Imperial Cities and the Desert

Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes - Fes - Midelt - Merzouga - Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorges

Dades Gorges - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech - Casablanca

10 days/9 nights Morocco Holiday

Day 1 Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes

Will we collect you from your hotel to visit the Hassan II Mosque before departing to Rabat. In Rabat you can visit to the Mechouar of the Royal Palace, the ruins of Chellah, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower. After lunch we will depart to Meknes to arrive early evening. You can take dinner in the restaurant overlooking the square opposite the Bab Mansour gate. Your accommodation will be in a traditional riad in the old medina.

Day 2 Meknes - Volubilis - Fes

After breakfast we will take a tour of Meknes including El Hdim square, Bab El Mansour, the massive gate which is the entrance to the old city and the Jewish quarter, the Royal Granaries & the city rampart. We will then depart via Volubilis, the Roman ruins and Moulay Idriss, the holy town and an important place of pilgrimage where the founder of Morocco’s first dynasty is buried. We will continue onto Fes. Dinner and accommodation at a traditional riad.

Day 3 Fes

You will have a guided tour of Fes to visit the Médersas Attarine, Fontaine Ennajarine, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss and the Karawiyin Mosque. The tour will include a visit to the tannery and the ceramics cooperative to see the traditional moroccan crafts. You can spend the afternoon wandering the fascinating medina before having dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the riad.

Day 4 Fes - Ifrane - Azrou - Midelt - Merzouga

After breakfast we will depart for Merzouga through the Middle Atlas region. We will drive through Ifrane, the ‘Switzerland’ of Morocco, the cedar forests of Azrou and stop to hand feed the monkeys. We will follow the Ziz River through the valley and stop to see the Ziz Gorges. Dinner and accommodation in a desert riad or kasbah.

Day 5 Merzouga

We will will make a circuit of the desert dunes where you will have the opportunity to see the the nomad's way of life and the amazing changing contrasts of the of the desert. We will visit the ‘black village’ of Khamlia to see the Gnawa musicians. We will have a traditional Berber pizza for lunch in the ancient capital of Rissani. After lunch you can visit the traditional markets and drink coffee while watching the day to day life of the city. Late afternoon we will prepare for departure on the camel into the desert to see the sunset on top of the Erg Chebbi dunes. After a traditional tagine dinner, delicious mint tea, watching the stars and the rising moon we will spend the night in a traditional nomad tent.

Day 6 Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Gorges
We will wake up early to see the spectacular sunrise over the dunes before making our way back to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. We will follow the spectacular Saghro mountain range to cross the valleys of Tourog and Tinjdad We will take a short walk in the Todra Gorges and then follow the Dades Valley to Dades Gorge. We will have dinner and spend over night in a traditional auberge in the gorges.

Day 7 Dades Gorges - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech
After breakfast continue to Ouarzazate through the Valley of the Roses and the road of the thousand kasbahs. In Ouarzazate we will visit the Kasbah Taourirt and the Atlas Film Studio. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou before crossing over the High Atlas mountains through Tizi N'tichka Pass to arrive early evening in Marrakech. Overnight in a beautiful riad in Marrakech.

Day 8 Marrakech

You will have a guided tour of Marrakech including a visit to the Menara Gardens, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saâdien tombs and the Bahia palace. You can explore the amazing medina and the fascinating Jamaa El Fna square with lively entertainment and lovely Souks. Accommodation in the riad.

Day 9 Marrakech - Cascades d’ Ouzoud - Marrakech

Cascades d’ Ouzoud is one of the most spectacular sights in Morocco. Located in a friendly Berber village, the three beautiful tiered waterfall plunge 110m into the river below. You can trek along the river to the caves, enjoy short walks to enjoy the natural scenery, relax in a waterside straw hut or take a swim in the refreshing water

Day 10 Marrakech - Casablanca
We will spend the morning at leisure for shopping or relaxing in Marrakech before leaving mid afternoon to arrive in Casablanca by 4pm (or if you have a departing flight or want to spend time in Casablanca we can leave Marrakech at your convenience).

Do you want to relax in the Sahara? Add another night in the dunes or at desert hotel.

Would you like the tour to start/end at Agadir, Rabat or Marrakech?

You are welcome to take another day (or more) to explore and enjoy.

Please contact us to discuss your interests.