement of $990 applies for travelers requesting a private room.
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If you cancel your reservation, the following cancellation charges apply, based on the number of days before the tour’s start date:
• 60 days or more: Full refund minus a $250 administrative fee
• 40–59 days: 50% cancellation fee
• 39 days or fewer: No refund (100% cancellation fee)These charges reflect non-refundable deposits and contractual obligations to accommodations, transportation providers, and local suppliers.
No refunds are available for no-shows or once the tour has commenced.
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Comprehensive travel insurance is required and should be purchased shortly after reserving your spot.
Still have questions?
Email us anytime: hello@moroccobahjatours.com