11 Days Highlights of Morocco Tour from Casablanca

11 Days Highlights of Morocco Tour from Casablanca

During this 11 Days Highlights of Morocco Tour from Casablanca, you will discover the hidden gems and the authentic Morocco culture and heritage, this tour starts from Casablanca through the pearl of the north the blue city Chefchaouen to the Sahara desert, the great canyons of Dades and Todra, and the wonderful fortified Kasbahs and palaces. Stroll the old Medinas of the imperial cities of Morocco with our local guide and learn about the local culture and traditions of the indigenous people of Morocco.

MOROCCO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Stroll through the gardens, mosques, palaces, and souks of Marrakesh
• Explore the UNESCO-listed medieval city of Fes
• Experience a camel trek for a lifetime sunset over the sand dunes of Merzouga
• Meet the locals and discover their lifestyle
• View sunrise over the Sahara on a camel ride
• Revel in the views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains
• Visit the exotic and well preserved Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
• Marvel at the magnificent Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Day 1: Arrival at Casablanca airport and transfer to Marrakesh

Your driver/guide will meet you at Casablanca international airport and transfer you to Marrakech. You can have a first contact with the red city, knowing the Plaza de Jemaa lefna, where you can enjoy the show that offers, being able to dine in the same place if you wish. Overnight in Hotel in (HB).

Day 2: Marrakesh Guided City Tour

Today, we will explore the Red City Marrakesh, we begin with a visit to the stunningly beautiful Ben Youssef Medersa, a former Koranic school, originally founded in the 14th century by the Merenids, this Medersa was once the largest in North Africa and remains one of the most beautiful. The exquisite zellij patterns and cedar carvings exemplify the Islamic emphasis on decorative arts to inspire reflection.
After visiting the Koranic school, we will then take a walk through the old medina and its labyrinth souks (Markets). This maze of colorful alleys and small squares is home to a bewildering number of stalls and workshops devoted to specific crafts. Emerging, you find yourself in the famous Djemaa el Fna, the city’s main square. No one is really certain how it came into being, but over the last 1,000 years, the square has become the heartbeat of Marrakech, here, you will be amazed by the fire eaters, mime artists, snake charmers, and street musicians perform at every turn.
Just opposite the square, you’ll find the Koutoubia Mosque. Built-in the 12th century, the very impressive Koutoubia minaret served as inspiration for the architects of the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Our Marrakesh city tour will continue to explore another highlight the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace, with its lush green courtyards, incredible painted woodwork ceilings, and exquisite gypsum zellij carvings. Tonight, you’ll dine at PalaisSouleiman, where you can also enjoy listening to classical/Andaluz and Gnawa music. The palace once belonged to one of Marrakech’s last great chiefs, Caïd Layadi, and its extraordinary architecture has been well-preserved. Overnight in Riad or Hotel (HB).

Day 3: Marrakesh – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

Departure after breakfast crossing the High Atlas, by the port of Tichka (2,260m altitude), the highest road in Morocco. The road is diverted here by track, visiting the Kasbah Telouet, and crossing Berber villages until you reach the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, a large fortified village, marked as world heritage by Unesco since 1987 and a site that still attracting movies makers and directors from all over the world. This amazing village and kasbah are some of the most scenic sites in Morocco. Due to its location, this kasbah was a meeting trading center coming from the sub-Sahara and the north. More recently, as a best-preserved Kasbah in the Atlas region, AitBenhaddou was selected by famous directors and moviemakers to be featured in, such as, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Jesus of Nazareth”, “Gladiator” and “The Mummy”. After lunch in a local restaurant near the kasbah, then continue to Ouarzazat visit the old house of the Pasha de Marrakech, the Kasbah Taourirt. Later, we will drive to explore one of the wonders of southern Morocco, the cinema studios. Afterward, we will continue our journey through the valley of  The ”Thousand kasbah route”  and the Skoura oases with its authentic 17-century kasbahs. Continue driving to reach the roses valley, where we will have a short stop will be at the roses valley to visit a local cooperative running by locals to learn about this kind of Damascus rose and the products they made from. We will have free time to explore the great canyons of Dades and enjoy a quiet evening at the gorges. Overnight and Dinner in Dades Gorges (HB).

Ouarzazate on the edge of the Sahara desert in Morocco. Taken as dawn broke. Famous for its use as a set in many films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Jewel of the Nile, Kingdom of Heaven, Kundun, and Alexander North Africa. Nikon D3x.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Sahara Desert

Breakfast at your hotel or riad in Dades, and then, we will leave towards the Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. There you will have enough time to explore the gorge, from its plunging depths to dizzying heights. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colors as the sun slowly moves from east to that flows through it giving life to a huge variety of colorful fruit, nut trees, and extraordinary red rock formations. After exploring these amazing canyons, we will continue our journey to the Sahara Desert, we will stop to have lunch on road, then continue driving enjoying the changing of desert sceneries and landscapes, continue via the Ziz valley and its gorges and Errachidia to arrive at Merzouga, once in Merzouga, you can relax and enjoy a mint tea, before check-in to our hotel at the foot of the sand dunes. overnight in hotel (HB).

Day 5: Exploring Merzouga Desert Wonders and meet the nomads

After breakfast, we will go around the dunes and we will see: the 2 oases of MERZOUGA, the nomadic lands, the village of KHAMLIA (village of the blacks), the MIFISS mines, the desert dunes, the Berber nomads, the TISSARDMINE oasis. we will enjoy a traditional Berber pizza called (Medfouna) in the village of Khamlia, then, we will return to the inn about 3 in the afternoon, before starting a new desert adventure tour, you will start a camel trek for 1 hour and a half through the huge dunes to watch the sunset and sleep under a nomadic tent at the large dunes of Erg Chebbi. Enjoy the starry nighttime desert. Overnight in Luxury Desert Camp at the dunes. (HB).

Day 6: Merzouga Desert – Ziz Valley – Azrou – Ifran – Fes

Early morning wake up to enjoy the most beautiful sunrise over the golden dunes, you can climb the dunes to watch the sunrise step by step and take some amazing photos, then, take breakfast and shower at the desert camp. after that, you can ride the camel’s back or get in an SUV 4×4 to meet your driver at the hotel for a new explorative journey towards Fes. We will have a short stop in Erfoud, to visit the fossil factory (optional) then, continue via the Ziz valley and its gorges and Errachidia to arrive at Midelt, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we will drive to Azrou, the forest of Azrou where we stop to enjoy watching the monkeys climb the cedars trees. We will drive through the beautiful road to reach the city of Ifrane, a nice and clean city to stop in a cafe overlooking the lake to enjoy a coffee, before heading to Fes. Overnight in Riad or Hotel in Fes (HB).

Day 7: Fes Guided City Tour

Full-Day dedicated to exploring the oldest imperial city of Morocco, today we will travel back in time to the Middle Ages when you visit Fes El Bali (Old Fez), the world’s largest living medina (walled city) and the cultural heart of Morocco. The city dates back to the 8th century when Moulay Idriss II moved from Volubilis to found the capital of Morocco’s first independent Islamic Kingdom. Over the centuries Fez prospered due to successive waves of skilled Muslim and Jewish immigrants from Andalucia. The city also benefited from wise sultans who expanded the caravan trade with West Africa and built many Madrasas (Koranic schools) and Al-Karaouine, the oldest, still-functioning university in the world!
Our Fes Private Tour Highlights will include the Bouanania Medersa, Bab BouJeloud, Dar Batha ethnographic museum, and Nejjarine Square with its beautiful fountain, elaborate mosaics, and nearby Fondouq, now converted to a museum of carpentry artifacts. As well we will explore the new Fes; the Merinid Dynasty area; we will visit the Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas, souks (markets), and the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter notable for its Andalucian architecture and two synagogues.
After exploring the palace, we will head to visit a Ceramic workshop to see how the beautiful fountains are made from the small Zellij (ceramic) and how the traditional Moroccan crafts (mosaics, gypsum carving). After visiting Fes, we will drive back to your Riad where you can relax and enjoy a mint tea on a terrace overlooking the old Medina. Overnight in Riad or Hotel (HB)

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Day 8: Fes – Volubilis – Meknes – Chefchaouen

After breakfast,  we will continue our journey towards Volubilis, a world heritage site and the old Roman capital; we will explore the ruins with a local guide to witness the traces of the Roman civilization in north Africa. After about 1 hours drive, we will reach Meknes, another imperial city, known for its huge walls and beautiful unique gates, the city tour of Meknes, will include: The Royal stables, The Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, and the visit to Bab Al Mansour Gate. After exploring Meknes, we will drive through the Rif Mountains to reach the city of Chefchaouen, known for its white houses and blue doors. We will explore its old Medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square “Outa Hmam” is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah (built back in the 18th century), a central mosque, and cafes with authentic menus. The busy market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist fare. Overnight and Dinner in Chefchaouen. (HB).

Day 9: Chefchaouen – Rabat

After breakfast, we will have free time to explore Chefchaouen and take more than souvenirs. Then, we will head to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, a charming medina (old walled city), and well-preserved relics of Rabat’s Moorish past. First stop to admire the massive 12th-century minaret of Hassan Tower, before proceeding to the nearby Mausoleum of Mohammed V. One of the great monuments of modern Morocco, one of the witnesses of Moroccan modern architecture.
Then, our Rabat city tour continues to the cliff-top Kasbah Ouadayas. This fortress was the Almohad citadel of medieval Rabat, it’s guarded by an impressive arched gate built around 1195 and a palace with Andalucian gardens, as well as a panoramic terrace where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the river and sea. Overnight in Riad or Hotel (HB).

Morocco. Rabat. The Hassan Tower (Tour Hassan)

Day 10: Rabat City Tour to Casablanca (1-hour drive)

free time in Rabat to explore the city or relax. after lunch, you will be transferred to Casablanca start a visit to Casablanca Hassan 2 mosque, Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco, its mushrooming under French influence into one of Africa’s four largest cities. As Morocco’s commercial capital, Casablanca is an enigmatic meeting place of western modernity and Arabic tradition. If your flight arrived early in the morning, then, in the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a private tour of Casablanca, including a visit to the King Hassan II Mosque. The mosque is remarkable in terms of its dimensions, advanced technological features, and the top-notch quality of its artistry and craftsmanship. The interior of the mosque holds up to 25,000 worshippers while an additional 80,000 persons may worship in the outside square! Overnight in the hotel (HB).

Day 11: Casablanca Airport Transfer

After breakfast, and depends on your flight time, you will be transferred to Casablanca airport for your return flight

NB: This tour can be extended/upgraded if you wish to spend more days in Marrakesh or any other city in Morocco.