Tours from Casablanca
Exotic Moroccan Imperial Cities, blue Chefchaouen, Sahara desert, Marrakesh - 12 days
Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, Dades, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh
12 Days and 11 Nights
Visit Rabat, the blue streets of Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, majestic Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, the Toudgha & Dades Gorges, Kasbahs Aït ben Haddou & Telouet, and the main sights of Marrakesh
Itinerary
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We greet you at the airport and travel into the city of Casablanca. Visit Hassan II mosque (not possible on Fridays or religious holidays), the largest mosque in Africa completed in 1993 and has the world's tallest minaret at 210 metres. If interested the tour of the mosque takes about an hour. After sightseeing around the mosque we continue to the capital city, Rabat, visit the Oudaya gardens and spend the night in a riad.
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After breakfast we visit the Hassan Tower (commissioned in 1195) and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, built in homage to the king, It contains the tombs of the Moroccan king and his two sons, late King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. We then journey north to the blue city of Chefchaoeun stopping for lunch on the way. The evening can be spent wandering the lovely blue streets, up and down alleys and chilling in the many little cafés.
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Today can be spent exploring more of this beautiful town, which was founded in 1471, or relaxing in one of many cafés. Visit the Kasbah and art gallery in the Plaza Uta El Hammam or explore the numerous local arts and craft shops.
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After breakfast we leave to journey on to Fes, which will take us via the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Roman remains of Volubilis. The site was the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania then under Roman rule from the 1st century AD, it covers about 42 hectares with a 2.6 km circuit of walls. After the visit to the Roman ruins we continue to Fes for dinner and the night in a riad.
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Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour in Fes, which is the oldest of Morocco’s four “Imperial Cities”. The medieval city of Fes El Bali, or “Old Fes” remains complete and is unspoiled. Fes el Bali. a walled city, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your tour visit the
Medina – walled city founded in the 9th century
Bou Inania Medersa - an educational institute and a congregational mosque
Kairaouine Mosque – the world's oldest university
Famous soukhs (markets)
In the afternoon visit Fes El Jdid, or “New Fes” and a Moroccan arts museum of your choice. The night is spent in the riad.
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After breakfast we travel to Azrou, where you can see Barbary apes in the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas. Lunch is in Midelt, in the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountain ranges. We descend down out of the mountains and through to the stunning and picturesque Ziz Valley. All along the road there are innumerable palm-fringed towns. We travel through Er Rachidia a garrison town and then to Erfoud – an oasis town in the Sahara desert, famous for its fossils and date festival. Our journey for this day ends at Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi, where you will be greeted with a traditional tea ceremony. You will then have time to wander the dunes before the sunset. Dinner is served and followed by an evening of music and you will spend the night in a bivouac of nomad tents.
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After breakfast, you will have a days camel trekking tour into the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. You will have an option of either riding or walking. Your camel guides will prepare and cook your lunch out in the dunes. After lunch is the return trek to the bivouac for dinner and the night.
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Early birds can watch the spectacle of the majestic sunrise where the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome and memorable experience. After breakfast we leave for the Todra gorges. The road passes through Tinjdad and the Todra Valley. After lunch there are plenty of opportunities to walk, either along the river, through the gardens or up the road. Later we continue to the Dades Gorges and Dades Valley known as the ‘Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs’. We have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
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After breakfast a walk in the Dades Gorges is scheduled. After the walk, the trip to Ouarzazate continues, going off-road along the Boutaghar piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and have morning tea with them. From here we continue through the Valley of the Roses, where local rosewater and other rose oil products are available for sale. The route goes via the Oasis of Skoura where there are many kasbahs, the most well-known of which is Kasbah Amredil which you will stop to visit. Once in Ouarzazate you will stay in a riad.
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After breakfast, we visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site and the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters such as the Kingdom of Heaven and the Gladiator. It is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco. Here we stop for lunch and a visit to the Kasbah. We continue to travel via Telouet through the expansive and scenic High Atlas Mountains and eventually descend from the heights to the Moroccan midlands and the majestic city of Marrakesh. We have dinner and spend the night in a riad.
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Marrakesh is probably best known for the central plaza of Djemma El Fna with its souks, juice stalls, spice and nut stalls, henna artisans, snake charmers, and the multitude of nightly food stalls. The day is spent with a guide visiting the sights of your choice. Optional selections of sights are the:
El Bahia Palace - one of the most beautiful palaces in Marrakech
Saadian tombs – a truly rich architectural gem of the 16th century
Souks - the famous Markets of Marrakesh
Madressah ben Youssef - once the largest Islamic school in North Africa
Majorelle Gardens which used to belong to Yves St Laurent
Koutoubia Mosque 12th century mosque with a 70m minaret
Musee de Marrakesh and art museum located in the Dar Menebhi Palace
Not all of these are possible in one day but you could always add a day to your tour. You spend another night in your riad.
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After breakfast we travel from your riad in Marrakesh to either your hotel in Casablanca or the airport in time for the check-in before your flight.