Imperial Cities, Desert, Gorge Valley’s and the Coast
Ouarzazate Ait Ben Haddou
Day 1 : Casablanca
Our travel service begins when we meet and greet at the Casablanca airport and transfer you to the hotel. During this first day, we will visit Hassan II mosque. The first night is a special Welcome dinner at a coastal restaurant. Enjoy your first night in your hotel which sits across from the Hassan II Mosque and provides a beautiful view.
Night 1 : Casablanca
Day 2 : Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fez
After breakfast, you travel to Fez via Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will see the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin and Mulay Ismail's Mausoleum. You will stop for lunch then continue your journey to the Roman city of Volubilis, where you will have the opportunity to see the wonderfully preserved original mosaics, the Roman road, and the layout of the city. As you travel through the Moroccan countryside, we will pass by the Holy City of Moulay Idriss to take a photo. You will arrive in Fez in the late afternoon and check into your riad inside the Medina. Dinner will be served in your riad.
Night 2 : Fez riad
Fez
Day 3 : Fez
After breakfast, you will get to explore the city seeing the exterior of the Royal Palace and the famous Jewish quarter where you will have the option to visit one of the few active synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fez includes a short visit to the famous pottery factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the entire Medina of Fez. In a walk through the Medina, you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the locals know about. Fez was the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to Al Karaouine University, the oldest functioning university in the world - and established by a woman. Your guided tour will take you to the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains, and the Tanneries. Your guided tour ends with lunch and a panoramic view of Fez City.
Night 3 : Fez riad
Day 4 : Azrou - Midelt - Ziz Valley - Merzouga Desert
Start the morning with breakfast at the riad and then you will depart to the southeast following the caravan roads towards Merzouga. During this trip, you will get a glimpse of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. You will make a stop to see barbarian apes at the cedar forest, the largest forest in Morocco. You will have lunch in Midelt, then continue through the great open desert and watch the landscape change to reveal hints of desert as you approach Er Rachidia town. Your journey continues along the lush Ziz Valley and the palm grove of Tafilalet, famous for the cultivation of dates. This area is the base of the Alawite dynasty, the current ruling royal family in Morocco. You will arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon, As always, you will be greeted with a glass of mint tea before checking into your hotel.
Night 4 : Merzouga Desert Hotel
Day 5 : Merzouga
After breakfast, you will start an exploration trip in the area. You will visit the Gnawa people, who were originally from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away is the lake of Merzouga, with its notable bird populations. You can also visit the souk of Rissani, a traditional city that was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of the caravans that traded to Timbuktu in Mali. Here you will see many hooded men and veiled women. Back to Merzouga village for some rest, in the afternoon you will ride camels, guided by an experienced camel driver to explore the sand sea of Merzouga. You will spend the night in our Luxury Desert Camp, where you will have your dinner. For your comfort, the camp is equipped with air conditioning and heat, as well as western shower and toiletries.
Night 5 : Transfer to Luxury Desert Camp in Merzouga
Day 6 : Todra Gorges - Tinghir Palm Groves - Dades Gorges
If you chose, your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning to what may well be the best sunrise of your life. After sunrise and breakfast you will return to the town of Merzouga. Along the way, you can’t help but appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which change with the light as the day progresses. You will continue for the Rissani, Tinghir and Todra Gorges - the highest and narrowest Gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge, we will drive through the Dades Valley, where you will see the majestic sand castles and the incredible rock formations known as "monkey fingers". Overnight accommodation will be in a luxury hotel overlooking the Dades Valley.
Night 6 : Dades Valley Hotel
Day 7 : Dades Valley - Kasbah Amridil - Skoura Palm Groves - Ouarzazate
After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazate. The route through the Dades Valley is the path of a thousand Kasbahs, providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photos of the trip. We'll stop at Kalaat Mgouna, "the city of roses", to purchase rose water and creams, which will keep your skin and clothes smelling good long after your journey is over. Continue to Ouarzazate via Amridil Kasbah, one of the last Berber chiefs during the 18th century, now Kasbah is a house of many Glaoui people. In the evening you will make a stop in Ouarzazate.
Night 7 : Ouarzazate Riad
Day 8 : Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah - Tizi n'Tichka Pass - Marrakech
After an early breakfast in the riad, we start our journey to reach the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films such as Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, Sahara with Penelope Cruz, etc. have been shot in this spectacular setting. Next we’ll travel to Marrakech where you will see the Tizi n’Tichka pass, that at 2204m, is the highest point in our country. You will enjoy beautiful landscapes from the viewpoints along the way and make some stops to take pictures of the Berber villages. In the late afternoon you will get to your riad inside the Medina.
Night 8 : Marrakech Medina Riad
Day 9 : Excursion to Essaouira
Start the day with breakfast then begin your journey to the coastal city of Essaouira. Walk through the alleys of the medina and see hundreds of handicrafts. This "Windy City" attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira knew many civilizations, including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture. Due to small size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also considered the "Jewel of the Atlantic" in Morocco. In Essaouira, you will visit the Argon oil women's cooperative, famous for cooking, cosmetic and medicinal properties. You will also get to see the goats and the Argon trees - quite a sight! You will get to have lunch in the Medina or the port, then return back to Marrakech.
Night 9 : Marrakech Medina Riad
Day 10 : Explore Marrakech
Today is a free day in Marrakech to see all the places not seen before. After breakfast in the riad, you will enjoy the sites with historical and cultural interest, including the Koutoubia Menaret, the Saadian tombs, the beautiful Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Koranic School. Finally, end the morning walking through the alleys of the medina, with the opportunity to admire the different artisans who make their crafts before reaching the famous Jamaa El Fna square. Lunch in a restaurant near the square and then, in the afternoon, a visit to the Majorelle gardens and a short tour of Gueliz, the new city of Marrakesh.
Night 10 : Marrakech Medina Riad
Day 11: Full free day in Marrakech
Explore Marrakech for another day. The last night we will have a special farewell dinner!
Night 11 : Marrakech Medina Riad
Day 12 : Marrakech - Casablanca
Return to Casablanca for departure flight. It is a 3 hour drive from Marrakech to the airport in Casablanca and we will depart based on your flight time.
Marrakech
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The private tour includes :
Pick up and drop off at the Airport in Casablanca
Private vehicle / all fuel costs
English speaking guide / driver
Hotel/Riad accommodations
Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners provided by tour hotel accommodations
Entry fee to all museums of your Morocco tour
The private tour excludes :
Tips to the Hotel/Riad and “Camp" attendants
Tips to the Driver or Host
