14 days Rabat to Marrakesh via Fes, Merzouga, Dades, Essouaira and El Jadida

Day 01 : Rabat

 

The day of you arrival at the international airport of Rabat. It will be our meeting place then after greeting and welcoming you we’ll transport you to the hotel of your stay. And depending on your arrival time, we may pay a visit to Rabat’s most famous historical landmarks such as the medieval Oudaya Kasbah or fortress and the iconic 700 years old of age Hassan Tower the minaret on incomplete mosque , this small tour may be done the same day of your arrival or the next morning in our way to check in to the Riad or Hotel of your stay. This night will spent in Rabat.

Day 02 : Rabat to Meknes

 

Following your breakfast, you’ll be heading to Meknes, Morocco’s Ismailien capital, one of the oldest Moroccan cities and once was the capital of the country. In this culturally and historically reach city, a guided tour will be given to you to about of the key historical landmarks in this magnificent old city upon your arrival, including one of the oldest and biggest gates in the world Bab Mansour, and just in front of it the Lahdim Square with its middle age circles, the old Qara Prison; one of the most mysterious places in the world, the legend Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum where one of morocco’s old kings and a legend was buried, and the huge Swani Basin. A free afternoon will be given to you after checking into your accommodation to visit the magnificent Lahdim square on your own. Later you will spend the night in Meknes.

Day 03 : Meknes to Fes via Volubilis

 

Following breakfast, continue on to Fes, widely known for being Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital, through the old 3000 years of age Roman iconic city Volubilis, and for sure you will be given the opportunity to observe the beautifully originally preserved mosaics, the old Roman pathways and city plan. We’ll will be passing across MoulayIdriss’s Holy City where you’ll a picture opportunity as we drive through the Moroccan countryside. We will then be continuing our journey across the lush highlands, passing through SidiChahed Lake. We will spend the night in Fez.

Day 04 : Fes Visit

Following your breakfast, you’ll be accompanied by an authorised local guide for an exploratory tour into the old Medina, the fascinating old city where you’ll see many hidden gems that just the locals are aware of. Fes, Morocco’s capital for at least 350 years, which is the home to Al Quaraouine’s University, which is considered as the world’s oldest running university. Your trip will be taking you to  the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss which is a holy place in the heart of the old medina, the beautiful Nejjarine traditional public Fountain, and the famous Tanneries of the city; which are considered as the oldest tanneries in the world. After lunch, you’ll see the outside of the dazzling architecture that the Royal Palace hides and then take a stroll through one of the first mellahs the Mellah of fes, Morocco’s famed Jewish district, where you’ll have the opportunity to discover one of the country’s few remaining synagogues. Your Fes trip will be including a little visit to a famous pottery plant, followed by a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire Medina or city of Fes. Your will spend the night in Fez.

Day 05 : Fes to Midelt via Ifrane, Cedar Forest

 

Following breakfast, we will be heading south for Midelt, more famous for being the country’s apples capital or little Paris. You’ll get views of the mountains of the Middle Atlas during your excursion. We will travel via Ifrane, also known as Morocco’s Switzerland, which is considered as the country’s most beautiful town and the second place in 2013 of the most clean cities in the world. We’ll also stop in Morocco’s largest Cedar forest, located the mountains of the Middle Atlas, to see the area’s oldest tree in the cedar forests and photograph Barbarian endangered apes or monkeys. Then we continue on our journey to Midelt, a lovely city in the heart of the mountains. You will spend the night in Midelt.

Day 06 :Midelt to Merzouga

 

Following breakfast, we go on a drive heading into the southeast of the country, to the eastern desert following the old caravans road to Merzouga, passing via the huge well known Gorges of Ziz and the famed waterfalls of Moulay Hachem, then to the valley of Ziz, before continuing on to the Aoufous Oasis, with its magnificent valley filled with palm tall trees. We’ll stop along the way to The Giver’s Eye, a natural wonder in Morocco’s southeast, where salty waters splashes forth for a little more than 3 meters, a very magical scene that we might be able to see. Continue on our journey to the beautiful Erg Chebbi’s dunes, where we will be staying this night. Spending the night in the Erg Chebbi’s dunes will be an unforgettable experience that you will love.

Day 07 :Merzouga

 

This day and after having breakfast, we’ll board on a 4×4 vehicles and drive behind and across Erg Chebbi’s beautiful gold dunes. We’ll go to the ancient Mifis kohl and lead Mine one the famous touristic attractions in the area, meet some Saharan native nomads, and share some cups of the their special Moroccan tea alongside them, before continuing on to see and admire the beautiful views of the Lake of Birds in the heart of the desert. On the way, we’ll stop in at Khamlia, the slave town and what is also known as the black village , where you can listen to some traditional gnawa music. Going back into the Hotel in the afternoon for a camel journey across Erg Chebbi’s golden dunes, where you will be spending the night in a nomad stylish tents camp inside and in the midst of the golden dunes. Spend the night in the camp inside the desert.

Day 08 :Merzouga to Dades via Rissani, Toudra Gorges

 

You will be awaken by the camel guide very early in the morning to witness what might be the most beautiful sunrise you’ve ever seen. After that, you’ll return to your lodgings to have breakfast with a relaxing shower. The magnificent sand golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, which changes along with daylight as it advances, should not be overlooked on the way back. After breakfast, we’ll drive to Rissani, where we’ll have a stroll around its historic Souk. Once ago this city was a stopping stations for caravans traveling from sub-Saharan Africa. We will be continuing our journey toward the Tinghir city and the famous Todra Canyons, Morocco’s tallest and narrowest gorges. Then we’ll travel into the Valley of Dades, the place where you’ll witness beautiful sand huge castles along with the incredible famous “monkey toe” rock formations. The night will be spent in a comfortable hotel with a view of the Valley Of Dades. Dades Gorges is where you’ll spend the night.

Day 09 :Dades to Ait Ben Haddou via Ouarzazate, KalaaMagouna, Rose Valley

 

We’ll leave the hotel after breakfast and drive across the valley of Dades to KalaatMgouna city. When will be approach KalaaMagouna, which is well known as the capital of Roses, where the Roses’s annual festival is held, there will be a possible option for you if you would like us to stop at a unit of rose distillation, so that you can see firsthand how the locals transform dried roses to oil then cosmetics. Then we’ll continue on to the Thousand Kasbah Road and the Skoura famous Palm Grove, there we’ll see the old Amridili’s Kasbah. Then it’s on to Ouarzazate, famous by the name of the African Hollywood since it’s where many renowned films like “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Prince Of Persia,” and “Babel” and the world famous show ‘’GOT’’ were shot. Before you settle into your hotel, we’ll pay a visit to the renowned theater, where you’ll be given a tour with a guide to discover the movie scenes where movies were shot. After that we will continue on our journey to Ait Ben Haddou’s renowned Kasbah. Spend the night in the surroundings of the Kasbah at a hotel.

Day 10 :Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakesh via Tichka Pass

 

Following breakfast, we’ll be visiting the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s most prominent Kasbahs and a UNESCO-protected site for being the oldest in Morocco, which also functioned as a stopping station for caravans travelling through the Valley of Daraa in the country’s northern side. This Kasbah is also well-known in the film industry, having acted as a stand-in for Jerusalem in several historical films. We next travel over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakesh also known as the red city, passing via the renowned mountain pass road of Tizi N Tichka, the highest road pass with 2260 meters upon the sea level then taking in the mind blowing beautiful Mountains of the High Atlas views, before arriving in Marrakesh. We will be staying the night near the famous Jama el Fana square in a Riad for the night.

Day 11 : Marrakesh

 

Following the breakfast in your Riad, an authorized local guide will accompany you to visit all the famous and important cultural and historical places, including the medieval Koutoubia Menaret, the old and special Saadian tombs, the magnificent old architected Bahia Palace, alongside with the Koranic School of Ben Youssef. Finally, finish this morning with strolling across the medina old streets, where you can see the many craftsmen at work before we arrive the famed Square of Jamaa El Fana. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to wander around the renowned square on your own and enjoy what is gets to offer from the old medieval atmosphere circles. You will stay the night at the Riad you stayed the past day.

Day 12 : Marrakesh to Essaouira

 

Following breakfast, we will go on a journey heading into a totally different environment as we travel to the famed city of Essaouira that is often known as the City of Winds. We’ll stop at an Argan Oil cooperative along the road so you can see how this renowned and only manufactured in Morocco product is being made and for what reasons it’s used for, if you’re fortunate, you’ll get a photo of a some goats asending an Argan tree which a very special and popular view. When you get at Essaouira at noon time, then you’ll be having the full afternoon to explore the wonderful windy town. You will stay this night in a Hotel or Riad in the middle of Essaouira’s ancient medina.

Day 13 :Essaouira to Rabat via el Jadida.

 

This day our journey will be taking us back again into Rabat along the seaside road after breakfast at your Riad. El Jadida, a beautiful old Portuguese colonized city on the Atlantic coast is scheduled, stopping there to have lunch and a tour of the historic harbor. After that we’ll be continuing on to Casablanca, Morocco’s biggest and most important  commercial center, the place where we’ll be able to explore the magnificent Mosque of Hassan II, that is considered as one of the world’s largest mosques and one of the county’s most iconic monuments, before continuing on to Rabat. The night will be spent in a Hotel or probably Riad inside Sale’s ancient medina.

Day 14 : Rabat Airport transfer.

 

It will be your last day of the Morocco journey with Tropical Desert Trips, we will transport you in accordance with your flight time at time to the airport which will bring our services to an end.