15 Days Casablanca Grand Tour to desert via imperial cities : Tour Starting from Casablanca, Desert Tour from Casablanca

Introduction :

In this long tour from Casablanca we will visit the most touristic places in Morocco. The tour goes through Rabat, Chefchaouen “the blue city”, Meknes, Volubilis and Fez where we will explore the Medina, Traditional Market “Souk” Bab Boujloud and old Medina, then we will continue our journey to Moroccan Sahara Merzouga, Erg Chebbi. Where you will Ride camels, enjoy the sunset and sunrise, visit Khamlia village, Known as the capital Gnaoua music in Sahara Merzouga, discovering fossils workshop in Rissani or Erfoud. In the last days of your tour you will visit Kasbah ait ben Haddou, Taznakht , Taroudant . Agadir The coastal road offers beautiful scenery, an area famous for the Argan trees , Essaouira , full day in Marrakech , Ouzoud waterfalls , Ourika valley ,we will back to Marrakech then Casablanca.

Program details :

1 Day 1 : Casablanca – Transfer to the hotel

Upon arrival at the airport of Casablanca Mohammed V, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Our representative will provide a brief overview of your tour.

2 Day 2 : Casablanca – Rabat

The trip starts from your host in Casablanca, after breakfast we will explore some places in the city as the biggest Mosque Hassan II, United Nations Place and the Coastal Seaside “Corniche”…, then we will leave to Rabat, Moroccan capital where we will spend our night in a traditional Riad inside the Medina.

3 Day 3 : Rabat – Chefchaouen

In the morning after breakfast, we will start the next day in discovering the capital of Morocco. First step is Oudaias Kasbah which is the oldest place in Rabat with a special panoramic views with stunning river “Bu Regrag” and the views of atlantic Ocean. The second step in Rabat is Hassan tower and tomb, it’s an uncompleted mosque started by “Al Mohads” leader Yacoub Al-Mansour. And then we will go to the blue city of Chefchaouen. In this beautiful city we will discover the main square Called Utta El-Hammam and we will enjoy the houses all painted in blue and white. The overnight in Riad or hotel.

4 Day 4 : Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fez

After breakfast, we will depart to Volubilis and explore the ruins of this Roman city. You will visit the holy city of Moulay Idriss, a place of pilgrimage of all Moroccans After you will continue to Meknes where you will explore the Medina of Meknes with its beautiful Tomb of Moulay Ismail, the granary and the Sahrij Souani, used for irrigation and plantation, The Square of Lehdim, and the Gate of Bab al Mansour. You will have the opportunity to explore the souks and relax in one of the Square café’s. Later we will continue onto Fez. Accommodation at a traditional Riad including bed and breakfast.

5 Day 5 : Fes – Ifran – Ziz Valley – Sahara 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.

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 – Errissani – Todra Gorges – Dades valley – Ouarzazate

After breakfast in the hotel we’ll drive through the Dades Valley towards 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 Kalaa Mgouna, “the rose city”, to purchase the rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over. Continue to Skoura and the dades valley; visit the Kasbah of Ameridil, a well-preserved kasbah in this area. After lunch, you will have some time for hiking within the valley and then continue to Ouarzazate – “the Hollywood of Africa”- whose geography and beautiful landscapes have attracted many world class movie producers. Overnight accommodation will be in riad or hotel.

8 Day 8 : Ouarzazate – Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – Taroudant

After breakfast in your riad, we’ll head to Taroudant via Taznakht, visiting Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco. Built during the beginning of the XXth Century. Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah used to be one of the places caravans stops during thier long travel from the sub-Saharian countries to Marrakech, and it is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Then we drive to Taliouine, the capital of saffron in Morocco, you will have the option to visit the Saffron co-operative. If your visit coincides with the saffron harvest, you will have the opportunity to meet the Berber people with their families harvesting the saffron in their fields. We will arrive at Taroudant in the afternoon, here you will see the ramparts and walk within the small alleys in the Medina. Taroudant is always referred to as “The little Marrakech” because it was built by the Saadian dynasty who used it as their capital before they moved to Marrakech in the 16th century.

9 Day 9 : Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira

After Breakfast in the riad, we will head to Essaouira via Agadir. Our first stop will be at Agadir, a resort city which was a very big tourist destination for many years. After lunch and a small walk along the Promenade, you will continue to Essaouira. The coastal road offers beautiful scenery, a famous area for the Argan trees. Here you will see herds of goats climbing the Argan trees looking for better food than they can find on the ground. After several stops along the coast we get to Essaouira in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation at a riad in the Medina.

10 Day 10 : Exploring Essaouira

After Breakfast at the hotel in Essaouira, you will start your explorative journey of the city accompanied with a local guide. You’ll visit the Skala Fortress; see Thuya wood carved by artisans; walk through the alleys of the medina and view hundreds of handicrafts. Today you will have lunch in a Moroccan way, freshly bought fishes ‘cooked to order’. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to wander around, go to the beach and enjoy time to yourselves. Essaouira is also referred to as the “City of the Wind” and it 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”. There is an annual festival of “Gnawa music”, where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world. Usually it starts in the second week of June. The overnight in hotel or Riad.

11 Day 11 : Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast in your riad, you will have free time before leaving for Marrakech. On our way – since this is the land of Argan culture – you will have an opportunity to visit the women’s co-operative of Argan oil where they extract the oil that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medical properties. After several stops to take photographs, you will continue your travel to Marrakech and check in to your riad. After dinner you will have the option to enjoy walking within the famous square of Jemaa El fenna, entertained with magicians, story tellers, musicians and snake charmers.

12 Day 12 : Full Day To Visit Marrakech

Next day morning you will visit the Menara garden, a surrounded pool by flowerbeds that function as an irrigation system for the surrounded fields. The sightseeing tour will cover several impressive sights: The Koutoubia mosque, Majorelle Gardens, Bahia Palace and Dar Si Said Palace museum of jewellery. Optional lunch will be in the medina followed by a walk through the colorful souks of Marrakech. Enjoy a sunset drink overlooking the exciting Jamaa El Fenna Square from a terrace of a cafe, dinner and night at hotel.

13 Day 13 : Marrakech – Ouzoud Waterfalls – Marrakech

One day trip from Marrakech to Ouzoud Waterfalls starting from Marrakech in the morning to Ouzoud Waterfalls, this site is located about 170 km from Marrakech, northeast of the city, you will discover the beautiful waterfalls of about 110 m high and a beautiful landscape full of birds and monkeys. You will discover the magnificent waterfalls about 110 m of height and a wonderful landscape populated with birds and monkeys on the arrival, if you like you can negotiate the services of a local guide to make walks or hikes at a height of 1068m . then go back to Marrakech

14 Day 14 : Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Ourika Valley – Marrakech

This is another day trip from Marrakech to Ourika Valley, the easiest, closest and thus one of the most popular day trips from Marrakech. On our Ourika day trip you’ll travel on a private tour with your own vehicle, driver and guide. To achieve a truly authentic Ourika Valley experience, we aim to avoid the typical tourist traps and focus on real Berber village life, exploring local trails on foot far away from the fleets of tour buses….We will come back to Marrakech in evening.