Imperial Cities, Desert and Coast

Welcome to Morocco! Arrive at the Casablanca Airport. You'll be met by your driver and guide who will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Visit the popular Hassan II Mosque and admire its exquisite craftsmanship ( optional )  and take a stroll along the Boulevard de la Corniche, often referred to as the "Miami of Morocco."

Leave Casablanca behind and travel north to Rabat, Morocco's administrative capital along the Atlantic coastline. We'll tour the old city including visits the 2nd-century Chellah Necropolis, established originally as a Phoenician colony, the Ouadaya Kasbah, the Mohamed V mausolieum and the Hassan Tower Mosque. Continue to the Imperial City of Meknes. Formerly the capital of Morocco during the reign of Moulay Ismail, where you can visit gardens, palaces, the impressive gate of Bab al-Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables. Carry on eastward to Fes, the oldest imperial city in Morocco, where you can relax and enjoy the night at your leisure. Dinner is on your own, so be sure to consult your driver for some recommendations and advices.

Meet your guide in your Riad/Hotel at 09am and start the visit of “the oldest living Medina in the world”. Start at the gateway of the Royal Palace and the Blue Gate " Bab Boujloud ".  Explore the twisting streets of the old Medina, Madrasa Bounania, the elegant Nejjarine Fountain & Musuem and the pungent; Chouara Tannery.

At 8:00 am your driver will pick you up, leave the UNESCO-protected Fes and travel south toward Merzouga Sahara Desert. The first stop will be in Ifran, nicknamed the little Swizerland, a neat and charming city that has a mild climate, lakes, white winters and a distinctive architecture, i. e. houses have sloping remarkably unusual roofs in Morocco.  A 15 min stop to stretch your legs, drink a cup of coffee. We will continue south to cross the majestic Middle Atlas, a region of rare beauty, varied landscapes, and forest roads shaded by towering stands of cedar trees. Stop for a while to observe the Barbary apes in the Oak and Cedar forest.  Afterwards, we will continue to Midelt, a town Known for apple production, we will have lunch here, then relish the impressive nearby Moulouya River. Later on, we will continue to the Sahara Desert driving over the fascinating Tizi n'Talghamt Pass (at an altitude of 1,907 m), and into the scenic Valley of Ziz which graces the landscape with its hidden oases and emerald green palm trees. On the way to the Sahara, you will see numerous ancient Ksour—fortified houses built of earth bricks and had served as a strongholds that protect sedentary populations and their precious wares, including gold, salt and spices. Once you are in Erfoud, you can feel the beginning of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet and its immense arid plateaus. You will stop in one of the cafes to stretch your legs, use the bathrooms before heading to the Sahara Desert. Your camels are waiting for you at the edge of the golden dunes, the luggage will be loaded in an 4x4 car and transported to the camp, and you enjoy a beautiful camel ride over the sand dunes, contemplating the stunning scenery and the beautiful Desert sunset on the way to the camp.

Be sure to rise early to witness a Saharan sunrise, before exploring more of the Desert. Take a sandboard and test your skills on the dunes, join the Erg Chebbi tour (around the sand dunes) or a quad ATV tour. Continue to nearby Khemliya to wander this traditional Saharan village and enjoy drumming music and dancing. Make your way west, entering through an impressive gate into the market town of Rissani. Check out the livestock auction and the "donkey parking lot". After breakfast we drive to Tinerhir enjoying the views of neighboring towns running along the sides of the lush and extensive river oasis. Admire the 984 feet (300 m) deep Todra Gorge and the Todra River below that cut through the red limestone to make it. Take a leisurely walk to explore the gorge and relax in the cool water of the shallow river below.

Leave Tinghir behind and drive to Dades Valley. Upon arrival to Boumalne Dades, we will deviate into a secondary route heading up to Dades Dorges, a surprising landscape that is known for its stunning rock formation, kasbahs and attractive stone and pisé villages. On the banks of the river is a cultivated land that grows almond, fig and walnut trees and polars — its a glorious road that offers one of the most scenic drives in the world. Continue driving toward Skoura via the road of 1000 Kasbahs and the Roses Valley. The town of Skoura houses a number of impressive kasbahs, we will visit the most imposing one, the 17th century Amridil Kasbah — a masterpiece that had been printed in the country's 50 Dirham note. Skoura is one of Morocco’s beautiful oases, we will visit the palmeraie gardens and enjoy the abundance of its nature. Arrive in Ouarzazate, nicknamed "Hollywood of Africa" a town located on the main road between the mountains and the desert, Ouarzazate is made popular by the film industry. It is possibile to join a studio tour so to discover how the nearby desert landscapes have been featured in many films. Have lunch in one of the local restaurants. After lunch, we will travel to the nearby town Ait Benhadou village. Overnight in a beautiful kasbah with Dinner..

After breakfast we will drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley that is full of bends in the road and surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, gardens, Berber villages, as well as small Kasbahs until you reach the village of Telouet. Arrive at Telouet Kasbah, the main seat of the Glaoui family. The kasbah boasts some of the best andalusion architecture with engraved stuccowork, colourful zellij tilework, painted cedar ceilings and doors. Meet your guide and learn the fascinating history of this crumbling yet stunning village and its role in the struggle for Moroccan independence. Drive across the High Atlas Mountains the highest mountain range in North Africa. Along the way, soak in uninterrupted views of the High Atlas Mountains and its beautiful Berber villages. Near the top, stretch your legs for a great panoramic view of the mountains. We will continue to Marrakech where our adventure comes to an end. As you descend the High Atlas, you will notice a dramatic change in the climate and landscape. Soon you will be a part of the noise and clamor of your final imperial city, Marrakech. Around 3 pm you will be dropped off in your Riad/Hotel or at the nearest parking lot to it.

Meet your guide at 09am in your Riad/Hotel and start your Guided city tour of Marrakech, visit The Bahia Palace, Medrassa Ben Youssef, see the Koutoubia Mosque from outside Souks and Jamaa el Fna Square. The order of the visits depends on the location of your pick up but you will get a lot of flexibility in terms of what you can see and pace, plus we have the option of improvising and changing course along the way while focusing on what you find most interesting.

Say goodbye to the Red City, and travel to Morocco's west coast following a route that takes you over vast rolling plains. Along the way, pass through an argan tree forest, endemic to this part of the world. You may even see goats climbing on the argan fruit, up in the tree branches. Arrive in the port city of laid-back Essaouira, a nice contrast to frenetic Marrakech, and spend the rest of the day as you choose. Walk the Skala de la Kasbah (the 18th-century seafront ramparts) along the coast. Designed by European engineers, old brass cannons line the walls and offer viewing access over the Atlantic. Explore the UNESCO-protected medina before making your way to the windswept beach.

After breakfast, we will depart to Safi and to Oualidia via the coastal road with its superb view and have our lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will drive to El Jadida, famous for its beaches and resorts. Our tour includes a visit to the famous citadel, a reminder of the Portuguese occupation of the 16th Century. Upon arriving in Casablanca, explore more of the Old Medina, bargain with local vendors in the bazaar, and pick up any last-minute souvenirs and gifts.

Depending on your departure details, you may wish to stroll along the Boulevard de la Corniche or get some souvenirs before driving to the airport. Safe Travels!