12 Days to Sahara and Imperial Cities from Casablanca : Tour Starting from Casablanca, Desert Tour from Casablanca

Introduction :

We will start this tour from Casablanca via Sahara Desert. we will visit touristic places in Rabat Hassan Tower , Oudaias , Meknes (Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, Sahrij Souani Bassin, Bab El Mansour gate…), Volubilis and you will have Full day to visit Fez the old Imperial city , Ifrane “the Moroccan Switzerland”, then Azrou where we will have a stop at the famous cedar forest the largest in Morocco to see and enjoy with Barbary apes. During This trip, we will visit Merzouga Sahara Desert: Erg Chebbi, ride camel, sunrise and sunset, night in a camp between dunes in Sahara, Gnaoua music in Khamlia , Draa Valley , Dades Valley . Ouarzazate , Kasbah Ait benhaddou , Marrakech , UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mogador (Essaouira) and Marrakech sightseeing, coming back to Casablanca.

Program details :

1 Day 1 : Full day to discovering Casablanca

You will star this tour around the historical heritage of the largest city of Morocco. we will be able to explore some places in the city as the biggest Mosque Hassan II, United Nations Palace and the Coastal Seaside “Corniche”, before we come back to the hotel for overnight.

2 Day 2 : Casablanca – Rabat

After breakfast, we will start the next day in discovering the capital of Morocco. First step in Kasbah of Oudaias, which is the oldest place in Rabat with a special panoramic views, stunning river “Bu Regrag” and the views of atlantic Ocean. The second step in Rabat is Hassan Tower “Tour Hassan” and tomb, it’s an uncompleted mosque started by “Al Mohads” leader Yacoub Al-Mansour. The evening will be free to enjoy it yourself.

3 Day 3 : Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes.

The Morning our staff will meet you in reception taking the direction towards another Imperial city Meknes. In Meknes, we will visit Moulay Ismail ruins, traces like Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, an ancient wheat store, royal palace, Gate Bab El Mansour, and Swani basin. Will be heading to volubilis or Walili in Berber language, which is a partly excavated Berber Roman ruins in Morocco situated near the city of Meknes, then we will continue to Fes. The overnight in your hotel or Riad.

4 Day 4 : Full day exploring Fes

Next day morning after having breakfast in your riad, you will start an explorative journey of the Medina where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world. Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will also view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah”, where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes.Overnight accommodation at your riad.

5 Day 5 : Fes – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

After breakfast, we will drive to Ifrane “the Moroccan Switzerland” and Azrou passing the Middle Atlas Mountains “Tizi n t’lghamt pass”. During our trip, we will stop in lot of area to take pictures, and have lunch in Midelt , then we continue our tour through Ziz valley, city of Errachidia, Erfoud, and after we reach the heart of Moroccan Sahara Desert Merzouga, you will have some rest then ride your camels and trekking to the deep desert. During our camel trekking we will catch the sunset between sands dunes. A delicious dinner in Sahara Desert camp and we will enjoy this night in desert tents with Berber drums music under the clear sky and stars.ruling royal family in Morocco. You’ll arrive at Merzouga at the end of the afternoon – to be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check in to your riad at Merzouga.

6 Day 6 : full day in the Sahara desert – Merzouga – nomads – Gnawa music.

Early morning your camel guide will wake up you to see the sunrise. After having breakfast, you will ride your camel back to the hotel. Here we will take you in an explorative journey of the area, visiting the village of the Khamlia, originally slaves from Sudan… to experience their music and lifestyle. we may also like to visit the berber nomad tents, where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. Here you’ll spend the night in your hotel or Riad.

7 Day 7 : Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorges – Dades valley

Next morning. you’ll leave to Rissani, we will visit the Markt in Rissani , a traditional town which was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of the Caravans trading as far as Timbuctou in Mali. Here you will see a lot of men hooded and women veiled, continuing to Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley.

8 Day 8 : Dades Valley – Kasbah Amridil – Palm Groves of Skoura – Ouarzazate

After breakfast in the hotel we’ll drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. We’ll stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose city”, to purchase rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over. Continue to Ouarzazate via the Amridil Kasbah, one of the last Berber chieftains during the 18th century, now the Kasbah is a house of many Glaoui people. At night you will stop in Ouarzazate.

9 Day 9 : Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Tizi n’Tichka Pass – Marrakech

After breakfast in hotel or riad , we will continue our journey to reach the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, Sahara with Penélope Cruz… After visiting the kasbah we´ll be heading to Marrakech, we´ll see Tizi Ntichka pass ,that with 2.260m is the highest point in our country. We´ll enjoy beautiful landscapes from the viewpoints on the way and make some stops to take pictures of the berber villages, at the end of the afternoon and check in to your riad within the Medina. Overnight at riad.

10 Day 10 : Trip to Essaouira

Next day morning, you will start travelling to the coastal city of Essaouira. Getting there after about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive to start exploring the city. Walk through the alleys of the medina and view hundreds of handicrafts. This “City of the Wind” attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira knew many civilizations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture – however, it remains a small village with much history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic”. You will also visit the women’s co-operative of Argan oil. Here they extract the oil that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medicinal properties. Lunch will be in the medina or in the port. In the afternoon you will travel back to Marrakech. Overnight at riad.

11 Day 11 : full to visit Marrakech

After breakfast in the riad, you will enjoy the sites with historical and cultural interest, including the Koutoubia Menaret; the Saadian tombs; the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Coranic School. Finally, end the morning by walking through the medina alleys -getting a chance to admire all of the different artisans performing their crafts before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square. Lunch at a restaurant near the square, and then in the afternoon visit the Majorelle garden, and have a short tour at Gueliz -the new city of Marrakech. After dinner you will have the option to walk through the square entertained by magicians, story-tellers, tooth-pullers and food sellers. Overnight accommodation in your riad.