17 days tour Casablanca-to Sahara desert and Marrakech

Day 1: Casablanca- Rabat

 Pick you up from the airport and drive to the center of Casablanca to visit the biggest Mall in Africa “Morocco Mall” , Hassan second Mosque the largest functioning mosque in Africa and the 7th largest in the world. In the late afternoon drive you to Rabat for an overnight stay in Riad.

Day 2: Rabat- Asilah- Tangier

Today after breakfast at your Riad we will start our journey by exploring the most important monuments historical of Rabat , Hassan tower and the Oudayaas Kasbah. After we finish from Rabat we will drive to Asilah one the most beautiful little cities in Morocco and here where to have lunch. After lunch we will drive to Tangier to visit Hercules caves, cape spartel and the old Medina of Tangier. overnight stay in a hotel/Riad.

Day 3: Tangier – Akchour – Chefchaouen 

After breakfast at your Riad we will start our journey driving to Akchour where you do a hike walking through the canyon along the river until you reach the God’s bridge, When two cliffs join together to create a natural bridge. An iconic place to experience the magic of Akchour. This rare rock formation unites two cliffs. It is a bridge that visitors can walk across or admire from below where the pristine waters of a waterfall collide. The magnificent river Farda take its source at Ain danou.It is unsure who named the formation or when it was first discovered, but people in Akchour talk about the bridge with a blend of reverence, pride, and the joy of having a place so close that incorporates nature and a sense of divinity. After the hike we will continue our journey to Chefchaouen for overnight stay.

Day 4: Free day in Chefchaouen 

Today you will have a free  day in the city of Chefchaouen, which was founded in the 15 century.to explore its beautiful colorful streets. Before sunset you  will go to the Spanish mosque to have an amazing view over the beautiful city of Chefchaouen . Overnight stay in Riad/hotel.

 Day 5: Chefchaouen – Volubilis- Meknes – Fes

 After breakfast at your hotel we will start our journey towards Fes passing through Volubilis which is a Roman ruin also it used to be the Mauritanian capital,founded in the 3rd century. Its entry fee for adults is 100 MAD but for children less than 12 years old is 50 MAD . After that we will continue driving to Meknes to drive through the historical monuments. Because most of them are under construction , From here we will continue on to Fes . Overnight stay Riad/hotel 

 Day 6: Fes sightseeing 

Today you will start exploring the oldest city in Morocco, walking in its alleys and small streets. Our visit starts by visiting the Royal Palace gate, the Jewish headquarter, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century. We will ensure that you visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Karaouine University, the oldest in the region, the Tanneries, the Attarine museum and Mulay Idriss mausoleum. After lunch, you will visit the tiles cooperative and then experience a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes.

Overnight stay in Riad/hotel.

 Day 7: Fes -Cedar forest – Ziz valley- Erfoud- Merzouga

 We will pick you up from your Hotel or Riad in Fes then drive southwards to Merzouga by the Middle Atlas mountains. On the way we will stop at cedar forest to see the Barbarian Ape in their natural habitat. Traveling through the Tizi Ntalghamt pass to Midelt and along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rock, you’ll see views of the Middle-Atlas plateau, noticing how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city Errachidia. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey through the Ziz Valley , Erfoud before we arrive in Merzouga, where you will take a camel ride to spend a unique night in the desert . After dinner at the luxury camp they will play Berber music for you using drums. Overnight night stay in a luxury camp.

Day 8: Merzouga Area

 After breakfast you will venture into the charismatic region. You will have the opportunity to share tea with the nomad family, visit the black desert and its old mines of Iron and black Mascara, and listen to typical music of gnaoua in the village of Khamliya. Gnaoua means a group of black people who used to be slaves and their origin from southern African countries. For lunch you can have a delicious Berber pizza. After lunch we will visit the Mausoleum of old cars then the canal irrigation system. Drop you off at your hotel.

 Day 9: Merzouga– Rissani- Todra gorges- Boumalne dades

 After breakfast, we leave the desert to visit Rissani town, the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Rissani is still a major trading center in the region, with a large souk lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. After a stroll in Rissani Souk, we continue to Erfoud, where we visit one of the workshops of fossilized marble. Then we drive through Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves, to reach the Todra Gorges. The Todra river has carved out a grand canyon through the mountains -Making a high red cliff-sided canyon. These gorges are an ideal place for rock climbers. Feel free to wander in the gorges and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Free time for lunch in a restaurant. Then we continue to the Dades valley, through Boumalne Dades. Inevitably stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formation. And on a spot atop a mountain overlooking the Dades valley. Finally, dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

 Day 10: Boumalne- Roses valley – Ouarzazate- Ait Ben haddou- Marrakech 

After breakfast, we continued our trip to Kalaa Magouna to visit the Rose valley. A Rose Festival is held annually in May. Where the locals offer their rose products from perfumes, rose water, oil, to cosmetic products. Free time for lunch. We then drive through the palm groves of Skoura . Finally, we reach Ouarzazate, we visit the studios in which famous movies were shot, and also visit the Taourirt Kasbah and then  to visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. A fortified village recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Furthermore, Kasbah has appeared in many movies including : Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy…etc. And TV series including Game Of Thrones. Then we continue to Marrakech, by driving through the Tizi-N-Tichka pass, and the High Atlas Mountains. Stops will be made for lunch, and to take pictures at interesting spots. Finally, we drop you off at your accommodation in Marrakech. Overnight stay in Riad/hotel.

 Day 11: Marrakech sightseeing:

The full day will be spent in Marrakech City with a local guide, starting with the famous square of Jemaa el Fna, which houses an array of food, local musicians and fortune tellers. Then we will visit Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia minaret. Later you can enjoy your free time by walking through the souks. Overnight stay will be in a riad/hotel.

Day 12: Marrakech – Imlil

After breakfast at your hotel we will start our journey to Imilil where you have around 3 hours hiking. At lunch time you will have it with a local family in Imlil. Later on the day you will be back to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 13: Imlil- Taroudant- Agadir

After breakfast you will start your Journey to Agadir stopping in Taroudant, which was one of the places that was occupied by AlMoravids in 1056.

In the mid-15th century the Banu Zaydan, the family who later founded the Saadi Dynasty, established themselves near Taroudant in a settlement called Tidsi, which served briefly as the base of the dynasty’s first leader,Al Qa-im, until 1513.According to Moroccan news media, the current layout of the city walls dates to the Saadi period in the 16th century. After lunch in Taroudant you will continue your journey to Agadir, The name Agadir is a common Berber noun, meaning ‘wall, enclosure, fortified building, citadel’. This noun is attested in most Berber languages.It may come from the Tuareg word aǧādir (‘wall’ or ‘bank’) or from Phoenician  gadir (‘wall’ or ‘fortress’).The former word may also be a loanword from the latter.The Phoenician etymology, if correct, would be the same as that of Cadiz in Spain. On the way we will see a lot of Argan trees and if you are lucky you will see goats on the trees. Overnight stay.

Day 14: Agadir- Essaouira

Today we will start our day by driving to Agadir Ofla, where we will have a panoramic view of Agadir city. Afterwards we will drive to Essaouira along the Atlantic Coast. When we get to Essaouira you will have free time to walk around. Essaouira is known for surfing. Overnight stay.

Day 15:Free  day in Essaouira

Today you will have a free day in Essaouira where you can stroll around the Medina on your own. Overnight stay in a riad.

Day 16: Essaouira- Oualidia- Casablanca

 After breakfast in your riad we will start driving towards Casablanca passing through Oualidia, which has been called Morocco’s “oyster capital,” a reference to the significant role shellfish harvesting plays in the local economy. . After lunch we will continue driving to Casablanca.overnight stay in a Hotel.

 Day 17: transfer you to the airport

Upon your flight departure today we will drive you to the airport and here where our trip ends.