12 Days Private Tour From Casablanca To Merzouga Desert

Day 1: Transfer from Casablanca Airport to your Riad in Rabat

We will meet you at the international airport in Casablanca and drive to Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. We will visit Hassan II Mosque before checking in to your hotel in Rabat.

Day 2: Rabat – Chefchaouen

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of historical sites in Rabat, including a visit to Hassan Tower, Shella Kasbah, and the ancient Oudayas Kasbah. Later, we depart for Chefchouen, the ‘Blue City’ of Morocco. This is one of the most visited places in Morocco, and you will have the chance to visit the ancient medina, walk through its narrow blue alleyways and have a chance to visit some stunning handicraft shops. Overnight at your riad/hotel.

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

After breakfast, we depart for Fez. En route, we take a short visit to Volubilis, the rich archaeological site from the Roman Empire. Next, we visit Meknes. This is one of Morocco’s Imperial cities that was founded in the 17^th century by Sultan Moulay Ismail. After visiting sites such as Bab Mansour, Medina, El-Hdim Square, and Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, we continued to Fez. Overnight at your riad/hotel.

Day 4: Fes Guided Tour

After breakfast, today’s plan is a guided tour visiting Fez’s fascinating monuments and sites. Your tour will begin with a visit to the astonishing palace gates. Then, you will head to a mosaic factory, followed by Madrasa Attaraine, Nejjarine Fountain, Mosque Al-Quarouine, Madrasa Bouanania, and colorful leather tanneries. After a perfect day exploring one of the oldest cities in Morocco, you will return to your riad for a well-deserved rest.

Day 5: Fes – Merzouga Dunes

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your accommodation at 8 a.m. Then, we start our drive to Merzouga, crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains and passing through the Berber towns of Azrou and Ifrane. We will stop at a cedar forest near Azrou to see some Berber Apes. We break for lunch in Midelt before continuing to Merzouga. You will get a chance to rest before you start your camel trek through the desert to the dunes of Erg Chebbi. After dinner, you will enjoy an evening with the local Berber people playing drums and singing around a campfire under endless stars. You will spend the night in a comfortable tent.

Day 6: Merzouga Dunes – Todgha Gorges – Dades Valley

If you wake early enough, you will be lucky to witness the breathtaking sunrise over Erg Chebbi’s dunes. Then, we head back to Merzouga for breakfast. Our journey resumes, and we visit Tinghir and Todra Gorges where you will have lunch and enjoy some time walking through the high cliffs. These are the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco and a big attraction for hikers. Then, we continue our journey to Dades Valley where you will overnight at your hotel/riad.

Day 7: Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou

After breakfast, we drive through the fascinating mountain roads lined with fig trees. We may stop to take a walk and explore the valley for an hour. Then, we drive to Ouarzazate, going through The Valley of Roses. In Ouarzazate, we will visit a couple of sites, including a visit to the Cinema Studios and Kasbah of Toaurirt. Afterwards, we make our way to the well-preserved Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. This is a World Heritage Site and has served as a backdrop for some Hollywood movies like Gladiator. Overnight at the village of Ait Ben Haddou.

Day 8 Ait Ben Haddou – Taliouin – Taroudant

After breakfast and a nice morning walk, we will drive via the amazing Ante-High Atlas Mountains to Taliouin. We will stop for lunch in the Safran Region. Afterward, we continue to Taroudant, traveling alongside argon trees and farms. Overnight at your riad in Taroudant.

Day 9: Taroudant – Tizi n Test- Imlil

After breakfast, we depart for Tizi n Test. The altitude of 2093m offers fascinating views and landscapes of the High Atlas Mountains. Then, we continue towards Imlil, a village located at the edge of Toubkal Mountain. Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa and one of the favorite attractions for hikers around the world. Overnight in Imlil.

Day 10: Imlil – Marrakech

Before we drive to Marrakech, we will hike for a few hours and explore the traditional Berber villages in the area of Imlil.

Day 11: Exploring Marrakech

After breakfast, we devote the day to visiting the monuments of Marrakech, including the beautiful Menara Gardens, the historical Kotoubia Minaret, Saadian Tombs, and the lovely Bahia Palace. Then, we continue to the medieval walls of the medina, Agdal Gardens, modern Marrakech’s town Geliz, and the famous Djemaa El Fnaa Square where you can see storytellers, dancers, singers, and snake charmers entertaining the crowds. Overnight at your hotel/riad.

Day 12: Day trip to Essaouira

In the morning, we leave Marrakech for Essaouira, an authentic city located on the Atlantic Coast. This is a popular attraction to visit from Marrakech as Essaouira is rich in historical sites and the medina of Essaouira has UNESCO World Heritage status.

Day 12: Transfer to the airport of Marrakech or Casablanca