Discover the unexpected Morocco, rich and lively with its contrasting, diverse and colourful landscapes. From the Atlas and Anti-Atlas, to the charm of the desert, from the Mediterranean and its rich Arab-Andalusian culture, with "Tangiers the White city" and "Chefchaouen the blue city". Travel along the Atlantic coast with Casablanca, Rabat, Asilah, to the city of Mogador Essaouira with its fishing port, and then the imperial cities: Marrakech, Fes and Ouarzazate with its 1000 kasbahs. To better appreciate its fascinating diversity Morroco offers this tour. A mixture of visits of well-known cultural, economic, imperial and unexpected destinations, with the deserts Merzouga and Zagora and their oasis, as well as a tour through the Dades Valley.
Following arrival formalities, transfer to hotel or raid, lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon a visit to the city of Tangier, the mythical city of painters and writers such as Mattisse and Delacroix. Visit the medina between large and small "socco" where the delegation Etas United is situated, the Mendoubia gardens, kasbah’s square which overlooks the bay and its archaeological museum. Take a peaceful break at the Anfa café. We'll cintinue discovering this city in the end of our 15-day tour. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, departure to Chefchaouen, "The Blue City". The route crosses the Rif hills all the way to Chefchaouen, small town with narrow streets all painted in blue, a holy city with more than 20 mosques. Chefchaouen is the city of weavers, peaceful and wild. It enchants visitors with its doors and blue walls. Next we visit the center of the 2 men going about their day in a blue coloured street in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Then its spice and crafts market, typical hand wash laundries dotted along slopes of the rif hills across the river. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Following breakfast, departure for the city of Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of the kingdom. Fes impresses with its density, its wealth, its colors and the rustling of the medina, its palaces and fountains, Madrasas, the Bouamania of major interest, walking in the souks, those of the tanners, dyers, copper ware. Arched entrance to the city of Fes with bustling streets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel or riad.
Departure from Fes at 8 o’clock, travelling via Azrou, where you can see Barbary apes in the forest of the Middle Atlas. Lunch is in Midelt, the apple capital, at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. We continue over the Tizi-n-Talremt pass and through the Ziz Valley, which is particularly well-known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis. All along the road there are innumerable ksars, small villages of individual houses. From here we reach Er Rachidia and then Erfoud, famous for its date festival and fossils. Then continue to Merzouga with a walled pathway leading through a date grove in the Ziz Valley where will be your overnight accommodation in auberge or riad.
After visiting the village and oasis of Merzouga, you’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Then we continue to see the panoramic view behind the Erg Chebbi of sand dunes so as to take lot of pictures and to see how the colour of the dunes is changing by the light of the sun. After that we go to the village of Mirdani — an old village in ruins. Also stopping at M’fis, the place where coal was extracted and the large majority of the population of Merzouga worked to earn a living. A very interesting day which is spent in or very near the dunes — the highest dunes in Morocco. After the village of Mirdani we continue to the Bedouin families in their tents at Kem Kem. After having tea there we continue to finish the tour by visiting where you can see the fossiles and the oasis of tissardmine in the afternoon we will come back to Merzouga where your camel will be awaiting. You mount a camel, guided by an experienced camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here you will spend your night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent.
Our camel man will awaken us early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise of your life. Then we will trek back to the village of Merzouga to have breakfast and enjoy the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After that we will travel to Rissani, Tinghir and Todra Gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. Lunch in the gorge. Pathway through a narrow gorge with high rose coloured walls. In the heart of the gorge we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley.
After breakfast, depart to Ourazazate passing through the Dades valley, the line of kasbahs that give this extremely popular route its nickname: Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Begin just before the town of Skoura, which is Kalaa Mgouna, the rose city where you cauld purchase rose water and continue to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa, whose geography and beautiful landscapes have attracted many world class movie producers. Possible visit (if there is no production event) to the movie studio, a well-known cimatographic center used for block buster productions including "Astrix and Cleopatra" directed by Alain Chabat, and the Oscar-winning "Gladiator" directed by Ridley Scott. We will then have a visit to the Taourirt Kasbah of the famous Pasha Glaoui. Overnight stay will be at the riad in Ouarzazate.
After breakfast, we will depart for Zagora passing the Tizi-in-Tiniffit Pass at 1660 metres elevation. We will cross a wild and ragged, rough mountain countryside. The road descends to the Draa Valley, where Morrocan Jewish families settled along this fertile valley and used to live in harmony with Berber tribes. We will lead to Agdz, situated at the foot of the extraordinary rock formation called Jbel Kissane, In Agdz you will be able to visit the Ksar with the Kasbah of Tamnougalte, the former centre of the tribal region of the Mezguita Berbers. Along the Oued Drâa, we will pass by the Drâa valley which is one of Morocco’s most fascinating river landscapes… Marvel at the date palms, laurel bushes and numerous kasbahs and ksars. Continue to the Zagora oasis, the real "Gate of the desert". The valley is lined by palm oases, clay fortresses and picturesque Berber villages. Arriving at Zagora, the “Gate to the Desert”, which used to be the most important camel trail station. The sign “52 days to Timbouctou” still proves it. In the midst of wonderful palm groves, we will find the Ksar Amezraou known for its silver jewellery workshops which you can visit just like the Ksar. From Zagora we will drive past the sand dunes between Tinfou and M'hamid, which also means the end of the tarmac road. This is where the journey to the closest sand dune region, where we will reach our bivouac, starts. Experience an unforgettable evening in the desert. Until dusk you can walk across the dunes on foot or use the time for a camel tour. Enjoy a lovingly prepared dinner and the music of the drums. You will spend the night in a nomad’s tent under the stars.
After breakfast our westbound journey will take us to the great dune field of Chegaga. The journey will lead us across sand roads and stone deserts, deep into the Moroccan Sahara. On the way we will stop in the midst of the desert to rest at a wonderful oasis that is supplied by the Source Sacré. We will then arrive at the mighty dunes of the Erg Chegaga, where there are still nomads living with herds of camels today. You will enjoy the rough beauty, the endless vastness and quietude of the desert. You will experience the constant change of light depending on the position of the sun that turns this archaic countryside into a bizarre dream landscape. Our trip will lead us across the even plane of Lac Iriki, a dried-out lake in a solidary desert landscape glistening white in the sunshine. We will pass by a fossil site and drive across the gravel desert until we reach the small oasis village of Foum Zguid, where you will spend the night in the hotel.
After breakfast we will leave small settlements in the midst of palm groves behind, we will cross the Antiatlas and arrive at Tazenakht, which is known for its beautiful carpets and Ouzguita Berbers. From here the road winds its way up weathered rock formations to out Ouarzazate. In the afternoon we will return to Marrakech through the famous Tizi–in-Tichka pass over the High Atlas Mountains. The range has snow on its peaks most of the year. Appreciate the beauty of the timeless landscapes on the twisted roads through Berber villages. Arriving Marrakesh, dinner and overnight stay in riad or hotel.
Marrakech is the second oldest imperial city, known as the pearl of the south. After breakfast we'll visit the historical Marrakech: the Menara garden, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Minaret and the Majorelle Gardens named after the famous French painter. He constructed here his art deco villa and started the botanical gardens. In 1980 it became the residence of Yves Saint Laurent. Afternoon, visit the famous Djemaa El Fna square with its surrounding souks and handicraft quarters. In the evening check-in to the hotel or Riad.
Today we will travel to the romantic seaside town of Essaouira. After arrival and check-in, we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Essaouira is typical Portuguese town, portraying influences of both: Moorish and Portuguese design. Optional - 1 hour boat tour. Overnight at the hotel or at riad in Essaouira.
After breakfast, we depart back to Casablanca via the picturesque coastal road, stopping in Oualidia for a fish lunch in a local restaurant with a seaview. Continue to El Jadida, sightseeing in the town includes the famous citadel, built under the Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. The night accommodation will be in Casablanca at the hotel.
Following breakfast, we head to Rabat, the administrative and elegant capital of the kingdom. Visit of the capital and its great architectural heritage. A tranquil city with an impressive esplanade overlooking the ocean. We'll see The Royal Palace, Mohamed V Mausoleum and The Hassan tower which is a red brick islamic style tower and columns from a ruin in the foreground. Continue our journy to Asilah via Larache. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel or Riad in Asilah.
Breakfast. Then we will drive to visit Hercules cave, where according to legend, the Greek God was born. Then transfer to the airport (depend of your departure time).
