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Home7-Day Tour Of Highlights Of Moroccan Beach & Desert
Description
Take this seven-day spin across the sand with this itinerary that will take you from beach to city to desert to back. Visit the arts scene in Asilah, then put your newfound artist's eye to practice photographing the Blue City of Chefchaouen. Follow a guide through the medina of Fes, then trek into the Sahara on camelback before you make it back to the city amid the brightness of Marrakech.
Highlights
- Explore the arts in the seaside city of Asilah
- Perfect your photo skills in picturesque Chefchaouen
- Trek on camelback through the Sahara desert
- Wander the medinas of Fes and Marrakech
Itinerary Expand All Collapse All
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Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Asilah expand_more
- Greetings from Morocco! Once you arrive at Casablanca airport, you can take a transfer to Asilah, a charming seaside city. The murals that can be found around every corner and the street vendors selling their wares are all examples of the abundance of art in this tiny walled city. Every year, the walls are freshly whitewashed to make room for a new crop of murals, so there is always new art to discover.
- Visit one of the many artist studios in the medina if you want to take some with you, then try the catch of the day at the nearby seafood stands. Even young children exhibit their work for everyone to see. If you want to see the Atlantic Ocean's sunset, make sure to go to the ramparts in the evening.
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Day 2: Asilah to Chefchaouen via Caves of Hercules expand_more
- Go to Chefchaouen, Morocco's Blue Pearl. You can make a pit stop en route to see the Hercules Caves in the vicinity of Tangier. According to myth, Hercules rested in these caves before beginning his eleventh labour, which involved the golden apples of the Hesperides. Circular cuts can be attributed to millstone mining, which has been going on since the Phoenicians' time.
- After spending some time here, you'll travel further inland to Chefchaouen town and the Rif Mountains. In this frequently photographed blue city, locate a tranquil oasis. It's a quiet place to observe the specifics of its Andalusian-Arab influences despite its popularity.
- Visit the 17th-century kasbah and its gardens, meander through the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Medina, and stop to admire the Tarik-Ben-Ziad Mosque and its intricately carved octagonal minaret.
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Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes expand_more
- Travel to Fes, the city with the biggest old town in the world, from Chefchaouen, and embark on a guided tour of the area with a local authority. Starting at the Royal Palace, you'll proceed through the historic Jewish District and up to one of the Borj towers for sweeping views of the medina.
- You will then proceed to a mosaic house for a demonstration of the traditional pottery techniques used by Fassi artisans. You will witness each step of the process, from the creation of the clay to the assembly of the mosaics.
- Following the demonstration, the tour will take you into Fes's Medina, where you can explore the historic streets and neighbourhoods, stop by the various artisan neighbourhoods (including the tanneries), and view significant historical landmarks like Idriss II's Tomb and the Al-Qarawaiyin University, the world's oldest continuously operating university. You'll have the remainder of the afternoon and evening free to explore the medina after your tour. If you get lost, don't worry; it's all part of the experience.
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Day 4: Fes to Merzouga Camel Trek expand_more
- Leave Fes on a camelback and travel into the desert. You will pass through the largest cedar forest in Africa along the way, which is also home to the entertaining Barbary apes (also known as Atlas Monkeys). To get to Midelt, which is on the high plains between the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, you will cross the Middle Atlas Mountains. Here, you will stop for lunch.
- Continue on through the Ziz River Gorge to the expansive dunes of Erg Chebbi in the High Atlas Mountains. Before you meet your camels and trek into the dunes to your luxurious camp for the night, take some time to explore the area around the dunes. (If camels aren't really your thing, choose a 4x4 instead.)
- Once there, you can ascend the closest dune to observe the setting sun and the formation of the stars. Enjoy a traditional meal, music into the night, and stargazing.
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Day 5: Merzouga to Dades Valley expand_more
- Get up early to see the sun rise over the sand dunes before mounting your camel and returning to the dune's edge. The time has come to travel to the Dades Gorge from there.
- You'll make stops along the way to see the historic irrigation system that once brought water to the desert from the far-off Saghro Mountains and the oasis town of Tinghir, where you can take a guided tour of the palmery and the historic Jewish quarter.
- Before arriving at the Dades Valley, you'll visit the nearby Todra Gorge and walk through its most stunning section.
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Day 6: Dades Valley to Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou expand_more
- To get to Ouarzazate, also referred to as the Hollywood of Morocco, take the Road of 1000 Kasbahs. You'll travel through Ouarzazate and on to At Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Explore this magnificent ksar before ascending the Tizi n'Tichka path to cross the High Atlas Mountains at a height of almost 7,500 feet (2,286 m) above sea level. Before reaching Marrakech, there will be numerous stops for tea and photos as you take in the breathtaking vistas.
- The vibrant oasis city of Marrakech offers a maze of old town bazaars filled with Moorish riads, palm trees, and woven carpets that smell of spices and oriental lamps.
- Make your way through the medina's narrow, winding alleyways, which are characterized by stairs and vaults. Here, woven carpets, ceramics, parchment lamps, and enormous spice stalls in all colours are stored on the roof.
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Day 7: Guided Tour of Marrakech & Depart expand_more
- After breakfast, meet your private local guide who will take you on a tour of Marrakech's historic centre. You will encounter bustling souks and confusing alleys as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Displays of djellabas, colourful babouches, intricately pierced lanterns, conical mounds of exotic spices, and the intense commotion of medina life are sure to mesmerize you. Your enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide will enlighten you along the way on the background and legends of the Red City's medina, souk, and Mellah neighbourhoods.
- You will continue your private tour in the late afternoon by visiting sites like the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia and El Badii Palaces, and the Koutoubia Mosque. It's time to transfer to the airport to catch your flight home or to your next adventure after your tour is over and you've finished any last-minute souvenir shopping.
What's Included
- Pick-up & Dropoff at your Hotel or Airport
- Transport in a private 4×4 car or minibus with A/C Fuel
- English / Spanish Speaking Driver-Guide
- 9 Nights Accommodation in hotels/Riads/Camp
- Camel ride in the Sahara desert (a Camel Per person)
- Meals: Dinners, Breakfast
- Local Guides: Fes, Marrakech
What's Excluded
- Dinners
- Tips
Meeting Point
Casablanca, Morocco
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 50% of the tour price.Price Details
| Adult | |
| 1 To 20 | EUR 1000 Per Person |
| Child | |
| 1 To 20 | EUR 900 Per Person |
This is a group tour | |
Starting From
see details
USD 1097 / person