15 Days from Casablanca to the Desert

15 Days from Casablanca to the Desert

Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat

Upon arrival, we will pick you and your group up in Casablanca to visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside of Mecca, and experience the coastal Corniche. Afterward, we will depart for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Here, you will see the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah before checking into a Riad in the heart of the Medina. Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

After breakfast at the Riad, you will begin your journey to Meknes, another important Imperial City known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco. In Meknes, you will see the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch, the trip continues to Volubilis, a well-preserved site of Roman ruins dating back to 25 BC. We then continue to Fes via the foothills of the Rif Mountains, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 3: Fes – Fes

After breakfast at the Riad, you will begin exploring Morocco’s oldest city by navigating its narrow streets and alleys. Our visit starts at the Royal Palace gate, the Jewish Quarter, and the Mellah—the first ever built in Morocco. We will ensure you visit all sites of historical and cultural interest, including the famous Al Qaraouine University (the oldest in the region), the Tanneries, and the Attarine Museum. After lunch, you will see the ceramics factory and enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the entire Medina of Fes. In the afternoon, we will visit the new city, “La Ville Nouvelle,” for a drink. Accommodation in a Riad.

Day 4: Fes – Ifran – Azrou – Midelt

After breakfast, we leave Fes and travel toward Ifrane, a beautiful mountain village known as the “Switzerland of Morocco.” During this journey, you will experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. Stopping at Azrou—a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest (the largest in Morocco)—you will have the opportunity to see Barbary apes. Then, we travel through the Tizi Ntalghamt pass to Midelt and along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved into volcanic rock. Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 5: Midelt – Errachidia – Merzouga

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to Merzouga via Errachidia and Erfoud. You will travel through the Ziz Gorge, with views of the High Atlas plateau, noting how the scenery changes to reveal desert hints as you approach the city of Errachidia. Here, you will have lunch and enjoy Berber hospitality. Afterward, you will travel through the lush Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud and Rissani. Arriving in Merzouga in the afternoon, you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before checking into your hotel.

Day 6: Merzouga – Camel Trek & Night in the Desert

After breakfast at the hotel, you will explore the area. You will visit the Gnawa village—originally slaves brought from Sudan—to experience their music and lifestyle. Nearby is the Merzouga Lake with its bird populations. You may also wish to visit the nomad wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. In the afternoon, it’s time for your camel trek, guided by an experienced camel man, to explore the sea of sand in Merzouga. Dinner will be served in front of the tent where you will spend the night at the camp.

Day 7: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

Your guide will wake you early in the morning to watch what may well be the best sunrise of your life, after which you will camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga, admiring the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes—changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast at the Riad, you will leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and the Todra Gorges—the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. Lunch in the heart of the gorge precedes a drive through the Dades Valley, where you will see majestic sandcastles and the incredible rock formations known as “monkey toes.” Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 8: Dades Gorges – Ouarzazate

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through the Dades Valley toward Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through the Dades Valley is the Path of a Thousand Kasbahs—offering numerous opportunities to take some of the best photographic shots of the trip. We will stop at Kalaa Mgouna, “the Rose City,” to buy rose water, which will make your linens smell good long after your trip. Continuing toward Skoura and the Valley of Birds, you will visit the Ameridil Kasbah, a well-preserved kasbah in this area.

After some excursions in the valley, lunch will be at a restaurant overlooking the entire valley. The tour continues to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa,” whose geography and beautiful landscapes have attracted many world-class film producers. Here, you can choose to visit the studios, which contain props used in movies you may have already seen, such as The Mummy, Gladiator, and The Last Temptation of Christ. Accommodation in a local Riad.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Taroudant

After breakfast, we will head to Taroudant via Taznakht, stopping in Taliouine to visit the Saffron cooperative. If your visit coincides with the saffron harvest, you will have the opportunity to meet Berber women and their families harvesting saffron in the fields. We should arrive in Taroudant in the afternoon, where you will see the ramparts and walk through the small alleys of the Medina. Taroudant is often referred to as “the little Marrakech” because most of its walls were built by the Saadi dynasty in the 16th century before they moved to the great “Red City.”

Day 10: Taroudant – Essaouira

After breakfast, we will drive to Essaouira, traveling via Agadir, where we will stop for lunch. Agadir has a beautiful large beach and has been a major tourist destination for many years. We will take a short walk along the promenade before continuing to Essaouira. The coastal route offers beautiful landscapes in an area famous for Argan trees. Along the way, you will see herds of goats climbing Argan trees in search of ripe fruit. Accommodation in a Riad in the Medina.

Day 11: Essaouira – Essaouira

Breakfast is at the Riad before a tour of the city. You will visit the Skala fortress, the port, the souks, and see Thuya wood carved by artisans, strolling through the alleys of the medina and past hundreds of handicrafts. Essaouira is known for its strong winds year-round and is called the “Wind City,” attracting surfers from all over the world. Essaouira has known many civilizations—including Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture—yet it remains a small village with a lot of history.

Due to its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also considered the “Jewel of the Atlantic.” The visit includes the Mellah (the Jewish Quarter) and the beach. There is an annual “Gnawa Music Festival” where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world. It usually starts in the third week of June, so if your trip coincides with this, you have the option to extend your stay for an extra day. Today you will have lunch in the Moroccan way, buying fish “cooked to order.” The afternoon is free to walk and explore on your own. Accommodation in a Riad in the Medina.

Day 12: Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast at the Riad, we depart for Marrakech. On our way—since it is the culture of the Argan land—there is an opportunity to visit the women’s Argan oil cooperative where the oil is extracted, famous for its culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal properties. After several photo stops, you will continue your journey before checking into your Riad in Marrakech. After dinner, you can enjoy walking through the famous Jemaa El Fna Square, entertained by magicians, storytellers, musicians, and snake charmers. Overnight stay in a Medina-based Riad.

Day 13: Exploring Marrakech

After breakfast, you can start exploring Marrakech, “the Red City of Morocco.” Your guide will ensure you see the most important historical and cultural sites, including the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, and the Ben Youssef Koranic School. Lunch is at a restaurant near the Square, then in the afternoon, you can visit the Majorelle Gardens and the Koutoubia Tower. Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 14: Marrakech – Excursion to the Atlas Mountains

After breakfast at the Riad, we will drive to the village of Asni and the village of Imlil in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. Here, you will enjoy panoramic views through the Moulay Brahim Gorges and the village of Imlil, a small Berber village with a strong culture. You will have the opportunity to walk through the villages and experience authentic Berber culture. If you choose to have lunch at Kasbah Toubkal, the view of Mount Toubkal—the highest in North Africa—is quite impressive. In the afternoon, you will travel back to Marrakech. Overnight stay at our Hotel/Riad.

Day 15: Marrakech – Airport Transfer

Today, depending on your departure time, we will drive you to the airport for your flight.