12 day Morocco desert tour via Imperial cities

12 days Morocco coast, imperial and desert tour from Marrakech

1st day: Marrakech arrival

Arrival and reception, customs formalities and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight.

2nd day: Marrakech / Essaouira / El Jadida / Casablanca (480 km)

After breakfast, departure for Essaouira and visit of the city, nicknamed “the pearl of the Atlantic”, it is famous for the ancient port, the colorful boats of the fishermen and the long beach of fine sand, and fascinates tourists for the beauty of its walls, inside which they develop, in the maze of streets, the old city, the Medina and the Jewish quarter.

In the afternoon, departure for Casablanca along the road that runs along the Atlantic Ocean with stops at Oualidia and El Jadida, a charming and elegant town that preserves the alleys and bastions of an old Portuguese medina.

Depending on the time of arrival, a visit to the fortified city, the ancient city of Mazagan, and the chance to discover the Portuguese cistern.

Arrival in Casablanca in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

3rd day: Casablanca / Rabat (95 km)

Breakfast at the hotel and visit of Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco.

The tour begins with a panoramic tour of the Central Market, before moving on to the Habous district, the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V Square and the residential district of Anfa and the Hassan II Grand Mosque (which can be visited from the intside).

Largest religious building in the Islamic world after Mecca.

In the afternoon, departure for Rabat, administrative capital of Morocco, where there will be a visit to the Royal Palace “Mechouar”, to the Kasbah of Oudaya with its gardens, home to the oldest mosque in the city, to the splendid Mausoleum of Mohammed V decorated excellent by local artisans and the Tower of Hassan, an incomplete minaret of a mosque also never completed.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

4th Day: Rabat / Meknes / Fez (260 km)

After breakfast, departure for the wonderful imperial capital of Meknes, with its palaces and mosques, renowned for its 40 km long walls.

Visit the magnificent Bab El Monsour gate, the royal stables and the Jewish quarter.

Continuation to the holy city of Moulay Idriss, whose origins date back to 788 AD, passing through the ruins of Volubilis, an important Roman archaeological site, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Continue to Fez, the spiritual and cultural city of Morocco. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

5th day: Fez city tour

After breakfast, a day awaits you entirely dedicated to visiting the holy city.

A visit to the medieval Medina, Medersa Attarine and Bou Anania (teaching school of the Qur’an and classical subjects), the Nejjarine fountain, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum and the exterior of the Karaouyne mosque are planned.

In the afternoon, continuation of the visit of the famous souks, where the craftsmen still work according to the ancient local traditions, and of Fes el-Jdid, reign of the merchants of Berber carpets, of snake charmers and street shows.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

6th day: Fez / Marrakech (485 km)

Breakfast and departure for the beautiful city of Ifrane through the Atlas mountain range, an oasis of freshness and nature immersed in a beautiful and fertile valley cultivated between the undulating plains where olive trees, palms and almond trees grow.

Stop at Beni Mellal, a delightful town 600 meters above sea level, famous for its oranges and season fruits, large, brightly colored wool blankets. Continue to Marrakech and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight.

7th day: Marrakech guided city tour

Breakfast at the hotel and visit of Marrakech, the second imperial city called “The Pearl of the South”, with the splendid Menara Gardens and the great central lake, the Saadian Tombs, the luxurious Bahia Palace decorated with lively mosaics, the residence of the Ba- Ahmed, the Koutoubia Mosque, a classic example of Moorish art flanked by a 70-meter-high minaret, and the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Art.

Lunch at a local restaurant (not included). In the afternoon, a leisurely stroll leads you through the famous souks, the craft district and the famous Jemaa El Fna square in the heart of the city, a huge market by day and a true open-air theater at nightfall, when artists perform street, musicians and storytellers in the fascinating Moroccan universe illuminated by a thousand lights.

Return to the hotel and overnight.

8th day: Marrakech / Ouarzazate / Zagora (380 km)

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Ait Benhaddou via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m altitude): a journey through the mountains of the High Atlas chain that will take you to the Kasbah perched on the banks of the river, with towers and high crenellated walls, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1987.

It is the most spectacular and impressive fortress in the south of Morocco, with squares and narrow alleys that climb between the homes of wealthy merchants and.

In the afternoon, continuation towards Zagora, passing through the beautiful oasis of the Draa Valley, with palm trees, orchards, gardens, stretches of sand and kasbahs from the magnificent poor architecture made of wood, stone and earth.

Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

9th day: Zagora / Nkob / Tazzarine / Erfoud (360 km)

After breakfast, departure to Tamgroute for a visit to the production factory of typical green enamel ceramics and (upon availability) to the rich library that collects valuable works of theology, history and medicine, and thousands of manuscripts including the ancient examples of the Koran in gazelle leather dating back to the twelfth century.

Later on, departure for Erfoud, passing through Tansikht and Nkob, where enchanting scenarios of pre-Saharan desert and Berber villages of the Saghro mountain continue unabated.

In the afternoon, after passing the small Berber village of Tazzarine, continue towards Alnif and Rissani, birthplace of the current Alaouites dynasty. Arrival in Merzouga.

Change car for camels to witness a lifetime sunset over the big dunes of erg chebbi.

Overnight in desert camp in the midde of the dunes, dinner and overnight.

10th day: Erfoud / Tinghir / Ouarzazate (375 km)

Early wake up to admire the sunrise over the dunes changing the color of the golden sand, camel ride back to the hotel.

After breakfast, departure to Tinghir for a visit to the magnificent Todra Gorges, whose high walls of pink and gray rock carved by the water reach a height of 250 meters. In the afternoon, departure to Ouarzazate via the Thousand Kasbah road, El Kelaa de Mgouna and the village of Skoura.

Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.

11th day: Ouarzazate / Marrakech (210 km)

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for an orientation tour of the city of Ouarzazate. Continuation of the trip to Marrakech.

Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon available for individual activities. Overnight at Hotel.

12th day: Marrakech departure

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the Menara airport at the scheduled time. Departure by scheduled flight back home.

“End of the 12 day Morocco desert & imperial cities tour”