10 days desert trip from Casablanca to Marrakech

Day -1 : Welcome to Casablanca Airport, Transfer to the hotel

Your arrival time at Casablanca airport; Meet and greet by your driver and A/C  vehicle , Enjoy an orientation tour of Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco and its largest city, Visit the famous Hassan II mosque, the landmark  of the city with the tallest minaret in the world (210 metres), then continue to “ Ain Diab” Corniche, which is one of the city’s most fashionable districts, Complete the city tour with the visit of Mohammed V Square in the city center, Optional dinner in your  hotel ,Overnight in Casablanca.

Day 2:Casablanca-Rabat-Volubilis-Fes

After breakfast,we drive to Rabat for a brief tour that covers the entrance to the royal palace,visit  the picturesque kasbah des Oudayas overlooking the Atlantic  Ocean  ,the hassan tawer and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V ,we will srtout for  Volubilis via the cork-forest road to visit the splendid Roman ruins and the nearby town of Moulay idriss: the holiest Muslim site in Morocco,we will end our day in Fes.

DAY 3: EXPLORE FES

The old city of Fes el Bali is home to perhaps the greatest of all medinas, Descending into its labyrinthine alleyways is like stepping back to the middle Ages. Donkeys wander the streets and the smell of spices fills the air. With a local guide, navigate narrow streets alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries, mosques and colorful local characters. Explore the different special sections of the Medina that are known for specific types of food – from natural butters and fats, to pastries, to crepes and soups to dried and fresh produce.

Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. It is made up of three distinct ‘cities’, or quarters, and you will stay in elegant, riad-style accommodation on the edge of the huge, well-preserved medieval old city – the mother of all medinas. Today head into the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, arguably the world’s most fascinating and confounding old city. Medieval Fes was one of the world’s great centers of education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and libraries are legendary, its mosques of great renown. Walk through the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods, and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Filled with historic khans, medrassas and dye-pits, stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, and where the squawk of chickens, smell of spice and sound of hammering of copper fills the air, it’s not hard to imagine yourself back in the middle Ages. Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting, Medrassa Bou Inania, the tanneries and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century in ,Return to your hotel /riad.

Day 4: Fes -Ifran –Middelt-Sahara desert

today is a long driving day where we will meet different colors of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Fes, In the way we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran, This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters, Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The king of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd, Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university, Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community,The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries, Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean, Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag in the beginning of the 17th century. From a vast plateau you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. We meet our camel men, embark on a 90 min camel ride into the desert to spend a wonderful night enjoying these dramatic dunes, wonderful skies and stars at night, you may get involved in some drumming round the fire with the berbers tonight, dinner in the camp.

Day 5: sahara desert-ressani- dades valley

Early wake up for the sun rise and camel ride back to dunes line, Time for breakfast and shower after we drive to dades vally pass by Ressani   the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century; This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center, Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays Thursdays and Sunday,  than we continue to Tinjidad and we pull over tosee the old underground system ofirrigation “khatarat” which is still used in the oasis of Jorf , Lunch inToudra valley ; It has beautiful kasbahs and mountains along 15 km of palm groves, To Arrive the spectacular gorgesof 300 m high and to enjoy a little walk near the river of Toudra .From the great canyons of Todgha we go along the road of 1000 kasbahs, since there are enormous Kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately a lot of them are ruins ,overnight at dades valley.

Day 6:dades valley- rose valley-ait bn hadou-Marrakech

We travel through a town called valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams, Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival eachend of April, Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains, It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known, One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century.

Why this town is nicknamed as Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005).

We start our day visiting the fortified city of Aït Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once up on a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah.

Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004), From this beautiful fortified house we head west to the city of Marrakech,It is called the “Homeland of God in Berber”,The ramparts of the town are nearly 30 kilometers long

Day 7: Marrakech city tour

At 9:30 in your hotel/riad the local guid  set off on a morning tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city, Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace; Thissplendid mansion was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government, Continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture, Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; its famous minaret is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. Then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore further or shop in the bazaar, Perhaps visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, once one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, perhaps head back into the medina, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift to buy. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practice your haggling skills or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine, filled with the pure scent of Morocco.in the evening you have option to back to your hotel or enjoying your time in jemaa el fna squire.

Day 8: ourika valley one day trip

Ourika is an berber erea ; the original name is « Iwrikne », after the constraction of departement and opening of tourism bcome « Ourika », it’s a natural park in outskirts of Marrakech, it caracterized by wonderful waterfalls and attractive tourism, penatrates it a small river it source from the high atlas.

Begins from hotel to the famous place in ourika; “Setti Fadma region”,  via many small villages ,on your way you’ll have some time to take pictures for memories, camels is available, the Argan Coperative stops us on the way; where you can descover the method of producing the Argan oil and it’s extracts, Berber house is waiting for you to spend some beautiful time with an traditional berber family to learn about the ancient Morocco family stylife, then continue the path to high atlas where can you enjoy the amazing waterfalls view

DAY 9: ESSAOUIRA DAY TOUR

Essaouira  is one of the berber moroccan citys,, since there is no way to get bored. Due to the plenty activities you will be able to enjoy amazingly as Essaouira is well renowned for its kite surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind. Horse riding, camel riding along the beach, quad biking are activities that one can enjoy while staying in Essaouira. It is known by the delicious seafood too.

In Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira is getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in the last week of June. It brings artists from all over the world. Although focused on Gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz and reggae. In the early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.

Along the half way between Essaouira and Marrakesh you will see enormous Argan tree on both sides of the road. These Argan trees are frequently climbed by goats. Argan oil is produced by several women’s cooperatives and it is used to prepare couscous, salads. Moreover it was traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases before being founded as good enough for cosmetics by Europeans manufacturers. Still stop by one of these cooperatives is worthy to see how Berber women squeezed the Argan fruits between hands to extract this precious oil. We arrive to our hotel in Marrakesh .

Day 10:AIRPORT TRANSFER

today after breakfast, we have arranged a private airport transfer ,you will be advised of the pick-up time and you are free to leave at any time.