Description

Day 1: Tangier – Tetuan – Chefchaoune

Meet and greet at Tangier Airport by your driver, then leave Tangier for Chefchaouen via M’diq & Tetouan through the Mediterranean coast, on arrival to Chafchaouen meet your local guide and start the walking tour of the old city, contemplating the ancient houses and blue and white houses. Dinner and accommodation in a local riad /Hotel.

Day 2: Chefchaoune – Volubilis – Meknes – Fez

We leave Chefchaouen for Fez crossing the Rif’s forest and get to the Roman ruins, Volubilis (Local guide optional). We continue to Meknes, the imperial city to visit Bab Mansour and Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum. Later, we arrive in Fez through the new city of Meknes. Accommodation into the Hotel.

Day 3: Full day tour of Fez

After breakfast, 09H30 start the walking tour of Fez El Bali as the heart of the Moroccan history and one of the rarest in the world to have preserved the life of the medieval Islamic city. Built in the 9th century by Idriss I, the first king of Morocco, Fez in the early capital city of Morocco and the center that influenced the rest of the country as far as its history, culture, arts and spiritual life are concerned. The 9th century Fez embodies a great number of medieval schools dating back to the 14th century and where you can admire the best of the old Moorish architecture, the Karawiyin University, the oldest in the world, built in the 9th century and specialized in Islamic theology and medieval sciences. The sanctuary of Idriss II, the spiritual center where this descendant of the prophet Mohammed was buried and the recently restored Nejjarine Museum. Fez El Bali is also a live museum where certain handicraft traditions still survive gathered in family corporations such as the vegetable, silk, dyes, the tanneries, the Copper and brassware corporations, the blacksmiths. The culture visit will continue from the beautiful built Jewish quarter which stands next to the 14th century Royal Palace. This is the famous Mellah where you may admire a fine example of old Spanish Moorish architecture, the Jewish cemetery where the oldest tombs go back to the early days of the history of Fez and the region as well as the recently restored synagogue of Aben Danan built in the 17th century. Overnight in Fez Riad/Hotel.

Day 4: Fez – Midelt/Erfoud – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

After breakfast, drive by crossing the cultivated and fertile valley of Saiss up to Imouzzer de Kandar with its nearby gorgeous lake ‘Dait Aoua’ and on to Ifrane, a charming Ski resort and Azrou, a typical Berber town with its flat-roofed earth houses. The road goes through magnificent cedar, pine and Oak forests. This particularly varied itinerary from north to south offers a diversity of impressions through the Middle Atlas Mountains where nomad shepherds live in black tents and move with their herds of goats and sheep across these mountains in the hot season down to the desert land areas in the winter. Follows their route down to the Saharan plateau before you start ascension up the high Atlas Mountain where you will see more some of the most beautiful sceneries so far thanks to the geological variety of this range as well as its date palm valleys, fortified earth made villages. After Er-rachidia you will enter the Tafilalet country from where the present royal family is originated and admire this legendary valley named Ziz and which runs along a deep canyon all the way down to Erfoud.
Switch to 4*4 land cruiser (45 mins drive).We enjoy a tour highlight this afternoon as we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara erg, In the enormous silence we watch the sunset over the desert as we take a camel ride (30 mins ride) along Morocco’s only Saharan dunes where we will spend the night in our luxury tents. A traditional dinner will be served and local musicians will entertain us under the stars. (About 1 hour30 drive).

Day 5: Merzouga – Todra Gorges/Tinghir – Ouarzazate

Wake up early to watch the sunrise in the surrounding dunes, and then head ‘’ Walking distance ‘’ to your Camp for breakfast. Around 09.00 drive a short trail to join the main road to the town of Rissani. 10.00 – Rissani, This town is a former trading caravan post and the birthplace of the Alaouites dynasty, the current ruling dynasty. Visit My Ali Cherif Mausoleum and one of the surviving Ksours of medieval times and the amazing souks … Continue through a succession of Berber villages.
13.00 – Tinghir Here you go for a detour to the impressive canyons of Todghra Gorges in Atlas Mountains Afternoon, you will be driving along the Dades valley, Roses valley and Skoura oasis back to 18.00 – arrival to Ouarzazate
You’ll have a stop for lunch on the way (Chez Michel restaurant in Tinghir) – not included in the price. – Entrance fees: My Aly Ali Cherif.

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

Start of the day, Leave Ouarzazate, which has become a major base for many film shots in this fascinating area of snowy peaks, palm groves in verdant oases, walled villages and magnificent Kasbahs. This morning, visit the sumptuous kasbahs of Taourirt & Ouarzazate (duration 1 hour).
11.00 – the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, the backdrop for famous films such as “Lawrence of Arabia”. This impressive kasbah is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Stop for a walk through the fortified village and explore these superb dramatic structures. Lunch at leisure in Oasis d’Or restaurant. Afterward, cross the Atlas Mountains along a twisting road with wonderful views as you descend to Marrakech. The drive along the river Imini shows off Morocco’s picturesque farmland, Berber villages and ruins of ancient Kasbahs. Climb to the breathtaking Tizi-N-Tichka Pass at 7500 ft. before descending to Marrakech. Overnight in the Marrakech Riad/Hotel.

Day 7: Full day tour of Marrakech

This is an exciting and most interesting exploration of the deep and authentic side of the old city of Marrakech, where we will see the traditional activities of the inhabitants of the old city and understand their way of life as well as some remains of the glorious past of this medieval capital of Morocco. Start through one of the historical gates of the old Medina and walk to discover the medieval way of life of its inhabitants and their daily occupations. Along the way, we will hear children from the Koran schools reciting verses, see old fountains, historical gates, visit an old bakery and taste the local bread, see the furnace that heats the public steam bath and learn the role they play in the social life of each quarter. This morning, we will visit the 16th century Ben Youssef theological school along with the Moorish Museum to admire besides the marvelous Moorish architecture, an interesting collection of antiques going from the art of embroidery to ethnic jewelry and the fine blue and polychrome pottery…Next, see the archaeological site of the Almoravid dynasty and discover the hidden quarters and the historical caravanserai called Fondouks used once as hotels for the caravan traders. We will stop at the 16th century Dar Cherifa Literary Café for a nice Moorish Coffee. In the afternoon, we will walk you through the maze of narrow colorful streets, taking you back in time through this active and bustling part of town. Stop by the olive stalls and taste the different varieties of one of Morocco’s premium products. We will take you to the heart of the traditional markets to see the different alleyways, districts and the bright colors of the shops displaying all sorts of garments, shawls, and fabrics made of wool, cotton or vegetable silks; feel the texture of all these fabrics and learn about their quality. Stop every now and then at your leisure and haggle, if you wish, over the prices of different items. With the help of our guide, you may want to talk to the craftspeople and ask them questions in order to learn more about their traditions and skills. Overnight in the Riad/Hotel.

Day 8: Day trip to the Ourika Valley

A day through some stunning landscape will get you to Ourika Valley. You will be crossing some Berber villages on way to Tadmamt at 2000 m. Stop to sip a glass of mint tea with locals before getting to Ourika. Explore the green valley, its cafes, fruits, and diverse workshops. Head to Nectarome (the Botanic Gardens) for an interesting tour to learn about aromatic and medicinal plants that locals use for ages. Lunch will be served in the garden restaurant (to paid direct). Afternoon, drive the low mountain route to Tahanoute and then through My Brahim gorges back to your Hotel.

Day 9: Hotel – Marrakech Airport

After breakfast, transfer to the Airport for your flight back home (End of our service).