10-Days Sahara Tour & Imperial Cities

Our most thorough tour of Morocco, with free days built in to relax or experience even more. Main sights include the best of the North Tangier: the pearl of Morocco Chefchaouen, to Fes , Meknes and the high Atlas, then journeying to the South to experience the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, Boumalen Dades, Ouarzazate , Kasbahs , and ochre city of Marrakech.

Day 1 : Casablanca airport pickup.

Upon arrival to Casablanca, the biggest city of the country. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. (It depends on your arrival time 30 minutes driving from the airport to medina) you would be able to go for a visit to the Great Mosque Hassan II where you will meet a fascinating example of the 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 Ocean, 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.

Casablanca – Marrakech.

We will have a half day tour in the medina Habous district, the residential area of Anfa and the united nation place.leaving Casablanca the economic capital of Morocco around 16H00 O’clock to arrive to Marrakech at 19H30.

Day 3 : Marrakech Full day sightseeing.

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 Bahia palace, majorelle garden, tombs of saadiens Bahia palace menara garden and The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century in the reign of Almoravid Dynasty. We will go among narrow streets and allies in ancient city. We pass by “seven saints” during the reign of Moulay Ismail, the festival of the seven saints was founded to the request of the Sultan.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 4 : a day trip of your choice Ouzoud / Essaouira.

Essaouira 5 hours driving going & back 340 km.

a one day on your pace will be for sure wonderful, since there is no way to get bored. Due to the plenty 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, along the beach, quad biking are activities in Essaouira. It is known by the delicious seafood too. In Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira is getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in 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 the early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.

Ouzoud waterfalls 5 hours driving going & back 300 Km.

Waterfalls Ouzoud of about 110m high, at an altitude of 1060m, a moderate temperature, a green valley, traditional water mills, shaded orchards, protected wildlife in harmony with men . The Ouzoud waterfalls (“olive trees’ waterfalls” in Berber) are all of that at once, and more!
this calm and ecofriendly tourist site is entirely pedestrian, and offers: many campsites made of bamboo and reed huts, breathtaking swimming spots, small restaurants serving local cuisine on their terraces, shops of Berber craft typical of the Middle Atlas.It will thus give you the opportunity to experience a moment of unparalleled discovery and tranquillity.

Day 5 : Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges.

Departure from Marrakech to Ouarzazate we pass over the High Atlas Mountains via col Tizin Tichka. During the journey we will enjoy many beautiful scenes of the Berber villages, elevated views of the mountains. .before to arrive to Ouarzazate of 30 Km there is the fortified Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once up on 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. Ait 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 .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 building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century. Why this town is nicknamed as 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).then We go to Dades gorges through1000 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 Amrhidil Kasbah. We pass kelaa megouna 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 produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival each end of April. Then we pass through Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains.

Day 6 : Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga Desert .

We pass through Boumalen city 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.
We continue to the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the 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.
Then heading to 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 Erfoude 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 in the beginning of the 17th century.visiting Errisani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif . 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.from a vast plateau you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon.in the evening we go on a camel ride about one hours and half to meet one of the most fascinating sight we will ever seen, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in Berber tented desert camp and enjoy a wonderful stars view.

Day 7 : Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Ifrane – Fez.

If you wake up early enough, you can see the spectacular of the sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadow are awesome , afterwars taking camel again for going back to the hostel shower then departing to Fez.We start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) lunch at Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau.on the way we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran. 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.

Day 8 : Fez Full day sightseeing.

Whole day Sightseeing Tour with a guide, Fez Medina , 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 of the country after Casablanca with a population of approximately 1 million. This city is a former capital and one of the country’s four imperial cities. Fez comprises three distinct parts, Fez el Bali which 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 9 : Fes – Volubilis – Meknes – Rabat.

On the way to Meknes we will go back on time to 3th 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, 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 the King AL Mansour Adahbi.eaving Meknes 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 II and Hassan Tower which 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 check into the hotel .for the night.

Day 10 : Rabat-Casablanca airport.

Departure from to Rabat to Casablanca Med V airport it depends on your flight: around one hour and half  driving from Rabat to Casablanca airport drop off and have a safe flight back home .