16 Days – Imperial Cities and Desert

Day 1 – Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes

We are going to pick you up at your hotel to visit the Hassan II Mosque before leaving for Rabat. In Rabat you can visit the Mechouar of the Royal Palace, the ruins of Chellah, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower. After lunch departure to Meknes to arrive late.

Day 2 – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen

After breakfast we will leave Meknes to visit the holy city of Moulay Idriss and the Roman ruins of Volubilis. We will drive through the rural areas, where we will see the hills full of olive trees and fruit trees. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Ouezanne before continuing through the Rif mountains to the “blue city” of Chefchouen.

Day 3 – Chefchaouen

You will have a free day to explore Chefchouen. You can visit the gardens of the Kasbah and its small museum that a modest collection of ancient weapons, as well as instruments, textiles and some historical photos from the city’s shelters; There is also an art gallery on the walls. You can explore the Medina to see the incredible variety of shops or take a walk on one of the many trails that start from the town.

Day 4 – Chefchaouen To Fes

You will have the morning to rest or enjoy more views of Chefchaouen. We are going to make an early afternoon departure to Fes.

Day 5 – Fes

You will have a guided tour to discover the Medina, the famous souks of Fez – its narrow cobbled streets are lined with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets.. You will visit the most beautiful palaces and monuments of Fez. The tour includes a visit to the tannery factory and cooperative ceramics to see traditional Moroccan handicrafts.

Day 6 – Fes – Ilfrane – Azrou – Midelt – Merzouga Desert

After breakfast, departure to Merzouga through the Middle Atlas region. We will drive through Ifrane, the “Switzerland” of Morocco and the cedar forests of Azrou, where we can stop to hand-feed the monkeys. We will continue to Midelt where we will have lunch. We will then follow the Ziz River through the valley and stop seeing the Ziz Gorges on our way to Merzouga.

Day 7 – Merzouga – Khamlia – Rissani – Erg Chebbi Tour

Today we are going to explore the desert region and the wonder that is the Erg Chebbi desert dunes. We are going to make you a circuit of the desert dunes, where you will have the opportunity to see the nomadic way of life and the amazing changing contrasts 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 old capital of Rissani. In the afternoon we will ride the camels to see the sunset over the dunes and spend the night in the desert camp. We will have a traditional tagine dinner, drink delicious mint tea, listen to traditional berber music while watching the stars and the crescent moon in the stunning Sahara desert.

Day 8 – Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges

We will get up early to see the spectacular sunrise over the dunes before heading back to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. We will cross the palm-fringed valleys of Tourog and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorge. We will take a walk through the Todra Gorges and have lunch in a local restaurant before continuing with our accommodation in the Dades Gorges.

Day 9 – Dades Gorge – El Kelaa Magona – Skoura – Ouarzazate

After breakfast we will take a walk through the gorge and then take the off road track to see the nomad caves. We will continue through El Kelaa Magona, Valley of the Roses and the oasis of Skoura to arrive late in Ouarzazate.

Day 10 – Ouarzazate Guided Tour

You will have the day free for shopping or sightseeing. You can visit the Kasbah Taourirt and the “Hollywood of Morocco”, the Atlas film studios.

Day 11 – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Telouet – Marrakech

After breakfast, departure to Ait Ben Haddou and visit the world heritage site. We will continue with a visit to the traditional High Atlas Berber village of Telouet and the Kasbah el Glaoui. We will have lunch at a local restaurant in Telouet before descending the port of Tizi-n-Tichka to Marrakech.

Day 12 – Visit Medina Of Marrakech

You will have a guided tour to discover the many facets of Marrakech with a walk through the labyrinth of the narrow streets of the Medina among its famous souks and a visit to the most beautiful palaces and monuments of Marrakech.

Day 13 – Excursion Marrakech

You will have the day to explore Marrakech or you can take an optional day tour to Cascade d’Ouzoud.

Day 14 – Marrakech To Essaouira

We will spend the morning free to go shopping or relax in Marrakech before leaving for your convenience to Essaouira.

Day 15 – Essaouira Beach

Enjoy your day wandering the old fortified fishing port of Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast. See the incredible mix of Portuguese and Berber architecture. Explore the colorful souks, art galleries, carpentry workshops dedicated to cedar and Thuya wood carving, and the fortified port with its stalls selling fresh seafood.

Day 16 – Essaouira – Marrakech

We will spend the morning free to go shopping or relax in Essaouira before leaving early in the afternoon to arrive in Marrakech by 4:00 PM (or if you have an incoming flight or want to spend time we can leave Marrakech at your convenience).