Day 1 : CASABLANCA Airport – RABAT :

Upon arrival at Casablanca airport (CMN), you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel for the night. If you arrive in Casablanca early in the day, it may be a good idea to head to the capital city of Rabat (given the time we will visit the Hassan 2 mosque in Casablanca, the third largest in the world). An hour later we arrive in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Much quieter than the hectic metropolis of Casablanca, Rabat also has a much richer history, having been an important city during the various dynasties that succeeded each other on the throne. We will visit the 12th century Kasbah des Oudayas with its Andalusian gardens and the Hassan Tower. We can live more in the past and visit the Roman city of Sala Colonia and the Merenid necropolis of Chellah. Dinner and overnight in Rabat

Day 2 : RABAT – MEKNES – VOLUBILIS – FES :

After breakfast we drive to Meknes, imperial city that rose to fame with the Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672- 1727) who established the capital of Morocco to Meknes and gave it its golden age by building his palace, walls and kasbahs imperial city. Sights such as the Bab El Mansour gate, Masoleum of Moulay Ismail, the imperial palace and the royal granaries and stables. Back on the road we will reach shortly the Roman ruins of Volubilis with its Galem baths, basilica, the capital and the forum and the sacred village of Moulay Idriss. Moulay Idriss was prophet Muhammad’s great-grandson and fled Mecca during the eighth century. He settled in Volubilis, converted the locals to Islam and founded the first Moroccan imperial dynasty. We will arrive in Fez in the evening for dinner and overnight in a beautiful Riad.

Day 3 : FES – Guided tour of Fez :

The third day is dedicated to the discovery of Fez. For this purpose, the driver can guide you through the narrow streets to discover all the charms of the most cultural of Morocco’s imperial cities. We can also arrange for a professional local guide if you feel it is necessary. One day is just enough to visit all the wonders of the oldest of the imperial cities and world famous for its leather and metal: Madrasa (Koranic school) Bouinania, Bab (gate) Boujloud, the tanneries, Najjarine Museum of Arts and Wood Crafts. You can also simply stroll around some of its 9,500 derbs (narrow alleys) and just enjoy all the sounds, smells, sights and spells. Whatever your choice, nothing can prepare you for this assault on the senses. Fes evokes the image of the fabled Arab city par excellence as Baghdad at the time of the 1001 nights … Within the walls of its Medina lies the largest intact medieval city in the world, which would become the first Arab heritage designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Day 4 : FES – Ifrane – Azrou – MIDELT – Ziz Valley – ERFOUD :

After breakfast, our first stop is in Ifrane, a colonial alpine resort built by the French in 1929. With its alpine chalets, trimmed gardens, lush park surrounding a mountain fed lake, it could almost be in … Switzerland. The surrounding countryside is pigmented with apricots, walnuts and plum trees and images of rural Berber life as we approach Midelt. A few hours later we arrive in Erfoud, capital of the main area producing dates in Morocco. The change of scenery is very noticeable as we are now approaching the Sahara. Given the time we will visit the old Jewish quarter and the Musée des Oasis. Dinner and overnight in a romantic Kasbah.

Day 5 : ERFOUD – MERZOUGA – ERG CHEBBI :

After breakfast we head towards the desert and arrive shortly in Merzouga, the last village before the dunes. From here we negotiate the 4×4 / mini van for the camels and reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi, some of the highest in Morocco. With all expectations building along the road nothing yet prepares you for the spectacle that stretches before your eyes from the top of the dunes. For as far as you can see, there is nothing but sand, an ocean of like set to conquer all that stands in its way. All worldly affairs sense wide and the sense of peace is overwhelming … For the rest of the afternoon is free to choose between the activities offered on the ground (quads, buggies, sand surfing, etc.), indulge in a bird watching or just do nothing and enjoy the vastness of the dunes. Dinner and overnight in a private Bedouin tent in the dunes.

Day 6 : ERG CHEBBI – Todra Gorges – RISSANI – TINERIR – SKOURA :

Try to wake up to sunbathe uphill there is nothing like it … After breakfast we head towards Rissani which used to serve as the last stop of the great caravan routes to the south. Gold and slave auctions took place here as late as 1800. The most spectacular gorges of Morocco, Todra Gorges, are located just 15 km from Tinerir, presenting an arresting spectacle with its crystal clear river flowing out of it, its huge walls changing color to magical effect as the day unfolds. We are now in the mountains again as we pass Tinerir (1,400 meters altitude), an important center for the nomadic Berber tribes with its extensive palm grove, amazing traditional carpets and the Ksours built into the rocky hills. Our next stop is Kelaa des Mgouna, famous for its Rose-derived products industry. The most sought after product is rose water and two factories in the area distil and export the product. The roses are picked by women before sunrise and the work is hard, as ten tons of petals are converted into 2 to 3 liters of rose oil. Shortly after we arrive at the palm grove of Skoura. Dinner and overnight in a charming Kasbah.

Day 7 : SKOURA – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – TELOUET – MARRAKECH :

Breakfast waiting to be served on the terrace of the Kasbah from where we overlook the impressive 30 square kilometers stretch of land where, shaded by thousands of palm trees, the locals get the best of their fertile land as olives, pumpkins, quinces, apples, pomegranates, grapes, wheat and barley all grow awakened by centuries old irrigation system. A guided tour is not to be missed.

On the way to Ouarzazate, we can stop for a break to see the birds of setting on the huge lake Mansour Eddhabi. In Ouarzazate, time permitting, we can visit the film studios where Lawrence of Arabia or Gladiator were filmed. Leaving the main road we will shortly arrive at the site of the best preserved and famous Kasbah in Morocco – Ait Ben Haddou, another UNESCO world heritage site. The different houses (units) that compose it communicate with each other in a way that gives the intricate light patterns and mysterious passages and makes it an ideal skin and look for children’s playground. After the visit we set out in the Ounila Valley to reach Telouet. The beauty of the serpenting valley below the road is beyond words. In Telouet, what was once the main residence of the ‘Lord of the Atlas’ – Pacha El Glaoui, used to accommodate his court, stables, a mosque and countless slaves at one time in the Pacha reports, taking tea with W. Churchill and started the first bus company in Morocco. A visit is recommended if only to marvel at the extravagance of this modern-day dynasty and the contrast between the exterior and the opulent abandoned interior. Shortly after Telouet, we are back on the main road and after countless twists and turns descending the Atlas Mountains we reach Marrakech. Dinner and overnight in a charming Riad / boutique hotel.

Day 8 : MARRAKECH – GUIDED CITY TOUR / CASABLANCA :

We will dedicate today for a guided tour of Marrakech – the ‘Pearl of the South’. Perhaps due to its snake-charmer, history- teller and local bands packed Djemaa El Fna square, the constant flow of show biz celebrities who own property here, its huge community of foreign residents or its geographical location, Marrakech is much more famous than its Fez counterpart. One thing is for sure: no other Moroccan city boasts such a diverse demographic: Arabs, Europeans and Berbers have always mingled with the Tuareg population from the northern Sahara and black Africans whose ancestors worked in the sultan’s court in a city always known for being a staging post for caravans coming through its gates from the four corners of Africa. The streets of the Medina can be difficult to navigate and the street vendors can sometimes be intimidating so we recommend asking your driver who will guide you through the maze. Highlights: Bahia Palace, the Saadi Tombs, the legendary Mamounia Hotel or the Majorelle Gardens (once owned by a certain Yves Saint Laurent). If your flight is from Casablanca, the forecast is 3 hours by road from Marrakech to Casablanca airport in the highlands.

Imperial Cities and Desert Circuit 8 Days

NB: you can modify this Circuit and make it according to your taste.