10 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Desert Tour from Casablanca

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by a guide who is fluent in English. Depending on what time you arrive, we will embark on a tour of Morocco's economic capital. Our itinerary will include a visit to the largest mosque on the continent, the Hassan II mosque, as well as the Habous district, the Royal palace, Mohammed V square, and the Anfa residential area. Once the tour is complete, we will return to the hotel where you can enjoy dinner and spend the night.

Your journey to the Blue City will commence in the morning. Our first stop will be in Rabat, where you will embark on an exciting adventure in the Challah territory (Bab Challah) - the site of the first settlement dating back to the 3rd century BC. Next, we will visit the Hassan Tower and the Mohamed V Mausoleum, which were constructed to honor the sultan who played a significant role in Morocco's independence. The Mausoleum's construction took place between 1961 and 1969, and you'll have the opportunity to take a stroll through this beautiful historical site. Afterward, we'll head to the Kasbah of the Oudayas, which is situated on the south bank of the Bou Regreg estuary. For lunch, we'll stop at a local restaurant in Rabat before continuing our journey to Chefchaouen (Blue City), which will take approximately 3 hours by car. Once we arrive, we'll settle in at the hotel, have dinner, and spend the night there.

Explore the captivating Blue City's unique blue streets by taking a leisurely stroll after breakfast, capturing photos and enjoying the sights. The fortress, Plaza Uta Hammam, and the Medina are all waiting to be discovered before embarking on a journey to Fes, passing through Ouzzane, Volubilis and Meknes,This five-hour trip includes stops to see the attractions and breaks for lunch and bathroom use. First, we'll visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, once occupied by Carthaginians and Romans and known for its thriving oil trade around 40BC. A local guide will take you through historical sites such as the houses of Orpheus and Dionysus. Lunch at a local restaurant will be followed by a drive to Meknes, founded in the 9th century and the last architectural project ordered by Moulay Ismail. The Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, the Medina, the Great Mosque, and the Moulay Ismail Granaries are among the highlights of the city. After exploring Meknes, we'll head straight to Fes for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Your exploration of Morocco's oldest Imperial City, Fes, will begin at 9.30am when your guide greets you at your hotel. Fes was a crucial religious, intellectual, and cultural center and is still renowned for its traditional crafts. It boasts a high reputation for its university and is known as the "Athens of Africa" by many. Your tour will commence at the royal palace, where you'll see its eggshell façade, pine-green Saracen tiles, and tightly closed doors. Then, you'll visit the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) and the Blue Gate before exploring the old Medina (Fes El Bali). You'll wander through the Andalous Quarter and see the Andalous Mosque (built in the 9th century) and the Kairouyiene Mosque (built-in 857). The medina's tiny streets are filled with shops and workshops grouped by specialization. You'll also visit the Merinid Medersa (Bou Inania Medersa) – another mosque,Later, you'll head to the tanneries, where leather is made for jackets, bags, shoes, and more. You'll witness how animal skins are rendered supple and rot-proof. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant within the medina. After lunch, we'll take you on a drive to see the city's stunning panoramic views from uphill. Finally, you'll visit Fes' pottery scene – tin-glazed earthenware decorated with predominantly cobalt-blue designs. We'll return you to your hotel in the city for dinner and an overnight stay.

Your day will start with an exciting journey to the golden sand dunes of Merzouga. This will be a long journey taking about 8 hours with breaks for photos, lunch, and rest. You will drive through several towns, including Ifrane, which was built in 1929 as a mountain resort and is known for its chalets with tiled roofs, giving it a European appearance. After Ifrane, you will drive through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and stop to see the Barbary Apes. Then, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Midelt before crossing the pre-Saharan plateau of the peaks of Jebel Ayachi and Errachidia. As we drive through the Ziz Valley, we will stop to take some pictures of the Ziz Gorge. We will continue on to Erfoud, where one of the largest oases in Morocco is located and a date festival is held every October. Along the way, we will visit Rissani, home to several Ksars and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty. Finally, we will reach Erg Chebbi, the golden sand dunes where we will have dinner and spend the night at a hotel located at the edge of the sand dunes.

Following breakfast, we will embark on a desert exploration to search for fossils. Initially, you will visit the Khamliyya tribe to listen and dance to Gnawa music played by these dark-skinned people hailing from Sudan. Next, you will drive through the desert to meet nomads living in their modest tents, caring for animals like camels, goats, and sheep. You will pause to spend some quality time with them, getting to know their way of life and sipping tea together. Then, you will continue your journey to a rocky plateau to hunt for fossils such as ammonites, trilobites, and nautiloidea. For lunch, you will relish some Berber pizza at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will return to the hotel to unwind and prepare for a camel ride through the Merzouga sand dunes. You will spend the night in a Berber tent inside the Sahara.

As dawn breaks over the sandy landscape, you'll be awoken for an early start to climb the sand dunes and marvel at the stunning sunrise. Then, a camel trek back to the hotel for breakfast and a refreshing shower before we set off on our journey towards the Dades Valley. Our first stop will be in Erfoud, where we'll visit a museum dedicated to fossils. Onwards through Tinjdad and Tinghir, we'll follow the road along the riverbank of the Todgha Gorge, which is lined with palm trees. A 30-minute stop at the steep gorge will allow you to stroll around, capture photos, and take in the fresh mountain air and aromas of herbs. A local restaurant awaits you for lunch before we head to the Dades Valley, where houses cling to the mountainside. A visit to the Kasbah, which guards the entrance of the breathtaking Dades Gorges, is in order. The day ends with dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Once you finish your breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our journey to Marrakech through the valley of a thousand Kasbahs, also known as the Dades Valley. On the way, we will pass by El Kelaa Mgouna, a town famous for its rose cultivation, where the Rose Festival is held in May. We will then drive through the fertile oasis of Skoura, which is known for its palm trees and roses, and visit the fortified residence that once belonged to the most powerful family in the village Continuing on, we will arrive at Ouarzazate, also known as ,"Moroccan Hollywood," where many famous movies like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed. You will have the opportunity to visit the cinema studio or museum here. Next, we will arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, famous for being a filming location for movies like Game of Thrones. You will have around an hour to explore the Kasbah,After that, we will continue our journey to Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains. You will get to see the Tizi n Tichka Pass, which is the highest pass in Morocco with an altitude of 2260 meters. We will stop for lunch at a restaurant in the mountains and then drive to Marrakech, where you will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel.

Embark on a full-day sightseeing tour to discover the wonders of Marrakech. Following breakfast, you will rendezvous with a knowledgeable local guide who will accompany you on an exploration of all the must-see sights Marrakech has to offer. Your first stop is the Jemaa El Fna square, which was once a gathering point for peasants and merchants from the High Atlas and South of Morocco, but is now the heart of the city. In the morning, this expansive square surrounded by the souk district and lined with shops and workshops, is filled with vendors selling fruits, spices, plants, and other wares, as well as entertainers like storytellers and snake charmers. From there, you will proceed to the 14th century Iben Youssef Medersa to admire the intricate motifs and awe-inspiring architecture. The tour will then continue on to explore other notable sites such as the Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, Saadian Tombs, and the main souks. As Marrakech was conveniently located on the Saharan trade routes, it quickly developed into a bustling craft and trading hub. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will continue your tour by visiting the famous Jairdin Majorelle, which was created by the renowned French artist Jaques Majorelle in 1917. You will then explore the new part of the city before being transported back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Following breakfast in the morning, we will assist you with your departure to the airport depending on your flight schedule, bidding you farewell with unforgettable memories of Morocco.