Itinerary 13 days: Around Morocco

Day 1: Marrakech

You arrive in Marrakech, where we pick you up from the airport. This day you can explore the city by yourself or just relax in your riad.

 

Day 2: Marrakech - Ait Ben haddou - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorge

From Marrakech we will drive through the dramatic Tizi ‘n’ Tichka pass (2260m), over the High Atlas Mountains. The twisted roads in the Atlas will show you fantastic views and lead you through Berber villages.  Before we arrive in Quarzazate we will visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, this is the largest Kasbah in Morocco, now a UNESCO matrimonial historical site and still home to some Glaoui family members. You have the lunch by the Kasbah before we continue on to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate. This is “the Hollywood of Africa” along the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”- the fascinating “sand castles”, also known as “The gate of the desert” that in Berber language means “noiseless or without confusion”. Here we´ll see the Taourirt kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars in Morocco. We stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May.  Eventually we’ll arrive at our hotel in the heart of the Dades Valley.

 

Day 3: Dades vallez - Todra Gorges - Merzouga

After having breakfast at your hotel we’ll head to a lookout point and enjoy a wonderful view of the Valley of Dades. Because these sceneries are so spectacular we'll make a couple more stops to take some pictures until we reach the Todra Gorges.  You’ll have some time to walk by yourself and interact with the local people before we head to Touroug for lunch. After lunch we head on the road to Merzouga.  There you'll feel like a real nomad when you enter the amazing Merzouga Dunes, where the camels are waiting to take you to the Erg Chebbi Dunes. These are the highest sand dunes in North Africa. The camel trek to the camp takes about 90 minutes *.  Here, in the middle of the desert, we spent the night in a Berber tent. The tents are equipped with mattresses, blankets, and cushions.  You will see one of the most beautiful sunsets in your lifetime and after that you'll see thousands of stars in the sky. You will spend the night in a camp (Berber nomad tents) where you have dinner and life music in the middle of the Sahara.

 

* If you don't want to go on the camel ride:  that is not a problem. At an additional cost we will drive you with by a 4 wheel drive vehicle to the camp (return).

 

Day 4: Merzouga - Khamlia - Nomade Families - Merzouga

We wake up early for to see the Sunrise over the dunes. We return by camels to the hotel. Here you'll have a lovely breakfast and you can take a shower. After this we get on the road to discover the region of Merzouga.  We start in Khamlia. Here we visit the Gnaoua people, originally slaves brought from Mali. You'll get the opportunity to listen to their Gnawa music and learn about their culture and lifestyle. With the 4x4 car we will discover the nomad's lifestyle. We will visit local nomad families who live in tents around the Erg Chebbi dunes.  You’ll have lunch with locales in Berber village.  After this we bring you to your accommodation where you can spend the free afternoon on your own. You can explore the town or the dunes next to the hotel to see the sunset. Dinner and the night are in the hotel.

 

Day 5:  Merzouga - Midelt - Azrou - Fès

After breakfast, we’ll departure for Rissani and Erfoud, where there will be a stop to see how locally found fossils are worked into furniture and artefacts. From there the road leads north to Er Rachidia and the Ziz Valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees. Lunch is in Midelt, which is called “the apple capital”. Midelt is in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. Then we cross the Tizi-n-Talremt pass and reach Azrou. If we are lucky, you’ll see some monkeys. The next place we´ll visit is the city of Ifrane, situated in the northwestern slope of the Middle Atlas, and we will drive directly to Fès to get you to your accommodations at a reasonable hour so you can explore the large Medina on your own in the evening.

 

Day 6: Fès

After breakfast we will guide you through the medina, one of the world’s largest walled-in cities.  In the south west wall of the medieval Medina is a beautiful looking entry, the Bab Bou Jeloud. It gives excess to narrow streets that are lined up with fresh fruits spices, woven Berber carpets etc.  This medina is very large, it is about 3 km. And there for one of the largest medinas Islamic in Africa. We will visit the El Qaraouiyyin Mosque, the place Nejjarine and the tanneries. At the tanneries you can watch locals work on skins of goat, lamp, camel and cow, in small clay pits. Overnight stay at the Hotel/Riad

 

Day 7: Fez - Chefchaouen

After breakfast in your riad we will start our day and drive to Chefchaouen. A city with a  different culture and lifestyle then others cities in Morocco. This city is nestled in the Riff Mountains, is famous for its Andalusia character and for its extraordinary light and color. The old town medina’s houses are all tinted in white and blue colors. It is wonderful to walk through the old town and walking through these colors. It is a peaceful place and it will feel like you are walking in the sky. We will spend the day exploring the city, visit the great monuments like Place Utah el-Hamam which is linked with cafes and restaurants, and learn about authentic woven blankets that are made by hand, visit to the Ras el-ma, where city’s fresh water springs from the mountain.

 

Day 8: Chefchaouen - Assilah - Rabat

After breakfast in your Riad, we drive to Rabat via the city Assilah. Our first stop will be in Asillah; a small village, one of the most beautiful in the north of Morocco. With its small medina characterized by the blue houses and walls decorated with colorful drawings, where you will have the opportunity to explore the city. This city is known for its annual festival for the Art - most of the walls of the Medina are painted by various famous artists from all over the word. After this we will take you to the capital city of Rabat, where you will be spending the night in your Hotel/Riad.

 

Day 9: Rabat

After breakfast, we will explore Rabat, known as the City of Gardens. It is the administrative capital of Morocco.  It’s at the same time, a modern and traditional city, a dynamic mix of ancestral and modern culture and it’s surrounded by colorful hillsides and mountains. We will visit the Hassan Tower. The minaret of this mosque has never been finished but it’s the symbol of the city, and visit also the Kasbah des ouiduias, Mausoleum of Mohamed v, challah Gardens and Necropolis.

 

Day 10: Rabat - Casablanca - Essaouirra

After breakfast we drive to Essaouirra via the City economic capital of Morocco; Casablanca. This is now Morocco’s largest and commercial city. We will visit the United Nations Building, avenue Mohamed V, the ANFA District and the beautiful mosque of Hassan II. This is the largest mosque in Morocco and sixth in the world. Non-Muslims may also enter here. After that we will drive to Essaouira also known by the Portuguese name Mogador.

 

Day 11: Essaouira - Marrakech

 After breakfast we will explore this old Mogador "Essaouira" known for its fishing port, with his beautiful blue boats, as well the Medina and its walls. This town will surprise you with its charms; you will feel its Moroccan soul, by immersing yourself in the atmosphere of its port and strolling around its souks carved by artisans, walking through the alleys of the medina. We will visit the Mellah, the Jewish headquarter, the beach. In the afternoon well depart to Marrakech. Along the way, you will see enormous Argan tree on both sides of the road, there’s an opportunity to visit a women’s Argan oil cooperative, here we will see how the women’s extract oil from Argan nuts that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medical properties. After many stops to make pictures, we will continue our road to Marrakech.

 

Day 12: Marrakech

For the city tour of Marrakech you are going with the local guide he will taking you through the winding streets, bustling souks, and the focal point of the city – the great Djemâa-el-Fna where there are snake charmers, monkeys, musicians and food.  This square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2001. The souks of Marrakech are busy. There is much to see, taste and smell. After this you can visit Jardin Majorelle. A beautiful garden created by the French artist Jacques Majorelle and then taking care off by Yves Saint Laurent until his death. This peaceful spot in the ville nouvelle contains botanic and exotic plants brought from all over the world, with dominating indigo blue to paint the wall. Explore this mystical city at your leisure, and relax with our optional activity.

 

Day 13: Airport Transfer

On this day our services we will bring you to the airport for your onward flight.