Morocco Desert Tour and Imperial Cities 10 days

Morocco Desert Tour through the Imperial Cities and Erg Chebbi Merzouga sand desert dunes.

• Day 1: Casablanca

Upon your arrival or pick up you at your hotel in Casablanca. We will visit the Hassan II Mosque, the landmark of Casablanca which is the only mosque open for non-Muslims. The Hassan II Mosque will be the first introduction of Moorish influences in Morocco. It is built by the king Hassan II between 1987 – 1993. Over 25 thousand worshipers can pray inside and 80 thousand worshipers pray outside in the big square of the mosque. You will enjoy some walking on the beach of Casablanca. It is the largest metropolis city in Morocco, always linked to the movie Casablanca 1942 and it has the modern architecture of Art Deco French influences with white buildings. Visiting the main square la Ligue Arabe and not missing the Cathedral Sacre Coeur which blends Moroccan and European influences. Back to the hotel in Casablanca

•  Day 2 : Casablanca -Rabat – Meknes

This morning we travel to Rabat visiting some historical site like Chellah with its massive octagonal defensive gate, a lovely spot In Rabat where you see a breathtaking combination of Roman and Merinid remains. You have the unfinished mosque fascinating Tower Hassan 12th and the piece of art mausoleum Mohamed V to visit. It was built by the king Hassan II to his father Mohamed V for honouring him as the father of the independence. We walk through Kasbah Oudaya 12th beautiful white and blue building with a fantastic view over beach and river Bouragrage After the tour of Rabat we move to the next city Meknes. It was established by the sultan Moulay Ismael in the 18 Th century, famous of beautiful gates, mosques and madrasas. Overnight in Meknes.

• Day 3: Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

After a lovely breakfast, we explore the other 18th Imperial city Meknes. 40 km ramparts around the Medina and has a tremendous gate of Bab Mansour (1732), the granary Sahrij Swani, grain and water storage and used as a barn for 12000 horses. Meknes has a big production of olive oil and olives and you will see an amazing verity of olives in the local market of square Lahdime. Only 30 km from Meknes we discover Volubilis. The archaeological roman site well-preserved listed in UNESCO (1997), remains of astonishing mosaics, hundreds of Latin inscriptions and artistic materials… After our enjoyable walk in Volubilis we carry on to Fes driving in open fields of barley, wheat and olive trees. Overnight in Fes.

• 4 Day 4: Fes Explore

This morning you meet our local guide of Fes, you are going to explore the old medieval medina of Fes and the 1st imperial city, a real labyrinthine of more than 9000 alleyways and deserves to be the intellectual and cultural capital of the kingdom. Mingled with fasi people in these streets full of articles, colours and donkeys carrying goods. You will see a lot of handcrafted items, Fes is number 1 in crafts, like old days using the same materials. The tanneries, famous in Fes, is one the highlights of the tour, watching locals working on skins of goat, lamb, camel and cow, in small pits. You also will indulge yourselves with some special dishes of Fes cuisine. You will enjoy a panoramic view of the southern tower of Fes, and visit the cooperative of pottery where they make tiles and Moroccan mosaic. Or maybe you go for an optional entertainment dinner show with belly dancers to end up your tour of Fes.

•  Day 5: Fes – Midelt – Errachidia – Merzouga

We are going to leave the medieval Fes and heading to another part of Morocco. Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains. We stop for a short break in Ifrane or the small Switzerland where is the first ski resort in Morocco. We will be surrounded by amazing sceneries and landscapes of mountains and plains. A special species of native monkeys living in cedar woods, over 30 members of one family called Maggot monkeys in Azrou. We will have a lunch break in Midelt, it celebrates the festival of apples every year. There is a big contrast of landscapes especially before we arrive Errachidia main city named after a prince Moulay Rachid around 1971. Then we drive through Ziz Valley to get us to Arfoud, the gate of the Sahara or where we celebrate the festival of date, and to Merzouga.

• Day 6 : Rissani to Sand Dunes in Merzouga Sahara

We will enjoy a relaxing day in the Sahara with a possibility to go around the dunes of Erg Chebbi on camel ride or on 4X4, there is a gnaoua musical group to see, Celebrating African rhythms in the desert. Possibility to order the Touareg pie called “Madfona” cooked in the sand. We visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali chref the founder of the current dynasty in the oasis of Rissani. Going back to Merzouga to watch the sunset on the top of sand dunes some of them reaching up to 150 m high. Overnight in Merzouga.

• Day 7 : Sand Dunes Merzouga To Ouarzazate

After your breakfast, we leave the sand dune Merzouga and head towards the old system of irrigation that is still used in the oasis of Eljerf. A break on the way in Tinjidad. We will have lunch in the Valley of Toudra. It is considered as one of the oldest valleys in Morocco for caravan trading and silver jewellery. A beautiful valley of 15 km of date palms ends up with a spectacular Gorges, mainly used for rock climbing and picnics. We embark on Dades valley which has an astonishing rock formation made by million years of erosion. We cross more Rose Valley, the only place in Morocco where we harvest Damascus rose in which we extract some products like rose water and rose oil best for skin treatment and anti-wrinkles. Overnight in Ouarzazate.

•  Day 8 : Ouarzazate To Marrakech

We have a nice drive to Ait Benhaddou village where we will go for a walk to visit this ancient village. An old village where a list of movie credits was made starting with the first movies “Lawrence of Arabia”, ”Jesus of Nazareth”, ”Gladiator” and the list is still going on. It is also listed in UNESCO as a site of the world and national culture in 1987. After that we head to the north of High Atlas Mountains via Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m). A spectacular road of red mountains and Berber villages to Marrakech.

• Day 9 : Marrakech Explore

You are going to explore your trip with a guided tour of city Marrakech. You are going with our local guide. Visiting Bahia Palace, built by Bahmad Grand Visir of Marrakech with its incredible mosaics and stucco and hear some interesting stories about 4 wives and the 24 concubines!!. The extraordinary architecture of Saadian Tomb, royal necropolis of the 17 Th century. Spending some great time in the famous souks of Marrakech, you going to like different smells, colours, items and how big is the souks of Marrakech. Jack Majorelle garden,a peaceful spot in the Ville Nouvelle, contains botanic and exotic plants brought from all over the world, with dominating indigo blue to paint the wall You will finish your tour at the square Jamaa Elfana. A bustling place where there are snake charmers, monkeys, food stalls and musicians, the most animated square in Marrakech!!

• Day 10: Transfer to Marrakech airport or Casablanca airport

Our Tour is finished when you are transferred to the airport of Marrakech or Casablanca. We hope you enjoyed our tour.