10 Days Tour From Casablanca to Merzouga Desert, Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech

Day 1:

Casablanca – Rabat:

We will meet you at Casablanca airport and drive to the city. In Casablanca you will see the Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside of Mecca and experience the coastal Cornish seaside. Afterwards, we will leave to Rabat. Here you will see the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah, before you check in to your riad in the Medina.

Day 2:

Casablanca – Rabat – Rif Mountains – Chefchaouen:

After breakfast in your riad or hotel, around 8 AM, we will visit Rabat’s most interesting places. Then we will drive to Chefchaouen which is a popular tourist attraction just south of the Mediterranean coastline. This welcoming blue city is known for its traditional buildings. Enjoy a walk to explore the white and blue washed walls of the medina and the markets offering unique native handicrafts.

Chefchaouen is a fantastic destination for photography with its wonderful views of the Rif Mountains. After visiting the city, we will drop you off at the hotel.

Day 3:

Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes:

We will depart for Fes. The road takes us along a beautiful stretch of farmlands where olives, grain, vegetables and grapes are grown. Before arriving to Fes you will visit Meknes and Volubilis. Volubilis is the sight of the famous ruins of the Roman Empire’s most southern outpost. Meknes is the site of the first Arab dynasty created by Moulay Ismail and has the Medersa Bou Inania and the Bab Mansour, the Gateway to Moulay Ismail Palace. This leads us into the Henri es-Souani, the horses stable and granaries. Upstairs is a rooftop garden and cafe with a great view of the city. Then you check into the hotel.

Day 4:

Exploring Fes:

After breakfast in your riad, we begin an exploration of the Medina where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world.

Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah”, where you will have the option to visit one of the few active synagogues in Morocco.

Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes. In the afternoon we will visit the new city for a drink. Overnight accommodation will be at your riad.

Day 5:

Fes – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga :

After breakfast in your riad, we will leave towards the southeast following the Caravan roads to Merzouga. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at the Cedar forest, the largest in Morocco, over the Middle Atlas Mountains– where you may see Barbarian apes.

After lunch in Midelt, we will continue, noticing how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as we approach the city Errachidia. Our journey continues along the luxuriant Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet date palm grove, famous for date cultivation. This area is the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco.

You’ll arrive at Merzouga at the end of the afternoon – to be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check in to your riad.

Day 6:

Merzouga Area And The Camel Trek:

After breakfast in the riad you will explore the area. You’ll visit the Gnawa people – originally slaves brought from Sudan – to experience their music and lifestyle. You may also visit the souk in Rissani, a traditional town which was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of the Caravans trading as far as Tombuctou in Mali. Here you will see a lot of men hooded and women veiled.

Back to the village of Merzouga for some rest, in the afternoon you will mount your camel, guided by an experienced camel man to explore within the sandsea of Merzouga. Overnight will be at our desert camp.

Day 7:

Merzouga – Todgha Gorges – Dades Valley:

Early in the morning, your camel guide will wake you up to watch what may be the best sunrise of your life. You will trek back to the village of Merzouga. En route you will appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses.

After breakfast and shower in your riad, you’ll leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and Todgha gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we’ll 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 fancy guesthouse overlooking the Dades Valley.

Day 8:

Dades Valley – Ait Benhaddou – Tizi N’tichka Pass – Marrakech:

After breakfast, we’ll drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaat M’Gouna and Ouarzazat. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take the best photos of the trip. We’ll stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, “the rose city”, to purchase rosewater, which will make your linen smell good long after your trip is over.

Continue to Marrakech via the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. Built by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains during the 18th century, the Kasbah is now a house of many Glaoui people. Your journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech, at the riad in the medina.

Day 9:

Exploring Marrakech :

After breakfast in the riad, you will enjoy a morning guided tour of Marrakech “the Red City of Morocco”. Your guide will ensure that you see all the sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Koutoubia Minaret; the Saadian tombs; the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Coranic School.

End the morning by walking through the medina alleys – getting a chance to admire all of the different artisans performing their crafts before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square.

Lunch will be at a restaurant near the square, and in the afternoon we will visit the Majorelle gardens, and have a short tour at Gueliz – the new city of Marrakech. After dinner you will have the option to walk through the square to be entertained by magicians, storytellers, tooth-pullers and food sellers. Overnight accommodation will be in your riad.

Day 10:

Marrakech – Casablanca airport :

After an early breakfast in your riad, we will drive you to Casablanca or Marrakech airport for your flight back home. Your tour ends at the airport