Check our short imperial cities tour for 6 Days starting from Casablanca and finishing in Marrakech going through the Sahara Desert
Day 1 : Casablanca - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes.
Day 2 : Investigating Fantasic Fes.
Day 3 : Fes - Ifrane / Atlas Mountains - Mezouga / Sahara Desert.
Day 4 : Exploring Sahara.
Day 5 : Erg Chebbi Dunes - Todra Gorge - Ouarzazate Film Studios.
Day 6 : Ouarzazate Movie Studios - Ait Benhaddou Kasbah - The Red City of Marrakech.
| Transport in a comfortable A/C vehicle (a 4x4 or Mini Van). | |
| Overnight stay in a berber camp and Kasbah hotel. | |
| Dinner and Breakfast. | |
| Pick up and drop off at your accommodation. | |
| Camel trekking in the Sahara Desert. | |
| Sightseeing and photo opportunities at the Sahara Desert | |
| Lunch and drinks. | |
| Small admission charge for some monuments. |
| Pick up | 8 am |
| Drop off | 9pm |
| Duration | 6 Days Morocco Trip |
| Start | Casablanca |
| Finish | Marrakech |
You will be met on arrival at Casablanca airport or at your hotel and then driven the short distance to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city and the modern, economic capital. here you'll be welcome to enter the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and one of only two in the country that allow access to non-Muslims. In the afternoon, you will travel west towards Fes, stopping off at Meknes and Volubilis. Meknes, surrounded by vineyards and rich arable land, is an important, historic, Imperial city of the Sultan Moulay Ismail of the 17th and 18th centuries. Here you can see the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail himself, the Bab Mansour gate with its beautiful zellij mosaics and marble pillars, and the Sahrij Soanni Bassin, a huge reservoir that supplies the city and the Imperial gardens. Next, are the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis dating from the first century BC and you'll be able to walk through the Triumphal Arch and see many beautifully preserves mosaic floors depicting scenes from the Roman myths. Then onward to Fes, through fertile valleys in the foothills between the Rif and Atlas Mountain ranges. arriving in the early evening to check into your traditional riad in the heart of the ancient, medieval medina where you will stay in B&B overnight.
After a traditional breakfast in your riad, it will be time to explore the cultural capital of Morocco, the ancient medina (old city) of Fes, passing though its narrow, winding alleyways among the hustle and bustle, donkeys and horses, the exotic sights and smells of a working, medieval city; the largest urbanized pedestrian area in the world. Here you can see the delicious fresh fruit piled high, mountains of aromatic spices and intricate. You will visit the famous traditional tanneries and to the Al Qaraouine university which is the oldest in the world. In the afternoon, after a satisfying lunch in an authentic Moroccan restaurant in the heart of the medina, Your journey will continue with a visit of the Jewish quarter, the King's Palace, ceramic factory and the Merenid Tombs, perched on a hillside overlooking the medina and providing a breathtaking panoramic view of the old city. Then you will return to your riad home for the night.
It's an early start after breakfast, as their is so much to pack into three days, memories will be made that will last a lifetime.
7am. in the winter or 8 am. in Morocco's lovely long summer, after your breakfast, your experienced, English speaking Fes Authentic Tours driver will collect you from your accommodation and drive you up into the heights of the Middle Atlas, Fes being at the foothills of the mountains. It's quite a long journey to the famous sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi, but the transport is comfortable and air-conditioned and there is so much to be seen that the time will just fly by.
Your first stop, after passing by the suprpise of Michliffen, a Moroccan winter sprts and ski resort, is at Ifrane, a quaint little town known as "Morocco's Switzerland" due to its Alpine architecture. It was built in a Swiss style by the French during their occupation of Morocco in the 1930's.
A little further on is the beautiful town of Azrou, "The Rock" in the Amazigh language of the native Berber people. In this area are mighty, aromatic cedar forests where you will encounter the legendary 'Barbary Apes', in fact a species of macaque monkey. They can be quite curious and friendly, but be careful they don't run off with your bag!
Heading onwards across the high plateau, the peaks of the High Atlas, said to hold up the sky, will slowly become nearer and then you'll cut through the pass to Midelt and further to the edge of Sahara town of Rissani. From there, it's a short hop south to Merzouga, where the awesome dunes of the Erg Chebbi suddenly appear on the near horizon.
These dunes extend to the east into Algeria and are excellent examples of their type, the highest reaching over 50 metres above the spectacular desert landscape around them. Your hotel is located at the base of the dunes and here you can relax and enjoy the evening after your journey, You will be treated to a carefully prepared traditional Berber evening meal and sleep in a comfortable bed listening to the sweet strains of Berber music.
Following your breakfast the day is yours to choose how you wish to spend your time. There is plenty to do and see in the locality, Will you decide on an energetic and breathtaking hike through the dunes of the Erg Chebbi? Or do you prefer to relax at the hotel, keeping cool with an icy drink and a dip in the pool? Some select a shopping trip in Merzouga town centre where lots of local handicrafts are for sale at prices much less than the bigger towns and cities. You may also wish to visit the nearby town of Khamalia, where the friendly black descendants of the ancient slaves from The Sudan, will happily enthrall you with their distinctive brand of Gnawa music.
Be sure to return to base before sunset as your camel will be waiting to carry you off on a unforgettable ninety minute excursion into the depths of the desert as you watch the gorgeous sight of the sun setting into the desert sands. Then you will spend the night in an authentic Berber tent in a traditional encampment, where your guide will personally cook you a delicious Moroccan meal and you listen to the local musicians playing sweet melodies as you relax and fall asleep under the multitude of twinkling stars and the huge, bright moon.
The desert sunrise is just as beautiful as the sunset. so it's a dawn start as you ride your trusty camel back through the dunes casting every changing shadows over the arid landscape. Breakfast is provided at a hotel, and then it's off to Ouarzazate via the impressive Todra Gorge, very popular with climbers who can often be seen, like beetles ascending the shear 300m rock faces. Next it's on to the weet little town of Tinghir, where you can do a spot of hiking or maybe just relax. The next stop is at Kelaat Mgouna renowned for its May Festival of Roses (though the exact dates can vary depending on the rose petal harvest.) Don't miss out on trying some of the fragrant rosewater on sale here and the rose oils which will leave a delicious aroma on your garments and linen that will endure for weeks.
Following on from this, you will visit Skoura, with stunning vistas of the High Atlas Mountains, it itself being located in a fertile desert oasis full of groves of innumerable date palms. Finally, it's a short drive to Ouarzazate where you'll spend the night in a comfy hotel after an enjoyable supper.
Following your breakfast, you'll get a chance to have a look around the film studios of Ouarzazate, the so-called "Hollywood of Africa" where many famous movies such as "The Mummy" and "The Living Daylights" as well as TV series like "Game of Thrones" and "Prison Break" were filmed. Take of tour of The Atlas Film Studios' Museum where you can see sets and props from these productions and many others.
When you're finished here, our next stop is at the magnificent hilltop kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb the narrow streets to the top for stunning views of the surrounding countryside. This ancient wattle and daub village has been used as a location and backdrop for more than twenty movies including the classics "Lawrence of Arabia" , "Gladiator" and the Indiana Jones franchise. Finally, you'll finish your journey with a drive to the red city of marrakech, the jewel in Morocco's crown, passing through the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, at 2,260 metres altitude, the highest pass in all of Africa, situated at the edge of the Atlas Mountains along winding roads with spectacular views. Your adventure will end with your Fes Authentic Tours driver dropping you off at your accommodation in Marrakech.
