7-Days Sahara Tour & Imperial Cities from Marrakech

Book This Tour

7 days

Our most thorough tour of Morocco, with free days built in to relax or experience even more. Main sights Marrakech, the high Atlas mountains, Ouarzazate, Kasbahs, Boumalen Dades, Desert of Merzouga, Fes , Meknes, Volubilis, the pearl of Morocco Chefchaouen, the political one Rabat, the biggest city in the kingdom Casablanca.

Day 1 : Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges.

Departure from Marrakech At 07H30 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).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 Amridil Kasbah. We pass kelaa M’gouna 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 2 : Dades Gorges – Thinghir – Todra Gorges – Merzouga .

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. 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 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 in the beginning of the 17th century. visiting Rissani 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 3 : Merzouga – Erfoud – Ziz valley – Ifran – Fes.

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. Then taking camel again for going back to the hostel shower then departing to Fez. Via Rissani Erfoud Errachidia. 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 . then in the evening arrive to your hotel or Riad in Fez.

Day 4 : Fes – Day Half Day Sightseeing Tour With Official Guide.

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 5 : Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen.

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.
Leaving Meknes to the blue city of Chefchaouen.

Day 6 : Chefchaouen Half Day Free Time – Rabat.

Chefchaouen is famous for its vivid blue rinsed houses and is very popular for both tourists and Moroccans, particularly in the hot summer months. Explore Chefchaouen, with its winding lanes and narrow alleys which are home to numerous souks offering cuisine and artisan works, such as woolen items, intricate embroidery, and goats cheese; all native to the North and not found anywhere else in Morocco. Relax in the square, visit a local farm or hike in nearby parks.

Day 7 : Rabat – Visit Sightseeing of Rabat – Casablanca.

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 go to the largest city in the kingdom Casablanca.
(IT DEPENDS ON YOUR DEPARTURE TIME) 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, 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.

INCLUSIONS