Imperial cities and Sahara (7 days)

Your driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation in Casablanca. Visit the exterior of Hassan II Mosque (time permitting) or enjoy a tour of the interior (time permitting).

Today you will travel out of Casablanca to Rabat, about 1 hour to the north. You will enjoy a city tour of Rabat including some of the main highlights such as Hassan II tower, the Chellah, the Medina and Kasbah Oudayas overlooking the ocean and the sister city of Sale. After you will travel to Meknes for a tour of this former Imperial Cities Royal Palace and stables as well as the famous granary. Once you have seen the sights of Meknes and enjoyed lunch in the Medina, you will travel next to Fes where you will enjoy a nice dinner in your riad.

For your city tour you will have a local guide who will walk with you through the *Medina* the old city with its narrow alleys and bustling life. You will visit the Jewish Quarter, (mellah) and the yard of the Royal Palace, which is one of the biggest in the country. From there you will also visit the famous tanneries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and and the Karaouine mosque which is considered the oldest university in the world founded by a woman in 859. Lunch will be within the tour in the medina with more attraction and sites to visit like the weavers and the pottery makers.

The first stop of the day will be in Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco” just a short distance from Fes. You will then journey over the Middle Atlas Mountains and its famous cedar forest, hopefully catching a glimpse of the native Barbary apes (macaques). Lunch will be in Midelt and then you will go along the magnificent Ziz Valley, stopping along the way to capture beautiful photos.You will pass through the Berber villages of Erfoud and Rissani before arriving in Merzouga where you will head directly into the desert and your camp for the night. Enjoy a spot of Moroccan tea and then hop on your camel for a trek into the nomad camp where you will stay for the night.

Awake just before the sun so you can climb the nearest dune and start your day with natural beauty. Take a peaceful camel trek back to the base camp for breakfast and a quick shower then head off into the south of Morocco.
Passing through Erfoud, you will come to Todgha Gorge where you will have a chance to stop and do some walking and have lunch. Leaving Todra valley towards Kelaat M’Gouna and Ouarzazate, you will travel the route of a thousand kasbahs and have lots of opportunity to take some amazing photos. Stop along the way in the Roses Valley to pick up some natural rose water or oil, and then continue on to Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou is the largest kasbah in Morocco. It was built by El Glaoui in the 18th century & it is one of the most popular attractions in the country thanks to its magnificent clay architecture and for being a movie set to some big movies like Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven and many more.After exploring the streets and hills of Ait Ben Haddou, will drive through the High Atlas Mountains to pass over Tizi n’ Tichka pass(2260m) for more spectacular views,then down into the foothills of Marrakech.
After check in into your Riad you will be met by our local guide and start exploring the major sites of the city like Bahia Place, Saadian Tombs & Majorelle Gardens. After the tour you can enjoy dinner and the entertainment in Jemaa el Fna Square

Today you will depart from either Marrakech or if you have the time, you can go to Casablanca airport (CMN) which is a 3 hours drive from Marrakech. Your driver will leave at any hour in order to help you get to the airport on time. If you have extra time in Morocco, we are happy to book you extra nights in one of our Riads or maybe book one of our day trips.