DAY 1: MEETING AT THE AIRPORT OF TANGIER
Greeting you at the airport and begin our journey in Tangier, which is nicknamed the gateway to Africa. Here we will visit the Grand Mosque that built in the 5th century as a Roman temple. Also we shall visit the American legation museum, which will transports you to a different time and has an array of engaging exhibitions, including one on Paul Bowles and a locally famous painting often termed the ‘Moroccan Mona Lisa’. Moreover, we will visit the Cave of Hercules that has two openings, one to sea and one to land. The sea opening is known as ‘The Map of Africa’. After lunch, we will head to our Raid/Hotel where we shall spend the night.
DAY 2: TANGIER – ASILAH
We will make our way to Asilah, which is one of the ramparts that were built in the 15th century under the control of the Portuguese and it is located on the Atlantic coast. The ancient town of Asilah or Medina is an art hub, known for its murals and Moussem Cultural International d’Asilah. Strolling along its Souk (market) and admire the artwork. We shall spend the night in our Raid/Hotel.
DAY 3: ASILAH – RABAT
After breakfast, we will continue our tour to Rabat, the political and capital city of Morocco. Alongside the way, we will pass via several villages and agricultural areas, the source of most fruits and vegetables in the kingdom. Once we get to Rabat, we will visit the historical sites in the city. We will not only visit the Hassan Tower that built in 12th century by Yaqub al-Mansour but he died before the building was completed and work was abandoned; in 1755, the earthquake that shook Lisbon made its impact here as well causing a lot of damage. But also, we will visit the Kasbah of the Udayas that is referred to as the mini-blue city; it was built in 11th century and has been inhabited since then. We shall spend the night in a Raid/Hotel.
DAY 4: RABAT – CASABLANCA – ESSAOUIRA
Transfer from Rabat to Essaouira through Casablanca which is the largest city in the Kingdom. Here we will make a visit to the Mosque of Hassan Second which was inaugurated on August 30, 1993. The mosque built on a rocky platform reclaimed from the ocean and it is one of the largest mosques in the entire world with the tallest minaret. After our visit, we will have lunch in a restaurant along the Cornish where we will have a walk alongside the ocean. Later on, we then make our way to another site called ‘The Square of Pigeons’ where you will have photo opportunities and feed pigeons with your hands. Afterwards, we follow our way to Essaouira passing through Safi city that is considered a port city on the Atlantic coast. Safi is another fortress built by Portuguese colonizers. On arrival to Essaouira, we will spend the night in our Raid.
DAY 5: ESSAOUIRA SIGHTSEEING
Today will be spent in the city of Essaouira, you will explore its ancient Medina and hang out along its sandy beach, and ride a motorbike is available and surfing, too. Here you can order for fresh seafood and watch it cooked on open fire. When you finish your tour, you could go back to your Raid.
DAY 6: ESSAOUIRA – MARRAKECH
After breakfast, we will head to our target Marrakech. On our way, we will pass through groves of Argan where you will enjoy the scenery of goats climbing the Argan trees. On arrival to Marrakech, we will seek our Raid/Hotel where we shall spend the night.
DAY 7: MARRAKECH SIGHTSEEING
Your city guide will meet you at your accommodation and begin your tour inside the ancient Medina of Marrakech that has an interesting and old history. You will explore the historical sites and monuments of the city such the huge Tower of Koutoubia Mosque which was built in 12th century, Bahai Palace, Saadain Tombs, Badi Palace and the busiest square in Africa, the square of Jamaa El Fna where a throng of acrobats, musicians, storytellers, conjurers, soothsayers and snake-charmers performing on an open air. When you are done with the Medina, you will have lunch in the terrace of one of the restaurants in the square. Later on, you will make your way to the modern area of the city to visit the Majorelle Garden that was established by a French orientalist Jacques Majorelle since 1923. Our tour will be finished and we will drive you back to your Raid where you will spend the night.
DAY 8: MARRAKECH – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAIN – AIT BENHADDOU – OUARAZAZATE – ROSE VALLEY – DADES GORGE
We will start our journey at 8 am and we leave Marrakech towards the High Atlas Mountain through the dramatic pass called Tizi n’Tichka that reaches an elevation of 7415 ft. The High Atlas Mountain offers stunning views where we will pause to appreciate its charming and beauty. Here, we will visit the Kasbah (Castle) of Ait Benhaddou, the largest Kasbah in the kingdom of Morocco and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The Kasbah is renowned as a backdrop for many movies, including Gladiator, Sheltering Sky, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones. We will feel as we are performing in a certain movie while we start walking along the narrow streets of the Kasbah for one hour and then we will have lunch in the same village when we finish our visit. After lunch, we will follow our way to Dades Gorge passing through the city of Ouarzazate that is referred to as the gate of the desert; here we will visit the biggest studio of cinema where you will explore the materials that have been used in making movies, and the Kasbah of Taourirt that was founded by Thami El Glaoui in the 19th century. We then continue our journey to Skoura Oasis; which is famous with its clay Kasbahs, Ksours and palm groves; Rose Valley where locals celebrate the season of roses every year in May and last for seven days, and then Dades Gorge. Overnight in your Hotel that includes dinner and breakfast.
DAY 9: DADES GORGE – TODRA GORGE – ALNIF – TAFRAOUTE SIDI ALI
Transfer from Dades Valley to Tafraoute through Todra Gorges where we will stop to walk for a while along its majestic cliffs that are as high as 350m in some parts. We will then make our way to Tafraoute passing via a several Berber villages along the way, started by the town of Alnif where we will stop for lunch, Alnif is not only best-known for public wedding ceremony where you could find more than fifteen bridegrooms but also it is a paradise for fossil hunters. We will follow our way to Tafraoute, enjoying the surrounding sceneries of black rocky mountains and appreciate the nature where the most nomads set up their tents. On arrival to Tafraoute, we will make a visit to a Berber family and we might have dinner with them before we head to our guesthouse where we will spend the night.
DAY 10: TAFRAOUTE – RAMLIA – TAOUAZ – MERZOUGA (CAMEL RIDE AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN A CAMP)
After outdoor breakfast, we will drive you to another charming village called Merzouga passing through the Oasis of Ziz Valley, Ramlia , Taouz and Khamlia. Alongside the road, a mix of sand and Rocky Mountains offer outstanding sceneries. On arrival to Khamlia village that is renowned for the Gnawa music and here we will have a chance to hear their music and having lunch in one of their restaurant that is offering Berber Pizza. On arrival to Merzouga, we will prepare ourselves to ride a camel before we head to the place where your camel and your experienced guide are awaiting for you to start another journey but this time by camel. Camel trek will last for 1h30m crossing the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi that offers charming views for pictures and playing with sand once you stop for watching the sunset, also sand boarding is available in your journey to the camp. On arrival to the camp, welcome tea will be served by camp’s staff before they show you your luxurious tents that equipped with mattresses, comfortable beds, pillows, electricity, hot water and heater. Next, you will have dinner either inside a luxurious restaurant or outdoor before you gather around a bonfire to enjoy Berber drums and traditional nomadic songs. Spend the night under the stars or inside the Berber traditional tent.
DAY 11: MERZOUGA TOUR
Before sunrise, you will be awaked by our camel man in order to watch the sun comes up above the horizon and enjoy the colors of the early morning. After breakfast, you will meet your diver/guide to start your pure desert tour that will covers both of visiting nomads, a mine of mascara, a small villages of Berber. Firstly, we will make our way to visit the nomads of Erg Chebbi, those who are very gentle with their guests by offering them cheese, milk, dried dates and tea with bread. Nomads have different life that is worth to explore and spend some time with them to feel their simple lifestyle. Secondly, we shall visit an ancient mine of mascara where the locals of Merzouga were living before they work in agriculture and tourism. They got the smoky eye make-up that is perfect cosmetic to cleanse the eye surface and stimulates eyelash growth. Thirdly, we will have lunch in a small village of black-skinned people, those who have their own tradition and culture. They are renowned for their Gnawa music that they play with passion to make their customers happy and live the moment. After lunch, we will visit a small garden of the farmers who use an irrigation system to water their farms. In the evening, we can have a Moto bike tour among the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Overnight in a Hotel that includes dinner and breakfast.
DAY 12: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – ZIZ VALLEY – ERRACHIDIA – MIDELT – AZROU – IFRANE – FES
Before sunrise, camp’s staff will wake you up by clapping outside of your tent in order to watch the sun emerges over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. We then have breakfast before we make our way back to Merzouga where you will start your journey for today. The city of Rissani will be our target to walk along its market, selling spices, fruits, cloths, and other products. Later on, we will make our way to Fes along the different parts of Ziz Valley where we will pause and appreciate the nature of the valley that has plenty of trees such as palm, pomegranate, apricot, fig trees. Afterwards, we will get to Errachidia that is best-known for its Military Barracks and a huge dam of water. The High Atlas Mountain will be the next station and then the city of Midelt that is very famous for the production of Apple that’s why it is referred to as the capital of Apple. Here, we will start seeing conifers when we get to the Middle Atlas Mountain where we will stop to meet with the Barbary Apes in the Ceder Forest. At last and not least, we will be in Ifrane which is referred to as the Switzerland of Morocco because of its Swiss-Like Architecture. Our stop here will be for appreciating the large lion sculpture that created in the 1930s in honor of the last remaining Atlas lion, which was killed close to Ifrane. On arrival to Fes, we will head to our Raid/Hotel to spend the night.
DAY 13: TOUR WITH THE CITY GUIDE
Your city guide will meet you at your accommodation in the morning and you will start your tour in the Medina of Fes. Fes is the oldest city in the kingdom and its medina ‘car-free areas’ is built in 8th century by Idriss First. You will explore the historical sites of the Medina with your professional guide. You will have a walk along a thousand of narrow streets in the medina; make a visit to the oldest tannery of 11th century, dye workshop, ancient schools and the oldest university of the villagers of 8th century. When you are done with your tour, you will make your way back to your Raid. We will spend the night in the Raid.
DAY 14: FES – MEKNES – VOLUBILIS – CHEFCHAOUAN
Transfer from Fes to Chefchaouan through the city of meknes, one of the four former imperial cities. Here we will visit both of the huge gate Bab Mansour ‘which is known for its incredible architecture and created with materials gathered from other Moroccan monuments and places such us Roman ruins of Volubilis and El Badi Palace in Marrakesh’, Swani Tank ‘which was used during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail in order to provide houses, gardens, animals, hammams with water’ and Royal Stables ‘ that was used by Sultan Moulay Ismail who was known for his love and admiration for horses to keep his 12000 horses and he treated them better than even his prized harem’. We then will make our way to Vulobilis that was established before the Christian era, it has been inhabited by different tribes beside Romans, there were also Berbers, Jews and then destroyed in the eighth century. Afterwards, we will follow our way to Chefchaouan passing through the Rif Mountain that surrounding by wheat fields, olive groves and other wild trees. On arrival to Chefchaouan, which is located on the Rif Mountains, we will seek our Raid where we will spend the night.
DAY 15: CHEFCHAOUAN – TANGIER AIRPORT
Transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home. Farewell and safe trip home our family. Hoping that your trip was everything you hoped it to be.
