Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, and the Sahara Route
Day 1: Casablanca - Rabat - Chefchaouen
We will welcome you at CMN International Airport in Casablanca. In Casablanca, we will visit Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche Ain Diab, then continue to Rabat, where you will visit the best sites of this city, such as Hassan Tower, Challah Kasbah, and the Oudayas Kasbah overlooking the Atlantic.
We then drive through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, also called Chaouen, the "holy town," nestled between two mountains. With our guide, you will get to know how the day unfolds, and the visit starts with the medina, the kasbah, Uta El Hammam Square, the Great Mosque Jamaa El Kebir (15th century), the craftsmen centre, and Ras El Ma, whose source overlooks its lime-washed walls soaking up the blazing sunlight and creating a beautiful landscape.
Nothing could be better than a stroll through the twisting alleyways of the medina or watching the locals stitching babouches (slippers) and djellabas at the foot of the Kasbah, in the doorways of houses dating back to its foundation in 1471. Overnight stay at your riad.
Day 2: Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fes
Leave Chefchaouen towards the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. You will stop to explore the 2,000-year-old ruins and get a picture of life during the Roman Empire.
Lunch can be in one of Morocco's ancient imperial cities, Meknes, where you will visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, Bab Mansour, and Sahrij Souani. Afterward, we will continue to Fes, where you will stay at the riad in the medina or similar.
Day 3: Fes Sightseeing Tour
You will be picked up from your hotel/riad in Fez to start exploring the following sights.
The highlights include the following:
Andalusia Mosque: This stunning mosque is easily identifiable by its imposing green and white minaret. Built at the end of the 9th century by a woman, its wood carvings are exquisite.
Tanners' District: One of the main attractions of Fez, the tanners' quarters are where leather is produced using the same centuries-old methods. You can get a bird's-eye view from the raised platform and watch the entire process.
El-Attarine Madrasa or Medersa Attarine: Visit Fez's most popular attraction, the El-Attarine Madrasa in the heart of the city, built in 1325. See fine examples of Merenid craftsmanship around the madrasa, especially the stucco and cedar wood carvings on the ceiling.
Karaouine Mosque: One of the biggest religious structures in Morocco, this mosque lies in the heart of the medina. The university attached to the mosque has been the centre of Islamic learning in Morocco for more than 1,000 years.
Azouia Moulay Idriss: The tomb of Moulay Idris is a highly revered shrine. At the entrance, women pass offerings through a hatch, which is as close as a non-Muslim can get.
Place Nejjarine: A beautiful fountain can be seen at Place Nejjarine, a square deep in the heart of the medina. It is also home to the Nejjarine Museum of Wood and Carpentry and showcases Fez's renowned wood-carving tradition. See exquisite furniture, thrones, and objects of everyday use. Nearby is the souk of the carpenters.
The tour breaks for lunch at Moroccan restaurants in the medina.
After lunch, continue with your guided exploration of the attractions outside Fez.
The highlights of this tour include:
Gates: Royal Palace, Bab Boujloud: Bab Boujloud is the most famous gate in Morocco. It is also the main entrance to the medina. See the striking blue and green colours that cover either side of this monumental gate. The Royal Palace is one of the most elegant structures in Morocco, with a huge and impressive gate.
District of the potters: See where the world-famous cobalt blue enamelled pottery is made.
Late in the afternoon, we will drop you off at your riad or similar.
Day 4: Fes - Midelt - Ziz Valley - Merzouga
We will pick you up at 8 o'clock from your riad in Fes and travel via Ifrane for a short walk, then to Azrou, where you can see Barbary apes at close range in the forest of the Middle Atlas. Lunch is in Midelt, the apple capital, at the foot of Ayachi Mountain.
We continue through the Ziz Valley, which is particularly well known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis. All along the road, there are innumerable ksars, small villages of individual houses. We reach Errachidia and Erfoud, famous for their date festival and fossils.
Afterward, we will continue to Merzouga, where you will meet your camel guide. The camels will take you into the Sahara for 1.5 hours to the desert camp. When you arrive at the camp, you walk to the high sand dunes to see the sunset.
You will have dinner under the beautiful desert sky and spend the night in a private nomad tent. It will be a magical night when the sky is clear and stars sparkle and shine with intensity. Overnight at a private upgraded tent with en-suite bathroom and shower, or similar.
Day 5: Merzouga - Erg Chebbi Off-Road Tour - Merzouga
After visiting the village and oasis of Merzouga, you'll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. We continue to see the panoramic view behind the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, to take many pictures and to see how the colour of the dunes changes with the light of the sun.
After that, we go to the village of Mirdani, an old village in ruins, also stopping at M'fis, the place where coal was extracted. The large majority of the population of Merzouga worked there to earn a living. It is a very interesting day spent in or very near the dunes, the highest dunes in Morocco.
After the village of Mirdani, we continue to the nomad families in their tents at Kem Kem. After having tea with them, we continue to the hotel or similar.
Day 6: Merzouga - Rissani - Todra Gorge - Dades Valley
In the morning, after sunrise and breakfast, we will continue our trip towards Dades Valley via Rissani, where you can visit the souk, the biggest market in the area. Then continue to Tinghir and Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco.
After lunch in the heart of the gorge, we will drive through the Dades Valley, where you'll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as "monkey toes." Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel overlooking the Dades Valley.
Day 7: Dades Valley - Ouarzazate - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Atlas Mountains - Marrakech
After breakfast, departure to Ouarzazate passes through the Dades Valley, the line of kasbahs that gives this extremely popular route its nickname, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Just before Skoura, visit Kalaa Mgouna, the rose city, where you can purchase local rosewater.
We will continue to Ouarzazate, "the Hollywood of Africa." Then continue on through the "Road of the Thousand Kasbahs" and its fascinating "sand castles." After 30 kilometres from Ouarzazate, we will stop at the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. The kasbah is one of the most intriguing red-earth castles lining the ancient road of the kasbahs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunch by the kasbah, then continue to Marrakesh through the famous Tizi'n Tichka Pass over the High Atlas Mountains. The range has snow on its peaks most of the year. Appreciate the beauty of the timeless landscapes on the twisted roads through Berber villages. Arriving in Marrakesh, we will drop you off at your riad in the medina or similar.
Day 8: Marrakech Sightseeing Tour
Marrakesh is the second-oldest imperial city, known as the pearl of the south. After breakfast, we will pick you up at your hotel/riad to start the historical Marrakech tour, including Bahia Palace, Badi Palace, Saadian Tombs, the famous main square "Jmaa Lfna" with its surrounding souks and handicraft quarters, Koutoubia Minaret, the local market "souk," and Majorelle Garden.
Majorelle Garden is named after the famous French painter who constructed his art deco villa here and started the botanical gardens. In 1980, it became the residence of Yves Saint Laurent. At the end of the day, we will drop you off at your hotel/riad or similar.
Day 9: Marrakech - Essaouira
After breakfast, leave the city behind. Two and a half hours later, the deserted landscape around us softens and the panorama changes from arid beige to vivid green. In the distance, still some way off, a blue stripe rises above the argan groves on the horizon. It takes a little while to realise that it is the Atlantic.
Below us, spread out like a map, lies Essaouira - a stunning splash of white between the sea and sky, much more Mykonos than Morocco, with its honeycombed white chalk houses and blue-framed windows.
Originally built on a rocky peninsula overlooking the Atlantic, Essaouira is one of Morocco's must-see destinations. With a whitewashed medina enclosed by huge pink sandstone ramparts, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with a rich Portuguese and Andalusian heritage, Essaouira holds great appeal. From a long white sandy beach and dunes to a bustling fishing port with excellent seafood and colourful wooden fishing boats, Essaouira has always been a favourite retreat of hippies, sailors, artists, and musicians.
Phoenicians & Portuguese
Founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC, the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century and established the first fortifications and trading posts. The town of Essaouira itself wasn't built until the latter half of the 1700s, sanctioned by an Alouite sultan, Mohammed II. It was a renowned French architect who designed and built the town, harbour, and fortifications in the style of a European fortress.
Medina & Atlantic Beach
Local attractions include the Sidi Med Ben Abdallah Museum, the souks, the old city gates, and the impressive sqalas - fortified sea bastions. Perhaps enjoy a meal in one of the fabulous seafood restaurants and a stroll along Essaouira's impressive sandy beach.
Overnight stay at the villa or similar.
Day 10: Transfer to Marrakech Airport
After breakfast, transfer to Marrakech Airport for your return flight. End of our services.
