Morocco in Depth
12 days/11 nights
DAY1:
CASABLANCA AIRPORT – HOTEL [D]
~0h45min
Upon arrival in Casablanca, after proceeding through immigration customs and collecting your baggage, our representative is waiting for you outside of the Arrival Terminal with a sign with your name on it. Then start discovering Morocco’s largest city and economic capital, Casablanca, best representation of the modern side of Morocco. Begin the city tour of Casablanca with an outside visit of Hassan II Mosque. It is the largest mosque in the country and the 7th largest in the world. You then continue to the Ain Diab Corniche for a pleasant stroll along the coast. Your next stop is Mohammed V Square in the city center. The city tour includes also the Habous Quarter, one of the oldest areas in Casablanca. The district was built by the French in the 1930s as an attempted solution to the ongoing housing shortage. It marries the best of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities and French ideals – even the mosque fronts onto a strip of grassy lawn just like a village church. Then we will leave Casablanca along the coastline to Rabat for overnight.
– The tour of Casablanca is for early arrivals only.
– The tour of Casablanca is for early arrivals only.
DAY2:
CASABLANCA – RABAT – FEZ [BD]
~3h10min
After breakfast, depart overland towards Rabat, driving along the main highway which links these two major cities. Embark on a city tour which highlights Rabat’s cultural influences and the superbly preserved relics of its Moorish past. Rabat’s most famous site is the 12th century Hassan Tower, an admirable example of the stunning Moroccan style, and the incomplete Minaret of the great mosque also built beginning of 12th century. Located alongside is the Mausoleum dedicated to Mohamed V, the grandfather of the current king. You’ll also enjoy a visit of the Kasbah of the Udayas, which was built on a cliff overlooking the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Its gate is one of the most beautiful illustrations of the Moorish architecture. Within its walls, you’ll discover a wonderful Moroccan garden, with melodious fountains and sweet-smelling orange trees. At the conclusion of your sightseeing, you continue overland to Fez (~3-hour drive) for dinner and overnight to your hotel.
DAY3:
FEZ – City tour [BD]
Today you take a step back in time into the Middle Ages with the visit of one of the most imperial, timeless, and untouched cities in the world, the cultural heart of Morocco, Fez El Bali (Old Fez). Enjoy exploring some of the 9,000 narrow lanes and alleys in the souks (open air markets) that make-up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, originally founded in the 8th century. The Imperial capital was a renowned medieval learning center, and at its heart still remains the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still functioning universities in the world. Nearby is the Attarine Medersa (Koranic college), a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th century. Then you’ll visit the Nejjarine Square, with its beautiful fountain, a mosaic of elaborate tile-work, and the Fondouq (Caravanserai) that has been converted to a Museum of Carpentry. In the 13th Century the Merinide Dynasty built Fez El Jdid (New Fez) with its Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas (Koranic schools), souks and the city walls. Most notably, Fez El Jedid is home to the Mellah (Jewish quarter), which provides an interesting insight into Jewish architecture. The wrought iron decorated windows and splendid carved wood balconies of the old mansions are particularly outstanding. One of the most interesting sites in Fez is the leather souk with the oldest leather tannery in the world. The tannery dates back nine centuries. In addition to the tannery, you will visit a clay workshop, the artisan quarters, and other souks. The medieval Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to tour hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY4:
FEZ – VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FEZ [BD]
~2h30min
Journey overland to explore the Berber ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. With its triumphal arches, basilica, forum, and capitol, the Volubilis skyline brims with iconic examples of Roman architecture. Among its greatest treasures are the amazing mosaic floors of former family dwellings, which include depictions of Orpheus charming animals with his lyre, nine dolphins signifying good luck and a portrait of Amphitrite in a seahorse-drawn chariot. After completing this glimpse into Antiquity, we will visit the city of Meknes, another UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the imperial cities of Morocco. Its impressive monuments recall the splendor of this fortified city, first built in the 17th century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail, to rival the court of his contemporary, the Sun King Louis XIV of France. You’ll get to see the monumental Bab Mansour gateway – considered one of the finest great gates of Morocco. Return to Fez for an evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight to the hotel.
DAY5:
FEZ – IFRANE – MIDELT – ERFOUD [BD]
~6h05min
This morning, we depart Fez. We’ll pass through many amazing cities and villages, the first of which is Ifrane, commonly named Morocco’s Switzerland, a charming ski town populated by European-style chalets. Continue to Midelt, which serves as the commercial center of a large agricultural hinterland. It is also one of Morocco’s principal cities for the mining of several minerals. You will have some free time in Midelt before you continue your journey through the dramatic Ziz Gorges. Then drive to Erfoud. Dinner and overnight to the hotel.
DAY6:
ERFOUD – KHAMLIA – MERZOUGA [BLD]
~1h00min
After breakfast, a 4×4 vehicle will be waiting for you to continue your adventure by heading towards the dunes of Erg Chebbi, possibly the largest dunes in the Sahara-desert. En route, visit the villages in the surroundings area for a closer contact with the Berber culture. Visit of a camel milk cooperative, then continue to Rissani where you’ll encounter one of the best traditional markets in Sahara, “a place where they sell only donkeys, sheep, goats and cows”. Stop at the village of El Khamlia for lunch (included). Continue to an African (Gnawa) village then to Merzouga, the heart of the desert, and surf the sandy sea on a powerful 4WD Land Rover. Dinner and overnight to the Desert Camp.
DAY7:
MERZOUGA – TINGHIR – DADES [BD]
~3h30min
On our way to Tinghir, we’ll stop at the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco situated on the East side of the High Atlas Mountains and recognized around the world as one of the most spectacular canyons. Here, both the Todra and Dades Rivers have carved out cliff-sided canyons on their final 25-miles stretch through the mountains, leaving behind a series of reliefs and etches in the rock. Todra is the name of the last 600m of the canyon. In places, this gorge measures just 10m wide, but the cliffs are more than 160m tall on either side! The river has since dried up, leaving only the imagination to picture the powerful natural forces that once carved this region. The gorges, though in a remote, are popular among rock climbers. There are hiking paths with a well-maintained dirt road for visitors to share with mules and other pack animals. Dinner and overnight to the hotel.
DAY8:
DADES – SKOURA – OUARZAZATE [BD]
~1h10min
After breakfast, we’ll drive through the Dades Valley with its majestic sandcastles and incredible rock formations known as monkey toes. The route through Dades Valley is also known as the Road of One Thousand Kasbahs. You’ll catch a spectacular view of a vast valley dotted with small oases and hundreds of ancient fortifications. The sand-colored walls of the Kasbahs may all start to look the same, but each holds a special historical treasure and offer innumerable opportunities for remarkable photos. Continue to Skoura, a quiet little village speckled with palm tree groves. Indeed, Skoura is surrounded by acres of palm groves,which are a paradise of palm and olive trees sprinkled with kasbahs and small villages. You’ll remark the Kasbah Amridil that stands out from the rest. Originally built in the 17th century, it is one of Morocco’s most iconic living museums that has survived the test of time. Then we drive to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight.
DAY9:
OUARZAZATE – AIT BEN HADDOU – MARRAKECH [BD]
~3h50min
Enjoy the city tour of Ouarzazate, beginning with the Taourirt Kasbah that is considered one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in the country, and the Film Studios (optional visit) where some of the most famous desert landscapes are being shot. Then, you might recognize the sand-colored houses of this impressive ksar (fortified city) when you’ll see the spectacular fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, the iconic landscape immortalized in such films as, Lawrence of Arabia, Alexander, and Game of Thrones among others. Ait Ben Haddou is a massive fortification made up of six Kasbahs all listed as UNESCO world heritage. You can spend time in its maze of winding streets until reaching a fortified granary at the top of which you’ll get an amazing view of the valley. We leave Ait Ben Haddou, crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent TizIn Tichka pass (2,262m) to Marrakech, our home for the next three nights. Dinner and overnight to the hotel.
DAY10:
MARRAKECH – City tour [BD]
After breakfast, enjoy the city tour of Marrakesh, the “Red City”, a majestic place filled with palaces, gardens, markets, and mosques. Upon arrival, you will first stand by the Koutoubia Mosque with its 282 ft minaret, an architectural landmark dating back to the late 12th century.
You will continue to the 19th century stunning Bahia Palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans to decorate this splendid home built by a powerful Vizir for his Harem. The building includes one hundred and fifty rooms, countless courtyards and interior gardens, a veritable labyrinth of corridors, a Koranic school, hammams, a harem, stables. From there we will start exploring artisan quarters and the colorful Souks to interact with the real life of Marrakech people.
Continue to Dar El Bacha Museum, built in 1910 and was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, named Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. It is one of the medina’s finest examples of Riad architecture, dripping with Moroccan Zellige (colorful geometric tilework), intricate white plasterwork and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels.
Before sunset we will be strolling in the square of which the city is so famed, Jemaa El Fna. Located at the entrance of the Medina, this triangular square is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, and provides everyday commercial activities and various forms of entertainment. It is a magical circus where fortune tellers, henna artists, fire eaters, snake charmers, dancing wild costumed monkeys, story tellers, hypnotic medicine-men, cross dressers, tooth pullers, musicians including real Gnaoua, and acrobats gather in a cacophonic feast. After the tour, head to your hotel to freshen up. When you are ready, transfer to a local restaurant to enjoy your dinner. After the dinner, back to your hotel for overnight.
You will continue to the 19th century stunning Bahia Palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans to decorate this splendid home built by a powerful Vizir for his Harem. The building includes one hundred and fifty rooms, countless courtyards and interior gardens, a veritable labyrinth of corridors, a Koranic school, hammams, a harem, stables. From there we will start exploring artisan quarters and the colorful Souks to interact with the real life of Marrakech people.
Continue to Dar El Bacha Museum, built in 1910 and was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, named Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. It is one of the medina’s finest examples of Riad architecture, dripping with Moroccan Zellige (colorful geometric tilework), intricate white plasterwork and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels.
Before sunset we will be strolling in the square of which the city is so famed, Jemaa El Fna. Located at the entrance of the Medina, this triangular square is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, and provides everyday commercial activities and various forms of entertainment. It is a magical circus where fortune tellers, henna artists, fire eaters, snake charmers, dancing wild costumed monkeys, story tellers, hypnotic medicine-men, cross dressers, tooth pullers, musicians including real Gnaoua, and acrobats gather in a cacophonic feast. After the tour, head to your hotel to freshen up. When you are ready, transfer to a local restaurant to enjoy your dinner. After the dinner, back to your hotel for overnight.
DAY11:
MARRAKECH [B]
Day at leisure or wander on your own. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY12:
MARRAKECH or CASABLANCA AIRPORT [B]
After breakfast, we will assist you to the airport for your return flight.
Included Services:
| City | 4* Hotel (or similar) | 5* Hotel (or similar) | Deluxe Hotel (or similar) |
| Casablanca | Idou Anfa | Le Gray Boutique Hotel | Le Casablanca |
| Fez | L’Escale | Les Merinides | Palais Faraj |
| Erfoud | Chergui hotel | Palais du Desert | Palais Masandoia |
| Merzouga | Madu Camp | Merzouga Luxury Camp | Desert Luxury Camp |
| Dades | Riad Bahamou | Hotel Xaluca* | Hotel Xaluca* |
| Ouarzazate | Dar Chamaa | OZ palace | Berber Palace |
| Marrakech | Longue Vie | JAAL Resort Hotel | La Sultana |
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