You will be picked up from your lodging in Marrakech, hotel, or Riad in the medina, transported via the famous High Atlas Mountains chain, and cross the Tizi N Tichka pass 2260m, the highest of Morocco.

You will be amazed by the wonderful views of the surrounding landscapes and Berber villages, arriving at the UNESCO World Heritage of the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah where you will be taken on a walking tour to get a hold of its background as well as its history of being one of the most targeted places of shooting many glorious movies such as the “Lawrence of Arabia (1962)”, “The Jewel of the Nile (1985)”, “Queen Of The Desert”, “Gladiator (2000), and “Game of Thrones (2013).

The next stop will be Ouarzazate; A city called Hollywood of Africa; where you will be spending the first night of your 5 days Desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert.

Day 2: Ouarzazate » Draa Valley » Rissani » Erg Chebbi Dunes (Merzouga)

After breakfast, you will continue your 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to the Sahara desert of Merzouga, via Draa valley crossing the volcanic rock formations of the Anti-Atlas Mountains to Agdez and Tamnougalt. You will then drive through Nkob, a small Berber town known for its numerous Kasbahs and as the access point to trek through the Jabel Saghro (Saghro Mountain) to Dades.

On the way to Rissani, a Saharan town that is considered the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, popular for its traditional big market in the area, if not the most important and the largest in the southeast of the country from decades, where many nomads come either for shopping or selling. Rissani market is the closest (35 km) in that large to the Merzouga desert as well as all the Erg Chebbi surrounding villages.

Heading moreover to one of the main desert destinations, Erg Chebbi Sahara desert, where you will take a camel trek to head to the camp assisting the sunset on the way over the sand dunes, you will enjoy your dinner followed by a music party (Berber drums) around the campfire and spend the night in a well equipped tented camp.

Day 3: Explore the Merzouga area & Visit nomad families

Today, you live a special morning in the middle of the Sahara, it is worth waking up to enjoy the spectacular views of the sunrise over the sand dunes, before you take your breakfast and freshen up, ride the camels back to the departure point to meet your driver at the dune line.

Then leave for an off-road discovery excursion of the surrounding villages such as Hassi Labied, Khamlia village where a lot of dark-skinned musicians known for their love of the Gnawa music that came originally from Sub-Saharan countries.

Visit Mefes town, an abandoned small town known for its Lead mines, and then a date with a nomad family living on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.

In the afternoon, you can relax in your accommodation, alternatively, you can visit the dunes and watch the sunset one more time, and why not an hour of ATV Quad biking in the dunes to end up your day (Not included in the tour price). The night is spent at the hotel.

Day 4: Merzouga » Erfoud » Todra Gorges » Dades Valley

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you meet up with your driver and then make your journey back from the desert to Dades Valley with stops in Erfoud; a small city known for the fossilized rocks and their manufacturers.

Continuing our tour to Todra Gorges and its magnificent canyons hidden gem for rock climbers besides Todra. You can do a leisure walk here before you head to your hotel in Dades Valley for the night.

Day 5: Dades Valley » Ouarzazate » Marrakech

Continuing the Marrakech desert tour for 5 days and 4 nights, after breakfast at your hotel in Dades, you will leave for Marrakech, passing through Kelaa Mgouna, the city of roses, and Skoura Palmary before going back to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.

You will enjoy the spectacular views of the High Atlas mountains and cross the Tichka Pass to end up in Marrakech. Drop you off at your accommodation.

Price Includes

• Pick-up & drop off at/from your accommodation
• Transport by private modern vehicle with A/C
• Experienced English-speaking Driver/Guide
• Car Fuel
• 3 nights at a private room in the hotel (At your preferred room type)
• Camel Trekking (Camel per person)
• Sunset camel ride
• Overnight at a private tent in Camp (At your preferred tent type)
• (Breakfast & Dinner) x 4
• 4×4 transfer from and to the camp (Alternative to Camels)

Price Excludes

• Drinks
• Lunches
• Entrance to monuments (Optional)
• Tipping (Optional)

The post 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech appeared first on Make Morocco Tours.

Your private 6-day tour from Marrakech starts with a scene of the Atlas Mountains while we snake through the 2260m high Tizi ’Tichka pass to the Unesco World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, it was added to the UNESCO list in 1987, famous on the big screen for movies like Gladiator (2000) and the famous HBO series Game of Thrones (2013).

We’ll then continue to Ouarzazate known as “The Gate to Desert” to visit Atlas Film Studios and the Taourirt Kasbah located in the city and later towards the Valley of Roses, well-known for its yearly festival of roses. Then, we’ll drive to Dades Gorges and its gorgeous canyons where we spend the first night in a traditional riad or hotel with a complimentary dinner and breakfast.

Day 2: Dades Gorges » Draa Valley » Rissani » Erg Chebbi Dunes (Merzouga) [269 km]

Here, we’ll continue our 6-day tour from Marrakech and visit Todra Gorge, a colorful tight canyon popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Then we’ll drive through The Ziz Valley to reach Erfoud via Tinjdad, an oasis town famous as the gate to the impressive Erg Chebbi dunes and recognized for its unique fossils and their manufacturers.

While there, we can visit a local fossils factory that produces artisans and home furniture fabricated from fossils. Then drive to the Sahara desert to reach Merzouga.

Arriving at the edge of the golden sand dunes you change the vehicle by the Desert ship, camel, to sail into the wavy desert dunes, guided by experienced guides, a date with a stop to admire one of the best sunset sceneries, as daylight decreases the sand changes color, while you enjoy sandboarding.

Arriving at the well-equipped Merzouga Desert Camp where we’ll stay overnight in Berber-style tents.

This spectacular night will be rendered memorable with a unique and traditional starlit Berbere dinner topped off by tribal music (Drums) around a desert campfire.

Day 3: Exploring Merzouga area & Visit nomad families

Today, 3rd day of our 6-day tour from Marrakech will be spent exploring the Merzouga desert. You’ll get a chance to “do your own thing”, with the option of camel trekking, or exploring via the comfort of a 4×4. We’ll also visit the Khamlia village well-known for its traditional Gnawa music.

We will continue our 4×4 excursion to an abandoned small town called Mefes and its lead mines, this town was and still is a source of different minerals since the French colonizer.

We simply can’t miss the opportunity of appreciating a visit to a generous nomad family living behind the dunes of the Merzouga Sahara desert. Our night will be topped off at Riad/Hotel in the Merzouga area.

Day 4: Merzouga » Ziz Valley » Azrou Cedar forest » Fes

After breakfast, at the hotel, we’ll drive through Rissani, and its local souk, the biggest market in the region, until we reach Midelt in the Atlas Mountains via Ziz Valley and palm groves.

There, we can stop for lunch in a local restaurant before driving to Azrou cedar forest and its Barbary Apes, before continuing to Fes where we’ll stay overnight in a local hotel.

We will visit Ifrane city, the stunning architecture, green gardens, very clean town, and the perfect destination for Ski lovers due to its big Ski resort of Mishlifen. Because of its magnificent characteristics and location, Ifrane knows “Switzerland of Morocco”.

Day 5: Fes (Visit the city with a local guide) » Casablanca

Fes is known as a Scientific city, and home to the oldest university in the world and consists of three distinct parts; Fes el Bali (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981).

Fes-Jdid “new Fez” is the oldest of the three with more than 8500 narrow alleys and streets supported by a high wall (home of the Jewish quarter), and the “Ville Nouvelle”, the most modern quarter of Fez built during the French occupation.

The guided sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Tanneries, the Attarine Museum, and the Moulay Idriss mausoleum. You’ll visit many different cooperatives and then, experience an enjoyable picturesque scene over the entire Medina of Fes.

After finishing the tour and having lunch, we’ll drive to Casablanca. Dinner and overnight in the biggest city in Morocco in terms of population, recognized as the economical city.

Day 6: Casablanca » Marrakesh

Today, we visit the main attraction and monuments of Casablanca, including the Hassan II Mosque, before driving toward the red city of Marrakech where our 6-day tour from Marrakech ends by dropping you at your accommodation or airport.

Price Includes

• Pick-up & drop off at/from your accommodation
• Transport by private modern vehicle with A/C
• Experienced English-speaking Driver/Guide
• Car Fuel
• 4 nights in a private room in the hotel (Dinner & Breakfast)
• Camel Trekking (Camel per person)
• Sunset camel ride
• Hearty dinner and party around the campfire (Berber Drums)
• Overnight at a private tent in Camp (Breakfast & dinner)
• 4×4 transfer from and to the camp (Alternative to Camels)
• Local guide in Fes

Price Excludes

• Drinks
• Lunches
• Entrance to monuments (Optional)
• Tips

The post 6 day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga via Fes appeared first on Make Morocco Tours.

The first day of this tour will serve as a contact with Marrakech and the country. Our English-speaking driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to the riad in the medina that will welcome you for the first night. And depending on the arrival time of your flight, you may or may not have free time for the first glimpse of Marrakech, which you will discover in-depth at the end of this tour, around the dunes of Morocco.

Day 2: Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Ben Haddou – Draa Valley

Now yes: after breakfast at the riad in Marrakech, we will head by road to the dunes of Morocco, although we will not really reach them until the next day. But on the way we will discover many other places of interest, starting with the High Atlas Mountains: on our way south we will cross this huge natural barrier through the Tizi n’Tichka pass at more than 2,200 meters above sea level, whose ascent will give us spectacular views of its landscapes and the villages lying on the slopes.

Shortly after passing this port, we will make the first visit of the day: the kasbah of Telouet. It was the fortress and residence of the ‘Pasha’ of Marrakech or Lord of the Atlas, Thami El Glaoui, and although its exterior shows signs of the scars of time, inside we will admire patios and rooms of the most exotic and suggestive.

This kasbah, in fact, will be the appetizer of another that will come our way several tens of kilometers ahead: the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified village is the best example of Berber architecture, playing in the past a key role in the caravan routes in the desert. Its imposing adobe ensemble, which we will admire from different points of view, is still home to some families. Of course, it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and even today continues to captivate the major film producers, who set here the plot of films and series such as Game of Thrones.

After passing through Ouarzazate, also known for its famous film studios, we will cross another pass, that of Tizi n’Tinifift, in this case, lower but very unique for its steep mountains of black and gray rock. And soon after, in Agdz, our route enters the Draa Valley, home to the largest palm grove in North Africa, more than 150 km long. Traveling through it not only offers us the vision of these trees so characteristic of Morocco, but also the kasbahs, local villages, and humble orchards, which defy the aridity of the environment.

Precisely in a small village in the Draa Valley is the kasbah where you will have dinner and spend the second night of this circuit, already with the mindset on the spectacular dunes of Morocco that await us the next day.

Day 3: Draa Valley – Erg Chegaga

After breakfast at the riad in the Draa Valley, we will return to the road with a clear direction: the dunes of Morocco. Actually, the asphalt ends in the town of Foum Zguid, so our 4×4 will travel from then on dirt tracks to enter the real Sahara desert.

From here, the itinerary will remind us of the Paris-Dakar rally, and not by chance: we will cross the great dry lake of Iriki, whose vast plain was part of some stages of this legendary event because on its terrain you can reach really high speeds. Today it is a National Park that separates us from the great goal of the day: Erg Chegaga.

Erg Chegaga is one of the three main dune fields of Morocco, and it is where our tent camp is located, where we will be welcomed with a Berber tea, as tradition dictates. In the sand formations of the environment, we will glimpse a unique sunset. In the evening, after enjoying a typical dinner and a pleasant atmosphere around a campfire, we will contemplate a sky with stars of special brightness: they will still shine in your retinas when you retire to sleep in your tent, in this same camp.

Day 4: Erg Chegaga – Zagora

Not all of the Sahara desert is made up of dunes in Morocco, far from it. And so we will discover on this fourth day. But first, it will be the turn of another moment that can only be lived in a natural environment like this: the sunrise in the middle of this sea of fine golden sand. After bathing our eyes with the first light of dawn, we will have breakfast in the tents camp and return aboard our 4×4.

Ahead, we will see landscapes that were also common in the legendary Paris-Dakar rally. In this case, in the arid dirt terrain that characterizes the desert of Zagora, where our 4×4 will move like a fish in water. And in the town that gives its name to this unique portion of the Moroccan Sahara you will find our accommodation: a real orchard with all the comforts and perfectly integrated into the environment. Its facilities, with a swimming pool, spa, and other private and communal spaces, are an attraction.

For this reason, it is worth arriving in good time to enjoy a refreshing swim in peace and quiet, or to sit comfortably to discuss the day’s experiences and the circuit traveled so far. And at the end of the day, dinner and night’s rest at the hotel.

Day 5: Zagora – Erg Ouzina

On the fifth day of the circuit, the dunes of Morocco return. But the landscapes that we will enjoy until we reach them are also worth it. Therefore, after breakfast at the hotel in Zagora, we will return to our 4×4 to feel the adrenaline of crossing hamadas, wadis or rivers without water, small Berber villages, or impressive dry lakes like the huge Lac Maider.

In this way, we arrive at Erg Ouzina, another of the great dune fields of Morocco. Here, we will be welcomed with Berber tea, to continue on foot to the heart of these formations of fine sand, taking a pleasant walk. The sunset will find us in them, perhaps at the top of the Great Dune, an unbeatable place to enjoy the sunset.

Very special will also be the Berber party that we will attend in the last hours of the day, enlivened with local rhythms and flavors. And dinner and the night’s rest will be precisely here, in an exotic and picturesque kasbah in the middle of the desert.

Day 6: Erg Ouzina – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi

On this sixth day of the circuit, we will get up early to see a new sunrise over the dunes. After that, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Kasbah hotel in Ouzina, as well as a restorative shower.

After that, we will be ready to enter Ouzina, a tiny village that gives its name to these Moroccan dunes. Here live a few families, which we will know in the first person: they will tell us about their way of life, their culture and their customs.

Later, the same will be done by the inhabitants of the ‘black village’ of Khemlia, so-called because of the skin color of its people, as they have their roots in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, the hallmark of identity is their percussion rhythms, so unique that they are listed as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.

Back in our 4×4, we will face the last stretch on track and asphalt to Merzouga. In this town, which gives its name to another portion of the desert, we will change means of transport: the 4×4 will give way to the 8×8, that is, to the camels that will take us to the third Erg of this route through the dunes of Morocco: Erg Chebbi. This unique ride ends in a tent camp located in the heart of the dunes, under a spectacular starry sky. In this camp, you will have dinner and spend the night, with all the comforts.

Day 7: Erg Chebbi – Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate

On the seventh day of this circuit, we will say goodbye to the dunes of Morocco. But it will be a farewell in style: we will contemplate a new sunrise over the dunes, have a delicious breakfast at the camp, and return by camel to Merzouga. There will also be time for a shower (in the camp or in a hotel depending on the package).

The route will now take us through other interesting towns of the Moroccan desert, such as Rissani or Erfoud. Very attractive is also Tinghir (or Tinerhir), which means “mountain town” in the Tamazight language and accounts for its location between the elevations of the environment, although embedded in a beautiful palm grove from which stand out its red houses.

A little further on we will reach the Todra Gorges, another of the unique landscapes of southern Morocco: it is a rocky canyon formed by thousands of years of erosion of the river of the same name, which now appears only seasonally. Its walls reach 200 meters in some sections and form a picture worthy of seeing, either on foot through the gorge or by car along its winding road.

From here, the Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses form the so-called Route of the Thousand Kasbahs: remains of ancient fortresses appear here and there, as well as palm groves and other tongues of vegetation. In this way, we will reach Ouarzazate, where the hotel is located, where dinner will be served, and where you will sleep tonight.

Day 8: Ouarzazate – Marrakech

After 8 days of the intense route through the spectacular dunes of Morocco, the last kilometers on the road await us. We will face them after breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate and will take us back through the High Atlas to Marrakech. Upon arrival, you will have free time after unloading at the riad in the medina where you will sleep for the night. The day is therefore conducive to shopping or visiting some of the sights of this red city, preferably those that will not be seen the next day during the guided tour.

Day 9: Marrakech

After a good rest in the riad and a hearty breakfast, it’s time to discover the great city of this circuit: Marrakech. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco (its historic medina and Jemaa el-Fna Square), it houses monuments of great beauty and value, testimony to its past as the capital of Almoravids and Saadis

Our official guide will explain all the details of these monuments and their history, as well as other questions about life in this Imperial City. During the visit, which will take the whole morning, you will see buildings such as the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Medersa, and the Bahia Palace, among others. You will also visit some of the artisan souks scattered throughout the medina.

The afternoon will be free again, for further shopping or to delve into the culture of the city, for example in the Museum of Marrakech, the Majorelle Gardens, or other places of interest. And in the evening, rest in the riad of the medina.

Day 10: Marrakech – Airport

The tenth and last day begins with breakfast at the riad in the medina and will continue according to the time of the flight back home. That is, there may be free time for a last stroll through the city or we will be scheduled to leave for the airport. In either case, our driver will transfer you in a private vehicle to the terminal. There, we will put an end to our services, with gratitude for the trust placed in us and the hope of a next meeting to continue exploring the beauties of Morocco.

TOURIST PACKAGE INCLUDED

•   Pick up and drop off at the airport
•    Comfortable private transportation with air conditioning
•    English speaking driver/tour guide
•    Sandboarding in the desert
•    Camel ride

TOURIST PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS

•    Plane tickets
•    Drinks
•    Lunches
•    Tickets

The post 10 day tour of the 3 Ergs: “The wild south of Morocco”. appeared first on Make Morocco Tours.

The first day of the program starts with the arrival in Marrakech and aims at getting in touch with the country. Our staff will pick you up at the airport of the city with a private vehicle to transfer you to your accommodation. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, you will enjoy free time or a guided tour with a local guide. In the evening you will rest in a charming riad, located in the medina.

Day 2: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ksar Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Valley of the Roses – Dades Valley

The second day of the tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco is the start of the route by road. After a delicious breakfast at the riad in Marrakech, we get into our private vehicle for the driver to head south. We will cross the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 meters above sea level, and on the ascent we will pass by beautiful Berber settlements, with spectacular panoramic views.

Overcoming this huge natural barrier, we will continue to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. We will spend time visiting this mythical Berber fortress, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Here, we will discover its historical and artistic secrets and recall the scenes of great film productions shot here, such as Game of Thrones. Just a handful of kilometers away, on the outskirts of Ouarzazate, we will also visit the kasbah of Taourirt.

Both fortresses are a good preview of what awaits us in the rest of the day and the beginning of the next: the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, which in turn runs through the palm grove of Skoura, the Valley of the Roses and the Dades Valley, all of great scenic beauty. In the latter environment is located our riad, where you will have dinner and sleep.

Day 3: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Tinjdad – Touroug – Erfoud – Merzouga

After charging the batteries with a good breakfast at the riad, we will follow the route through the Dades Valley to the Todra Gorges. Here we will discover one of the most spectacular rocky canyons of the country, with natural walls of about 200 meters. Later, our route will pass through beautiful palm groves: those of Tinghir (or Tinerhir), Tinjdad (or Tinejdad) and Touroug, which provide an explosion of greenery in an increasingly arid landscape.

In this way we arrive at Erfoud, famous for its countless fossils discovered and for its tradition in the production of marble, as we will know in one of its workshops.

And in the last part of the day we will reach the southernmost point of this circuit through the Imperial Cities of Morocco and the desert: Merzouga. Here we will change ‘vehicle’, leaving the 4×4 for the 8×8, that is, the dromedaries that will take us into the desert to the breathtaking dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the middle of this sea of fine golden sand we will witness the spectacle of the sunset. And in a tent camp we will enjoy dinner and night’s rest under a shining starry sky.

Day 4: Desert – Rissani – Ifrane – Fez

With the sunset and the brightness of the stars still in the retina, it’s time to wake up and enjoy an equally special sunrise. And also to have breakfast and take another camel ride, this time back to Merzouga. During the morning, there will also be time for a comforting shower (at the camp or in a hotel, depending on the package contracted). Ahead of us lies a new route by road in our private vehicle. We will leave behind the small town of Rissani, drive through the Ziz Valley, cross the Middle Atlas and drive through the beautiful Cedar National Park, also called the Monkey National Park because of the large population of Barbary monkeys that live there. Ifrane, known as the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for its unique gabled buildings, will be our prelude to Fez, a key stop on this tour of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Upon arrival, a charming riad in the historic center will be waiting for you to spend the night.

Day 5: Fez

For its enormous attraction, Fez is worth a full day’s visit. Specifically, the fifth of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. After a good breakfast at the riad, we will meet with an official guide to discover the monumental sites of its historic center. The main landmarks of this guided tour are concentrated in the medina, such as the medersa of Bou Anania, the fountain of Nejjarine, the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss or the Karaouine mosque. The latter is one of the great cultural centers of Islam, home to the University of Fez, one of the oldest in the world. The craftsmen’s quarters of the medina, organized by guilds, will also be visited, especially that of the tanners. There will also be time to visit the Royal Palace and its gilded bronze doors. At the end of the day, accommodation will again be in the charming riad of the previous night, located in the medina. Summary of the day Breakfast in riad Visit of Fez with local guide Night in riad

Day 6: Fez – Meknes – Rabat

After another breakfast at the riad in Fez, we will head to the second historical capital of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. We are talking about Meknes, located just 60 km away by road, a distance that we will travel mainly between olive trees and fertile fields. In Meknes we will find a small but surprising city, with a rich monumental heritage. This is largely a legacy dating back to the time of Mulay Ismail, the sultan who made Meknes his capital and his eternal resting place: his mausoleum still fascinates today with its rich materials, such as fine porcelain, stone of different colors and the most detailed stucco. Our visit will also include the gates of the wall, such as Bab Mansur, or the Aghal al pond. Back in the car, we will continue our route west to Rabat, the third historical capital (and current capital since 1912) of our tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. We will spend the whole afternoon there, as it is home to important monuments such as the Dar el Makhzen Royal Palace, the Kasbah of the Oudaias and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, among other places. And at the end of the day, you will rest in a new charming riad.

Day 7: Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech

After tasting the included breakfast at the riad in Rabat, it’s time to follow the route for 80 km along the Atlantic Ocean to Casablanca. It is the largest city in the country and world famous for the movie of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Our walk will take us along the Boulevard de la Corniche, a suggestive promenade that leads to the imposing Hassan II Mosque, one of the few visitable mosques in the country. After visiting (optionally) this icon of the twentieth century in Morocco, we will head to the city of Marrakech, where a new charming riad awaits us to spend the night.

Day 8: Marrakech – Airport

After breakfast at the riad and check-out, the following hours will be organized according to the flight schedule. You could take the opportunity to do the last shopping in the center, to visit monuments that were left pending or even to take a guided tour with a local guide, if you did not have time to do it on the first day. The Kutubia Mosque, the Saadian tombs or the Ben Youssef Medersa are places worth visiting during your stay in the city. At the agreed time, our driver will pick you up to transfer you to Marrakech airport. Here our services will end, but the farewell will have a desire to meet again in the future.

TOURIST PACKAGE INCLUDED

•   Pick up and drop off at the airport
•    Comfortable private transportation with air conditioning
•    English speaking driver / tour guide
•    Sandboarding in the desert
•    Camel ride

TOURIST PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS

•    Plane tickets
•    Drinks
•    Lunches
•    Tickets

The post Travel to Morocco 8 days: Monuments, Culture and Desert appeared first on Make Morocco Tours.

The first day of the program starts with the arrival in Marrakech and aims at getting in touch with the country. Our staff will pick you up at the airport of the city with a private vehicle to transfer you to your accommodation. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, you will enjoy free time or a guided tour with a local guide. In the evening you will rest in a charming riad, located in the medina.

Day 2: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ksar Ait Ben haddou – Ouarzazate – Valley of the Roses – Dades Valley

The second day of the tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco is the beginning of the route by road. After a delicious breakfast at the riad in Marrakech, we get into our private vehicle for the driver to head south. We will cross the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 meters above sea level, and on the ascent we will pass by beautiful Berber settlements, with spectacular panoramic views.

Overcoming this huge natural barrier, we will continue to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. We will spend time visiting this mythical Berber fortress, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Here, we will discover its historical and artistic secrets and recall the scenes of great film productions shot here, such as Game of Thrones. Just a handful of kilometers away, on the outskirts of Ouarzazate, we will also visit the kasbah of Taourirt.

Both fortresses are a good preview of what awaits us in the rest of the day and the beginning of the next: the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, which in turn runs through the palm grove of Skoura, the Valley of the Roses and the Dades Valley, all of great scenic beauty. In the latter environment is located our riad, where you will have dinner and sleep.

Day 3: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Tinjdad – Touroug – Erfoud – Merzouga

After charging the batteries with a good breakfast at the riad, we will follow the route through the Dades Valley to the Todra Gorges. Here we will discover one of the most spectacular rocky canyons of the country, with natural walls of about 200 meters. Later, our route will pass through beautiful palm groves: those of Tinghir (or Tinerhir), Tinjdad (or Tinejdad) and Touroug, which provide an explosion of greenery in an increasingly arid landscape.

In this way we arrive at Erfoud, famous for its countless fossils discovered and for its tradition in the production of marble, as we will know in one of its workshops.

And in the last part of the day we will reach the southernmost point of this circuit through the Imperial Cities of Morocco and the desert: Merzouga. Here we will change ‘vehicle’, leaving the 4×4 for the 8×8, that is, the dromedaries that will take us into the desert to the breathtaking dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the middle of this sea of fine golden sand we will witness the spectacle of the sunset. And in a tent camp we will enjoy dinner and night’s rest under a shining starry sky.

Day 4: Desert – Rissani – Ifrane – Fez

With the sunset and the brightness of the stars still in the retina, it’s time to wake up and enjoy an equally special sunrise. And also to have breakfast and take another camel ride, this time back to Merzouga. During the morning, there will also be time for a comforting shower (at the camp or in a hotel, depending on the package contracted).

Ahead lies a new route by road in our private vehicle. We will leave behind the small town of Rissani, drive through the Ziz Valley, cross the Middle Atlas and drive through the beautiful Cedar National Park, also called the Monkey National Park because of the large population of Barbary monkeys that inhabit it.

Ifrane, known as the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for its unique gabled buildings, will be our prelude to Fez, a key stop on this tour of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Upon arrival, a charming riad in the historic center will be waiting for you to spend the night.

Day 5: Fez

For its enormous attraction, Fez is worth a full day’s visit. Specifically, the fifth of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. After a good breakfast at the riad we will meet with an official guide to discover the monumental sites of its historic center.

The main landmarks of this guided tour are concentrated in the medina, such as the medersa of Bou Anania, the fountain of Nejjarine, the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss or the Karaouine mosque. The latter is one of the great cultural centers of Islam, home to the University of Fez, one of the oldest in the world. The artisan quarters of the medina, organized by guilds, will also be visited, especially that of the tanners. There will also be time to visit the Royal Palace and its gilded bronze doors.

At the end of the day, the accommodation will be again the charming riad of the previous night, located in the medina.

Day 6: Fez – Meknes – Rabat

After a new breakfast at the riad in Fez, we will head to the second historic capital of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. We are talking about Meknes, located just 60 km away by road, a distance that we will travel mainly between olive trees and fertile fields. In Meknes we will find a small but surprising city, with a rich monumental heritage. This is, to a large extent, a legacy dating back to the time of Mulay Ismail, Sultan who made Meknes his capital and his eternal resting place: his mausoleum still fascinates today for its rich materials, such as fine porcelain, stone of different colors and the most detailed stucco. Our visit will not miss the gates of the wall, such as Bab Mansur, or the Aghal pond.

Back in the car, we will continue our route heading west to Rabat, third historical capital (and current, since 1912) of our tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. We will spend the whole afternoon there, as it is home to important monuments such as the Dar el Makhzen Royal Palace, the Kasbah of the Oudaias and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, among other places. And at the end of the day, you will rest in a new charming riad.

Day 7: Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech

After tasting the included breakfast at the riad in Rabat, it’s time to follow the road for 80 km along the Atlantic Ocean to Casablanca. It is the largest city in the country and world famous for the movie of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Our walk will take us along the Boulevard de la Corniche, a suggestive promenade that leads to the imposing mosque of Hassan II, one of the few visitable in the country.

After visiting (optionally) this icon of the twentieth century in Morocco, we will head to the city of Marrakech, where a new charming riad awaits to spend the night.

TOURIST PACKAGE INCLUDED

•   Pick up and drop off at the airport
•    Comfortable private transportation with air conditioning
•    English speaking driver / tour guide
•    Sandboarding in the desert
•    Camel ride

TOURIST PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS

•    Plane tickets
•    Drinks
•    Lunches
•    Tickets

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