11 Days From Casablanca: Imperial Cities and Sahara

Our driver will be waiting for you at Casablanca International airport to start your trip. In Casablanca we’ll visit Hassan II Mosque, the biggest mosque in the country and the only one the non-Muslims can enter. Experience the Cornish coast before departing for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Overnight will be in a Riad/Hotel. (bed and breakfast)

After Breakfast in your Hotel, You will visit the Mausoleum, the Hassan tower and the Oudaya Kasbah, lunch may be there before heading to Chefchaouen via the city of Ouazzan. Few stop on the way and get to Chefchaouen late afternoon. Night in a Riad. (Bed and Breakfast)

After the breakfast in your hotel you will start exploring Medina. Chefchaouen is a beautiful unique city with its white washed walls and its blue doors, and windows. Unlike many parts of Morocco, Chefchaouen was occupied by Spain; therefore there is much influence of Spanish civilization and architecture. You have the opportunity to meet locals and walk in this beautiful Medina. Overnight in the same Riad. Bed and breakfast

After breakfast in the hotel, you will leave the city of Chefchaouen and travel south via Ouazzan towards Volubilis. The well preserved Roman ruins dating to 225 BC, where some mosaics as still in very good shape. After that You travel to Meknes ,the Ismaili capital of Morocco. In Meknes we see the fascinating gate Bab Mansour built by the sultan My Ismail, the granary and the Sahrij Souani used for irrigation and plantation. Then you continue to Fes. Night in a Riad.  Bed and Breakfast

After breakfast in your riad , you will start exploring the oldest city in Morocco. Walking in its alleys and small streets. Our visit starts by visiting the Royal Palace gate, the Jewish headquarter, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century.

 We will ensure that you visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the oldest in the region, the Tanneries, the Attarine museum and Mulay Idriss mausoleum. After lunch, you will visit the tiles cooperative and then experience a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes. Overnight accommodation in the same riad . Bed and Breakfast.

After breakfast in your riad, you will leave Fes travelling towards Ifran. A beautiful mountain village, referred to “the Switzerland of Morocco” and then on to Midelt. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. Stopping at Azrou famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you may well sight Barbary apes. After sometime within the forest, your journey continues to Midelt along the magnificent hills and mountains of the Atlas.

  After Midelt town you will be travelling through the fascinating Tiz Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge, taking in views of the High Atlas plateau. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia. Then you will travel along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud before arriving to Merzouga. Your first night will be in a hotel/riad. (dinner bed and breakfast)

After breakfast in your riad. You will start an explorative journey of the area before you camel trek and spend the night at the desert camp. Today, you’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan and other sub-Saharan countries , to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations (it dries out sometimes). You may also visit the nomad families living between the sand dunes the Algerian border, the abandonned mines… In the afternoon you will ride your camels, guided by an experienced camel man to explore within the golden sand sea of Merzouga. Dinner in the camp where you will spend the night. (dinner bed and breakfast)

You will wake up early in the morning to watch and take pictures of the sunrise. Then You’ll have your breakfast and peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga. Enroute you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. Meet your driver and leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. Lunch will be wherever you want it, then drive to the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight in a Hotel. (Dinner and breakfast)

After your breakfast in the hotel, You will start your day in our trip driving via the thousand kasbah route, the rose valley, a visit to Taourirt kasbah (the former residence of the Glaoui) in Ourzazate. Then to Ait Benhaddou an ancient Kasbah (fortified village) listed as UNESCO’s heritage site. Many famous movies were filmed there then another 4 hours drive across teh high Atlas mountains via the tizi ntichka pass with stops along. Get to Marrakech late afternoon where you night will be in a riad with bed and breakfast.

After breakfast, You will enjoy a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. You will visit the Bahia and Badi Palaces, Saadian Tombs and many other hidden treasures. Lunch will be at one of the finest traditional restaurants in Marrakech. After lunch, tour to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous market square Djemaa el Fna. Well worth a visit, as one of the famous attractions of Marrakech, which comes alive at night with local story tellers, snake enchanters, entertainers… and mouth-watering barbecues. Night in teh same riad with Bed and Breakfast