16 Days big Moroccan tour starting in Casablanca

Day 1 : Casablanca

Your vacation in Morocco starts with a transfer from the airport to the hotel where a tasty meal is already waiting for you. The rest of the day is up to you: Depending on time and preference, you may visit some local attractions or enjoy a relaxing evening in the hotel.

Day 2 : Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes

The second day begins with a drive starting at the hotel, stopping at the Hasan II. Mosque along the way, and then heading to Morocco’s capital, Rabat. There, we’ll visit the royal palace, the Chellah ruins, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. and the Hasan Tower. Thereafter, we continue driving to Meknes to have dinner in a local restaurant just by the Bab el Mansour gate which marks the entry to the city’s medina. We spend the night in Meknes.

Day 3 : Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

Starting in Meknes, we travel to Volubilis, where many historical Roman ruins are located. We’ll take the time to visit them. Afterwards, we drive to Fes to have an overnight there – dinner and breakfast are included.

Day 4 : Sightseeing in Fes

This day will be spent exploring Morocco’s oldest city: Fes. Taking a walk through its narrow alleys and beautiful streets first, our guided tour begins at the gates of the royal palace, followed by the Jewish district, where the first Mellah was built in the 15th century. We’ll make sure not to forget Fes’ other culturally and historically important places like the Qarawiyīn University, the traditional tanneries and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss. You are free to spend the afternoon in the older parts of the city before we have dinner together with a panoramic view of the city. The night will be spent in a local hotel.

Day 5 : Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Errachidia – Erfoud

The day begins with a drive past the Atlas Mountains, stopping at the village of Ifrane. Nearby, there’s a famous cedar forest, home of the Berber apes. If we’re lucky, you may see and feed some of them! Followingly, we continue our day trip through the Tiz Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz gorge, both wonderful places for photos. We’ll have lunch in the Ziz gorge, too!

After another stop in Midelt to freshen up, we drive through the Ziz valley to Errachidia, a city located in the southern region of Morocco. Our last stop is the traditional village of Erfoud where we’ll spend the night.

Day 6 : Erfoud – Rissani – Merzouga desert

After breakfast, we head off to Rissani to have some tasty, fresh lunch. In the afternoon, we drive on to the Merzouga desert, stopping at a hotel with a swimming pool and many restaurants nearby. You are then free to spend the evening as you want to! We recommend taking a walk through the dunes of Erg Chebbi in the area. Thereafter, it’ll take us ca. 90 minutes to get to the camp in the desert. Impressing sunsets can often be seen here. Our dinner will be served at a warming campfire and the night will be spent in Berber tents!

Day 7 : Merzouga desert tour

After breakfast, we take the 4×4 to a nearby cave system which harbors natural fossils! You may spend as much time there as you like. Then, we continue to the tiny and antique city of Tissrdmin, a film location for many famous productions. Our journey continues through the black desert, owing its name to the volcanic stones to be found there. We may stop along the way to visit a Tuareg family and enjoy some traditional tea. Later in the day, we’ll have a tour around the Erg Chebbi dunes in the Merzouga desert. You’ll be stunned by the widths of the desert and the nomad style of living. On our list, there’s the black valley of Khamlia, which offers Gnawa music. For lunch, we’ll enjoy a traditional Berber pizza in the antique city of Rissani! Then, in the late afternoon, the sun will set over the dunes with us riding on camels towards the camp again. Tagine will be our dinner, accompanied by Berber music and exquisite mint tea. The night will be topped of by a campfire under the night sky.

Day 8 : Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dadès Gorges

Starting early to catch the sunrise, we then ride on camels to a local hotel for breakfast and freshening up. Our journey then continues the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest canyon in Morocco. During the subsequent drive through the Dadès Gorges, we can see a geological phenomenon known as “Monkey Toes”, being an impressive rock formation. We’ll settle for the night in a hotel in the Dadès Gorge.

Day 9 : Dadès Gorges – Ouarzazate – Aït-Ben-Haddou – Marrakech

Our tour continues with a drive to Kalaat Mgouna and into the province of Ouarzazate, which is internationally known as “African Hollywood”. Many famous films have been shot there, such as the HBO series Game of Thrones. Here, we may visit a local film studio and a local kasbah, a fortress of antique origin. Subsequently we continue to the small city of Kalaa Mgouna, Morocco’s “city of roses”, which is home to another famous kasbah, being the largest in all Morocco and an UNESCO world heritage site. We then drive over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, where we’ll spend the night in a Medina hotel.

Day 10 : Ouarzazate – Taroudant

Today, we travel via Ouarzazate to Taroudant, a city beknown for its locally produced goods like jewelry, clay pots or carpets. Being called “tiny Marrakesh”, Taroudant is also located on the “road of the caravan”, an important trading route. Here, we’ll spend the night in a local hotel.

Day 11 : Taroudant – Tafraoute – Agadir

From our hotel in Taroudant, we’ll take the route to Tafraoute, a lively city that is protected from the African weather by massive rock formations surrounding it. The day trip continues along this route and leads to Agadir, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 12 : Agadir – Essaouira

After breakfast, we drive towards the Atlantic coast where Essaouira, the “peal of the Atlantic”, is located. There, we check into a hotel in the afternoon and go for a walk on the city walls, viewing the sunset over Essaouira – a memory to behold. In the evening, we’ll have fresh fish served for dinner in the town. You’re free to stroll around the serene and picturesque streets of Essaouira before returning to our hotel.

Day 13 : Essaouira

The 13th day’s planning is up to you! Essaouira offers an extensive historical background with its old city walls and museums. If the time is right, you may visit one of the annual music festivals as well. Being located at the coast with its own harbor, Essaouira is a fishing heaven – you’ll probably find the freshest fish of Morocco right here at the Essaouira coast promenade. The restaurants there offer freshly caught and cooked fish! We’ll stay in the same hotel for another night before continuing our trip on the next day.

Day 14 : Essaouira – Marrakesh

After breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Marrakesh and spend the day there. We’ll have an overnight in a local hotel.

Day 15 : Sightseeing in Marrakech

On this day, a private guide will lead you through the city of Marrakesh, visiting the main attractions and monuments like the Djeema el Fna Square, the Koutoubia Mosque, the local suqs as well as palaces and, possibly, museums. We’ll also have the chance to explore city districts like Gueliz, the gardens of Menara or the Jardin Majorelle. In the afternoon, you are free to explore the city on your own before spending the night in our hotel.

Day 16 : Marrakech – Casablanca

The last day’s program is at your disposal ! Depending on the time of your departure, you may explore some of the less touristic districts of Marrakech, stop by a local restaurant one more time or allow full bent to your own ideas before we transfer you to the airport.

 

Included in the private tour :

• Round-trip transportation within Marrakech (to/from hotel, airport, or any
other desired location)

• Private transfer in a comfortable four-wheel drive vehicle with air conditioning

• Experienced English or French speaking guide and driver

• Camel trekking in the Merzouga Desert

• Overnight at desert camp in Merzouga

• Breakfast and dinner

NOT included in the private tour :

• Lunch and drinks

• Flight ticket to and from Morocco

• Entrance fees to monuments / museums

• Anything, any insurance not listed in the itinerary