13/07/2016
Experience All the Highlights of Morocco
Want to see it all? Let us take you to the best selection of what Morocco has to offer. Imperial cities, mountains, desert, ocean, and all the local culture in between, you’ll find it here. The below is suggested, and if you have a change you’d like to make, just let us know!
DAY 1: Casablanca – Rabat
We will pick you up at the Casablanca airport and begin our trip with a tour of the city. We will visit the mosque Hassan II, the biggest religious building in the country (with a 210m high minaret). It is one of the few mosques open for non-Muslims, so here you will have the option to visit inside and see the amazing work of more than 10.000 handicraftsmen.
From here we will drive you to the capital of the country Rabat to see the beautiful yard of the royal palace and Challah, Roman ruins and remains of 14th century Merinid tombs.
DAY 2: Rabat – Chefchaouen
In the morning we will see the unfinished mosque of Hassan and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, as well as OudayaKasbah, a fortress used by the Almoravides to prepare troops before they launched their attacks on Spain.
After this we will drive to Chefchaouen, passing through the picturesque forested area of SidiKasim. We will get you situated in your hotel and you are free to explore the town in the evening. Dinner is provided.
DAY 3: Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is a lovely town located in between two mountains. The name is Berber, and in English means “horns”. It was recently added to the world’s heritage sites by UNISCO in 2010. Today will be spent exploring the town and surrounding areas.
Chefchaouen is sometimes referred to as “The Blue Town” because all of the buildings in the town are painted a vibrant blue with white. Built on a hillside with small winding streets, this combination with the colorful blue makes for some amazing photography opportunities. The local people are welcoming and dress in clothing styles special to this area. Very close to town is a spring, water mill, and some hiking that we can explore if you are interested!
In the evening we will take you to the main square to enjoy dinner at a local spot and watch the evening life.
DAY 4: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes
Departure to Meknes in the morning. We will drive throughout green hills and cereal fields. Along the way we will stop in Volubilis, the best-preserved roman ruins in Morocco. A guided tour inside the roman site will take you back to the myths of Rome through the stunning mosaic, streets, columns and baths.
Nearby there is an old village of Moulay Driss Zerhoune where the founder of the first Arab Islamic dynasty in Morocco is buried. If time allows, we will break for mint tea in this village before we head to Meknes. Here you will check into your hotel and then enjoy dinner in the evening.
DAY 5: Meknes – Fez
This morning we are going to explore the Ismaeli city of Meknes, notable by it’s beautiful gates and massive city walls. Bab Mansour the most impressive gate of Meknes was built in 1732. The facing square of Lahdime is an animated place where the townspeople come together for coffee and conversation. We will also see the mausoleum of Moulay Ismael and other local sites.
After lunch we head to Fez. Once here we will take you to the northern tower to give you a nice panoramic view of Fes so you are oriented for your full day tour the following day. We can use remaining time in the afternoon to see more sites in Fez and of course enjoy a local dinner in the evening.
DAY 6: City Tour of Fez
After a late breakfast, you will have a guided tour of the Fez medina, a true labyrinthine section of the 8th century city. You will travel in time back to the medieval period of the city and see that people still work in small narrow streets, using tiny stalls to sell their traditional crafts. Along the way you’ll pass donkeys loaded with supplies, making their way down the cobbled walkways. Lunch will be taken in one of the many cafes in town.
The medina of Fez is rich of its Islamic monuments: the fascinating old mosques, the University of El-Karaouiyine and its libraries. All These elements made Fez the intellectual and cultural capital of the country of past, and now make it a wonderful city to explore and learn from.
To finish the day there is dinner, with an optional dinner show.
DAY 7: Fez
This day is a free day, yours to use to explore more of the city, relax in your Riad, see sites you didn’t get to see yesterday. Your choice!
DAY: 8 Fez – Ifran – Medilt – Erfoud
Today we will head towards the Middle Atlas mountains. We will take a driving break in Ifrantown, a famous ski resort in Morocco that was established during the French protectorate. Lunch will be in Medilt, known for its best productions of apples in Morocco. After a photo stop in Zizvalley (the start of palm groves and dates), our day ends in Erfoud, the gate to the desert. As it can be hot here in the afternoons, this will be the perfect time for swimming at the hotel!
DAY 9: Erfoud – Erg Chebbi – Desert Camp
Erfoud is the capital of fossils in Morocco so you will have this chance to visit one of the workshops where they make beautiful articles out of marble. We will drive to Erg Chebbi, take some time for a cup of tea and packing for our desert camping experience. In the afternoon we will meet our camels and head off on a camel-ride in time to watch the sun set over the Saharan sand dunes. This evening you will sleep in the desert in a Berber tent.
DAY 10: Erg Chebbi – Tinjidad – Todra Gorges
In the morning we’ll wake up and head back on camel to town where we can enjoy breakfast and showers. From here we’ll head to Tinjidad to see the old underground system of irrigation “khatarat” which is still used in the oasis of Jerf. You will arrive in Todra Valley in time for lunch, surrounded by mountains and palm groves. From here we’ll enter the 300m high Todra Gorge and enjoy a little walk along the Todra River. Overnight stay will be in a Kasbah hotel.
DAY 11: Todra Gorges – Skoura Palmary – Ouarzazate
It’s a quick trip over to Dades Valley to see more beautiful formations of the High Atlas mountains that surround green fields of figs, almonds, apricots, peach, walnut and pomegranate trees. Next will be Rose valley, famous for rose water and beauty creams. It is extracted from Damascena Rose which you find in some perfumes, skin care, medicines, etc. Crossing the old palmary of Skoura, we will arrive in Ouarzazate to stay for the night.
DAY 12: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Ouarzazate is home to both history and current cultural phenomena – beautiful kasbahs and modern day cinema studios. We’ll first head to Ait Ben Haddou village to explore the most preserved village of the south of the country, classified as one of world’s heritages by UNISCO in 1987. A series of movies were made in this location: Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator to name a few. We will do some walking inside the village and we continue in Ounila Valley to reach Telouet Kasbah, a big fort of the Pacha who was the most powerful man of the south.
Once our explorations are done for the day here, we will travel the pass through the spectacular High Atlas mountains (Tizi-n-Tichka 2260m altitude) to arrive Marrakech for the evening.
DAY 13: City Tour of Marrakech
Marrakech is a busting city with a lot to see. For this reason we will have two days here, the first being a guided day and the second a free day for you to enjoy. This first day we’ll start with a guided tour of the walled city from the outside, including the gorgeous Jardin de Majorelle. Next we’ll go inside to visit the many historical sites in the medina (Koutoubia Mosque, the beautiful Bahia palace, and the famous souks of Marrakech).
You will be amazed of how many different stalls, colors, smells and goods being produced in the souks. It is a great place for shopping some gifts for yourselves and for your beloved ones. To finish up your day in the red city, it is nice to have a cup of mint-tea in one of the terraces overlooking the Jamaa El Fna, Marrakech’s magical main square. It’s the perfect end to a day that you always will remember!
DAY 14: Marrakech
Today is your day to do as you choose. Visiting a local hammam (a traditional spa) is recommended. We can help with planning this day if you’d like!
DAY 15: Marrakech – Essaouira
We will travel to Essaouira, a coastal city on the Atlanticc coast. On the way we’ll stop at an Argan collective run by local women making goods from the region-specific argan nuts. Once in Essaouira, we can plan the day as you like – exploring the medina and ramparts, relaxing on the beach, visiting a hammam.
DAY 16: Essaouira
This town is known for local artists and music, reading a book on the beach, surfing, and watching the sunset over the ocean. This is your last night of the tour and you are free to do as you’d like!
DAY 17: Essaouira – Airport Marrakech / Casablanca
Today we transport you to Marrakech or Casablanca, and say goodbye after a wonderful tour!
Trip details:
PRICE Please contact us for pricing, as this will be determined by the number of people in your group, length of tour, and your preferences regarding the itinerary. Our goal is to provide customized tours based on what you would like to see and do.
INCLUDED Multi-lingual guiding services, transportation throughout your trip, all accommodations, all breakfasts and dinners.
