Day 1 : Casablanca / Rabat :

Arrival at Casablanca airport, where we will meet you and drive to Casablanca and then on to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. In Casablanca you will see the Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside of Mecca and see the Cornish coast. Afterwards, we will depart for Rabat. Here you will see the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah Oudaya, before checking into your riad in the Medina. Overnight at the riad on bed and breakfast basis (half board).

Day 2 : Rabat / Meknes / Volubilis / Fes :

After breakfast in your riad, you will start your journey to Fes passing through Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, another important imperial city of Morocco, known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will see the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin and the Mausoleum of Mulay Ismail. After lunch, your journey continues to the Roman city of Volubilis, where you will have the opportunity to see the beautifully preserved original mosaics, the Roman road and the layout of the city. As you travel through the Moroccan countryside, you will pass through the Holy City of Moulay Idriss, for photo opportunities. You will arrive in Fez in the late afternoon and check into your riad in the Medina. Overnight at the riad (half board).

Day 3 : Exploration of Fes / Fes City Tour :

Breakfast at your riad, then you will start an exploration tour of the Medina where you will visit the many hidden treasures known only to the locals. Fez was the capital of Morocco for over 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest functioning university in the world. Your guided tour will take you to the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, the Nejjarine fountains and the tanneries. After lunch you will also see the exterior of the Royal Palace and stroll through the famous Jewish quarter “la Mellah”, where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco.Your tour of Fez includes a short visit to the famous pottery factory, and then you will enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the entire Medina of Fez. In the afternoon we will visit the new city for a drink. Overnight in your riad (half board).

Day 4 : Fes / Ifrane / Azrou / Midlet / Ziz Valley / Merzouga Desert :

After breakfast in your riad, you will depart southeast following the caravan roads to Merzouga. During this journey, you will be able to contemplate the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountains. Stop at the cedar forest, the largest in Morocco, over the Middle Atlas Mountains, where you may see barbarian monkeys. After lunch in Midelt, you will continue through the vast, open high desert, and notice how the landscape changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the town of Er Rachidia. The journey continues through the lush Ziz valley and the palm grove of Tafilalet, famous for date cultivation. This area is the base of the Alawite dynasty, the current ruling royal family in Morocco. You will arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon, to be greeted with a glass of mint tea before checking into your riad. Half board.

Day 5 : Merzouga area and camel trekking:

After breakfast at the riad, you will start a trip to explore the area. You will visit the Gnawa people -originally slaves brought from Sudan- to learn about their music and lifestyle. You will also visit the souk of Rissani, a traditional town that was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place for caravans trading to Timbuktu in Mali. Here you will see many hooded men and veiled women. Back to Merzouga village for some rest, in the afternoon you will ride your camel, guided by an experienced camel driver to explore inside the sand sea of Merzouga. Overnight in our desert camp (half board).

Day 6 : Merzouga / Jorf / Khettara / Todra Gorges / Dades Valley :

Early in the morning, your camel guide will wake you up to see what may be the best sunrise of your life. You will walk back to the village of Merzouga. On the way, you will not fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes, which change with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast and shower in your riad, you will depart for the Rissani, Tinghir and Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorges, you will drive through the Dades Valley, where you will see the majestic sand castles and the incredible rock formations known as “monkey fingers”. Overnight in an elegant guesthouse overlooking the Dades Valley (half board).

Day 7 : Dades Valley / Skoura / Ouarzazate / Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou / Tizi n’Tichka Pass / Marrakech :

After breakfast, we will drive through the Dades Valley to Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazate. The route through the Dades Valley is the road of a thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic images of the trip. We will stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the city of roses”, to buy rose water, which will make your linen smell good long after the trip is over. Continue to Marrakech passing through the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Built by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains during the 18th century, the Kasbah is now the home of many Glaoui. Your journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech , spending the night in the riad of the medina (half board) .

Day 8 : Exploration of Marrakech / Marrakech City Tour :

After breakfast at the riad, you will enjoy a morning guided tour of Marrakech “the Red City of Morocco”. Your guide will make sure you see all the sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Koutoubia Minaret; the Saadian tombs; the beautiful Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Koranic School. Finally, end the morning strolling through the narrow streets of the medina, having the opportunity to admire the various craftsmen performing their trades before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna square. Lunch in a restaurant near the square and, in the afternoon, visit the Majorelle gardens and brief tour of Gueliz, the new city of Marrakech. After dinner you will have the option to stroll around the square entertained by magicians, storytellers, toothpicks and food vendors. Overnight in our riad (half board).

Day 9 : Day trip to Essaouira and return to Marrakech :

After breakfast at your riad, you will start traveling to the coastal city of Essaouira. You will arrive after about 2.5 hours drive to start exploring the city. You will visit the Skala Fortress; you will see the Thuya wood carved by the craftsmen; you will walk through the narrow streets of the medina and see hundreds of handicrafts. This “Windy City” attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira has known many civilizations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture – but it remains a small town with a lot of history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also considered Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic.” You will also visit the Argan oil women’s cooperative. Here they extract the oil that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medicinal properties. Lunch will be in the Moroccan way: fresh fish “cooked on the spot” at the fish market. In the afternoon you will travel back to Marrakech. Night in your riad (half board).

Day 10 : Marrakech / Casablanca Airport :

After an early breakfast at your riad, you will be driven to Casablanca/Marrakech airport for your flight back home.

Morocco desert tour and Kasbahs 10 days