There are so many times I hear, “You’ve been everywhere,” when, actually, I haven’t been. I always respond that just because I have been to someplace in X doesn’t mean I have been everywhere in X and that revisiting places you’ve been exposes you to new things every time.
And, of course, while it may sound impressive that I’ve been to Morocco twice, spending time in Tangier, Agadir, and Marrakesh, the reality is that some of the places in Morocco I really want to experience have been out of reach. In fact, I often use the phrase, “A cruise gives you a taste of a place and the opportunity to decide if you want to return to take a big bite.”
Recently I was contacted by Collette, a premium tour operator that has been around for many years. While I have, from time to time, sold a few Collette tours, I haven’t sold much, and I, honestly, didn’t perceive (rightly or wrongly) it as being for my market. Well, despite my limited involvement, Collette has given me the opportunity to prove myself wrong and Collette right.
I took a look at what was available to me and what was open in my calendar, and, quite surprisingly, came upon Collette’s Small Group Colors of Morocco Tour on December 6, 2026, which visits a number of places I haven’t been to and have wanted to visit. Let’s face it, as a bonus, the chance of the small group being truly “small” is pretty high. (BTW, if you want to travel with me on this tour, the pricing for this fifteen (15) day adventure is ridiculously low!)
When I settled on this opportunity, I had one proviso: I have to be able to wander off from the tour whenever I wanted to. Collette agreed with one condition: I let the tour manager know before I did. Fair enough, and while I am certainly going to take advantage of most of what Collette has to offer, there are some times I will just want to explore independently (over-and -bove the fairly regular free times Collette schedules).
I will be arriving a day early in Casablanca, Morocco, due to United Airlines schedules and my not wanting to have four connections; one day made all the difference. I have heard there isn’t much to see there, but there is only one way to find out if it is true or just an undeserved reputation, so I consider it an opportunity rather than a wasted day.
I will be staying at Hotel Le Doge, a Relais & Châteaux property “located in the heart of the Art Deco District.” Casablanca has an art deco district? Who knew! (I guess the French colonial history will play a part in my discovery of Casablanca.) While I am not usually focused on architecture, there usually are some pretty interesting shops, markets, and restaurants in such areas. And to maximize my short time there, I have arranged a three-hour tour for that morning. As for the rest of the day and night: Time to Explore!
The next day the Collette tour starts, and I will be picked up for the 1.5-hour drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, located on the coast, south of Casablanca. It should be early enough for me to utilize my free time to explore the medina and explore some culinary options. Since there will be some late arrivals, things really start the next day with a morning tour, a free afternoon (I’m liking all this free time!), and then a welcome dinner. We will be staying at Flower Town Hotel & Spa, a new, four-star hotel in Rabat’s shopping district. (Note: “Highly rated” is cautiously used, as what is highly rated in New York City vs. Mexico vs. Morocco will vary widely, as is the use of the term “luxury”.)
(I do want to mention that Collette’s website does a great job of giving you explanations of what is happening and where you will be staying each day, noting both special extra-cost options (there aren’t many) and free time. It also gives links to the hotels you will be staying at; a nice touch. One thing that I find disorienting is that Day 1 is your flight to Casablanca, which I guess makes sense if you are using Collette’s air, but it left me wondering if the actual tour started on December 6th or 7th. It starts on Day 2, the 7th, though the description says the 6th. Got it? Having the dates rather than the numbered days would be a great assist.)
Anyway, the next morning (Day 4…or is that Day 3?) it is then about a three-hour drive to Fez (Morocco is a large country with vast, wide open spaces, so distances are significant). The drive is broken up with a stop at a Moroccan winery for a paired lunch and (another, for me) vineyard and cellar tour. I wonder how different it might be and how it functions in a Muslim country. We are spending three nights at the highly rated Riad El Yacout, which looks beautiful. Riads traditionally were homes or mini-palaces for the wealthy, built with rooms surrounding an inner courtyard. Most have been transformed into boutique hotels and B&Bs. (If you read my article on Tangier, that is what I rented for the Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Experience.)
Fez has been on my list of places to visit for many years, and having three days there was a great attraction. It appears the first night I will be on my own. That is exactly what I am looking forward to, as Fez is famous for coming alive in the evenings with street food. Adding that temperatures will be in the 40’s (4-6C), it will be quite comfortable. The next day is a walking tour that will include the famous (yet disturbing) tanneries dating back to the 11th century. The last day is more free time (I’m loving it), but there is an option ($69 extra cost) to visit rarely visited Volubilis, another UNESCO Heritage Site (there are many on this journey) with a traditional Moroccan lunch. I hope enough people sign up for it, as it is one of the very few things that are not guaranteed on this tour.
Another thing on my “Gotta Do List” is visiting the Sahara Desert, and the next day we drive to Erfoud, known as “The Door to the Desert” and “Gateway to the Sahara”. It is a long 6-hour drive south towards the Sahara Desert, but “ya’ gotta do what ya’ gotta do”. We will spend one night there at Kasbah Hotel Xaluca, who’s rooms look like they are right out a Moroccan movie set. After that long drive, I just might head to the hamman.
After a morning of exploration or relaxation, it is off to Merzouga for a 4×4 drive into the Sahara Desert for two nights in a luxury tented camp under the stars, named appropriately Relaxing Desert Camp. I don’t think this will be a flowing Arabian Nights sort of stay, but more of a permanent tent experience. However, the access to the desert with a camel ride through the dunes, a deep dive into the cultural and religious aspects of the area, and taking in the Moroccan night sky sounds pretty good.
After two days in the desert, it is time to head east, to the edge of the Sahara, first visiting the fortified village of El Khorbat, which has a Jewish, Berber, and Muslim history, and onto Boumalne du Dades, located in the High Atlas Mountains and said to have amazing views and a city that includes many mud-brick homes that look like another movie set. We will be staying at Hotel Xaluca Dades, which will bring us back to a bit more of civilization, but still have a wonderful Moroccan feel. This is more of a stopover as the drive from Merzouga to Marrakesh is a long 8+ hour one that needs to be broken up.
It is then off to Marrakesh for three nights, stopping along the way to yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, Ait-Ben-Haddou, then continuing along the Tizi n’Tichka Pass in the High Atlas Mountains, before reaching Marrakesh, where we will be staying at 2Ciels Boutique Hotel and Spa; highly rated, but disappointingly bringing me back to a more touristic homogenized experience. Having recently been to Marrakesh, I am not sure how much I will participate in the tours, but with the first day’s option being heading to the Bahia Palace (been there), the visit to the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum could be right up my alley. The afternoon is, again, free time or another optional tour. (I so like this!) Our final morning in Marrakesh is a visit to a women’s center; something I have found almost ubiquitous throughout Morocco’s more tourist-focused cities. I will probably skip the pitch. Ugh.
Our final day on tour has us driving 3 hours back to Casablanca, where there will be a tour and a Farewell Dinner. We will be staying at the Barcelo Anfa Casablanca, another highly rated, but more generic, hotel. But since I will be flying out to Frankfurt for my onward flight to San Francisco at 1:30 AM, I am not too concerned. Remember, Casablanca is not why I decided to take this tour!
Collette’s Colors of Morocco Tour seems to me to be an outstanding value, especially when considering the logistics, diversity of the itinerary, and quality of the hotels. Of course, as you know what I say, “It is not about the hardware, but the software,” so there is a lot I am looking forward to experiencing in the way of guides, guidance, vehicles, tours, and cuisine. (I remember in Tangier I had to save my guide from the tourist police because they were shaking him down for allegedly not having the new, proper license.)
What I can say for now is that the structure of this tour seems solid and, when considering the price for this tour is $4,999 or less per person (double occupancy), it appears to be a solid value. By the way, the tour operates in the Spring, Fall, and Winter; skipping the incredibly hot Summer. Prices during the winter are discounted. In fact, if you want to join me on this journey, the price is $3,999 per person, double occupancy, and $4,999 for single occupancy.
