Day 1 : CASABLANCA Airport – RABAT:

Upon arrival at Casablanca Airport (CMN), you will be picked up and taken to your hotel for overnight. If you arrive in Casablanca early in the day, it may be a good idea to head to the capital, Rabat (given the time we will visit the Hassan 2 Mosque in Casablanca, the third largest mosque 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 go further into the past and visit the Roman city of Sala Colonia and the Merenid necropolis of Chellah. Dinner and overnight in Rabat.

Day 2: Rabat – Northern Morocco – Chefchaouen (blue city):

After breakfast, we will visit the Hassan Tower in Rabat and then drive to Chefchaouen passing through the city of Knitra and the Rif Mountain, crossing through Wazzan and other Rif villages. We will arrive in Chefchaouen in the early afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes :

After breakfast at the riad, we will start our authentic journey to Volubilis, passing through Wazan and other villages of the Rif. In Volubilis we will discover the Roman ruins and learn about the archaeological site of Morocco’s history, after the visit of the ruins we will drive to the 17th century heritage city of Meknes, where we will stop for lunch and pass by the huge historical walls of the medina, Bab El Mansour and enjoy a visit to the shrine of Moulay Ismail. After the visit to Meknes we will head directly to the city of Fez where we will spend the night.

Day 4: FES – GUIDED TOUR :

The third day is dedicated to the discovery of Fez. For this, your 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 hire a professional local guide if necessary. One day is not enough to visit all the wonders of the oldest of the imperial cities and world famous for its leather and metal work: Medersa (Koranic school) Bouinania, Bab (gate) Boujloud, the leather tanneries, the Museum of Wood Crafts of Najjarine. You may also wish to simply wander through some of its 9500 derbs (narrow alleys) and just take in all the sounds, smells, sights and spells. Whatever your choice, nothing can prepare you for this assault on the senses. Fez evokes the image of the quintessential fabled Arab city like 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 site to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight in Fez

Day 5 : FES – IFRANE – Azrou – MIDELT – Ziz Valley – ERFOUD :

After breakfast, our first stop is Ifrane, a colonial alpine resort built by the French in 1929. With its alpine chalets, clipped gardens and lush park surrounding a mountain-fed lake, you could almost be in… Switzerland. The surrounding countryside is pigmented with apricot, walnut and plum trees and images of rural Berber life as we approach Midelt. A few hours later we arrive in Erfoud, the capital of Morocco’s main date-producing area. The change of scenery is quite noticeable, as we are approaching the Sahara. Given the weather, we will visit the old Jewish quarter and the Musee des Oasis. Dinner and overnight in a romantic Kasbah.

Day 6 : 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 change the 4×4/ mini van for camels and reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi, one of the highest in Morocco. With all the expectations that build up along the way, nothing prepares you for the spectacle that stretches before your eyes from the top of the dunes. As far as the eye can see, there is nothing but sand, an ocean of it ready to conquer all that stands in its way. All worldly affairs become meaningless and the sense of peace is overwhelming… For the rest of the afternoon you will be free to choose from the activities offered on site (quad biking, buggies, sand surfing, etc.), indulge in bird watching or simply do nothing and enjoy the vastness of the dunes. Dinner and accommodation in a private luxury camp: in the luxury camp in the desert of Merzouga.

Day 7 : ERG CHEBBI – RISSANI – TODRA GORGES – TINERIR – SKOURA :

After breakfast we head to Rissani, which used to be the last stop on the great caravan routes to the south. Gold and slave auctions were held here as early as the 19th century. Morocco’s most spectacular gorges, the Todra Gorges, are only 15 km from Tinerir, and present a breathtaking spectacle with their crystal clear river emerging from them, their huge walls changing color with a magical effect as the day wears on. We are now back in the mountains as we pass through Tinerir (1400 meters altitude), an important center for the nomadic Berber tribes with its extensive palm grove, its incredible traditional carpets and the Ksours built into the rocky hills. Our next stop is Kelaa des Mgouna , famous for its industry of products derived from the rose. The most sought after product is rose water and two factories in the area distill and export the product. The women pick the roses before dawn and the work is hard, as ten tons of petals are converted into 2 or 3 liters of rose oil. Shortly after we arrive at the palm grove of Skoura. Dinner and overnight in a charming Kasbah : les jardins de skoura or Dar Ahlam Skoura .

Day 8 : SKOURA – OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU – TELOUET – MARRAKECH :

Breakfast will be served on the terrace of the Kasbah, from where you can contemplate the incredible 30 square kilometers of land where, in the shade of thousands of palm trees, the locals make the best of their fertile land, as olives, pumpkins, quinces, apples, pomegranates, grapes, wheat and barley grow thanks to the century-old irrigation system. A guided tour is not to be missed. On the way to Ouarzazate, we can make a stop to watch the sunset birds over the huge Mansour Eddhabi lake. In Ouarzazate, if time permits, we can visit the movie studios where Lawrence of Arabia or Gladiator were filmed. Leaving the main road, we will soon arrive at the site of the most well-preserved and famous Kasbah in Morocco: Ait Benhaddou, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
The different houses (units) that compose it communicate with each other giving rise to intricate patterns of light and mysterious passages and constitutes an ideal playground for hide-and-seek. After the visit, we head to the Ounila valley to reach Telouet. The beauty of the valley that meanders below the road is indescribable. In Telouet, what was once the main residence of the “Lord of the Atlas”, Pacha El Glaoui, housed his court, stables, a mosque and countless slaves at a time when Pacha is said to have tea with W. Churchill and created Morocco’s first bus company. A visit is recommended if only to marvel at the extravagance of this modern dynasty and the contrast between the dilapidated exterior and the opulent interior. Shortly after Telouet, we return to the main road and, after countless twists and turns descending through the Atlas Mountains, arrive in Marrakech. Dinner and overnight in a charming Riad.

Day 9 : MARRAKECH – GUIDED CITY TOUR

We will dedicate today to a guided tour of Marrakech – the ‘Pearl of the South’ . Perhaps due to its snake charmer, the storytellers and local bands that fill Djemaa El Fna square, the constant flow of showbiz celebrities who own property here, its huge community of foreign residents or its geographical location, Marrakech is much more famous than its counterpart Fez. One thing is certain: no other Moroccan city boasts such demographic diversity: Arabs, Europeans and Berbers have always mingled with Tuareg populations 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 passing through its gates from the four corners of Africa. The streets of its medina can be difficult to navigate and the street vendors can be intimidating at times, so we recommend that you ask your driver to guide you through the maze. Highlights include: The Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the legendary Mamounia Hotel or the Majorelle Gardens (once owned by a certain Yves Saint Laurent) . . Dinner and overnight in a charming Riad.

Day 10 : MARRAKECH / CASABLANCA :

Departure and transfer to Casablanca airport to end the trip.

Imperial cities and Sahara desert 10 days