15 Days Grand Morocco Tour

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT CASABLANCA AIRPORT, RABAT

Upon your arrival at Casablanca airport, a member of our team will greet you. Before we leave Casablanca for Rabat, if time permits, we’ll visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. Your tour of Casablanca also includes a short drive through the Houbous, the Art Deco area. Then we’ll leave for Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we’ll explore the main historical sites including the Hassan Tower, the Oudaya Kasbah and the Shaillah ruins before checking in to your accommodation.

DAY 2: RABAT, OUAZZAN, CHEFCHAOUEN

After breakfast at your riad, we’ll travel to Chefchaouen via Ouazzan. The drive is very scenic and mostly over the foothills of the Rif Mountains.

DAY 3: EXPLORING CHEFCHAOUEN

Chefchaouen is known as “the blue city,” with its blue washed walls. You’ll have time to rest and leisurely explore this fascinating city and enjoy its charming people in their traditional dress.

DAY 4: CHEFCHAOUEN, VOLUBILIS, MEKNES, FES

The next stop is Volubilis, a large Roman ruin where your local guide will lead you through the history of the Roman ruins and the mosaics that date back to the 2nd century B.C. The next stop on our journey is Meknes, which was the capital during the 17th century and one of the Imperial cities of Morocco. You’ll see the famous gate of Bab Mansour, the Sahrij, the Souani basin used for irrigation and the Mouly Ismail mausoleum. After lunch overlooking the medina, we’ll head to Fes and check into your riad in the heart of the medina.

DAY 5: EXPLORING FES

After breakfast in your riad, our local guide will take you on a journey in to the oldest medina in Morocco that dates back to the 9th century. You’ll explore the narrow winding cobblestone streets of the medina, where donkeys are the main mode of transportation. Your tour will include historical sites of the medina, including the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest university in the world started in 851 by a woman (Fatima Fhriya), the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine fountains, the famous (and odiferous) tanneries, as well as the King’s Palace and the Jewish quarter where, if you like, you can visit a synagogue in the mellah. Lunch will be in the medina. The tour ends around 3-4 p.m. at your riad.

DAY 6: FES, AZROU, MIDELT, MERZOUGA

In the morning we’ll drive toward the Sahara desert, stopping first in Ifran, known as Little Switzerland. Then we’ll continue through the Cedar Forest where, with luck you’ll see Barbary apes. Most of the drive will be through the scenic Atlas Mountains and the Ziz Valley. After lunch in Midelt, we continue the drive through the scenic Ziz Valley, stopping at scenic views along the way. We’ll arrive in the village of Merzouga on the edge of the desert by the afternoon and check into your riad.

DAY 7: EXPLORING THE AREA, CAMEL TREK

After breakfast you can explore Merzouga and see how the villagers irrigate their crops in an oasis. Then it’s on to the village of Khamila, home to the black people who were brought to Morocco as slaves decades ago. You’ll be treated to a performance of their unique Gnawa music and have lunch in the village. Afterwards we’ll drive to the other side of the sand dunes where you’ll visit with a nomad family who still live in tents, and share a glass of mint tea with them. Return to your riad for a rest before heading out on camels into the Sahara Desert where you will become more than just a tourist. You’ll spend the night in tents in our comfortable desert camp, equipped with flush toilets and showers. Dinner will be served under the stars.

DAY 8: MERZOUGA, TODRA GORGES, DADES VALLEY

In the morning, your camel guide will awaken you to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise over the sand dunes. This experience is considered one of the trip’s highlights. After your breakfast in the middle of the Erg Chebbi dunes, you’ll ride your camels back to the village of Merzouga. The it’s off for a drive to the Dades Valley via the Todra Valley and Gorges where we will stop for pictures of the kasbahs built by Berber Jews during the 17th century. You’ll have a chance to walk through and photograph the Todra Gorges before carrying on to the Dades Valley.

DAY 9: DADES VALLEY, ROSE VALLEY, OUARZAZATE

After breakfast in your hotel, we’ll continue on our journey to Ouarzazat, known as African Hollywood, where you can see the Taourirt Kasbah and tour the movie studios. Overnight accommodation will be in your Riad

DAY 10: OUARZAZAT, AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH, ESSAOUIRA

After breakfast in your riad, we will head to Essaouira via the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNSECO Heritage site and the largest and the oldest kasbah in Morocco. Several movies have been filmed there, including The Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and The Jewel of the Nile. After exploring the kasbah, we’ll travel via the scenic High Atlas Mountains and the Tichka Pass to Essaouira, the picturesque blue and white city on the Atlantic Ocean.

DAY 11: EXPLORING ESSAOUIRA

Enjoy a leisurely day visiting the Skala Fortress and wandering through the alleys of the medina. Enjoy fresh-caught grilled fish for lunch and a walk by the beach where you will see surfers enjoying their sport.

DAY 12: ESSAOUIRA, MARRAKECH

After breakfast in your riad, we’ll leave for Marrakech. Along the way we’ll drive through the Land of Argan, the only place in the world where argan trees grow. You can visit one of the women’s cooperatives to see how the argan oil is made, by hand, the old fashioned way. We’ll arrive in Marrakech by lunchtime and stop at the Majorelle Gardens, created by Yves St. Laurent, before checking in to your riad, Ksar Anika/Riad Princess du Desert.

DAYS 13 – 14: EXPLORING MARRAKECH

After breakfast, our local guide will take you through some of the historical sites of “The Red City,” including the Bahia Palace, the Saadienne tombs, Jamaa Lafna Square and Ben Youssef Medrasa. Walking through the souks, you’ll enjoy the sights, sounds of Marrakech. After sundown, we suggest you walk to Jamaa el Fna, the main square in the old city that comes alive at night with snake charmers, storytellers, merchants and tourists enjoying the sights and sounds of Marrakech. The next day you’ll l have the option of taking a day trip to the Ourika, Valley or taking a cooking class, learning to cook Moroccan style.

DAY 15: DEPARTURE

After your breakfast at your riad, we will take you to the airport for your departure. th