6-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech & Sahara Desert

Day 1 · Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes – Fez Medina (5-6 hour drive)

1. 1

   Old Medina of Casablanca

   one hour Admission included

   Casablanca Airport/City (we can also start the tour from Marrakech or Rabat, to suit your inbound flight).

   Arriving at the airport we will always hold a placard on your name, but when the pick-up is from hotel or Riad we will definitely contact you or the host by phone.

   It depends on your arrival time, you will first visit the promenade ‘Cornish’ by the Atlantic coast, then the Casablanca’s landmark – Hassan II mosque – the second tallest tower in the world ( guided visits are scheduled for (Sept-June) Sat-Thurs 9am, 10am, 11am, and 2pm, Fri 9am and 2pm, July-Aug daily 2:30pm).

   Departure to Rabat for a lunch in a restaurant after you will meet your guide and you will be escorted on a walk around Oudaya’s Kasbah, which was built by Moulay Ismail from 1672 to 1727 to protect the city. Next, explore Hassan Tower which is a gigantic mosque. Afterward, you will visit the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V to see its stained glass windows, white marble, and a wrought-iron entryway.

2. 2

   Rabat Old Town

   2 hours

   Heading north to the capital of Rabat, stop for lunch. Walk around the fortress of Oudays, which was built by Moulay Ismail from 1672 to 1727 to protect the city. Next, we get to the Hassan Tower & the beautiful Mohamed V mausoleum with its stained glass windows, white marble, and a wrought-iron entryway.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   one hour

   Later we drive toward Meknes, one of the 4 Morocco’s Imperial Cities built by the sultan Moulay Ismail (1672- 1727), this city has been set to be the capital of Morocco. We drive around its city walls; we stop for a little walk through the huge water reservoir Sehrij Souani, Royal granaries, and stables.

   Next, we stop at Bab El Mansour gate, EL-Hddim Square, Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the imperial palace.

4. 4

   Fez Mellah

   Passing by

   Then we leave Meknes to Fez.

Overnight in a Riad or Hotel 3/4 stars

Day 2 · Full day Fez Medina Guided city tour

1. 1

   Fez Mellah

   3 hours

   Full day Medina guided tour to cover the must-see sites in this World heritage UNESCO protected city, escorted by a local official guide.

   Getting first to the Royal palace and walking to the Jewish quarter ‘Mellah’. You will get picked up and head to the Kasbah Borj fortress, a beautiful panoramic view over the Medina which you are going to explore next. We stop at the Ceramic and Fez tiles local factory. You & your guide will get dropped off at the Blue Gate to start navigating through these narrow streets, stop at the Qarawiyyin Mosque/university the Nejjarine Square. Visit the Chouara Tanneries, Bab BouJeloud gates, Rcif 0square, and many other fascinating sights.

   You are getting back to your Riad in the afternoon. We will take you out for dinner in the evening.

Accommodation included: Overnight in Riad in Fez Medina

Day 3 · Fez - Ifrane - Azrou - Mildelt - ziz valley - Merzouga - Erg Chebbi Desert ( 7 hours’ drive).

1. 1

   Ifrane National Park

   one hour

   After breakfast, we head south toward the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop in Ifrane, often called the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’, is very crowded during the winter season as it has the main ski resort in Morocco.

2. 2

   Azrou Cedar Forest

   30 min

   The next town is Azrou which is surrounded by mountains and Cedarwoods also known for The Barbarian Makak monkeys. We will make a stop to visit the monkeys.

3. 3

   Midelt

   one hour

   We continue driving through the Middle atlas Mt, beautiful scenery filled with different valleys of Apple, Apricot, and Plum vegetation. Lunch stop at Midelt.We cross the High Atlas Mt via different road passes but the landscape here will be changing that fast to the Palm groves instead. We will stop for panoramic pictures and breaks.

4. 4

   Merzouga Desert

   one day

   Arriving Merzouga, check-in at your Kasbah Hotel in Half board.

   Accommodation included: Overnight in the Kasbah Hotel facing the Sand Dunes.

Accommodation included: Overnight in the Kasbah Hotel facing the Sand Dunes.

Day 4 · Erg chebbi 4x4 Safari tour around the Dunes (Camel trekking & overnight at the desert camp

1. 1

   Musica De Gnawa, Khamlia

   3 hours

   After breakfast, you go on 4x4 safari to explore villages and tribes around the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. We stop to hang out with a Nomad family have tea and chat to discover their daily life. Next, we stop at the wild fossils and different villages in the middle of nowhere.

   A visit to khamlia village is a must as it’s lived by an old slave tribe. You will be greeted by the Gnawa music band and the mint tea refreshment. We will lunch here, special Berber Pizza called locally Madfouna.

2. 2

   Erg Chebbi

   Passing by

   Free afternoon for different optional activities: sandboarding, buggy & quad biking.

   Camels will be ready around 5 pm, so you would have 1 hour Camel trekking on the sand dunes during the sunset. The best time for pictures as the sand turns red in order to match the beautiful sky. Arrive at your Desert camp, Check in your private tent and enjoy your special evening. Delicious dinner and campfire with drum players and Berber music.

   Overnight in a private luxury tent under stars and a clear sky never seen before.

Accommodation included: Overnight in a Desert luxury Camp

Day 5 · Erg Chebbi - Tinejdad - Todra Gorges - Tinghir - Dades ( 4-5 hour drive).

1. 1

   Merzouga Desert

   Passing by

   Waking up early this morning to assist the sunrise for the top of the dune. Breakfast will be ready at the camp then a Camel ride back to the starting point

2. 2

   Rissani Market

   one hour

   The vehicle picks up and heads North West toward Rissani a city that used to be a caravanserai trading center, historically known for its Gold and Slave auctions as well as the current dynasty hometown.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   2 hours

   We head to the High Atlas mountains once again now toward Tinghir one of the most beautiful oases surrounded by mountains and canyons. Drive along the Todra mountain gorge, It is a contrasted valley with Rocky canons & huge palm trees, a little walk on the gorge. Break for lunch.

4. 4

   Dades Gorges

   Passing by

   We head to Dades mountain gorge and valley, stop for the Monkeys paths mountain formation and many picture opportunities.

   Overnight in a guest house overlooking the valley.

Overnight in Riad or 3/4 stars Hotel

Day 6 · Dades - Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou - Telouet - Marrakech ( 5- 6 hour drive)

1. 1

   Kasbah Amridil

   one hour

   We head to Ouarzazate in the morning via the Rose Valley then the thousand Kasbahs road. We pass by the Skoura Oasis and the famous Amridil Kasbah that dates Back to the 17th century, optional visit here.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   one hour

   We continue the journey to Ouarzazate, the Moroccan Hollywood city due to the number of movies that have been shot here. (Optional Cinema Studios visit for 1 hour).

3. 3

   Ksar Of Ait-Ben-Haddou

   2 hours

   Our next destination is the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, built in the 11th century (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987), where Lawrence of Arabia, The Jewel of the Nile, Gladiator, and Alexander has been filmed. Lunch here.

4. 4

   Trek Ounila Valley

   Passing by

   then we continue our trip through beautiful Ounila Valley, a former route of the caravans from the Sahara over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.

5. 5

   Telouet

   30 min

   We reach Kasbah of Telouet, which was the seat of the powerful Glaoui family’s controlling the region. They were given political power in southern Morocco by King Moulay Hassan.

   Shortly after Telouet,

6. 6

   Stop 6

   30 min

   the trip resume once again on the main road, over the High Atlas Mountains, making a stop at the breathtaking views as we drive higher, we cross the mountains via the famous pass-road called Tizi-N-Tichka, which is the highest tarmac road in Africa with 2260m/ 7500ft. panoramic views over the Berber villages and beautiful landscapes in the background. We stop for a break and pictures.

7. 7

   Medina of Marrakesh

   Passing by

   We get rid-off the High Atlas, to reach the sensual Marrakech and take you into its old city Medina to have a great night in one of its thousands of Riads.