MOROCCO ITINERARY 12 DAYS

On the second day of your 12 day morocco itinerary and after breakfast you will head to Rabat. This city is the political and administrative centre of Morocco, where the Royal Palaces, government institutions and International Embassies are located. Rabat’s architecture is testimony of its centuries of old rich history.

• Admire the masterful architecture of Mohammed V Mausoleum, visit the UNESCO listed site of Hassan Tower and the official residence of the King of Morocco.

• Visit the Ahl Fes Mosque and the UNESCO listed site of Oudaya Kasbah where you will discover Rabat’s oldest Mosque and the beautiful Andalusian Gardens.

• After lunch you will head through the stunning Rif Mountains towards the blue city of Chefchaouen, and marvel at the uniqueness of the world famous “Blue Pearl” city of Morocco.

• Chefchaouen is a city with special vibes. Its unique charm gives a surreal impression. Observe the city’s old Moorish way of life and take a dream wander for a wonderful photo opportunity.

(Overnight in Chefchaouen).

On the 3rd day of your 12 days tour from casablanca, you will embark on a half day guided tour of the exotic and vibrant Chefchaouen, exploring in depth, the rich cultural heritage, and antiquity of this charming town and stroll the blue narrow alleys with your Grand Morocco expert local guide.

• Known as the blue pearl and ranked sixth of the most beautiful cities of the world. Chefchaouen is an artsy, blue washed mountain village which was founded in the 15th century and was populated by Jewish and Muslim refugees fleeing from the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 and is regarded as the prettiest town in Morocco. Chefchaouen presents glorious photo opportunities and walking here will make you feel as though moving through a dreamland.

• Visit Ras el-Maa, the Kasbah Museum, the Spanish Mosque, Plaza Uta-Hammam’ and more.

• The town buildings are painted blue and white, so the entire village appears to be wonderfully drenched in many hues of glorious blue leaving the traveler with a surreal impression. A beautiful town you will admire while on your Morocco 12 day itinerary.

• Leaving the beautiful Chefchaouen after lunch, you will head south via the stunning Rif Mountains towards the Roman ruins of Volubilis, where you will undertake a guided walking visit of the ruins.

• Morocco has one of the richest histories and cultures globally, influenced by centuries of diverse rulers which includes Roman rule. Explore the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Dating back to 3rd century BC, Volubilis is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa.

• During Roman occupation of Morocco, Volubilis was the powerful ancient capital and administrative centre of Roman Africa and prospered economically. Among the most famous of the ruins are the luxury villas with their water tanks, large courtyard beautiful mosaic floors, various pavilions, Basilica, Triumphal Arch built in 217 A.D and more than 300 temples. It was UNESCO World Heritage listed in 1997.

• Continue your journey to the ancient, vibrant and the UNESCO listed Imperial city of Fes. This city is a north eastern Imperial Moroccan city referred to as The Mecca of the West or The Athens of Africa, also being the country’s capital of knowledge and culture.

• Fes is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities and an enchanting city you will admire while on your Morocco 12 day itinerary, it is renowned for its exciting and colourful Fes El Bali walled Medina, its Marinid architecture, vibrant souks and old world atmosphere and charm.

(Overnight in Fes).

Today, after a tasty Moroccan breakfast in your charming Riad, you will begin a full day Heritage guided tour of Fes, with your expert local guide. (Walking tour with some transportation between sites).

• Begin with a visit to the 12th century “Bab Boujloud” or “blue gate” with its stunning blue and green ceramics.

• Visit the largest royal palace in Morocco, Dar el Makhzen, exhibiting its seven golden doors and marvel at its wonderful golden gate, made of marble, copper and glorious mosaics.

• Stroll through the Mellah or Jewish quarter of old Moroccan Jewish heritage, built near the Royal residence for protection in 1438.

• Experience the panoramic view of the city from Borj Sud, an ancient fortress on a hill, from where you can view the UNESCO listed ancient Medina of Fes.

• Visit the famous 11th century iconic Chouara tannery, the oldest leather tannery in the world and explore the narrow Medina streets lined with shops selling fresh fruits, spices, silk weavers and numerous other art and craft items from Morocco.

• Visit a pottery factory and observe how the unique pottery of Fes is made with its intricate mosaics, which adorn half of Morocco.

• Visit the 14th century Madrasa Bou Inania religious school and be delighted by the Marinid architecture.

• Discover the holy school and historic University of Al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest educational institution, i.e. University, as stated by UNESCO and Guinness World Records. Founded by a woman, Fatima al-Fihir in 859 AD.

• Lunch in an authentic restaurant in the Medina of Fes.

• Visit Madrasa Al-Attarine, Nejjarine Museum, Moulay Idriss Mausoleum (founder of Fes) and more.

• While negotiating the narrow alley-ways, your expert local guide will instruct you about Moroccan history, culture and the Moroccan Berber way of life, especially around Fes. An enchanting day of discovery you will enjoy while on your 12 day morocco itinerary.

(Overnight in Fes).

On the 6th day and after breakfast, you will begin your spectacular journey towards the magical and legendary Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world and where the undulating golden dunes glisten like gold in the sunlight. Travel dreams do come true and this visit to the Sahara may be one of yours.

• Travel to Ifrane known as the Little Switzerland of Morocco and stop for a break to enjoy its marvelous landscapes.

• Here in Ifrane, you will become aware that this magical mountain town is one of the most beautiful cities in Morocco and features in the top 10 cleanest cities of the world. A beautiful place you will admire while on your Morocco itinerary from Casablanca.

• Navigate the green and superb Middle Atlas Mountains, marvel at the largest Cedar plantations in Africa and be captivated by the antics of the Barbary Apes. This species of Apes is found only in Morocco, Gibraltar and Algeria.

• Stop in Zayda town for lunch and enjoy a Moroccan tajine or some fresh barbeque. Drive through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains and the striking Ziz Valley oasis, containing the largest palm grove oasis in Morocco.

• Observe a dense canopy of palms between ancient striated cliffs dating back to the Jurassic period.

• Continue travel to the eminent dunes of Erg Chebbi and experience the glory of the Sahara Desert. Erg Chebbi is regarded as the gateway to the Grand African Sahara and has some dunes considered the highest sand dunes in north Africa at 350 M elevation.

• Meet your camel caravan and the experienced camel man, who will guide your trek to explore the mysterious Sahara sand sea, an alluring and a unique trek that will make your Morocco itinerary 12 days a memorable experience.

• Enjoy a charming sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend the night in a Berber desert camp. The evening will include dinner, followed by entertainment around the campfire, listening to traditional Berber drum music, having the experience of a lifetime under the milky way stars. This will captivate your heart and soul, not for a night but forever.

(Overnight in a Sahara Desert Camp).

On the 7th day of your Morocco 12 day itinerary, you may climb the sand dunes for a fantastic view of the amazing sunrise in the Sahara Desert, followed by a typical traditional Berber breakfast.

• Begin your day with an optional Atv Quad excursion through the Sahara Desert. Enjoy the exhilaration of speeding through the sands and up the dunes, where you will stop to enjoy a peaceful moment with just sky and sand dunes for as far as you can see. You will have a professional guide to ensure your safety.

• Explore the Berber farms and fields of the desert town of Merzouga and marvel at the ingenious underground water and irrigation system, for family agriculture and for spectacular date palms.

• Visit Dayet Srij Salt Lake or “Flamingos Lake”. During Spring the lake attracts many species of birds e.g. amazing colony of Greater Flamingos, desert Warbler, Egyptian Nightjar, Falcons, desert Sparrows and many more. Several species reside at the lake all year round. Other wild life to be spotted at the lake are lizards, hedgehogs and desert foxes.

• Visit the Black Village of Khamlia, a little village with a big story. This village has a population of 390 of Black African families and Berber ethnic groups and it is located at the foothills of Merzouga dunes, doors to the great Sahara Desert.

• For centuries black Africans from the Gnawa tribe, originating from sub-Saharan countries such as The Sudan, Mali and Niger, were forcibly moved from their homelands across the Sahara to Morocco as part of the worldwide slave trade. Shackled in chains as they crossed the desert, they sang to soothe their pain and found a mindfulness in the rhythmic chanting and clanking of the chains.

• Today Khamlia’s inhabitants are direct descendants of these slaves. You will visit one of the music associations, have a cup of tea and listen to the Gnawa inspirational African music which is legendary from their ancestors, preserved from their original homeland and still played in a traditional manner.

• Partake of a delectable lunch of Berber Pizza which is a food specialty of the desert town of Merzouga.

• Visit a desert nomadic Berber family, share a cup of tea with them and be totally captivated by their life style, their traditional tents and the harsh desert environment in which they live.

• Head to your Riad/Hotel in front of the sand sea for a rest or a swim at your leisure.

(Overnight in Sahara).

Today, After breakfast and having experienced 2 memorable nights in the spectacular sand sea desert dunes of Sahara, we depart towards Tinghir, where we will deviate to a minor road following the river of Todgha Gorge. Contemplate the scenic panoramic views of the old Jewish and Berber mud villages, overlooking the valley. Some time at leisure to enjoy the immensity of the huge red cliffs, 400M elevation, where many international rock climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport.

• The Todgha Gorge is recognised worldwide for being one of the most spectacular rocky canyons. No wonder this place has been used for filming many movies due to its magnificent natural setting, one of the most famous movies being the “Mummy”.

• In this area, lives a large community of Berber nomads. Sometimes, you can sight Berber nomad women, who have Berber tattoos on their faces. They may be seen herding their goats to drink water at the river’s edge and collecting their own water which is carried by their mules back to the caves where they live.

• After lunch, we continue our journey towards one of the most beautiful valleys in the Kingdom and enjoy colourful Berber mud villages overlooking the amazing Dades Valley. We will drive along the spectacular Dades Valley to discover the amazing rock formations known as monkey toes or sometimes monkey fingers. These extraordinary rock formations are metamorphic rock which has been severely eroded by rain, water (which has produced a chemical breakdown of the rock), wind and possibly sand storms over thousands of years.

• The Dades Valley prides itself for the extensive production of roses, wall nuts, groves of palm and almond trees. It was the site of ancient nomad crossings and the valley is dotted with Oases and mud brick palaces known as kasbahs which gives the region its fairy tale nickname. Then it is time to arrive at your Riad / Hotel for a peaceful night in the Dades Valley.

(Overnight in Dades valley).

On the 9th day of your 12 day Morocco itinerary, after breakfast and spending the night in the heart of the beautiful Dades valley, we continue driving through the Rose valley and Kalaat Mgouna town, known as the rose capital and known for Damaskina Roses, also known for the annual festival during the rose harvest in May to choose Miss Rose of Morocco.

• Continue through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”, the iconic Berber mud brick villages and earth castles to the “Oasis of Skoura”.

• This oasis is UNESCO protected and is famous for its numerous Majestic Kasbahs and here we will stop to visit the iconic 17th century Kasbah of Amridil, an ancient fortification providing visitors a glimpse into life in rural southern Morocco.

• Visit the city of Ouarzazate known as the “Hollywood of Africa” and the spectacular UNESCO listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou, the most intriguing of the red earth castles and one of the most eye-catching filming locations featured in Game of Thrones, Gladiator and more.

• Travel over the wilderness and natural beauty of the High Atlas Mountains, through the exceptionally scenic Tizi n Tichka Pass on the way to the magic city of Marrakech.

(Overnight in Marrakech).

Today, you will embark on a full day city tour of exotic and vibrant Marrakech, exploring in-depth, the rich cultural heritage and antiquity of this enchanting city.

Your Grand Morocco expert local guide will lead you through the UNESCO World Heritage listed, ancient-walled Medina, which dates back to the ancient Berber inhabitants and which extends back to more than 1700 BC.

• Visit Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of Moroccan and Andalusian architecture and a major monument of Morocco’s heritage. This 19th century palace was built by “Ba Ahmed”, the grand vizier of Marrakech & named after his favorite wife “Bahia”. Craftsmen worked on this palace for fourteen years. The tiles were imported from Tetouan, the marble from Meknes while the cedar wood used for the painted and shimmering ceilings came from the Atlas Mountains.

• Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 14th century school founded by the Moroccan Monarch “Abu el Hassan”, another beautiful example of Moroccan and Andalusian architecture. The Saadian dynasty enlarged and redecorated the building in 1570 and it became the largest Islamic college in north Africa.

• Observe the 12th century & largest mosque in Marrakech, “Koutoubia Mosque” and its 77 meter high minaret. It was completed during the reign of the Berber Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansour (1184-1199), and inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat. Local laws restrict any new building projects from exceeding the height of the minaret, providing a focal point for all to enjoy.

• Visit Saadien tombs, the only remains of the Saadian Dynasty which ruled Marrakech in 1524 to 1659.

• Explore the world famous UNESCO site of Djemaa el Fna plaza in the heart of Marrakech, a destination of all magic and a symbol of the ocher city where you will find a different and a unique atmosphere like snake charmers, storytellers, dancers, traditional musicians to mention just a few.

(Overnight in Marrakech).

Today, you will travel to the pearl of the Atlantic, the port city of Essaouira, known for its sun, serene beaches, and the enchanting UNESCO medina.

• Drive through the largest Argan forest in Morocco on the way to Essaouira. This region is the only one in the world growing the Argan tree and producing the famous Argan oil known as Morocco’s Golden oil.

• Visit a women’s cooperative for making the world famous Argan oil where you will see the process of extracting the oil from the Argan fruit. This will enrich your knowledge of the wonderful Argan tree, which grows only in Morocco.

• Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late 18th century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.

• Retrace the trails taken by Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, Cat Stevens… and explore Essaouira’s most important monuments, such as the old fish market and seaport. Watch silver craftsmen and wood carvers at work in the old medina where the labyrinth of streets is lined with heavy wooden doors and whitewashed houses. Discover the 18th-century Portuguese ramparts of Essaouria from where you’ll be able to see astonishing views of the Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful city you will admire while on your Morocco 12 day itinerary.

• Wander through souks, traditional workshops and art galleries of the ancient Medina.

• Visit Orson Welles Square and have lunch in one of the local restaurants serving delicious fish and seafood.

• Dip your toes into the sensational Atlantic Ocean or enjoy a beach walk with sweeping vistas &/or optional activities (Horse ride, Atv Quads or camel riding) along the beach.

(Overnight in Essaouira).

• Essaouira is a beautiful coastal town known for its stunning beaches, majestic sunsets, and argan trees.

• Enjoy fresh seafood, explore local markets, and relax in the town’s charming beache.

• Despite its small size, Essaouira has a thriving tourism and fishing economy and is a popular destination for european tourists. The town’s relaxed atmosphere and pristine beaches set it apart from other Moroccan cities.

• After lunch, you will take a scenic drive along the Atlantic coastline back to Casablanca.

Today, we will collect you from your accommodation and transfer you to Mohammed V internationl airport in Casablanca, for your on-ward flight. Now ends your 12 day morocco itinerary.