12 days 11 nights
Daily Tour
16 people
English, Espanol, Francais, Italian
This intriguing 12-day tour from Casablanca enjoys 11 nights soaking in majestic imperial cities and the enchanting Sahara. The adventure proceeds northward: vibrant Casablanca; Rabat-the capital city of the country; Chefchaouen, a picturesque town famous for its blue-washed buildings; Roman vestiges at Volubilis; Meknes, former capital under Sultan Ismail, and Fes city, alive with culture.
The journey proceeds south to Ifrane, the so-called “Switzerland of Morocco,” and lovely cedar forests. The road then leads through Midelt, Ziz Valley, Rissani’s colorful and busy souk, and the town of Erfoud, which is of great interest for its fossils.
A highlight of the journey awaits in the Sahara of Merzouga: a camel ride followed by a magical night in a desert camp under the stars, witnessing magnificent sunsets and sunrises over the desert. The dahabiya tour also includes a visit to the spectacular Todra and Dades gorges and the ancient Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. You will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka pass before ending with guided tours of the vibrant cities of Marrakech and Essaouira and returning to Casablanca.
For your collection of twelve days in Morocco, expect to meet you at Casablanca airport, seaport, or hotel. This city is Morocco's biggest metropolis and is also known as its economic engine. Our first exploration is going to be from the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in the country. This architectural masterpiece is majestically perched on a coastal promontory with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. After that, enjoy some free time for lunch. Lunch is followed by exploration of the city's major areas and the stunning Corniche, and finally, time for leisure. You will enjoy your overnight stay in a hotel.
We begin our day with a drive following the coastal route, with Rabat being our destination. Rabat serves as the capital city of Morocco and also stands as one of its imperial cities. This city is located within the northwestern region of Morocco. A guided tour of Rabat will be provided, enabling you to see its iconic landmarks, such as the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, as well as the Kasbah of Oudaya. You will have the freedom to enjoy lunch at your leisure. As the afternoon progresses, we'll drive northwards, through Ouazzane, to reach Chefchaouen, often recognized as the "Blue City," situated in the Rif Mountains. The evening concludes with an overnight stay at a hotel.
After an indeed hearty breakfast, our city exploration would begin in the mesmerizing blue city known as Chefchaouen. It is named Achaoun, a Berber name for "horns," and is nestled on the Rif Mountains in the northwest of Morocco. It is famous due to its architecture, wherein buildings and winding lanes are drenched in shades of white and blue. The adventure would kick off with a lovely stroll around the enchanting old Medina, which tells the story of the allure of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship with endless charming blue doors and pure white walls. Lunch will be served as per your desire. When afternoon arrives, you may consider hiking to the Spanish Mosque. It is located on a high point for unparalleled views, and you may savor a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire blue city. We will eventually reconvene at the hotel. It is going to be the same place, and indeed a well-deserved restful night's stay.
After breakfast, enjoy a stroll through the quaint, winding streets of Chefchaouen, well-known for all the blue paint. From there, we'll move on to the ancient Roman site of Volubilis. These ruins are some of the best preserved in North West Africa and have World Heritage Site status. Among other wonders, many beautifully designed mosaics are scattered all over the site, in tandem with old columns and graceful archways. After exploring the ruins, we'll head inland to Meknes, approximately thirty kilometers away. This was the capital of the Ismailis and one of Morocco's imperial cities, and here we will learn about its history. Our tour includes the Bab Al-Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani basin, the Royal stables, the granary, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Finally, we shall drive on to Fes, where we will spend the night at a traditional Riad.
Today is fully dedicated to guided visits to some of Fes's primary locations as one famous imperial city in Morocco and has great cultural and religious importance as well. We will start the tour at the gate of the royal palace. Then we will go to the Medina, one of the most preserved medieval sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will enter the Medina through the Bab Boujloud, or Blue Gate, which acts as the entry point to a very complex series of narrow streets and passageways. Afterward, our exploration of many historical sites will include the Medrasa Bouanania, the Najjarine fountain, and the famous Tanneries. Next along the itinerary: the Qaraouin mosque and university, regarded worldwide as the oldest university on Earth. After this, we leave the Medina to visit the Jewish quarter, known popularly as "the Mellah." The afternoon is reserved for a visit to an ancient fortress, which offers a panorama of the Medina and the city of Fes as a whole. We will return to your Riad at the end of the day.
After breakfast, our journey continues southward while passing through Imouzzer and heading for Ifrane. It is a city with cold weather, snow from time to time, and architecture resembling an Alpine town. This is why it is called the "Switzerland of Morocco." Afterward continues the 12-day Moroccan tour continues, heading toward the cedar forest, the natural habitat of the Barbary macaque. The guests are encouraged to interact with these creatures, feeding them within the forest's limits. Then the itinerary keeps going toward Midelt, where an allowance of time is left for lunch. From there, we journey to Merzouga via the Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass while skirting alongside Ziz Valley. These trips shall include a few time-outs for taking panoramic views. In the afternoon, the group's arrival in Merzouga's Sahara Desert is greeted by the switching of mounts to camels, thereby enabling the crossing of the sand expanse. A pause atop one of the rising dunes is made to catch the view during sunset. The journey then continues to the camp, a combination of traditional nomadic tents with hotel luxuries, where visitors will enjoy Berber drum performances and dancing beside a campfire under a starlit sky. Dinner and overnight stay are at the camp.
This early morning must be spent witnessing the breathtaking sunrise over the desert: one of the best experiences in one's life. Reliving the camel ride back to Merzouga, where our driver waits. The seventh day of your amazing Best 12 day morocco tour is fully dedicated to the lush Merzouga area. Dunes, swamps, ancient mines, fossil-rich grounds, and lovely oases are some of the extraordinary places that this region is endowed with. After getting acquainted with Merzouga, we leap off for an off-road drive leading us to an old eyeliner mine. Afterward, we go and meet nomadic families in their hand-woven tents, giving us an insight into their way of life while we share a refreshing Berber tea. Our next visit will be to the village of Khamlia, famous for its magical Gnaoua music and dance performances. The people of Khamlia have roots in sub-saharan Africa and come from countries such as Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Lunch will be easygoing at a restaurant. After lunch, we'll stroll through the green palmery. A few minutes' drive takes us to the wild Merzouga Lake, or Flamingo Lake. We will then travel back to Merzouga to dine and spend the night at the hotel.
After the breakfast, we will go out of the desert in the direction of Rissani. This town used to be the historical capital of the Tafilalet region. Currently, Rissani is an important commercial town with a large souk thriving on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After our excursion into Rissani's souk, we will move on, first to Erfoud for a visit to one of the local workshops that work with fossilized marble. Then, the drive continues through the palm trees on Touroug and Tinjdad, to the Todra Gorges. As a result of the undying strength of the Todra River in carving an incredible canyon through the mountains, towering, red-hued cliffs form around it. It's good news for climbing enthusiasts. Feel free to wander around while soaking in the beautiful scenery all around you. A stop for lunch will be made in a local restaurant. Thereafter, the road is directed towards the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades. This section will include compulsory photo spots at the 'monkey fingers' rock formations before going up to a mountaintop viewpoint with surrounding sights of the Dades Valley. The day closes with dinner and overnight accommodation in a hotel.
Our mornings begin with hearty breakfasts and can continue to our journey to Kalaa Magouna, which has been leaving the captivating Rose Valley awaiting us. In this area, well-known for its annual Rose Festival, usually held in May, we will allow ourselves to capture everything this area has to offer. During this vibrant celebration, local artisans display an incredible range of goods made from roses-from perfumes through floral waters and oils to a variety of delights in cosmetics. Then we'll go to the city of Ouarzazate, traveling by the splendid palm groves of Skoura, where, in this city, we'll visit the fascinating specimens, film studios. a sample of the cinema undergoing filming for some of the movies such renowned as. We will then visit the famous Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou worldwide. This is the precious fortified village recognized around the world, thanks to its exhibiting such films as Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy, and many more. It also appeared in the amazing TV series called Game of Thrones. Next, we will kick-start our final leg towards Marrakech. Our way would take us across the Tizi-N-Tichka pass and through the gigantic High Atlas Mountains. The drive will include a lie for lunch and pictures at defining points. Our day will find restful lodging in a Riad of Marrakech.
After breakfast, we set out with a local guide to discover the main sights of Marrakech. It is an important city in Morocco and one of the imperial capitals. The places we plan to visit include: the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrasa (Quranic school), and wander through the biggest traditional bazaar in Morocco. Lunch will be at your leisure near the famous Jemaa el-Fna square. Afterward, the next stop will be to visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in Marrakech, followed by the beautiful Majorelle Garden. Transfer back to the hotel after your visits. Enjoy the atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fna at your leisure.
With breakfast in our bellies, we'll set off early, towards Essaouira, the city by the sea that we will explore. Along the way, we will have some great stops to collect memories. Firstly, admiring the unique Argan trees, with goats hilariously lodged in their branches. Secondly, we should stop several times to appreciate the view. The beautiful Essaouira, once called Mogador, is now one of the most important cities of Morocco on the coast. We've got the afternoon to explore, including a little visit to the busy fishing port, then off to the ancient ramparts, adorned with old cannons, and finally to the bustling Medina, a real trip back in history. This trip is then transferred to the hotel of your choice at the end. Your night is in Essaouira.
Our program depends on your flight schedule on the final day of your 12 days in Morocco. We will leave Essaouira on a beachside drive, enjoying the beauty of the coastal drives. We would stop several times to allow you to bask in all these outstanding The tour finally nears its end at Casablanca Airport, signifying the end of your tour.