Private Tour: From Casablanca: 8D/7N Adventure through Imperial Cities and Desert

For those arriving from other countries, our service starts at Casablanca airport, where our driver will be waiting for you with a private vehicle for the transfer to the city center. If you are already in Casablanca, we will coordinate a convenient meeting point, such as your hotel.

Our first stop will be the majestic Hassan II Mosque, located on an artificial peninsula overlooking the sea and noted for having one of the tallest minarets in the Islamic world, at 200 meters. Fortunately, it is one of the few mosques that allows access to non-believers, so we will have the opportunity to admire its interior.

After the visit, we will drive to Rabat, less than an hour’s drive from Casablanca. As the country’s capital and one of Morocco’s Imperial Cities, its historic center, declared a World Heritage Site, is home to such wonders as the 12th century Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Oudayas. From the kasbah, we will enjoy spectacular views of the city and Salé, on the other side of the Bu Regreg river.

The exploration of this fascinating city will be free, which will give you the opportunity to organize the itinerary according to your preferences, with our recommendations. Do not miss other points of interest such as the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, the souk of the medina or the Mohamed VI Museum of Modern Art. Accommodation will be in a central riad in Rabat, facilitating access to these attractions.

Summary of the day:

• Reception at Casablanca airport or agreed meeting point.
• Visit to the emblematic Hassan II Mosque.
• Transfer and discovery of the capital, Rabat.
• Free visit to explore the sights of Rabat.
• Night in a traditional riad in the heart of Rabat.

This second day of the circuit is particularly enriching in historical and artistic aspects. We will start the day with breakfast at the riad in Rabat before embarking on a road trip with significant cultural stops.

Our first stop will be at the ruins of Volubilis, a spectacular archaeological site that represents the best of the Carthaginian and Roman era in North Africa, once a vital city of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana. There, the columns of the temple of Jupiter, the arch of Caracalla and the splendid mosaics bear witness to its greatness in the second and third centuries A.D., in addition to the Carthaginian vestiges.

En route to Meknes, we will detour to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, a town that retains its original essence and until recently was restricted to non-Muslims, still maintaining an authentic and unique character. After a brief stop, we will continue to Meknes, a city with an impressive monumental legacy from the time when it was the capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, highlighting the iconic Bab Mansur Gate and the Sultan’s mausoleum.

We will conclude the day arriving in Fez, where you will have free time for a first impression of this imperial city, with its rich religious and cultural heritage. The night will be spent in a riad inside the medina, in anticipation of the guided tour the next day.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in Rabat.
• Discovery of the ancient ruins of Volubilis.
• Visit Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and its preserved charm.
• Historical tour of Meknes and its monuments.
• Arrival in Fez with free time to explore.
• Accommodation in a riad in the medina of Fez, preparing for the next day.

Fez, an Imperial City and one of the most significant spiritual and cultural centers of the Islamic world, awaits us with its vast legacy to be explored in depth. After a comforting breakfast at the riad, our official local guide will be waiting for you to start a tour of the most outstanding treasures of the historical center.

The guided tour will include gems such as the Karaouine Mosque and its university, one of the oldest functioning mosques in the world, and madrasas such as Bou Inania or Attarine, centers of Koranic learning. You will also discover the vibrant Nejjarine Square, the fountain of the same name, the colorful tanners’ quarter and the bustling souks and markets.

The vast historical center of Fez will lead us to carefully select the sites to visit in the morning, reserving other points of interest for the afternoon, in a time of free exploration. You can choose to marvel at the Golden Gates of the Royal Palace, stroll through the Mellah (Jewish quarter), or visit museums such as the Borj Nord. In addition, the afternoon will be the perfect time to go shopping and purchase valuable leather, wood, ceramic or metal items in Fez’s renowned handicraft stores.

This day promises to be as intense as it is enriching, offering unforgettable moments until the last minute, before retiring to rest in the comfort of your riad in the heart of the city.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad and meeting with the guide for the guided tour of Fez.
• Tour of the iconic points of the medina of Fez, including the Karaouine Mosque and the historic madrasas.
• Afternoon of free exploration to visit other gems of the city.
• Opportunity to buy traditional handicrafts.
• Resting night in the riad in the center.

The fourth day takes us over a long distance, starting from the riad in Fez and heading south, straight to the heart of the desert. After an early breakfast, we will start ascending the slopes of the Middle Atlas.

Our first stop will be in Ifrane, nicknamed the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for its alpine architecture and gabled roofs. Located more than 1,700 meters above sea level, Ifrane enjoys a humid climate with snowfall in winter, offering white landscapes in the cold season and green landscapes the rest of the year.

We will continue to Ifrane National Park, near Azrou, home of the cedars and the Barbary macaque, an endangered primate unique to the northern Sahara. The park is commonly known as the ‘Monkey Forest’.

We will continue descending through the Middle Atlas until we reach the Ziz Valley, where palm groves and farmland face the prevailing aridity.

Arriving in Erfoud, known for its paleontological finds, we will approach the prehistoric history of the region before heading to Merzouga. Here, more than 650 km from Casablanca, we will leave the vehicle to embark on a camel ride through the seductive sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.

The journey will take us to our tented camp, where we will be greeted with traditional Berber hospitality and a welcome tea. After dinner, your tent, designed in nomadic style, will offer you comfort in the middle of the desert. And to top it all off, a starry sky of unparalleled purity and beauty will unfold before you.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in Fez.
• Visit to Ifrane, the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’, and the Ifrane National Park.
• Crossing the Ziz Valley and stop in Erfoud.
• Arrival in Merzouga and transfer to camels for an excursion in Erg Chebbi.
• Dinner and night in the tented camp under a starry sky.

This sixth day of the itinerary promises a journey through dramatically diverse scenery: from the arid expanses of the desert to the lofty peaks of the High Atlas Mountains and finally the vibrant Marrakech. We will start with breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate followed by a visit to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site famous for its adobe architecture that encapsulates Berber engineering and has been the setting for numerous films.

After exploring Ait Ben Haddou, we will enter the High Atlas via the kasbah of Telouet, a fortress linked to Thami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakech. This place shares similarities with the kasbah of Taourirt, but has its own distinctive charm.

Upon reaching the Tizi n’Tichka pass, we will witness breathtaking panoramic views of the peaks of the High Atlas, a natural barrier dotted with snow and villages. From there, we will start the descent to Marrakech.

We will arrive in the Red City in the afternoon, where you will have time for an initial walk and immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythm of the medina, which will be the setting for your riad.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate.
• Visit the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a jewel of Berber architecture.
• Tour of the kasbah of Telouet and its particularities.
• Cross the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with breathtaking views.
• Arrival in Marrakech for a first contact with the city.
• Night in a riad in the medina of Marrakech.

We dedicate this seventh day to immerse ourselves in the heart of Marrakech, a city that never ceases to amaze with its historical and popular attractions. After a nutritious breakfast at the riad, our official guide will accompany you on a tour of the most emblematic points of the famous ‘red city’, nicknamed for the color of its buildings.

The guided tour will lead us to discover essential monuments such as the exterior of the Kutubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the medersa of Ben Youssef. We will stroll through the artisan neighborhoods and feel the pulse of Marrakech in the vibrant Jemaa el-Fna Square, the epicenter of the city.

The afternoon will be free for you to shop in the markets, explore more contemporary areas of Marrakech, visit museums such as the Marrakech Museum or relax in the peaceful Majorelle gardens.

The day will conclude with a last night in the riad in the medina, closing a day full of discoveries and memorable experiences.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in the medina.
• Guided tour of the monumental treasures of Marrakech.
• Free afternoon for shopping, exploring or relaxing in gardens and museums.
• Night in the riad in the medina of Marrakech.

On the morning of the last day, we will start with breakfast at the riad located in the vibrant medina of Marrakech. Depending on your flight schedule, you can take advantage of the morning to do some last minute shopping or to immerse yourself once again in the unique atmosphere of the city.

At the agreed time, our driver will be ready to take you in a private vehicle to the airport of Marrakech. With the completion of this transfer, we will conclude our services, saying goodbye with gratitude for your trust and with the hope to meet again in the future to continue discovering the wonders of Morocco.

Summary of the day:

• Final breakfast at the riad in the medina.
• Free time according to the flight schedule.
• Private transfer to Marrakech airport.
• End of our services and farewell.