Day 1 : Welcome in Casablanca
At the estimated time, reception by our driver guide at Casablanca airport. Route 14 days and 13 nights from Casablanca to the desert of Merzouga and imperial cities.
We left for the economic capital of Morocco to visit its famous mosque of Hassan II and if time permits we can visit more interesting places like the Courniche, the Plaza de las Palomas … etc. Accommodation in Hotel.
Day 2 : Casablanca / Rabat / Souk Larbaa / Ouazane / Chefchaouen
After breakfast we’ll leave for Rabat. Visit to its main monuments: Oudaias Fortress, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower. Later we will arrive at our destination Chefchaouen or Chaouen as many call it, located in the only intercontinental natural park declared a biosphere reserve. It is a village hanging on the mountain painted in white and blue, populated by wise, kind and respectful people, and offering the visitor beautiful urban landscapes, precious samples of local craftsmanship, and a peace and serenity that nowadays is difficult to find. Accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 3 : Free day in Chefchaouen
After breakfast, we will spend a whole day discovering Chaouen or Xauen, a mountain village in the heart of the Rif, noted for its Andalusian architecture of whitewashed houses and indigo blue. We will visit the medina to learn about its historical and cultural heritage, and enjoy its light, its streets, its picturesque square of Uta el Hammam, the Rass-el Maa waterfall and of course, the colorful shops full of handicrafts… etc and perhaps have a mint tea on the terrace of a café, watching people come and go in a relaxed way, or get lost in the medina and talk to its people, children…
Day 4 : Chefchaouen / Volubilis / Moulay Idriss / Fez
Breakfast and departure to Fez, the first of the imperial cities that is proud to host one of the oldest universities in the world. On the way we will visit the well preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis. We will also see a panoramic view of Moulay Idriss, the holy city where we will have lunch and in the afternoon we will arrive in Fes to enjoy the sunset while visiting the walls and gates of its medina or simply having a welcome tea from the Terrace overlooking the entire medina. Accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 5: Visit of the Medina and the Monuments of Fes
After a rich breakfast at the Riad, we start our guided tour of the new part of the city of Fez, where we approach the royal palace, Jewish quarter (Mellah), then we go to a viewpoint where we can see the entire medina from the South Tower and the many mosques. Then we will walk around the medina, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its labyrinthine streets are structured by guilds of potters, dyers, … etc, the bustle of its people will transport you back centuries. We will notice that it is a city
medieval and that time has stopped on the clock ” the Magana Bounania ” 1200 years after its construction A marvel! accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 6 : Fes / Ifrane / Cedar forest / Midélt / Ziz valley / Merzouga desert
Breakfast and departure to the south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains until we reach Ifrane, also called ”the little Moroccan Switzerland” because of its great resemblance to that country. One of the animals that used to live here was the Atlas lion, so it has become the symbol of the city and has been dedicated a stone statue in the center of it. We will take the opportunity to stop and take some pictures. We will cross the famous cedar forests, we will be able to admire the Great Gouraud Cedar, the biggest millenary cedar of the region and also to feed the hundreds of monkeys of Gibraltar that live in the area. Lunch in Midélt and from here the land becomes arid and full of spectacular geological formations and deep green valleys, such as the Ziz Valley. We will begin to see the typical architecture of adobe, palm trees, some distant Kasbahs … we are at the gates of the desert. After one hour from Erfoud we arrive at the impressive Merzouga Dunes and after the Hospitality Tea, we will leave our bags in the rooms and climb the first dunes next to the hotel and enjoy the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at the hotel which is located a few meters from the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Day 7: Merzouga / Nomadic Families / Camel riding and night in Nomadic Haimas
We are already in the desert and today will be a day of Total Desert. After a copious and rich breakfast, we will go around the Erg Chebbi, extension of sand desert where the Great Dune of Morocco is located, of more than 250 meters of altitude, and we will connect by track with part of the route followed by the old Paris-Dakar and with the mountains that border with Algeria in the background. We will stop at the oasis of Tissardmin where we can find fossil quarries that are still in this region and we will follow the route to a nomadic settlement where we will learn some of the secrets of their life and customs. Afterwards, we will stop at a panoramic point where we can contemplate the Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will arrive at the village of Khamlia, originally from Mali, where we will relax with a cup of tea while enjoying a small concert of spiritual music from Gnawa. Return to the hotel to leave in a caravan of camels to enter the heart of the dunes and watch an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive with the camels at the camp where we will stay in Haimas ” tents made of dromedary hair ” like those used by the nomads of the desert. Dinner and overnight in Haimas in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.
Day 8 : Merzouga desert / Rissani market / Todra Gorges / Dades valley
Being in the desert is advisable to get up early to walk to the highest dune around to enjoy the sunrise and this relaxing landscape that nature offers us, we will return in camels to the village of Merzouga. After a delicious breakfast, we will say goodbye to the desert and leave for Rissani where we will visit its market (if we are lucky and it is one of the market days: Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday). We will follow the road to Erfoud where there is also the possibility of visiting the fossilized marble factory before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. 1 hour later we will arrive at one of the strongest points of the High Atlas: The Todra Gorges. The Todra riverbed has formed a gorge with vertical walls of enormous proportions and great beauty; it is a climber’s paradise and a unique place. Lunch on site and a half hour walk would be recommended to see and enjoy the Gorges in detail. In the afternoon we will continue towards the Dadès Valley, also known as the Valley of Figs, passing by Boumalne Dadès we will stop at the ”monkey fingers” Dinner and night in the Dades Gorges.
Day 9: Dades Valley / Rose Valley / Boutagrar / Skoura Palm Grove / Ouarzazate
After breakfast, we can enjoy one of the best views of the Dadés Valley. We will do it from one of the most strategic places that the mountains offer us. From there we will be able to observe the quantity of kasbahs that there are and the picturesque thing of each one of them, later exit towards a road sprinkled with diverse Kasbahs of great interest until arriving at the Kasbah of Aït Youl where we will make a detour and we will enter by tracks in the deepest of the High Central Atlas, discovering spectacular landscapes. We will visit a nomadic family that still lives in caves in the Vallé de Boutagrar where time seems to have stopped. We will see mountains, canyons and valleys as well as the caves where nomads still live in the mountains. Arrival in the Vallée des Roses to meet Kelaa M’ gouna. Lunch in the village and in the afternoon we will pass by the palm grove of Skoura, to arrive later in Ouarzazate. Dinner and accommodation in hotel.
Day 10 : Ouarzazate / Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou / High Atlas Mountains / Marrakech
After breakfast, we will spend the morning visiting Ouarzazate: Taourirt kasbah, film studios. Then departure to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah ( declared world heritage by UNESCO). In this spectacular setting films have been shot as well as Gladiator, Obelix, Sahara with Penelope Cruz or Jewel of the Nile, Lunch on site and travel to Marrakech via the highest port of Tizi N’Tichka, Visit the oil cooperative of ARGAN, where we discover the process of realization and explain the many benefits it has for the human body, Arrival in Marrakech about 18H Free time to discover the famous Square of Jamaa el Fna. Accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 11 : Free for Marrakech
Breakfast and free day to practice the art of haggling in the souks or to discover the most hidden places of the medina at your leisure. Accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 12 : Marrakech / Essaouira
We have breakfast and leave Marrakech for Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, Essaouira has experienced the passage of many peoples, from the Romans to the Portuguese, not forgetting the Arabs and Berbers. Because of this history, it keeps countless traces of these peoples, either in the form of monuments or in the customs of its people.
We will admire its Medina and the Portuguese fortifications of the 18th century. Essaouira is known for its artists who work on yours, the port, the islands. Accommodation in Riyadh.
Day 13 : Essaouira / Safi / El Jadida / Casablanca
Breakfast and departure, on the way to Casablanca by the coast and we will enjoy a landscape of beautiful and virgin beaches. Until we reach the village of El Jadida where we will have lunch before continuing to Casablanca. Accommodation in Hotel.
Day 14 : Casablanca / Airport
Breakfast and free morning until the agreed time, transfer to the airport where we say goodbye, ending our services.