Private Tour: From Casablanca: 9D/8N Adventure through Imperial Cities and Desert

After enjoying breakfast at the riad in Rabat, our driver will be waiting for you to start the trip north. Today’s destination is Chaouen, also known as “the blue city” for the distinctive color that adorns its medina, a tone that is engraved in the memory of all visitors.

Once in Chaouen, you will be free to structure your day according to your preferences. We recommend visiting the kasbah, which now houses the Ethnographic Museum, and the viewpoints, from where you can get breathtaking panoramic views of the medina and its surroundings. Do not miss the opportunity to walk through its picturesque streets, adorned with flowers and full of craft stores, as well as the galleries of local artists.

At nightfall, you will stay in a riad inside the medina.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in Rabat.
• Transfer by road to the serene Chaouen.
• Free day to explore the blue medina and its attractions.
• Night in a riad in the medina of Chaouen

Starting with breakfast at the riad in Chaouen, we prepare for a day that connects us to Morocco’s rich history. Our first stop will be at Volubilis, the most outstanding archaeological site of the Roman period in Morocco, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we will explore the remains of temples, decorative mosaics and structures that reflect the influence of emperors such as Mark Antony and Caracalla.

With Roman history still resonating, we will head to Meknes, another Imperial City and World Heritage Site, where the influence of the 17th century Sultan Moulay Ismail is evident in the medina and monuments such as the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and the impressive Bab Mansour Gate.

We will end the day traveling to Fez, where the great medina awaits us to be discovered in depth in a guided tour the next day. However, you will have the opportunity to have a first encounter with its vibrant atmosphere in the afternoon. Your riad will be conveniently located in the center, providing easy access to the city’s points of interest.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in Chaouen.
• Visit to the Roman archaeological site of Volubilis.
• Tour of historic Meknes and its monuments.
• Arrival in Fez with time to explore on your own.
• Accommodation in a riad in the center of Fez.

Fez, a city recognized as a World Heritage Site, Imperial City and one of the spiritual and cultural centers of Islam, stands before us with a rich historical and cultural tapestry. After breakfast at the riad, you will meet our official local guide for a deep dive into the heart of Fez.

The guided tour is designed to cover the most outstanding treasures of the medina, including the Karaouine Mosque and its university, one of the oldest functioning in the world, and the madrasas such as Bou Inania or Attarine, dedicated to Islamic studies. You will not miss emblematic places such as Nejjarine Square with its fountain, the vibrant tanners’ quarter or the lively souks and markets.

The vastness of the historic center of Fez will lead us to reserve the afternoon to explore on your own. You can visit the Golden Gates of the Royal Palace, the Mellah or the Borj Nord museum. It will also be the perfect time to purchase high quality local handicrafts, from leather goods to ceramics and precious metals.

The day will culminate with an extra night in the riad in the center, allowing you to rest after a day full of discoveries.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in the heart of Fez.
• Guided tour of the medina and its historical sites with an official local guide.
• Free afternoon to explore more of the city or go shopping.
• Night in a riad in Fez, close to all attractions.

The fifth day promises to be one of the most spectacular, as it will take us from historic Fez to the impressive desert dunes. After breakfast at the riad in Fez, we will start our journey south into the heart of the desert. We will leave with the light of dawn and soon begin to ascend the slopes of the Middle Atlas.

Our first stop will be in Ifrane, known as ‘the Moroccan Switzerland’ for its alpine-style architecture and sloping roofs. Its humid climate and altitude, which exceeds 1,700 meters, give us snowy winter landscapes and green landscapes during the rest of the year.

Continue to Ifrane National Park, near Azrou, where we will marvel at its vast cedar forests, home to the Barbary macaque, a primate unique to this region of the world.

Descending from the Middle Atlas, we will cross the Ziz Valley, where palm groves and cultivated fields impose themselves on the aridity of the environment.

Then, we will head to Erfoud, a town known for its paleontological discoveries, before arriving in Merzouga. Here, we will change our vehicle for camels to enter the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, whose colors and textures are unparalleled. After a relaxing walk, we will arrive at our tented camp in the desert, where we will enjoy a welcome Berber tea and dinner under the stars.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in Fez and early departure.
• Passage through Ifrane, the ‘Monkey Forest’ and the Ziz Valley.
• Arrival in Erfoud and continuation to Merzouga.
• Dromedary ride in the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
• Dinner and night in a tent camp under a starry sky.

We will wake up in the desert of Merzouga to witness an unforgettable sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, where daylight will reveal a landscape of changing tones. After this natural spectacle, we will have breakfast at the camp before getting back on camels to return to Merzouga, where we can refresh ourselves with a shower.

We will continue our journey to Rissani, a city that retains the essence of times past with its historic medina, its traditional market and the unique donkey parking. This place is known for being the cradle of the Alawite dynasty.

Moving through hamada and oasis landscapes, we will reach the Todra Gorges, an impressive canyon that invites to be explored on foot or even climbed by the more adventurous.

The route will then take us through the Dades Valley and the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, where Berber fortresses are revealed at every turn of the road. We will also pass through the Valley of Roses, known for its floral crops and the production of cosmetic products.

Our final destination for the day is Ouarzazate, where, weather permitting, we will visit the kasbah of Taourirt, former residence of the Pasha of Marrakech. In addition, we may have the opportunity to explore the local film studios, which have hosted numerous international film productions.

Summary of the day:

• Sunrise between the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
• Breakfast at the tents camp and return to Merzouga.
• Visit to Rissani and its traditional market.
• Exploration of the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley.
• Tour of the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs and the Valley of the Roses.
• Arrival in Ouarzazate with possible visit to the kasbah of Taourirt and film studios.
• Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Ouarzazate.

Day 7 is a spectacular transition day, taking us from the vast desert landscapes to the majestic High Atlas Mountains and finally to bustling Marrakech. We will start with breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate and continue with a visit to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site renowned for its impressive adobe architecture, a living testimony to Berber building skills.

After immersing ourselves in the history of Ait Ben Haddou, we will head towards the heights of the High Atlas, making a stop at the kasbah of Telouet, also linked to Thami El Glaoui. This fortress shares similarities with that of Taourirt, but also has its own distinctive features.

Upon reaching the Tizi n’Tichka pass, we will witness panoramic views of the High Atlas, with its snow-capped peaks and villages scattered along the slopes. The road will take us downhill towards Marrakech, the Red City, which we will reach in the afternoon.

Once in Marrakech, you will have time for a first stroll and to familiarize yourself with the vibrant rhythm of the medina, before retiring to the riad where you will spend the night.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate.
• Visit the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and its historical legacy.
• Crossing of the High Atlas with a stop at the kasbah of Telouet.
• Passage through the impressive Tizi n’Tichka pass.
• Arrival and free time to explore Marrakech.
• Night in a riad in the medina of Marrakech.

On the eighth day we enter the heart of Marrakech, a city that captivates with its rich offer of historical monuments and its vibrant popular life. After an energizing breakfast at the riad, you will meet our official guide to begin the discovery of the most significant places of the ‘red city’, so called because of the terracotta color of its buildings.

The guided tour will be full of emblematic sites such as the exteriors of the Kutubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Medersa. In addition, you will be immersed in the authentic atmosphere of the artisan quarters and feel the characteristic bustle of the Jemaa el-Fna Square, the beating heart of Marrakech.

The afternoon will be free for shopping in the souks, visiting areas of the city with a more contemporary feel, or exploring cultural sites such as the Marrakech Museum or the tranquil Majorelle Gardens.

The day will conclude with a last night in the riad located in the medina, allowing you to rest after a day full of experiences and discoveries.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in the medina.
• Guided tour of the monuments and historical sites of Marrakech.
• Free afternoon for shopping, visits to museums or gardens.
• Night in the riad in the medina of Marrakech.

The ninth day marks the end of our journey together. The day begins with a final breakfast at the riad, located in the heart of the medina of Marrakech. Depending on the time of your return flight, you may have some free time to enjoy the last impressions of the city, either for last minute shopping or simply to soak up the last moments of the vibrant local atmosphere.

At the appropriate time, our driver will be waiting for you to provide a comfortable and private transfer to Marrakech airport. With the trip to the airport, our services are concluded. We say goodbye with a warm thank you for choosing to travel with us and with the hope to meet again in the future to continue discovering together the magic of Morocco.

Summary of the day:

• Breakfast at the riad in the medina of Marrakech.
• Free time according to your flight schedule.
• Private transfer to Marrakech airport.
• Farewell and end of our services.