Arrive at the airport with ample time to check-in and board your flight to Marrakech, Morocco.

Welcome to Morocco! Keep your eyes peeled at Morocco airport for the welcome sign for your transfer to the hotel. Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 7:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards you have free time to start exploring vibrant Marrakech or go out for an optional group dinner and mingle with fellow travellers.

After a delicious breakfast, start your discovery with the key sites of bustling Marrakech such as Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace & Dar Si Said Museum. Then hop on board for destination: Essaouira. But first, make a stop at Argan Women Cooperative to learn all about the making of Argan oil. A ‘magical’ product that’s native to Morocco, it is used in delicious meals and extensively in cosmetics. As you arrive Essaouira, you can go out to explore its charming Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Follow the ocean north to the largest city and commercial hub of Morocco, Casablanca. Start off with a guided tour of the gigantic Hassan II Mosque, the largest in all Africa. Continue to impressive highlights including the United Nations Square, Anfa Residential Quarter finished with a short visit to the medina. Before dinner, have a short photo stop by Rick’s Café from the classic Hollywood movie named after the town & watch the sunset by the ocean.

Continue along the charming coastline to Rabat. The beautiful capital of Morocco is set in a rich, amber-colored landscape, blending ancient history and modern Moroccan culture. The guided walking tour will unfold the beauty of the imperial town as you visit the Kasbah overlooking the Bouregreg River, the Royal Palace, Chellah Ruins, Mohammed V Mausoleum and Hassan II Tower. At the end of the extensive city tour, make your way to Chefchaouen, the Blue City. Prepare your cameras and wander the narrow streets of the breathtaking blue-washed mountain village. Overnight stay in Tetouan.

Today we will continue to explore the blue-city, Chefchaouen! Roam the magical streets of the medina, Outa el-Hammam Square, visit waterfall of Ras el-Maa and the Spanish Mosque presenting an astounding view of Chefchaouen. In the afternoon, drive on to the cultural heart of Morocco, Fes. The second largest city in the country is best known for its labyrinth of souks and leather tanneries – the smell will not be forgotten!

Wear your walking shoes and embark on a cultural journey through the imperial city of Fes. Get to discover all the highlights on an intensive tour with your local guide covering Bab Bouloud Gate (Royal Palace), Bou Inania Madrasa, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, Quaraouiyine Mosque, Najjarine Square, Spices Market, Terina Madrasa, the surroundings of Karaouine Medina, Mellah (Jewish Quarter), Pottery, and of course the famous Tannery! Share your favourite sites with your mates over dinner and rest up, you’re heading inland tomorrow!

Hop on board early and drive through Efran City in High Atlas Mountains with stunning panoramic views and Midelt to reach the desert village of Merzouga. On the way, pass via Tazzarine, the last city to be found before the mighty dunes of the desert and arrive in Ziz Valley. As Ziz River feeds the charming oases in the region, we feed ourselves over a lunch-break. Arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon and soak in the majestic sand dunes. It is the perfect depiction of the famous Moroccan desert landscape and lifestyle. Our camel ride will start here to catch the sunset. Share your highlights of the trip with travel mates and enjoy the local cuisine under a starry sky. You’ll experience the authentic desert life in the Sahara and stay in sedentary tents tonight.

Wake up to the sunrise over the golden sand dunes and take a mental picture to last forever. Have a delicious local breakfast and hop on, you’re going on a 4×4 jeep safari. Enjoy the 4-hour adventure at the astounding desert atmosphere watching the magical landscapes, isolated Berber villages, oases, dunes and real nomads. In the afternoon you can relax by the pool, sand-board or climb high up the sand dunes.

Time to bid farewell to the Sahara Desert. As you drive back to the modern Morocco, pass by Ourzazate movie studios & have a panoramic photo stop at the Tichka mountain pass in the High Atlas region. Late in the afternoon you will reach the fascinating city of Marrakech. It is where the Arab city culture meets the Berber culture of the desert and mountain villages. Here, the sub-Saharan traders would trade their wares with European merchants, who would then bring them to Europe. Wear your haggling hats as you discover Djemaa el-Fna Square and brace for the mayhem! Marking the entrance to the huge bazaar, the area is packed with story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, musicians and folk dancers.

Have your final breakfast in Morocco and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure in Egypt

Welcome to Egypt! At the Cairo terminal keep your eyes peeled for the welcome sign for your transfer to the hotel. Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 6:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards you have free time to start exploring vibrant Cairo or board a cruise for an optional group dinner.

Set your alarms for an early start and fill up on plenty of breakfast before a big day exploring Egypt’s iconic Ancient Wonder of the World – the Pyramids and Sphinx! Follow your guide for a tour across the ancient site to learn about the 4,600-year-old wonders. After everyone has had their dose of awe, we’ll head out to Sakkara to see the iconic step pyramid built in 2700 B.C. Later in the afternoon, board an overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

Wake up in Aswan, ready to explore on a city tour with your local guide. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk for a look into the incredible building methods used to create the four-sided, hallmark monuments that are placed at the entrances of Egyptian temples. Take some time to walk along the 42-metre-long lying bed of granite and learn about its significance from your guide. Visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, divine mother of the pharaohs. The temple is set beautifully on an island in the middle of the Nile. Then all aboard the a 5-star Nile Cruiser as we check in to our private cabins and prepare for three nights on the Nile River. Tonight, we’ll have the option to join a traditional Nubian dinner in the evening.

Wake up well rested after your first night on board the Nile Cruiser. Watch beautiful scenery pass you by and wave to the locals swimming and fishing on the riverbanks. Today we will visit Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. If you are feeling up to it in the afternoon, join the optional trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Abu Simbel. It is a must-do for all keen historians!

Take it easy today as we continue our Cruise down the Nile River. Next stop will be Edfu, home to one of the largest and best-preserved temples in Egypt. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the temple was built over 180-years from 237 BC to 57 BC. Cruise to Luxor in the afternoon.

After a final breakfast onboard our 5-star Nile Cruiser, we’ll check out and later check in to our luxurious hotel in Luxor. After dark, we’ll visit Luxor Temple to explore the dimly-light temple and learn from your guide of the temple complexes ancient history, dating back to the 14^th century B.C.

The West bank of the Nile River awaits you! Follow your guide to the Valley of the Kings, also known as the ‘City of the Dead’, home to fancy royal tombs carved into desert rocks and filled with treasures for the Pharaoh afterlife. Next up, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. Not to forget, a visit to the vast Karnak Temple Complex, one of the most important religious centres of ancient Egypt with its marvellous temples. Your Egyptologist guide will enlighten you with the most intriguing stories and mythologies from the temple complex. Feeling adventurous? Take to the skies on an optional hot air balloon ride over Luxor. In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train to Cairo.

Wake up well rested as your overnight sleeper train pulls into Cairo. The journey continues with one of the most important museums dedicated to the ancient world – Egyptian Museum of Cairo. Home to over 120,000 ancient Egyptian relics and antiquities, this place will leave you in awe. Then, roam around Cairo stopping by the Citadel of Saladin and the world-famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Make sure to wear your haggling hats and brace for the mayhem!

Have your final breakfast in Egypt and start bidding farewells to your travel mates. Check-out of the hotel in Cairo (11:00am) and catch the transfer to the airport at the end of your tour.

Depending on your flight schedule, today you will return to Australia. Time to start counting days for your next adventure!