Your Itinerary
Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat – Fes
In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Casablanca and visit the majestic Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa that is located by the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike most mosques in Morocco, Hassan II Mosque allows visitors of all faith an opportunity to enter and visit respectfully. Admire the intricate architecture, watch the sunlight stream in through the windows and feel the sense of peace within.
After the visit, we drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. We will visit Mohammed V Mausoleum, the grand tomb of past Moroccan kings, which is watched over by the royal guards, the Hassan Tower, an unfinished minaret together with hundreds of columns of an incomplete mosque.
In the evening, we will have dinner and stay overnight at Fes.
Accommodation
4 stars hotel: Riad Au ” 20 Jasmins ” Fes or similar
Day 2: Fes
Today we will explore the city of Fes. We will visit the 16th century Borj Sud fortress, which faces Borj Nord. Built as a military monument, the fortress offers a commanding view of the city from the south. From here, we head on to a pottery cooperative to learn the art of Moroccan pottery and mosaic making from the skilled artisans. We will also visit the exterior of the Royal Palace of Fes and the Jnan Sbil Gardens.
The highlight of our Fes visit will undoubtedly be our walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Medina of Fes, which is still very much an integral part of the everyday life of the people of Fes. You will be guided through the maze of narrow walkways and alleys with shops on both sides, ranging from fruit sellers to barber shops and many more. You may even run into a donkey or two going about their goods delivery rounds as you navigate your way through the Medina!
As part of the walking tour, we will also visit the leather tanneries of Fes, learn more about the traditional treatment and dyeing processes which have been passed down for centuries. Other stops of interest within the Medina include the Bou Inania Madrasa, where you can admire the beautiful architecture of the building, as well as the Jewish quarter of Bab Mellah, which offers a glimpse into the life of the Jewish people.
Accommodation
4 stars hotel: Riad Au ” 20 Jasmins ” Fes or similar
Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
In the morning we will make our way towards Merzouga, the gateway to Erg Chebbi where the fiery orange sand dunes of the Sahara Desert await. We will make a stop at Ifrane to experience the Moroccan Switzerland before continuing to make our way through the Middle Atlas Mountains. We will drive through the cedar forest of Azrou and stop to play with the friendly Barbary Apes before arriving at the mineral mining town of Midelt for lunch.
After lunch, we head to Merzouga. Upon arrival, we will store our luggage in the jeep, leave our modern transport to become true explorers traversing the Erg Chebbi sand dunes on camel backs to arrive at our campsite. Here, we will sit on the sand dunes to admire the beautiful sunset – but this is not yet the end as the night is about to begin.
At night, we will enjoy dinner at our campsite by the fire with drumming music, songs, laughter, and most of all, be mesmerized by the stars before retiring for the night in your Berber tent.
Accommodation
Luxury tent: Sahara Sky Luxury Camp or similar
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 4: Erg Chebbi – Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Wake up an hour early to live an hour more – we encourage you to rise early to witness sunrise over the Sahara and welcome a new day of adventure.
After breakfast, we will depart from the desert on our camels to meet our driver towards the Dades Valley. On the way, we will stop by Rissani to visit the souk (market) to see what it has to offer, from carpets to leatherware and even fossils!
After the souk visit, we continue our drive through the Tafilalet region, the largest Saharan oasis of Morocco. We will explore the Todra Gorge on foot after lunch. The Todra Gorge is known to be one of the most spectacular canyons around the world. We then make our way to the Dades Valley, where the landscape is filled with unique rock formation.
Upon arrival at the Dades Valley, we will have dinner and spend the night at the riad. Riad, an Arabic word that means “gardens”, nowadays is usually a traditional guesthouse constructed around one central courtyard.
Accommodation
Riad hotel: Auberge Atlas Dades or similar
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5: Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
In the morning, we travel through the Rose Valley to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been the filming backdrop for Hollywood movies such as Gladiator, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture once, and the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.
From Ouarzazate, we return to Marrakech via the High Atlas Mountains and the spectacular Tizi n Tichka pass. Marvel at the stunning landscape of rugged beauty and the picturesque Berber villages – get your cameras ready! And if the friendly village children wave at you, remember to wave back.
On arrival at Marrakech, we will drop you off at your hotel and hope we will have the opportunity again to show you more of Morocco the next time.
Meals Included
Breakfast