11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip overview:
Duration: 11 days – 10 nights
Departure: Casablanca
Arrival: Marrakech
Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive to Casablanca – Rabat.
Our 11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip will start once we pick you up at the airport. We will start driving around Casablanca city, the largest city, and the economic capital of the country. Our drive through this city will lead us to visit the largest mosque in Morocco “Hassan II”. It is an iconic landmark which is the only one opened for non-Muslims. Later on, we carry on our journey to the political capital, Rabat. We will cover its historical sites such as Oudaya Kasbah, Hassan Tower, and Mohammed V Mausoleum. Overnight in Rabat.
Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis ‘Roman Ruins’ – Fez.
Right after your lovely Moroccan breakfast, we meet you at the lobby by 08am and leave Rabat for Fez. Our journey will take us via the imperial city of Meknes. The history of the city dates back to 11th century as it was founded by a local Berber family ‘Meknasa’. Meknes has few historical sites to provide us with such as: Bab Mansour, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and an old stable used as granary… After this, we shift northeast to Volubilis ‘Roman Ruins’. It is a UNESCO heritage site worth visiting. The site takes us back to 3rd century BC. The Berber name of the site is Oualili which means Nerium oleander plant. We will have an official guide to better understand and cover all the historical secrets of this iconic area. Later on, we take our road to Fes. Late afternoon we will arrive at Fez for an overnight stay.
Day 3: Fez guided walking tour
After breakfast in the Riad, we meet you at the reception and start exploring the oldest city in Morocco, walking via its alleys and small streets. The walking tour of Fez is divided into two parts, the internal and external side. We will start with the external part in which we will try to visit the most historical monuments: The golden gate of Royal Palace, the Jewish headquarter, the first Melah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century, the pottery and Zellij tilework… Additionally, during the internal part of our walk, we will ensure to cover all sites with cultural and historical interests including the famous Al Karaouine University, the oldest in the region, the Tanneries, the Attarin Museum and Moulay Idriss Mausoleum. After lunch, we carry on exploring more sites walking through the narrow alleys of this labyrinthic medina. Around 03pm we walk back to our accommodation. Overnight in Fez.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 4: Meknes – Ifran – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
After having breakfast in your hotel/Riad around 08am, your private driver/guide will take you for a journey of a lifetime experience. Today will allow us to explore different landscapes travelling past Ifran, where houses have sloping roofs, remarkable and unusual in Morocco. This is to cope with yearly snowfall. Our journey continues with a drive through the UNESCO preserved Cedar Forest of the Middle Atlas. The forest hosts a colony of endangered Barbary Apes which you might see and feed. From here we drive south of the Middle Atlas passing through Timhadite until we reach Midelt, which lies at the foot of Ayachi Mountains. It is nicknamed ‘the apple capital’ and serves as the commercial agricultural Centre for the surrounding area. It is also one of Morocco’s principal cities of several minerals, such as quartz and vanadinite…we stop for lunch here in one of the local restaurants. Later on, we will continue further south travelling over the Tizi N’ Talghamt pass known as the ‘camel’ pass. We carry on with our trip passing via remote mud villages scattered along the road, then we descend through Ziz Valley, which is particularly known for its palm grove. The fascinating Ziz valley provides us with a great picturesque view. We will arrive in Erfoud, famous for its date and fossils. Finally, we arrive at the red Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in a typical charming Riad in Merzouga.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 5: Sahara Desert tour & Desert camp
A visit to Morocco without being in the Sahara Desert and a camel ride is definitely incomplete, therefore, today will fully be dedicated just to the desert area. We will have a unique opportunity to visit Gnaoua village “Black people” originally from Mali, Niger…. They will entertain us with their authentic instruments. After spending a worthwhile moment with Gnaoua; we drive deep in the Desert for a panoramic view that shows the contrast of golden dunes with black volcanic rocks. Later on, a cup of tea with a nomad family is worth it in order to explore the way they survive and feel the harshness of life and what it feels like to be a nomad. We follow our path to an abandoned coal mine. After that, we will drive to the village of Merzouga for lunch. Additionally, we make our way to the hotel to collect our luggage and get ready for our camel ride adventure. The dromedaries will take us across Erg Chebbi dunes enjoying the sceneries of the area. The sunset view on top of the dunes will be the best experience ever. Arrive at the camp in the middle of the dunes, we receive you with a cup of tea as hospitality. Dinner and breakfast will be served in your luxury camp. The tents are well equipped for all needs. Overnight in the desert camp.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 6: Merzouga – Sijilmasa – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Rose Valley – Skoura
Wake up early in the morning to attend and enjoy a spectacular sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. Set up over the dunes, waiting for the sun to rise and meanwhile feel the cold morning breeze are feelings you will not find elsewhere but here in the Desert. After so, you have your yummy breakfast and get ready to leave the Desert for Skoura. We will pick you up with a 4×4 jeep to meet the driver and head off to our next destination. Our journey will lead us to drive via a number of villages and towns along the road. Not far away from Merzouga, we will stop in Sijilmasa which is one of the oldest cities in Morocco. If our trip coincides with the day market of the town (Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday), a visit is worth it. Later on, we go ahead with our adventure to Todra Gorges, a paradise site for rock climbers and hikers. We will stop at the site to explore its high cliffs. Subsequently, we will follow our passion towards our destination Skoura driving through Dades and Rose Valley. Rose valley is famous for producing different products of rose such as: rose water, rose cream, and rose oil…we carry on our trip to Skoura oasis where to spend overnight in one of its riads.
Day 7: Ouarzazate – Ait Benhadou Kasbah – Atlas Mountains – Essaouira
Right after your breakfast at the hotel/Riad, we meet you at the lobby by 8am and start our adventure to Essaouira. We get ready and leave Skoura for Essaouira. We will drive via thecity of Ouarzazate where to stop to take pictures for Kasbah Taourirt. After doing so, we take our direction towards the Kasbah Ait Benhadou. This latter is a UNESCO heritage and is a chosen backdrop for many Hollywood movies such as Kingdom of Heaven, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves… It is an iconic vestige that will take us back to the ancient eras of the country, the time of salt and gold trade… our trip continues to Essaouira via the enormous landscape of Atlas Mountains. Along the drive we pass through the windy road with an altitude of 2260m. We will stop on the road for lovely panoramic views. We will make our way through Marrakech to make it to Essaouira. Late afternoon, we arrive to Essaouira. Overnight in Essaouira.
Day 8: Essaouira
Right after your breakfast, you will have free time to explore and discover the charm of this amazing town. Essaouira is the favorite of wind and kite surfers due to its shallow waters. It was once a favorite haunt of Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. Despite the beach, there is the old medina to discover. Essaouira is typical of many small fortified Moroccan townships. At one time it was considered one of the most essential ports in Morocco, and it is still in certain manners. Essaouira is a world heritage city…overnight in Essaouira.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 9: Essaouira – Marrakech
Get up in the morning, enjoy your breakfast and have your luggage collected to leave Essaouira and drive to Marrakech. Around 10am we start our journey to the red city Marrakech. Before we arrive in Marrakech, we shift our way deep into the High Atlas Mountains to visit the Berber family. When we arrive, they receive us inside their authentic traditional house, visit the house and see how typically they live. They provide us with all the bio nutrition they have (tea, cheese, bread…). Later on, we will take our direction to Marrakech. We drop you at the hotel/Riad, and around 6pm we pick you up for a spectacular dinner with show. Overnight in a Riad in Marrakech.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 10: Marrakech Sightseeing
After breakfast, our guide will meet us at the hotel’s reception to start the exploration of Marrakech “the red city of Morocco “. During our walk tour, we will cover the main historical and cultural points that Marrakech is replete with. We will insist on to see the most essential heritage as Saadi Tombs (OPTIONAL), Koutoubia Mosque ‘External side”, Bahia Palace, the Souk of the city, and then we walk through the famous square of the medina… we will have lunch in one of the local restaurants right by the square. Free afternoon to walk the city on your own. Overnight in Marrakech.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Day 11: Marrakech – Casablanca’s airport
Upon your flight time, we pick you up from the hotel in Marrakech and drive to Casablanca. The drive is about 4 hours. Once we drop you off at the airport, we come to the end of your trip in Morocco and end of our services.11 days Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip
Casablanca Imperial cities and desert trip includes:
Free pick up from Airport is “Optional”
Private 4×4 vehicle/minibus
Several languages speaking driver
Tour guide “Optional”
Accommodation including “Bed, dinner and breakfast”
Camel trekking in Merzouga dunes
1 night in a desert camp including “Bed, dinner and breakfast”
Free pick up to the airport “just if your departure is the same day as the tour finishes or the next day”
Note: Please contact us for any tour reservation, our team will get back in touch with you as soon as possible. Thank you.
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What our customers said
Amazing vacation
I am so glad I book our tour with Morocco Helping Tours. The level of serivice, the professionalism, attention to detail – all was top notch. Mohammed and Said were amazing! We felt like we know each other forever and I think we made friends for life. I highly recomend to hire Mohammed and his team if you are planning to go to this beatiful country! Once again, thank you for everything!… Read more
Highly recommend Morocco Helping Tours
My husband and I visited Morocco for our honeymoon and chose this company for our desert tour. They were absolutely amazing. Mohammed was incredibly informative and full of fun facts about every location we visited. He really knew his stuff. Hassan, our drivers was amazing too. They thought of everything for us to make our trip extra special and romantic as it was our honeymoon. We actually initially only booked them for the desert tour but ended up extending with them and traveled with them the rest of the time we were in Morocco. I could not say enough kind things about this company. They were great. I highly recommend them… Read more
Moroccan trip
We were group of 15 people from Russia and we choose to book the tour with this company. We had a great time and were pleased our choice. They have a lot of different option tours and pretty flexible. We chose this company for cheap price and real local experience. Thanks to Omar for guiding and showing us around his country… Read more
