8 Days Casablanca Private Desert Tour
Day 1: Casablanca – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes:
Arriving in Casablanca Airport, where our team will collect we’’ll head for Casablanca and the great Hassan 2 Mosque followed by lunch at Rick’s Café. After lunch it’s onto to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes. In Meknes, another significant imperial city in Morocco – known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will see the famous gate Bab Mansour, the Sahrij Souani Bassin and the Mulay Ismail Mausoleum.
After lunch, your journey continues to Volubilis, the Roman ruins, dating to 25BC, exploring the site you’ll see some of the original mosaics are very well preserved. Continuing to Fes via the foothills of the Rif Mountains we’ll arrive in Fes in the late afternoon before checking in to your Riad at the heat of the Medina. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.
Day 2: Exploring Fes:
After breakfast in your Riad , you’ll start exploring the cultural capital of Morocco, walking in its alleys and small streets. Our visit starts by the Royal Palace, the Jewish headquarter, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco. We will ensure that you visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the oldest in the region, and the Tanneries. After lunch, you’ll visit the ceramic factory and take in a panoramic view of the whole Medina of Fes. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the new city for a drink. Overnight accommodation is in your Riad.
Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Errachidia – Merzouga:
After breakfast you’ll leave Fes travelling towards Ifrane, referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco” and then to Merzouga via Azrou and the Ziz Valley. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you may well see Barbary apes. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia.
Your journey continues to Merzouga via the Tizi Ntalghamt pass and along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way. Arriving in Merzouga in the late afternoon, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before checking in to your accommodation. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. . (DBB).
Day 4: Merzouga area and the Camel trek:
After breakfast in the hotel you’ll start exploring the area. You’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations. You may also visit the nomad wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. In the afternoon, guided by an experienced camel man, you’ll explore the sand sea of Merzouga with a camel trek hopefully enjoying a wonderful sunset over the golden dunes. Overnight is at the desert camp, equipped with flash toilets. DBB.
Day 5: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges: 260km.
Rising early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise of your life. Afterwards, you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga. En-route you won’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast in the Riad, you’ll leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. (DBB).
Day 6: Dades Gorge – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech:
After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll set off through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. Today you will have the opportunity to meet Berber Nomads in their caves enjoying the fertile Rose valley and the rock formations along the way. We’ll stop at Kalaat M’gouna, “the rose city”, to purchase the rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over. Continuing on to Skoura and the birds valley; visiting the Kasbah Ameridil, a well-preserved kasbah in this area.
After some hiking in the valley, we’ll stop for lunch in a restaurant, overlooking the gorge. Then it’s on to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscapes has attracted many world class movie producers. Here you may choose to visit the studios, containing props used in movies, you may have already seen; such as The Mummy, Gladiator and the Last temptation of Christ. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your overnight accommodation in Marrakech.
Day 7: Exploring Marrakech – Essaouira:
After breakfast in the Riad , you can start exploring Marrakech ” the red city of Morocco”. Your guide will ensure that you see the most important places of historical and cultural interest: including the Saadien tomb, the Palaces of El Bahia and El Badi as well as the Ben Youssef Coranique School. Lunch is at a restaurant near the square, then in the afternoon you’ll visit the gardens at Majorelle, Menara and the Koutoubia tower. After lunch we’ll then drive to Essaouira on the where you’ll spend a wonderful evening experiencing the local culture. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.
Day 8: Essaouira – transfer to the airport.
After Breakfast in your Riad, you’ll have a tour of Essaouira’s medina; it’s souks and famous port before the drive back to your the airport and your flight back home. Tour ends at the airport.
