11 days Casablanca Morocco desert tour

itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca

At the estimated time, our representative will pick you up at the airport in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco to visit its famous Hassan II mosque and if time allows we can visit more interesting places such as the Courniche and the Plaza de las Palomas. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Souk Larbaa – Ouazane – Chefchaouen

After breakfast we will leave for Rabat, to visit its main monuments: Alcazaba de los Oudaias, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan II Tower. Later we will arrive at our destination Chefchaouen or Chaouen as many call it, located in the only intercontinental natural park declared a natural biosphere reserve. It is a town hanging on the mountain painted white and blue, populated by wise, friendly and respectful people, which offers visitors beautiful urban settings, precious samples of local crafts, and a peace and serenity that today is difficult to find. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Moulay Idriss – Fez

We will leave the charming Chefchaouen and head towards Fez, the first of the imperial cities that is proud to host one of the oldest universities in the world and the first Faculty of Medicine. On the way we will visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, we will be able to see a panoramic view of Moulay Idriss, the holy city where we will have lunch and in the afternoon we will arrive in Fez to enjoy the sunset while we visit the walls and gates of its medina or simply have a welcome tea from the terrace seeing the entire medina. Accommodation in the riad.

Day 4: Visit the Medina and the Monuments of Fez

After breakfast, we will begin our guided tour of the new part of the city of Fez, where we will visit the royal palace and the Jewish quarter (Mellah), then we will go to a viewpoint where we can observe the entire medina from the South Tower and its Mosques. Then we will have to tour the medina, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its labyrinthine streets structured by guilds of potters, dyers, … etc, the bustle of its people will transport you centuries ago. We will notice that it is a medieval city and that time has stood still ” the Magana Bounania ” 1200 years after its construction. Accommodation in Riyadh.

Day 5: Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Midélt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

We will head south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains until we reach Ifrane, also called “the little Moroccan Switzerland” because of its great resemblance to that country. One of the animals that formerly inhabited here was the Atlas lion, which is why it has become the symbol of the city and to which a stone statue has been dedicated in the center of the city. We will make a stop and take some photos. We will cross the famous cedar forests and admire the Great Gouraud Cedar, the largest thousand-year-old cedar in the region and also feed the hundreds of Gibraltar monkeys that inhabit the area. Lunch in Midélt. From here, the land becomes arid and full of spectacular geological formations and deep valleys, such as the Ziz Valley. We will begin to see the typical adobe architecture, palm trees, some distant Kasbahs … we are at the gates of the desert. Passing the city of Erfoud we will begin to see the impressive dunes of Merzouga and after having the welcome tea, we will leave the suitcases in the rooms and we will go up to the first dunes that are next to the hotel and we will take the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Complimentary dinner and accommodation in a hotel located a few meters from the Erg Chebbi dunes.

Day 6: Merzouga – Nomad Families – Ride camels and night in Jaimas

We are already in the Sahara desert, today will be a day of Total desert. After a copious and rich breakfast, we will go around the Erg Chebbi, an extension of sandy desert where the Great Dune of Morocco is located, more than 250 meters high, and we will connect with part of the route followed by the old Paris-Dakar and with the mountains bordering Algeria. We will visit the oasis of Tissardmin where we can find the race of Fossiles that are still in this region and we will continue the route to a nomadic settlement where we will know some of the secrets of their life and customs. We will go to a panoramic point where we can see the Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will arrive at the village of Khamlia, people originally from Mali, where we will relax with a tea while enjoying a small concert of Gnawa spiritual music. We will return to the Hotel to go out in a camel caravan to enter the heart of the dunes and contemplate an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive with the dromedaries at the camp where we will stay in Jaimas ‘’ Tents made with dromedary hair ‘’ like those used by desert nomads. Courtesy dinner and night in Jaimas in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.

Day 7: Merzouga Desert – Rissani Market – Todra Gorges – Dadés Valley

” Appointment with the Dawn ” since they are in the desert it is advisable to get up early to walk to the highest dune that is around to enjoy the sunrise and this relaxing landscape that nature offers us, we will return in dromedaries to the town of Merzouga. After a delicious breakfast, we have to say goodbye to the desert and leave for Rissani where we will visit its market (if we are lucky and it is one of the Market days: Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday) we will continue the road to Erfoud where there is also the possibility of visiting the fossilized marble factory before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. 1 hour later we will arrive at one of the strongest points of the High Atlas: The Todra Gorges. The channel of the Todra River has formed a gorge of vertical walls of enormous proportions and of great beauty; It is a climber’s paradise and a unique place. Lunch at the site and a half-hour walk would be recommended to see and enjoy the Gorges in detail. In the afternoon we will continue to the Dadés Valley, also known as the Fig Valley, passing through Boumalne Dadés, we will stop at the ‘’ monkey feet ‘’ Complimentary dinner at the accommodation.

Day 8: Dades Valley – Rose Valley – Boutagrar – Palmeral de Skoura – Ouarzazate

After having breakfast, we can enjoy one of the best views of the Dadés Valley. We will do it from one of the most strategic places that the mountains offer us. From there we will be able to observe the amount of kasbahs, then we will travel a road dotted with various Kasbahs of great interest until we reach the Kasbah of Aït Youl where we will make a detour and we will go through tracks in the depths of the Central High Atlas. We will visit a nomadic family that still lives in caves in the Vallé de Boutagrar where time seems to have stopped. We will see Mountains, canyons and valleys as well as the caves where nomads still live in the mountains. Arrival at the Vallé de las Rosas klaat M ’gouna. We will have lunch in the town and in the afternoon we will pass through the Skoura palm grove, to later arrive at Ouarzazate, Courtesy dinner at the accommodation.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

The morning is dedicated to the visit of Ouarzazate: kasbah of Taourirt, Atlas film studios, from there we will go to the Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah (Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). In this spectacular setting, renowned films such as Gladiator, Obelix, Sahara with Penélope Cruz and Joya del Nilo have been shot, Lunch on site, before leaving for Marrakech via Tizi N ‘Tichka, We will visit the ARGAN Oil cooperative, where We will see the process of realization and they will explain to us the innumerable benefits it has for the human body. Arrival in Marrakech around 6:00 p.m. Free time to discover the famous Jamaa el Fnaa Square. Accommodation in Riyadh.

Day 10: Free day in Marrakech

After breakfast, an official city guide will pick you up at the accommodation to take you for a slow walk through the Medina of Marrakech, free afternoon to practice the art of haggling in the souks or discover the most remote places of the medina at your leisure. Accommodation in Riyadh.