Trip from Casablanca. Take part in an extraordinary journey that begins in the bustling city of Casablanca, Morocco. During this immersive, multi-day journey, you will traverse diverse landscapes, delve into the rich history, and savor the unique cultural tapestry of this enchanting country.
ITINERARY
13 days 12 nights Desert Trip
from Casablanca to Casablanca or Marrakech
Casablanca Airport – Rabat
On the day of your arrival to the biggest industrial city of Morocco; you will have a driver waiting for you at the main exit of the airport, depending on your flight schedule you will make a stop at Hassan II Mosque where you will witness a fascinating example of the Moroccan architecture, then you will keep on to Rabat for a visit of the Moroccan Capital’s most interesting spots.
Accommodation: Riad or hotel in Rabat..
Rabat – Meknes – Moulay Driss – Volubilis – Fes
After you take your breakfast, you will make a break to Meknes, one of the imperial cities of the kingdom, the former capital and the site of the Sultan Moulay Ismail’s storehouse. You will make several stops to take some pictures at the Bab Mansour, Lahdim Square, Bab Lakhmis, and the Jewish cemetery before continuing to Moulay Driss to enjoy the panoramic views over the lush plains, agave plants and olive trees. In addition, we will have 1h for lunch.
Afterwards a visit to Volubilis; here we are going on an hour guided walking tour through this attractive roman city or what we call the ruins of Volubilis, which was listed as a UNESCO world Heritage site in 1997
Overnight: Riad or hotel in Fes.
Fes – Diving into the city with a local guide
Today you will have a guided tour to discover the medina and the famous Souks of Fes and its narrow cobbled streets are filled with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets as well as the unique Andalusian architecture in every corner of the old city and its monuments,
We will ensure that you visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Qaraouine University (the oldest university I the world). The tour will includes also a visit to the tanneries and the ceramic cooperative to see traditional Moroccan crafts.
Accommodation: Riad or hotel in Fes.
Fes – Midelt – Erfoud – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
In the morning after breakfast depart from you accomodation to Merzouga via Ifran Moroccan Swiss style of town, we will have a stop to have some coffee and a little glimps at the city. Then we will visit cedar forests, where we will pause for a while to enjoy seeing monkeys climbing the trees.
Then Lunch is in Midelt, “the apple capital”, at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. We continue over the Tizi-n-Talremt pass (an altitude of 1907 meters above the sea) through the Ziz Valley, which is particularly well known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis.
Along the road, there are innumerable “Ksars”, small villages of individual houses. From there, we reach Er Rachidia and then Erfoud, famous for its date festival and fossils. .Arrive Merzouga where Morocco’s unique dunes
Overnight: in a hotel with dinner and breakfast.
Exploring Merzouga and riding camels
After breakfast we will start exploring the area, we will begin by visiting the village of black people originally from Mali to enjoy their traditional Gnawa music and the way they live. After that, we will drive to Miffis to meet Berber nomad families living in tents; they will offer a cup of tea. Our guide will be happy to show you around and explain how people live there.
Before returning to the hotel, after a cup of tea, our leader will teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-related safety tips then you begin exploring the mysterious sand-sea in Merzouga.
Accommodation: Berber desert camp
Meals: Dinner and breakfast included.
Merzouga – Rissani – dades Gorges
An early wake up in the morning to enjoy the fascinating sunrise, afterwards you ride back the camels to the hotel in the dune line, for a quick shower and breakfast.
We say goodbye to the desert and start our new adventure. Along the way towards Erfoud, you will stop to visit the traditional market of Sijilmassa and possibly the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. We will arrive to the great canyons of Morocco Todra Gorges, situated beyond the central High Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges and great canyons and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion.
The area is populated by the Berbers. In addition, you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons; you go along the road of 1000 Thousand Kasbahs, since there are enormous kasbahs on both sides of the road. Then you pass a town called Boumalne Dades, situated on the edge of Dades valley, which raises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture.
Accommodation: hotel in the valley
Meals: Dinner and breakfast included.
Dades valley – Roses valley – Skoura – Ouarazazate
After breakfast in your hotel, we will head to follow the river up to the gorges, another stunning canyon in the southeast of the country. When we finish our visit, we will drive to El Kalaa Mgouna (Rose Town) where locals pick over 400 tons of rose petals that are processed into rosewater, crèmes and perfumes in local cooperatives. A festival is held every May there. Time to enjoy your lunch in the town. Then, We take the road of a thousand kasbahs to Skoura which is home to the most beautiful kasbahs in Morocco, we visit the 17th century Kasbah of Amridil, drive in the oases of Skoura towards Ouarazazate. The final destination of the day will be Ouarazazate (The Hollywood). A city often considered the last big outpost before the Sahara Desert.
Filmmakers and crews alike have flocked here in recent years to film blockbusters such as Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time, Body of Lies, The Mummy, Babel, Spy Game and many other movies in and around this desert city. Kasbah Taourirt will be our next stop, a citadel set against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. As far as fortifications are concerned in Morocco, this is one of the most impressive of its kind.
With almost 300 rooms and a true maze of passageways, steps, and key lock doors, it is easy to feel lost within this immense structure that only connects to the outside world through a narrow entrance doorway. Furthermore, we will have a break to visit the studios and picture some of the great cinema scenes ever. Then we will go to our hotel to spend the night and have a lovely dinner.
Accommodation: Riad or hotel in Ouarzazate.
Ouarazazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Taliwin-Taroudant
After breakfast, we will visit the biggest Atlas Cinema Studios of Ouarazazate (Hollywood of Africa). We then head towards the famous Kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou, which is Declared by UNESCO in 1987 as a World Heritage Site. This Kasbah is a backdrop for so many international films including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Games of Thrones. Then, we will visit this unique Kasbah.
Afterwards, we continue our journey west enjoying the scenic beauty of Atlas Mountains and pass through small Berber towns of Taznakht, where we will stop for lunch. Then set off to Taliouin – Capital of saffron – if it coincides the harvest season, you will have the opportunity to meet with locals in their fields. In the afternoon, we will get to Taroudant known locally as” the grandmother of Marrakesh ‘. You will explore its ramparts and walk through its small alleys of the medina that has a Berber souk unlike other Moroccan cities .
Overnight: In a Riad
Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira
Breakfast in the riad, and then head for Essaouira, travelling via Agadir. Our first stop will be at Agadir, a resort city that was a very big tourist destination for many years. After lunch and a small walk along the Promenade, a seacoast nearby to Agadir where you can do the surfing. You will continue then to Essaouira.
The coastal road offers beautiful scenery, an area famous for the Argan trees in the country. Here you will see herds of goats climbing the Argan trees looking for better food than they can find on the ground. After several stops along the coast, we get to Essaouira in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation at a Riad in the Medina.
Accommodation: Riad or hotel in Essaouira.
Diving into Essaouira with a local guide
After breakfast, and around 09:30am, we will start our day by visiting the ramparts called Skalla fortress. Then walk inside the narrow alleys of the Medina- UNESCO World Heritage Site – with beautiful arts and crafts including objects carved of local Thuya wood. Lunch in a Moroccan way, freshly bought fish” cooked to order”. Essaouira is also known as” City of the wind”; it attracts surfers from different parts of the world. Essaouira was occupied by Romans, Phoenicians and Portuguese.
Thus, there is a big influence noticed in its architecture. It is a small town with much history. There is an annual festival of” Gnaoua music” where many musicians from Africa and the world come to perform. It takes place on the second week of June. In the afternoon, you will have free time to stroll around the main square and have a mint tea in one of its Cafés. Over night in a Riad inside the Medina.
Overnight: Same Riad Essaouira
Essaouira-Marrakech
After breakfast in your Riad, you will have some free time before leaving for Marrakech. On our way, since this is the land of Argan culture, this is an opportunity to visit the women’s co-operative of Argan oil where they extract the oil that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medical properties.
After several stops to take photographs, you will continue your travel to Marrakech and check in to your Riad. After dinner, you will have the option to enjoy walking within the famous square of Jemaa El fna, entertained with magicians, storytellers, musicians and snake charmers.
Accommodation: Riad or hotel in Marrakech.
Diving into Marrakech with a local guide
Next day after breakfast, you will have a guided tour through Marrakech where you will be led first to discover the Palace of the Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, the Souks and numerous other hidden treasures. After lunch, you will proceed with the guided tour to the historical Koutoubia Mosque and the bustling Jemaa el-Fna, one of the central interests of Marrakech, the breathing heart of the Medina. This brings you further to appreciate an enthusiastic night with the local performers, storytellers, and mouth-watering grilled dishes. This wonderful tour also includes a visit to Madrassa Ben-Youssef (Now under constructions).
In the afternoon, we will visit Majorelle gardens, in 1919, Jacques Majorelle, an expatriate French painter, settled in Morocco and purchased the land that would eventually become Majorelle Garden. The gardens opened to the public in 1947, but severely deteriorated after his death in 1962. In the late afternoon, the driver will take to have a look at the new city (Guilez). At night, enjoy a stunning dinner at your accommodation.
Overnight: Same riad or hotel in Marrakech.
Marrakech – Airport Casablanca or Airport Marrakech
This will be the end of our grand tour from Casablanca, we have visited different part of the country. We will take you to the airport and say goodbye.
End of Tour
HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore Morocco’s Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Casablanca
• Volubilis, Roman archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
• Journey through the picturesque Dades and Todra Gorges with their towering rock formations.
• Visit the spectacular Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah (UNESCO site)
• Enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine and cultural traditions
• Ride camels across the Erg Chebbi dunes and camp under the stars in the Sahara Desert
• Watch unforgettable sunsets and sunrises over Merzouga
• Stop anywhere along the way to take unforgettable photos
Tour starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech or Casablanca
INCLUDED
• Private A / C Vehicle, 4WD Throughout the tour + fuel
• Experienced English speaking driver
• Overnight with dinners and breakfast throughout the tour.
• Official guide for the whole tour.
• Local guide in Fes and Marrakech.
• Scarf for each person in the desert.
• Pick up and drop off from your accommodation
• Camel Ride in the desert.
• Sand boarding in the desert.
• Luxury camp/standard camp in the desert.
NOT INCLUDED
• Tips & gratuities
• Lunches & soft drinks
• Personal expenses
TO BOOK THIS 13 days 12 nights Desert Trip
from Casablanca, to Casablanca or marrakech OR IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A CUSTOM TOUR, CONTACT US AND WE WILL GET IN TOUCH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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