Imperial cities of Morocco 10 Days Tour from Casablanca

Imperial cities of Morocco 10 Days Tour from Casablanca Highlights:

• Explore Marrakech city and visit the main monuments and landmarks
• Discover the hidden Berber villages in the desert and meet the nomads
• Ride a camel in the desert and enjoy a sunset over the dunes of Erb Chebbi
• Explore the oasis and the old kasbahs in the southeast
• Visit the gorges and canyons of dades and toudra gorges
• Explore the city of Fes on a guided city tour
• Explore the city of Meknes and its monuments
• Discover the city of Rabat and its landmarks

Day 1: Arrival at Casablanca airport and Transfer to your hotel

Your driver/guide will meet you at Casablanca international airport and privately transferred you to your hotel, where you may relax after your flights.
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 Casablanca Hotel in (HB).

Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – FEZ

After breakfast,  we will start visiting the first imperial city in our Morocco Tour, Rabat the capital city 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.
Our journey will continue through the highway to reach Meknes, the second imperial city, founded in the 17th century by Sultan Moulay Souleymane. On arrival, we will stop for lunch, then start the Meknes city tour including, the visit of the Medersa (Koran school), the sultan mausoleum. After exploring Meknes we will head to Volubilis, the Roman capital and one of the best UNESCO heritage sites in Morocco, admire the tall minaret and observe the many black storks, herons, egrets, and ibises that inhabit the dense vegetation that surrounds the ruins. After sightseeing, We will continue driving to Fez. Overnight in Riad or Hotel (HB).

Volubilis Roman capital in Morocco

Day 3: Fes 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).

Fes City Tour

Day 4: Fes – Ifrane – Ziz Valley – Erfoud (Sahara Desert)

After breakfast, we will leave the bustling city of Fes and start a new explorative journey to the desert, we will drive through the beautiful landscapes of the Atlas Mountain. First stop in Ifrane, the small beautiful town, after photos, we will continue towards the cedar forest, where we will make a short stop to leet the wild Barbary Apes (Macaques), then continue our day across the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountain ranges and through the incredible Ziz Valley, the Ziz valley is a veritable river of lush vegetation (an estimated 2 million date palm trees) that cuts through an otherwise dry region of desert canyons and plateaus. We have many stops to enjoy the amazing views of the largest palm grove in Morocco. on the road we will have a stop for lunch, then, continue to reach the Merzouga desert, upon arrival, you may relax and/or swim in the pool. Enjoy the starry nighttime desert, sky. Overnight in Hotel at the foot of the dunes. (HB).

Day 5: Exploring Sahara Desert and Camel Trek

After breakfast, we will start an adventure journey in the desert. Today you will visit the Gnawa people in Khamlia village, originally slaves brought from Sudan, you will discover their spiritual music and lifestyle. Not far away, there we will visit the lake of Merzouga. After that, we will visit a nomad family where you will have time to learn and know about their daily life and how they live in the Sahara. We will have a stop for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can taste a traditional Berber pizza (called Madfouna).
After lunch, we will drive back to the Hotel where you can relax, swim, waiting for a new adventure in the afternoon involved in your camel trek; guided by an experienced camel; ride camels through the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi to assist to one of the lifetime sunsets over the great sand dunes. After watching the sunset, we will continue our camel caravan trek to reach the desert camp, where we will spend the night under Berber Tents with and local Berber music around the fire. Overnight and Dinner (HB).

Day 6: Merzouga (Sahara) – Todra Valley – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

Don’t miss the sunrise, wake up early and climb the sand dunes to watch the amazing sunrise, then take breakfast and shower. after breakfast, you’ll be transferred in a 4×4 vehicle to the dunes,  or ride camels back to the hotel to meet your driver/guide to start a new journey full of adventures.

We will follow the road of Caravans towards Todra valley, en route,  we will stop at a small private museum that houses excellent exhibits showcasing the local art, culture, and history. before reaching the Todra gorges, here we visit the impressive Todra Valley and Gorge (985 ft. high, 165 ft. wide), with Berber villages on either side of the lush palm oasis that slices through the brown rocky desert. Stop for a tasty lunch and then travel along the southern slopes of the High Atlas range and through the Dades Valley and Roses valley, known for its roses, until you reach Ouarzazate. Here, at the heart of the city, we will stop to visit the first biggest kasbahs in our Tour of Morocco, the kasbah Taourirte a fortified palace marked as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1987, here you will admire the wonderful and amazing Berber architecture. Overnight in Riad or Hotel in Ouarzazate (HB).

Day 7: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

The morning after breakfast, we will leisurely be sightseeing around Ouarzazate, a town that for centuries was the main meeting point and trading center for caravans from the Atlas, Draa valley, and Dades valleys. The modern town Kasbahs was built by the governors of southern Morocco to protect commercial interests.
After exploring the city, we will head to Kasbah AitBenhaddou, a fortified village and kasbah and one 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 the visit of the kasbah, we will countinue to Marrakesh through the High Atlas Mountain pass Tichka (7,400 ft), built during the French colonial period to replace the main caravan route connecting the north and south. After crossing the Atlas, we will reach Marrakech, the 4th imperial city in our Morocco Tour, an enchanting ochre-colored city that is a marvel of sights and sounds, with its minarets, labyrinthine souks, lush green gardens, palaces, and small alleys that will amaze you.
This afternoon you’ll visit the Majorelle Gardens. Originally owned by the french painter, Jacques Majorelle, the electric-blue villa and garden were bought and expanded by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1960s. Enjoy the impressive garden and small museum of Islamic art. before check-in to your hotel or Riad (HB).

Day 8: Marrakesh City Tour with Guide

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, CaïdLayadi, and its extraordinary architecture has been well-preserved

Day 9: Marrakesh Day Trip to Essaouira

Today we will leave Marrakesh to the town of Essaouira, located 176 km from Marrakech about 2 and a half hours away, on the western coast of the Atlantic in Morocco, known for its various nicknames such as “The Pearl of the Atlantic” and “The Sleeping Beauty” you can enjoy this wonderful town for a whole day.

Declared a World Heritage Site, it maintains the charm and authenticity of a land lost in time, its beautiful walled center, its warm climate, the immense beaches and the proximity to the desert attract all kinds of tourists, from those who seek to enjoy calm, good cuisine, the hospitality of its people, even the most athletic people who like the sea and its activities such as windsurfing since its trade winds are a perfect combination for water sports.

The medina of Essaouira is completely different from any other medina in the country, surrounded by fortified walls whose objective was to protect the city from the sand and the wind and with its three entrance doors and its cannons facing the ocean make this city coastal one of the most visited.

Its small medina where tranquility reigns are divided into squared neighborhoods where you can appreciate the classic network of Moroccan streets with its vendors and merchants, its houses with white and blue walls, and the blue of its windows and doors that remind a little of the Mediterranean islands, all these characters gives it a special charm and difference.

Day 10: Departure Morocco Airport Transfer

After breakfast, we will drive to the Airport of Marrakech or any airport in Morocco.