Desert and Imperial Cities Tour from Casablanca 10 Days 9 Nights
Tour the Imperial cities, the Atlas mountains, the dunes of Merzouga, the route of the Kasbahs and Marrakech.
Day 1 : Italy – Casablanca
Arrival at Casablanca Mohammed V airport, and transfer to hotel/riad. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 : Casablanca – Rabat (95 km)
Breakfast at the hotel and morning dedicated to the discovery of the economic capital of the country. We will visit the Mohamed V square, the Central Market, the Habous district, the Hassan II mosque from the outside. Seafood lunch along the corniche (optional). Departure for Rabat, the White Imperial city. Visit the Royal Palace (Mechouar), the Kasbah Ouadaya and its gardens, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, the Hassan tower. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 : Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes (250km)
After breakfast departure for Meknes, another imperial city characterized by ramparts about 40 kilometers long declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Upon arrival, visit the city with the magnificent Bab Mansour gate, the royal stables of Moulay Ismael, the medina and the Jewish quarter. Lunch (optional). In the early afternoon continuation of the tour with a visit to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, founded by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century BC. conquered by the Romans from 40 AD. until the arrival of the Berbers in 280 AD. This site has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continuation to Fes. Arrival, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Fes
Breakfast at the hotel. The day will be entirely dedicated to visiting Fes, the oldest of the imperial cities, founded in 790 by Moulay Idriss II. Fes immediately became the main religious center of Morocco. Visit the medieval Medina, the Medersas (ancient Islamic religious universities) Bounanaia and Attarine, the Karaouine Mosque and the famous Neijarine fountain. We continue with a visit to the souks, one of the most beautiful and lively markets in Morocco. Possible lunch in a restaurant in the Medina. Continuation of the visit in the afternoon. Dinner based on traditional dishes in a local restaurant. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 4 : Fes – Cedar Forest – Azrou – Erfoud – Merzouga (450km)
Breakfast at hotel. Early in the morning departure to reach Erfoud, an oasis at the gates of the desert. The road heads into the hills in the middle Atlas passing through a cedar forest. From the street you can see the alpine style roofs typical of the town and Ifrane. Stop at a protected area for a fun walk among the cedars and the many monkeys playing in the branches. Continuation to Azrou a pretty village located at an altitude of 1250 meters surrounded by mountains planted with oaks and cedars, which gives it a special charm. Stop for lunch (optional). Continuation to Errachidia and the Ziz valley until you reach the pre-Saharan area of the village of Erfoud, the famous city of dates where a very picturesque festival is held every year in October. Departure with off-road cars to reach Merzouga, an oasis known as “The door to the Sahara”, here the road ends up making room for the immense golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Accommodation in hotel/camp. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 : Merzouga – Rissani – Tinghir – Todrà Gorges – Boumalne du Dades (250km)
Wake up at dawn to admire the sunrise over the dunes of Merzouga, a unique spectacle! Return to Merzouga and departure for Rissani, a small Saharan village where the current royal dynasty originates. Continuation via Tinghir to visit the Todra gorges, a stupendous canyon with walls up to 250 meters high which traces a natural border between the High Atlas Mountains and the jagged Jebel Sarhro chain. Continuation to Boumalne du Dades and hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 : Boumalne du Dades – Dades Gorges – Kelaa M’Gouna – Ouarzazate (110 km)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning departure to the Dades gorges. Return on the road to Ouarzazate and visit of El Kelaa M’Gouna, a famous center for the production of rose water and an interesting destination during the “Festival delle Rose” held in spring. Continuation along the road of the Casbahs, so called for the innumerable oases and Casbahs that arise along the whole valley. Continuation to Ouarzazate, arrival at the hotel. Free time, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Ouarzazate – Kasbah Taourirt – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech (210km)
Early in the morning visit the Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifeltout. Later continuation to Ait Benhaddou, the most spectacular fort in southern Morocco. Lunch (optional) on the terrace of the restaurant facing the Kasbah. Departure for Marrakech through the Tichka pass (2260 m) which offers spectacular panoramas in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. Arrival in Marrakech, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 8 : Marrakech city tour
Breakfast at the hotel. The day will be entirely dedicated to visiting the city, nicknamed “The Pearl of the South”, founded in the 12th century by the Almoravid dynasty who left noteworthy palaces and gardens. Visit the Saadian Tombs, the Menara Gardens, the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace. In the afternoon visit the souk, the artisans’ quarters and the famous Djemaa El Fna square, where the show is permanent: snake charmers, fire eaters and artists of all kinds. Dinner based on traditional dishes in a local restaurant. Overnight in hotel/riad.
Day 9 : Marrakech – Flight – Italy
Breakfast at hotel. And transfer to the airport. and end of our services.
