This Casablanca to Marrakech 8 Day Desert Tour Itinerary is amazingly organized to explore the best of Morocco. This includes the Four Imperial cities (Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, and Meknes) and the Sahara Desert where you will be able to encounter a great experience. Besides encountering an exceptional experience of riding camels and camping in Merzouga's sand dunes, you will visit fascinating sites, Kasbahs, gorges, villages, and valleys.
Upon your arrival or Pick you up at your hotel in Casablanca. We will visit the Hassan II mosque, the landmark of Casablanca which is the only mosque open for non-Muslims. The Hassan II Mosque will be the first introduction of Moorish influences in Morocco. It is built by the king Hassan II between 1987-1993. Over 25 thousand worshipers can pray inside and 80 thousand worshipers pray outside in the big square of the mosque. We travel to Rabat to visit some historical sites like Chellah lovely spot In Rabat where you see a breathtaking combination of Roman and Merinid remains. You have the unfinished mosque Tower Hassan and the piece of art mausoleum Mohamed 5th to visit. After the tour of Rabat, we move to the next city Meknes. It was built by the sultan Moulay Ismael in the 18th century, famous for beautiful gates, mosques, and madrasas. Overnight in Meknes.
Next Morning after a nice breakfast we start our visit to Meknes with the granary Sahrij Swani. It is used to store food and water for the ‘’black Army’’ of the sultan Moulay Ismael. We can visit the mausoleum of the sultan and admire the Arab-Andalusian style. We will have a look at the tremendous gate of Bab Mansour. Only 30 km from Meknes we discover Volubilis. The archeological roman site well-preserved listed in UNISCO (1997), remains of astonishing mosaics, hundreds of Latin inscriptions, and artistic materials. Our trip for today will be finished in Fes.
After breakfast you meet our local guide of Fes; you are going to explore the old medieval medina of Fes and the 1st imperial city, a real labyrinthine of more than 9000 alleyways, and deserves to be the intellectual and cultural capital of the kingdom. Mingled with fast people in these streets full of articles, colors, and donkeys carrying goods. You will see a lot of handcrafted items, Fes is number 1 in crafts, like old days using the same materials. The tanneries, famous in Fes, is one the highlights of the 8 Days Tour from Casablanca, watching locals working on skins of goat, lamb, camel, and cow, in small pits. You also will indulge yourselves with some special dishes of Fes cuisine. You will enjoy a panoramic view in the southern tower of Fes, and visit the cooperative of pottery where they make tiles and Moroccan mosaic. Or maybe you go for an entertaining dinner show with belly dancers to end up your tour of Fes.
After breakfast in your riad, you’ll start traveling southeast to MWe are going to leave the medieval Fes and heading to another part of Morocco. Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains. We stop for a short break in Ifran or small Switzerland where is the first ski resort in Morocco. We will be surrounded by amazing sceneries and landscapes of mountains and plains. A special species of native monkeys living in cedar woods, over 30 members in one family called Maggot monkeys in Azrou. We will have lunch break in Midelt, it celebrates the festival of apples every year. There is a big contrast of landscapes especially when we drive through Ziz valley to get us to Erfoud, the gate of the Sahara, to Merzouga.erzouga via Midelt and Errachidia. Your first stop will be at Ifran, referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco”, and then to Merzouga via Midlet and the Ziz Valley. During this journey, you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you may well sight Barbarian apes. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city Er Rachidia. After lunch in Midelt, your journey continues along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way. We will drive through welcoming Berber villages to Erfoud, and then Rissani, the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Arriving in Merzouga you will start your guided camel ride, led by an experienced camel man to explore within the sand sea of Merzouga. Overnight at our desert camp where you will have your dinner. For your convenience, the camp is equipped with flush toilets.
After your breakfast, we leave the Sahara and head towards the old system of irrigation that is still used in the oasis of Eljerf. A break on the way in Tinjidad. We will have lunch in the valley of Toudra. It is considered as one of the oldest valleys in Morocco for caravan trading and where the first Moroccan money was made out of silver. A beautiful valley of 15 km of date palms ends up with a spectacular Gorges, mainly used for rock climbing and picnics. We embark on Dades valley which has an astonishing rock formation made by million years of erosion. We cross more Rose Valley, the only place in Morocco where we harvest Damascus rose in which we extract some products like rose water and rose oil best for skin treatment and anti-wrinkles. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Next morning there are two places to visit in this cinematographic city. Taourirte Kasbah which is a real image of Berber architecture made out clay and straw and the studio of cinema. On our arrival at Ait Ben Haddou village, we will go for a walk to visit this ancient village. An old village where a list of movie credits was made starting with the first movies “Lawrence of Arabia”, ”Jesus of Nazareth”, ”Gladiator” and the list is still going on. It is also listed in UNESCO as a site of world and national culture in 1987. Then we head to the great Telouet Kasbah stronghold fort, built by the lord of the atlas Thami Pasha and was the trading center of caravans. We travel to the north of the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi N'Tichka(2260m).A spectacular road of red mountains and Berber villages to Marrakech.
For the city tour of Marrakech, you are going with the local guide. You will visit Bahia palace; built by Bahmad Grand visit of Marrakech with its incredible mosaics and stucco and hear some interesting stories about 4 wives and the 24 concubines. The extraordinary architecture of Saadian Tomb, royal necropolis of the 17th century. Spending some great time in the famous souks of Marrakech; you going to like different smells, colors, items and how big is the souks of Marrakech. Jack Majorelle garden, a peaceful spot in the ville nouvelle, contains botanic and exotic plants brought from all over the world, with dominating indigo blue to paint the wall. You will finish your tour at the square Jamaa El-Fna. A bustling place where there are snake charmers, monkeys, food stalls, and musicians, the most animated square in Marrakech!!
When you are ready you will have a transfer to the airport of Marrakech or airport of Casablanca and it will be the end of imperial cities 8 days in Morocco services.