DAY 1: FES – IFRANE – AZROU – MIDELT
Morning pick up you from your Hotel/Raid in Fes and begin our tour to Merzouga. We will drive you through the Middle Atlas Mountain where the city of Ifrane is located. Ifrane is characterized with extreme cold and snow covered the foothills of the mountain, also it is referred to as Switzerland of Morocco. After our visit to the sculpture of stone loin, we will continue our journey passing through the Ceder Forest where we will meet with Barbary Apes if we are lucky, feeding them with some fruits and nuts. Later on, we will be in the city of Zaida ‘city of barbecue’ and then the city of Midelt that is renowned for the production of Apple by which the city called the capital of Apple. The city of Midelt surrounded by a stunning landscapes and wonderful views to the snow Mountain of High Atlas. Overnight in a hotel that is overlooking the slopes of the High Atlas Mountain.
DAY 2: MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – ARFOUD – MERZOUGA(CAMEL RIDE AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE CAMP)
After the Middle Atlas Mountain that we have crossed yesterday, it is time to cross the High Atlas Mountain over an elevation of 1907 meters, the pass encircled with conifers and rosemary plants. Later on, we will follow our way along the Ziz Gorge that divided into three parts; the third part is most marvelous section that offers view to thousand of palm trees and other trees as pomegranate, fig, and olive. We shall continue our journey to Sahara desert through the city of Erfoud which considers the second gate to the desert beside Ouarzazate city. Erfoud is not only renowned for its fossils such as Ammonites,Trilobites and other products but also it is the capital of dates fruit as the festival of Dates takes place in the city every year in October. Our last destination for today will be Merzouga 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. We shall spend the night in the camp.
DAY 3: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – TOUROUG – TODRA GORGE – DADES GORGE
After breakfast and refreshment, you will begin your journey from the edge of the desert towards your next destination. We will visit the city of Rissani that once was called Sijilmasa when it was one of the most important stations in Trans-Sahara Trade Route before 16th century. In Rissani, we will see the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Chirf, the founder of Alaouite dynasty, and walking along its traditional market where they are selling spices, fruits, cloths and jewelry. Afterwards, we will transfer to Todra Gorge through Touroug where we can try traditional Berber clothes and do some Henna Tattoos. Next stop will be in Todra Gorge where Cliffs are as high as 312 meters. We will have a walk on the canyon floor and appreciate the springs that flow between the rocks. On arrival to Dades Gorge, we will spend the night in a Hotel that includes dinner and breakfast.
DAY 4: DADES GORGE – DADES VALLEY – NOMADIC SHELTER – CITY OF ROSE – OUARZAZATE
Transfer to Ouarzazate through driving alongside the Dades valley where will have many stops to appreciate the charming sceneries such as the mountain that shaped as the fingers of monkey and switchbacks on our way up of the valley. We follow our way to explore the lifestyle of a nomads those who still living the caves in the heart of the Atlas. Nomads cave will share with us their shelter under the cliffs and a glass of fresh milk, our experience will be unique when we live it and see the essence of the truth of hard life that they are living. Later on, we will continue our journey on off-road inside the High Atlas Mountain and when we get to the city of rose where the festival of rose takes place every year in May and we may stop to explore its beauty and its rose products that range from perfume, rose water and oil. On arrival to 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. Overnight in a Riad that includes dinner and breakfast
DAY 5: OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAIN – MARRAKECH
After breakfast, we will make our way to 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 seek for a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our journey through the High Atlas Mountain, which has a pass called Tizi n’Tichka pass on an elevation of 2260meters. We will pause for mountain views and Berber villages along the Valley of the mountain. Our tour will end once we get to Marrakech in the early evening, dropping you off in your chosen Hotel/Raid.
DAY 6: MARRAKECH – CASABLANCA – RABAT
Transfer from Marrakech to Rabat through Casablanca Casablanca where you visit the largest city in the kingdom by visiting the mosque of Hassan second that is open for Muslims and non-Muslims and located on a prominent piece of land that rises up on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, the square of Mohammed fifth which has a thousands of pigeons and a fountain of water, and the Cornish; walk alongside the ocean for a while. After lunch, we will transfer to Rabat where we will spend the night in a traditional Moroccan style Raid.
DAY 7: RABAT – MEKNES – VULOBILIS – FES
After breakfast in our Raid, we will start our day by visiting 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. Later on, we will continue our tour to Fes through 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’. After lunch, we 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. In the end of the day, we will be in Fes where we will spend the night in a Raid inside the oldest Medina in the world.
