Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat
We will meet you upon your arrival at Casablanca airport to start your 10-day tour of Morocco. We will visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the largest mosque outside Mecca, before continuing to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. You will see the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah before you check into your overnight accommodation at a riad at the heart of the medina.
Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes
After breakfast in your riad, begin our journey to Fes via Meknes and Volubilis. Meknes is a significant imperial city in Morocco and the Ismaili capital of Morocco. Here you will see the famous Bab Mansour Gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Mulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch, we continued to the Roman city of Volubilis. You will get a chance to see the wonderfully preserved original mosaics, an ancient Roman road, and the city layout. As we travel through the Moroccan countryside we will pass the Holy City of Moulay Idriss and stop for a photo opportunity. We will arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and check into your riad in the medina.
Day 3: Exploring Fes
After breakfast in your riad, we begin exploring the medina. Your guide will lead you to the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. You will visit the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains, and the famous leather tanneries. After lunch, you will view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter or Mellah. There you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco. You will also visit a ceramic factory and see how the intricate mosaics are crafted. Finally, in the late afternoon, you will visit the new city for a drink and enjoy the wonderful panoramic view over the whole medina of Fes. Overnight at the same riad.
Day 4: Fes – Merzouga
After breakfast, we head south to Merzouga on old caravan routes, catching glimpses of the Middle and Higher Atlas Mountains. Pause at a cedar forest to spot Barbarian Apes. After lunch in Midelt, we travel through the scenic Ziz Valley and Tafilalet date palm grove, renowned for date cultivation. Marvel at changing scenery as we approach Er Rachidia. Pass through Berber villages Erfoud and Rissani, the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty. Arrive in Merzouga by day’s end, welcomed with mint tea at your riad.
Day 5: Merzouga Area and Camel Trek
After breakfast in the riad, we explore the outlying area of Merzouga. You’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Next, we will visit the souk in Rissani, a traditional town that was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of caravans trading from as far away as Timbuktu in Mali. Here you will see hooded men and veiled women. In the late afternoon, you will start your guided camel trek, led by an experienced camel man to explore the sand sea of Merzouga. Overnight at our well-equipped desert camp where you will have your dinner and enjoy Berber drums under an endless starry sky.
Day 6: Merzouga – Toudgha Gorges – Dades Valley
If you wake up early, you may experience what may be the best sunrise of your life. As you slowly wend your way back to Merzouga on your camel, you won’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the dunes in the changing with the light. After breakfast and a hot shower, you’ll leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and Todra Gorges. These are 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’. Finally, overnight accommodation will be in a guesthouse overlooking the Dades Valley.
Day 7: Dades Valley – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Marrakech
After breakfast, we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, also known as ‘The Way of a Thousand Kasbahs’ towards Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazate. The route provides numerous opportunities to take some of your best photos of the trip. Then we drive through the ‘Valley of Roses’ and Skoura Village. Afterward, we continue to Ouarzazate, the ‘Hollywood of Africa’. Lunch is at the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest kasbah in Morocco. After exploring this UNESCO heritage site, our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’ Tichka Pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains. We will take time to stop and enjoy the impressive views. Finally, we arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon and overnight in a traditional riad in the medina.
Day 8: Exploring Marrakech
After breakfast in your riad, we will explore Marrakech, the ‘Red City of Morocco’. We will ensure that you see the most important sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Koutoubia Minaret; the Saadian tombs; the beautiful Palace of Bahia, and the Ben Youssef Coranic School. Finally, end the morning by walking through the medina, admiring the different artisans crafting their wares, before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square. Lunch at a restaurant near the square, and then in the afternoon visit the Majorelle gardens and have a short tour at Gueliz, the new city of Marrakech. After dinner, you have the option to walk through the square and be entertained by magicians, story-tellers, tooth-pullers, and food sellers.
Day 9: Day Trip to Essaouira
After breakfast in your riad, we travel to the coastal city of Essaouira. Essaouira knew many civilizations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affected much of its architecture. However, it remains a small village with much history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also regarded as Morocco’s ‘Jewel of the Atlantic’. On arrival, we begin exploring the town, visiting the Skala Fortress, the port, walking through the alleys of the medina and souks, past hundreds of handicrafts, and seeing Thuya wood carved by artisans. Our visit includes the Mellah, or Jewish quarter, and the beach.
Lunch is typically Moroccan; bought fish, ‘cooked to order’. Essaouira is known for its strong winds most of the year so it attracts surfers from all over the world. Finally, in the afternoon we travel back to Marrakech, stopping to visit a women’s co-operative to see how they extract argon oil, famous for its culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal properties. Overnight accommodation is in the same riad in Marrakech.
Day 10: Marrakech – Airport Transfer
You may have time to explore a bit more of Marrakech depending on your departure time. We will ensure you get to the airport in time for your flight.
