During this 5-day tour, you will visit the best of Morocco including its 4 imperial cities Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech teeming with historical monuments from the many dynasties who built architectural gems (palaces, Koranic schools, gardens, large walls and beautiful doors…). passing through the Sahara Desert to Merzouga for an adventure of a lifetime camel trekking in the golden dunes admiring the beautiful sunset and sunrise over the Sahara dunes.
Highlights of the trip
Kasbah les Oudaias, the sloping historic site of chellah, the Bou Regreg river, the mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower.
Explore Meknes (the Heri de Souani Granary, Bab Mansour Gate and El Hedim Square and take a walk in the medina …)
Guided tour of the Medina of Fez by our local guide.
Cross the High Atlas (Ifrane, Medilt, oasis of Rachidia …
A “sand” circuit in the erg of Merzouga, the most famous in Morocco, with superb views of the surrounding massifs.
The many climbs and crossings of high dunes.
The discovery of the superb valleys of Unilla, Roses, Tinghir, Tafilalt and Draa: colorful villages and casbahs
program
DAY 1: CASABLANCA – RABAT – MEKNES – FES
After breakfast, we will drive an hour from Casablanca to the capital Rabat, a guided tour is planned from Chella, a fortified ruin of a city located a few steps from the current medina of Rabat, south of the New Town, we continue to walk to discover the Kasbah Oudayas located at the mouth of the Bouregreg river with its Andalusian gardens, its blue walls and its small flowery streets.
Then we will start to travel to Meknes, an impressive city in Hispano-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with large gates, where the harmonious blend of Islamic and European styles from the 17th century Maghreb is still evident today.
The guided historical tour of Meknes will include Bab Mansour, located off the vast el-Hedim square (place of ruins) which we will enter shortly. The square is lined with modern residential buildings and a covered souk (market). After visiting Meknes, we will take the road to Fez to spend the night.
DAY 2: FES
After breakfast you will start a guided tour, the medina of Fez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is free from pesky cars or motorcycles … it is one of the largest walled cities in the world. Explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricate Berber rugs, and many other local handicrafts. For lunch, you can choose to eat in a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina. After lunch, you will continue the visit to visit the King’s Palace and then the famous tanneries.
DAY 3: FES – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA
After breakfast we will head to Midelt where we will have lunch passing through the small town of Ifrane, the cleanest and most modern town in Morocco. This Berber name of Ifran means caves nicknamed “Moroccan Switzerland”. It is also known for Al-Akhawayn University.
After lunch in Midelt, we continue to drive through landscapes with stunning mountain views, rising behind the city to a massive range, the Jebel Ayachi, over 3700m reaching the pre-Saharan area passing first by Errachidia. We will stop in the Ziz valley to take pictures, here is the beginning of the rich non-tourist palm groves. Afterwards we will stop at Erfoud, the capital of fossils dating back several hundred million years, the city which hosts every three weeks of October the date festival which offers exhibitions and shows. Depending on the weather permitting, we can visit the mausoleum of Chief Moulay Ali in Rissani, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty, just after we continue to Merzouga just before sunset to spend the night in the Berber tent in the middle of the more spectacular Moroccan dunes of Erg Chebi, listen to music, dance around the fire … dinner at the camp.
DAY 4: MERZOUGA – TODRA GORGE – DADES GORGE
Wake up early for an unmissable sunrise over the high desert dunes after enjoying those special moments, breakfast time and shower time in the camp and get ready to continue our adventure by driving from Merzouga to Morocco’s most spectacular gorge: the Todra Gorge which is only 33 feet wide but the cliffs are over 150 meters on each side where you can walk and explore the traditions and way of life of the Berber family from this town known for making Moroccan rugs.After lunch we will head to the Dades Valley. Night and dinner at your hotel.
DAY 5: DADES VALLEY – OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU – MARRAKECH
After breakfast, we will start our day by visiting the magnificent rock formations of the Dades Gorges. Then walk along a valley of roses to reach Kalaa M’gouna or the city of roses as it is cold, the ideal time to visit this city is at the end of spring because the city is covered with roses, every first week of May there- bas is the annual rose festival. The next stop will be Ouarzazate also known as Hollywood of Africa where its film studio has been the location of many great American films such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Man Who Would Be King (1975) , The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Kundun (1997), Legionnaire (1998), Hanna (2011), The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) were filmed here, as it was part of the Game of Thrones television series. After we will visit the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a former UNESCO palace where we will have lunch and start driving to Marrakech passing through the magnificent landscapes of Berber villages and the Atlas mountains. You drop off at your hotel in Marrakech or Riad.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DURATION: ………………….. 5 days / 4 nights.
PERIOD: ………………………. All year
GRADE: ……………………….. Normal
RETREAT DETAILS: …………. Pick up at 8:00 am (from your hotel in Casablanca or meeting point)
DETAIL DETAILS: ……… 7 pm-8pm at the hotel (day 5)
ACCOMMODATION: ……… Riads Moroccan guest house (Berber house) 3 * Hosts and Desert Camp.
FOOD AND DRINKS: …………… Fresh salad and hot meals Moroccan tagines, couscous, fruit… .will be provided.
The price included
2 nights in a Riad in Fez or equivalent in a *** hotel
1 night in the Desert Camp.
Comfortable and air-conditioned Toyota 4 × 4
Full board during the tour.
The support team (tour guide, driver, etc.)
The price Not included
Flights
Individual travel insurance
Drinks and tips.
PRICE: ……………………….. Contact us (Private tour).