Unique Moroccan Desert Tour from Casablanca
9 days tour from Casablanca, exploring Morocco’s highlights with an English-speaking driver. Discover Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, and Volubilis, then journey through Meknes, Fes, and Ifrane. Explore the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, visit Todra and Dades Gorges, and marvel at Ait Ben Haddou. Cross the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech before returning to Casablanca, experiencing the best of Morocco in one unforgettable trip. What is Included:
- Transportation/Fuel: 9 days air-conditioned 4WD vehicle or minivan.
- Services of a qualified multilingual local guide / driver.
- Comprehensive sightseeing with guidance.
- 7 nights in well-recommended hotels/kasbahs/riads.
- 1 night in a Berber desert Nomadic luxury camp (private tent).
- Camel ride (one camel per individual).
- Meals as stated – breakfast daily (3 Dinners)
- Sand-boarding (free and optional -this activity is undertaken at your own risk-).
- Traditional Music live show in desert
What is not included:
- Flights
- Lunch
- Tips, entrance fees,drinks & personal items
Details
9 days tour from Casablanca, exploring Morocco's highlights with an English-speaking driver. Discover Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, and Volubilis, then journey through Meknes, Fes, and Ifrane. Explore the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, visit Todra and Dades Gorges, and marvel at Ait Ben Haddou. Cross the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech before returning to Casablanca, experiencing the best of Morocco in one unforgettable trip.
Casablanca → Rabat
We will meet you upon your arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, after which we will take a short tour of the city. We will visit the grounds of the immense Hassan II Mosque, one of the Islamic world's greatest monuments, which features the world's tallest minaret and is the only working mosque in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims.
After our tour we will depart to Rabat, Morocco's diplomatic and administrative capital. We will briefly introduce you to some of the city's most important sights, including the Kasbah des Oudayas and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, before taking you to your riad or hotel to let you settle in. We will spend the night in Rabat.
Following breakfast we will visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, a
UNESCO World Heritage site and the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Despite the damage caused by an earthquake in the year 1755, this important Roman town still preserves detailed mosaics and architecture offering a unique perspective on Morocco's ancient history.
We will then continue our journey passing through Meknes, an imperial city often called the "Versailles of Morocco" owing to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments, before making our way to Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. In Fes we will check into your hotel before having dinner and settling in for the night.
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a guided tour of the iconic Fes medina. Meet your knowledgeable local guide, who will lead you through the maze-like alleyways of this ancient city. Experience the bustling atmosphere as you encounter traditional forms of transportation like donkeys and mules navigating the narrow streets.
Explore the vibrant souks, where the air is filled with the rich scents of spices and perfumes. Witness the age-old craft of leatherworking at the tanneries, where craftsmen use traditional methods to produce high-quality leather goods. Despite the pungent smell, the leather products crafted here are renowned worldwide and make for excellent souvenirs.
In the evening, indulge in a delicious dinner at one of the authentic restaurants nestled within the medina. Retire to your hotel for a restful night's sleep, filled with memories of your exploration of Fes
After picking you up from your hotel in Fes we will embark on a picturesque journey to Ifrane, through hills covered in forests of cork oak and giant cedar in which a few Barbary apes still make their home. Crossing strikingly beautiful passes over both the Middle and High Atlas ranges we will catch our first glimpse of the south’s incredible architecture.
After passing through a barren plain of scrub and desert on the other side of the mountains, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, from which we will have a fantastic view of the dramatic peaks of the High Atlas rising behind the town. Crossing Tizi-n-Talremt (Pass of the She-Camel), we will descend into a desert plain along the Ziz Valley.
We will then head south to Erfoud and Rissani, in a huge oasis containing over six million palm trees, edged by many ksours (fortified villages). Our route will continue through an immense palm oasis and a vast area of stony plain that marks the transition to the desert before reaching the tranquil desert town of Merzouga from which we will mount our camels (or 4WD if you can't do the camels), and ride into the pink sands of the Erg Chebbi.
We will have time to wander around the dunes before watching the sunset, and will spend the evening at
Luxury Berber Camp amidst the dunes where we will have a campfire and enjoy a Moroccan feast and traditional berber blues music. After dark you can relax outside and marvel at the stars and crystal-clear Milky Way like few people have seen them.
At your request, our staff will wake you at the crack of dawn to witness the spectacle of the desert sunrise, the colour of the sand contrasting beautifully with the palette of shadows on the dunes. After some light breakfast and tea we will ride the camels back across the desert to the Kasbah to freshen up before our journey back West towards the Todra Gorge, known as "Morocco's Grand Canyon".
We will have lunch here and amble along the valley to take in the view. In some time we arrive at the Dades Gorge, where we watch the sunset's orange glow against the rocks before having dinner and spending the night in our hotel.
In the morning, we venture off the beaten track into the heart of the high Atlas mountains along the road of thousand kasbahs, stopping for a brief hike above the valley ridge and visiting the Berber troglodyte villages. From there, we continue on to Ouarzazate, a bustling southern city often referred to as "The Hollywood of Morocco" owing to the many famous films shot on location such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Kingdom of Heaven, as well as several seasons of the hit show, Game of Thrones.
Next, we will explore the nearby Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous ancient ksar in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many of the films and shows shot on location. We then continue north across the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech - a fantastical Arabian Nights city with myriad alleyways, souks, and market stalls.
Marrakech is the second oldest imperial city, known as the "Southern Pearl" of Morocco, and has for centuries been an important stop for traders and travelers alike; this remarkable city never fails to satisfy the curiosity of adventurous travelers, and we’re sure you’ll love it too. We will arrive in Marrakech by the afternoon, giving you plenty of time to explore the vibrant streets at your leisure before settling in for the evening.
Breakfast will be served at your Riad, after which a knowledgeable local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of Marrakech's winding alleyways, hidden gardens, and secret souks. You will continue to the Djemaa el Fna, the principal cultural space in Marrakech and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, beside which the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque can be seen towering into the sky.
In the evening this square overflows with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians, and henna artists. Following your tour you will have the full day to spend at your leisure, whether it’s pampering yourself at a local hammam or further exploring the souks of the medina. We will spend the night at our hotel in Marrakech.
Marrakech is a sensory-rich city with a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern conveniences. In the morning, you may want to try a Moroccan hammam or a spa, try your hand at a local cooking class, or perhaps take a ride on a donkey cart around the city.
Whatever it may be, our guide is at your service to help with suggestions, information, and arrangements. In the afternoon we will return to Casablanca, where we will have plenty of time to relax and settle in the night.
As we bid you farewell, we will help you with any departure formalities and arrange for your transfers to the airport. Concluding our 9 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca and hoping you enjoyed your journey with us full of great memories.