Day 1: Casablanca “Arrival Morocco” / Rabat

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be met by our driver/guide. Depending on the arrival time, you will visit the city of Casablanca, “the white city.” The tour begins with an orientation tour through its broad avenues, a stroll through the narrow streets of the medina, the United Nations Square, the Place Mohammed V, the central market district Endowments, the residential district of Anfa, Boulevard of the Corniche along pools and restaurants, and the Hassan II Mosque. As it is the second-largest mosque in the world and indeed a beautiful work of art, it is one of the rare mosques opened to non-Muslims. We will leave towards Rabat, the political capital of Morocco. It overlooks the sea. We will see the crenellated red ocher walls, more than 5 km long in total and built in the period of ruling the Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour, which gives the city a very special character that distinguishes it. Dinner and Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 2: Rabat / Meknes / Volubilis / Fez

After breakfast, we will start a visit to Rabat. We will cross the medina and its souks, more authentic than others because the products of shops have turned to local customers. Then we will visit the Kasbah of the Oudayas, erected by a terrible tribe of predators in the twelfth century. Then we visit the Hassan tower, where 4 facades are decorated differently from each other, three in shades of pink and one in gray because of the sea breeze. We will see the remains of the old mosque and the Mohamed 5 mausoleum next to the tower, a masterpiece of Moroccan traditional architecture, full of valuable materials from around the world and splendid decorations. From there, you will return to the new town to see the royal palace, the residence of the king of the Merinide dynasty. Lunch will be in a nice restaurant, and we will continue towards Meknes. One has a magnificent view of the Medina. The tour begins with a tour of the walls with monumental gates dating from the seventeenth century: Berdaïne Bab, Bab Khemis. We continue exploring the city by the stables (Rua), attics (HERI), and Stud. A stop is needed at the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, which was for a long time the only mosque that non-Muslims could visit in Morocco. Then we exit through the famous Bab El Mansour on the vast square Hedim. On the other side of the square, the Museum of Moroccan Art “Dar Jamai” offers a wide variety of handicrafts. Then we visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis and spend some time exploring the 2000-year-old ruins and getting a picture of life during the Roman Empire. We reach Fez in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Fez “Guided Tour”

After breakfast, you will begin your guided tour of the medina, one of the world’s largest walled-in cities. You will explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, and many other art objects of Morocco. You will visit mosques, including the Quaraouiyine Mosque founded in 859 by Fatima el Fihri and the Andalusian Mosque dating back to 860. Entry is not permitted for non-Muslims. You will also visit fountains, including the Nejjarine fountain, Medersas (Koranic schools) founded as early as the 13th century, Batha Palace (now a museum of arts and traditions), Chouwara Tanneries, Souks including Souk Attarine, one of the liveliest in the city, Bab Boujloud with its green and blue ceramics, Mellah (Jewish quarter), and the 17th-century Ibn Danan synagogue. You will also visit the King’s Palace. Dinner with a spectacle will be arranged in a nice restaurant.

Day 4: Fez / Midelt / Erfoud

After an early breakfast, you will begin your ascent. We pass through Ifrane, a winter ski resort in a totally un-Moroccan style built by the French in the 1930s to resemble a Swiss village. We then drive across the Middle Atlas Mountains, where most of the day will be spent winding our way through beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as we cross the Atlas Mountains and begin to descend towards the Sahara Desert. Halfway, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks. We will pass through the Ziz valley. On arrival at the Kasbah in Erfoud, a hot shower or dip in the swimming pool (depending on the weather) will be a treat after the drive. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 5: Erfoud / Rissani / Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

Departure from Erfoud after breakfast to visit the village of Rissani, the place where the Alaouite dynasty was established. You will see the historic monument of Sijilmassa, the big center of desert trade, and a few Kasbahs in the area of Rissani. There are more than 350 kasbahs, the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif (the founder of the Alaouite dynasty), the museum of Lfida, and the souk, the big public market in the area. Lunch will be in a traditional Moroccan restaurant, where you can enjoy local food. Afterward, we will depart for Merzouga. You will arrive before sunset. From here, we will leave our car at the hotel and start off by camel into the Erg Chebbi Dunes for an incredible and unforgettable night in a Berber tent. We will have dinner accompanied by the rhythm of drums and songs of Berbers, Touaregs, and the populations of southern Morocco under millions of stars. If we are lucky, we may also see the Milky Way. The following day, the camel driver will wake you up in time to reach the 300 m high dune and admire the dawn towards the border with Algeria. Then we will return by camel to the hotel after breakfast in a Berber tent.

Day 6: Merzouga / Todra Gorge / Ouarzazate

After breakfast, you’ll depart for Ouarzazate, traveling the rugged Road of a Thousand Kasbahs that rise up like turreted sand castles along this ancient caravan trading route. This area has long been a popular location for Hollywood films such as “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Jewel of the Nile,” and most recently, “Hideous Kinky.” The central region is one of the most exciting and romantic destinations of Morocco, nestled along rich river valleys, palmeries, and burnished mud-brick homes ablaze in vibrant colors under the shelter of the blue desert sky. We’ll stop for lunch and walk into the Todra Gorge. We’ll travel through the Dadès Valley, past dramatic escarpments, and reach Ouarzazate in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay will be arranged in Ouarzazate.

Day 7: Ouarzazate / Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou / Marrakech

After breakfast, we will visit the town of Ouarzazate, including the Kasbah of Taourirt and the Atlas Studios movie studios, the largest and most famous in all of Africa. From there, we will head to the Fint Oasis, located near Ouarzazate. We will make a stop at Ait Ben Haddou, where we can visit the famous Kasbah, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. This Kasbah has been featured in films such as “The Gladiator,” “Babel,” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” We will then continue our journey, passing through the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Along the way, we will pass through small villages, witness small waterfalls, and enjoy the continuously changing landscape and colors of these beautiful mountains. We will reach Marrakech in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay will be arranged in Marrakech.

Day 8: Marrakech “guided tour”

After breakfast, you will have a full-day tour to visit Marrakech. The tour will include the Menara Gardens, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowers, the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadian Tombs, the museum of Dar Si Said showcasing Berber arts and crafts, and the Bahia Palace. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Afterward, we will explore the colorful Souks of Marrakech. The day will conclude with a sunset drink overlooking Jamaa El Fna square. Dinner will be arranged in a nice restaurant with a spectacle.

Day 9: Marrakech “Depart Morocco”

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Marrakech or Casablanca, depending on your request, for your departure from Morocco.