Morocco Imperial Cities and Desert Family Holiday
Duration: 15 days
Location: Marrakech, Essaouira, Fes, Merzougha desert & Casablanca
Experience the highlights of Morocco with this itinerary. Visit the cities of Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira and Casablanca interspersed with mountain and desert adventures.
Highlights of the tour
Haggle in the souks of Marrakech
Take a day trip to the windy city of Essaouira
Sunrise camel trek through the desert
Visit the well preserved Roman town of Volubilis
See the magnificent Hassan II Mosque
Day 1 - Arrival in Marrakech
Arrival at Menara Airport in Marrakech, upon your arrival you will meet your private English speaking driver at the airport and then you will be transferred to your charming hotel where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2 - Marrakech city tour
Today, you will start your guided private tour of Marrakech city by the visiting the Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef; the Koutoubia Minaret; the Souks, filling the alleys north of the central square and the Mellah or the Jewish Quarter, which is said to be the second oldest in the country.
Finish your tour at Jemaa el Fna, translated as the square of the art. Here you will find a carnival of local life, including snake charmers, dentists, scribes and herbalists. In the evenings, the square becomes a venue for alfresco eating and entertainment with troupes of costumed acrobats, storytellers, magicians and semi-mystical Gnawa musicians.
Day 3 - Ourika Valley
After taking your breakfast, you will go straight to Ourika valley in the Atlas Mountains where you will enjoy a unique experience exploring the lifestyle of Berber locals who lives in the mountains. An easy hike to the waterfall is a great way to stretch your legs before having lunch by the river.
Day 4 - Essaouira
Today, you will have a wonderful day trip to Essaouira, a nice small port city on the ocean. During your day there you will see the city’ famous port, its small shops; narrow streets; souks, once you finish you will return back to Marrakech.
Day 5 - Marrakech
Today you have the opportunity to spend the day exploring at your leisure.
Day 6 - Majorelle Gardens
This morning head to The Majorelle Gardens which were created in the 1920's by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. They are built around a small Art Deco workshop and painted a bright blue. You will also find a memorial to the Algerian born French designer Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, also known as Yves Saint Laurent.
Once you have finished the visit you will head back to your hotel where you can relax and spend the afternoon at our leisure.
Day 7 - Ait Benhaddou
Today you will start your adventure onward to Ait Benhaddou where you will stop to see its famous Kasbah. Following the visit you will continue to Ouarzazate, known as the Moroccan Hollywood because of the famous films which have been shot there, including the diamond of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, Sodome et Gomorre, le Joyau du Nil, Jésus de Nazareth, Kingdom of heaven, the Mommy, Gladiator, 7 days in Tebet, Alexander the Great, Babel, and many more! On the way to your hotelfor the evening you will visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, a 19th century palace.
Day 8 - Dades Gorge
After waking up in a luxury Kasbah in the oasis town of Skoura see the Valley of roses or Kalaa de M’Gouna, before heading to Dades Gorges, a series of rugged wadi gorges carved out by the Dadès River in the High Atlas range of the Atlas Mountains, flowing some 350 kilometres (220 mi) southwest before joining the Draa River at the edge of the Sahara. Spend the rest of the day exploring the many gentle trails and visitng the local villages.
Day 9 - Gorges of Todra & Merzouga
This morning on your way to the desert you will continue to to see the spectacular Gorges of Todra, a canyon in the eastern part of the High Atlas near the town of Tinghir.
In the afternoon you will arrive at Merzouga where you will meet your desert private driver to escort you on your 4x4 private car to your prestigious desert camp. Merzouga is known worldwide for its sunrise and sunset, its luminosity and very pure landscapes. A camp is set up around a campfire where you can enjoy a traditional Berber dinner & a wonderful night in a nomad tent in the traditional Bedouin in the Sahara.
Day 10 - Merzouga
Today, you will wake up early to enjoy your sunrise camel ride in the desert, then you will take your breakfast. You are then free to spend the day at your leisure enjoying the wonderful sahara desert. There is the opportunity for sandboarding, quad biking and running the sand dunes.
Day 11 - Fes
Today, you will leave the desert and go to the imperial city of Fes, en route you will stop first at at Errachidia for a short visit, then you will continue to Midelt where you will enjoy your lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will stop at Ifrane or as it is known “Switzerland of Morocco” located in the In the middle atlas region of Morocco, the meaning of Ifrane is “caves”. This small town is known as a resort town where tourists can find relief and joy there. Later, you will continue to Fes where you will overnight.
Day 12 - Fes City Tour
Today you will have a city tour of Fes with a private guide. During your tour you will have the chance to see Bou Inania Medersa, Al Quaraouiyine Mosque and University, Bab Boujloud, The fountain at Place Nejjarine, Souk Nejjarine, The Mellah and the ancient souks. Finish the day with a visit to the famous tanneries.
Day 13 - Volubilis & Meknes
After taking your breakfast, you will take the road to the capital of the kingdom Rabat with a stop at Volubilis located near Meknes, in one of the most fertile lands of Morocco, the ruins of Volubilis have been qualified by UNESCO as ‘an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Roman Empire’.
From here you will continue for a city tour of Meknes and to enjoy your lunch before heading back to your hotel in Fes.
Day 14 - Rabat & Casablanca
This morning you will have the opportunity to stop in Rabat and see the Hassan Tower, the city's most famous site, a huge unfinished minaret, the Mohammed V Mausoleum it contains the tombs of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons, and the Kasbah of Oudaya.
Continue your journey to Casablanca for a visit to the famous Mosque Hassan II, one of only two mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. The mosque is dramatically sited at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 15 - Departure
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward departure.
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