Day 1: Casablanca Med V airport – Transfer to Casablanca City Centre (Hotel)
Upon arrival to Casablanca; the biggest city in the country; you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (It depends on your arrival time,) you would be able to go for a visit to the Great Mosque Hassan II where you will meet a fascinating example of Moroccan architecture. It is the largest mosque in the kingdom and the fifth largest mosque in the world. It stands on a promontory looking out on the Atlantic and has space for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque’s adjoining grounds for a total of 105,000 worshippers present at any given time at the Hassan II mosque. Its minaret is the tallest one in the world at 210 m.
Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Fes
Leaving Casablanca the economic capital of Morocco, to the political one Rabat. Where we will see the Oudaya Kasbah and its beautiful gardens, This Kasbah of the Oudaya is located at Abou Regreg river. It was built during the reign of the Almohad dynasty in 1150 AD. The Mausoleum of Mohamed V and Hassan Tower is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat constructed in 1195 AD. The tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world with the mosque. After we finish our sightseeing tour in Rabat we head to Fez on the express road. On the way, you will get fascinated by the thousands and thousands of olive trees and farmlands on the two banks. Arrival in Fez, we check into the hotel for the night.
Day 3: Fez (Sightseeing Tour with a local guide, Fez Medina)
After visiting the economic capital Casablanca and the political one Rabat, here we go for another adventure through the intellectual capital of Fez which was considered Mecca of the west, and Athena of Africa. It is the biggest city in the country after Casablanca with a population of approximately 1 million. This city is the former capital and one of the country’s four imperial cities. Fez comprises three distinct parts, Fez el Bali is the oldest part surrounded by a big wall, where are more than 9000 narrow streets and allies. Fez-Jdid or the new Fes, home of the Mellah the Jewish quarter, and the Ville Nouvelle the newest section of Fez created during the French occupation. Fez el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medina is the largest in the world. Among its narrow streets and allies, the oldest university in the world is located; The University of Al-Karaouine, founded in AD 859. This University is still operating nowadays.
Day 4: Fes – Moulay Driss- Volubilis – Meknes
On the way to Meknes, we will go back in time to the 3rd century by visiting the most important archaeological site in Morocco Volubilis, which features the best-preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa. So it is not by chance this roman ruins in 1997 were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 45 minutes guided tour is scheduled here. From Volubilis, we go on our way to Meknes that was named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa in the medieval North African sources. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727). He built in the ingeniously designed granaries, the really fascinating architecture of tiny windows, massive walls where he used to store grain and hay to feed his 15.000 horses not food for humans. We will stop as well to get pictures of the Bab AL Mansour the Great gate built in the 11th century by AL Mansour Adahbi.
Day 5: Meknes – Midelt – Ziz valley – Erfoud – Merzouga (hotel at Dune Line)
This is a long driving day, where we will meet different colors of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Meknes. On the way, we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifrane. This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The King of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university. Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains.
From the vast plateau, we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here include palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red-colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag at the beginning of the 17th century. From a vast plateau, you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. Night and dinner at our hotel.
Day 6: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Dunes (Sahara Desert Exploration 4×4 & Camel Trek for sunset)
Throughout the sand dunes, we go for a drive on these fabulous landscapes on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand dunes in Morocco. We will see plenty of nomadic black tents in the middle of nowhere. We shall stop by a nomadic family to have tea and see what a nonadic life looks like. We go on our drive and let’s discover the nomadic life of Touareg people by visiting Alkhamliya, a village where nothing has been changed through centuries. Either we lunch here in Alkhamliya village or we go back to our hotel and lunch there. After a nape, we go on a camel ride to meet one of the most fascinating sights we will ever see, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga. Tonight we stay in Berber tented desert camp and enjoy a wonderful stars view.
Day 7: Merzouga – Rissani – Todgha Gorges
Visiting Errisani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Cherif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now, Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It was noted for its leather and goatskin trading in ancient ages.
127 km from Errisani the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges, and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons.
Day 8: Todgha Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate
From the great canyons of Todgha, we go along the road of 1000 kasbahs, since there are enormous Kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately, a lot of them are ruins. A visit to one of those kasbahs is scheduled by seeing Amrhidil Kasbah. We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley, another valley called the valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig-trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produce different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival at the end of April. Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and buildings for which the area is known. One of those buildings is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in the 17th century.
Why this town is nicknamed Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005).
Day 9: Ouarzazate – Ait Benahddou – Taroudant
35 km from Ouarzazate there is the fortified city of Aït Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once upon a time, this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah.
Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004). From this beautiful fortified house, we head southwest to the town of Taroudant. It is called the “Grandmother of Marrakesh” because it resembles Marrakesh with its surrounding ramparts. The ramparts of the town are nearly 6 kilometers long. It has the feel of a small fortified market town on some caravan route. It is also known for its local crafts like jewelry and carpets. Taroudant contains almost the whole city within its walls. However, a new area is being developed outside the city walls. Under the Saadi Dynasty Taroudant knew its golden age, especially under the reign of Mohammed ash-Sheikh, who constructed the city walls and built the great mosque and its beautiful minaret in 1528. The town became the capital of the Saadians. Taroudant has rich plain and farms of grapes, corn, grain, and oranges…ETC.
Today the town is a notable marketing town and has a souk near each of its two main squares, Talmoklate. Not that far from Talmaklate square, there is the Arab souk that specializes in handicrafts such as pottery, leather, carpets, rugs, and jewelry.
Day 10: Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira
Almost 70 km from Taroudant, there is Agadir city. The capital of Berbers since it is the biggest Berber city all over the kingdom. Agadir is also a very modern city that is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It has the most important fishing and commercial port of Morocco, moreover it is the first sardine port in the world, (exporting cobalt, manganese, zinc and citrus). It is also a seaside resort with a long sandy beach. Because of its large buildings, wide roads, modern hotels, and European-style cafés, Agadir is not a typical city of traditional Morocco, but it is a modern, busy and dynamic town and very famous for its seafood.
Along the ocean, we drive for almost 200 km towards Essaouira. On the Atlantic ocean this town waves, with its white painted houses and their blue windows and doors, a well-designed picture. Since the 16th century, Essaouira has also been known by its Portuguese name of Mogador. The Berber name means the wall, a reference to the fortress walls that originally enclosed the city.
Day 11: Essaouira (Explore Essaouira at your own pace)
A one day on your pace will be for sure wonderful since there is no way to get bored. Due to the plenty of activities, you will be able to enjoy amazingly as Essaouira is well renowned for its kite surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind. Horse riding, camel riding along the beach, quad biking are activities that one can enjoy while staying in Essaouira. It is known for the delicious seafood too.
In Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira is getting known for its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled for the last week of June. It brings artists from all over the world. Although focused on Gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz, and reggae. In early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.
Day 12: Essaouira – Marrakech
On the way between Essaouira and Marrakesh, you will see an enormous Argan tree on both sides of the road. These Argan trees are frequently climbed by goats. Several women’s cooperatives produce Argan oil used for gastronomy to prepare couscous, salads, tagines…etc. Moreover, it was traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases before being founded as good enough for cosmetics by European manufacturers. Still stop by one of these cooperatives is worthy to see how Berber women squeezed the Argan fruits between hands to extract this precious oil. We arrive at our hotel in Marrakesh and if time permit we go out for a walk.
Day 13: Marrakesh, Full Guided City Tour
A full-guided tour will be scheduled to discover Marrakesh which is known as the “Red City”. Marrakesh is the most important former imperial city in Morocco’s history, it is situated near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountain. Like all the old cities, Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city The Medina and a very modern city called Gueliz built during the French occupation. Marrakesh has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square is full of story-tellers, water sellers, dancers, snakes charmers and musicians. During the night the square turns into a huge open-air restaurant.
During our visit, we will see The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century in the reign of the Almoravid Dynasty. We will go among narrow streets and allies in the ancient city. We pass by “seven saints” during the reign of Moulay Ismail, the festival of the seven saints was founded at the request of the Sultan. The tombs of several renowned figures were moved to Marrakesh to attract pilgrims. Marrakesh was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by T’hami El Glaoui, “Lord of the Atlas”, and Pasha of Marrakesh. Still, there is a house called Dar Pacha El Glaoui from where he used to rule the whole southern part of Morocco.
Day 14: Marrakesh (Explore Marrakesh Markets at your own pace)
After the full guided tour, you will be able to discover more about the Red City of Marrakesh on your own as you become familiarized with the alleyways of the medina. You may go on a shopping tour on your own in a local market and the scattered shops by the Square.
Day 15: Marrakesh – Casablanca Med V or Marrakech Menara airport
A private transfer from Marrakesh to Casablanca Med V airport according to your flight details will be arranged.