This 12 -days tour gives us an opportunity to discover the beauty of Marrakech, Sahara Desert following the tracks of camel Caravans through the Atlas and into the shores of the Sand Sea. en Fez as one of the most important cities in Morocco then we will then we will move to explore the beauty of The Northern part of Morocco Volubilis, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Akchour and Tangier ( the bride of Northern Morocco )

12 Days Marrakech Desert Tour

Day 1: Airport pick up and drive to Marrakech

Our professional driver will pick you up from the airport/ train station/ bus station at an already appointed time. After checking-in our Hotel, our driver he will be ready if you want to move to any other place by car.(if you will arrive early in Marrakech, we can start our tour and next day we leave Marrakech to the following destinations)

Day 2: Tour of Marrakesh

Today’s tour will expose the mystics of Marrakesh. Early in the morning after breakfast, we will start our whole day exploration of the legendary red City of Marrakesh. We will visit the old Medina. Comparing to Fez, it is smaller; yet not less vibrant. This old medina is a real escape from the fancy modern hotels, clubs, and restaurants that gild its new town. It main sites are the Mullah (Jewish neighbourhood), the ornate 19th century Bahia Palace, and the crumbling 16th century Badi Palace. The Koutoubia Mosque and the world famous Jemma el-Fna are a part of our visit to this mystical city. They are UNESCO wold heritage sites. The square of Jemma el-Fna is a space where time has truly stopped for centuries ago. Its mesmerising experience take us transcendentally with its fabled snake charmers, monkey tamers, acrobats, musicians, orange juice sellers, and story tellers. Our excursion also includes The Majorelle Gardens. Marrakesh hosted three environmental summits; more than any other city in the World. Even the environment treaty is named and signed in Marrakesh. This fact made the province of Marrakesh pay more attention to the municipal gardens of the city, keeping them green and glowing. Our excursion into Marrakesh’s new town will give us a chance to visit the lush Majorelle Gardens. The French artist Jacques Majorelle designs them in the 1920s and 1930s. Now, they feature a striking array of cactus species from all over the world in Art Deco inspired grounds. Famous for its iconic blue walls, the Majorelle Gardens also house an excellent museum devoted to Berber culture and history. Our tour finishes by checking-in our Riad/Hotel for Overnight and Dinner.

Day 3: Drive from Marrakesh to Dades Valley

In a blue-skied morning, our professional driver will pick you up from your accommodations at an already appointed time. Then, we will begin our journey in discovering the historic towns of the semi-arid plain of the High Atlas Mountains. Leaving Marrakesh to the High Atlas Mountains to appreciate its snow covered peaks of which will slowly become visible as we drive towards the Deep South of Morocco. As we reach closer to the peak, we will encounter the numerous winding switchbacks of the Tizi Ntichka Mountain pass. It is a marvel of modern engineering and design. At 2,260m above sea level, we will stop at the crest of the Tizi Ntichka to gaze at the surrounding mountaintops. As we descend on the other side of the High Atlas Mountains, we will veer off the main road to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. An ideal model of the many sand castle villages and Kasbah’s that dot the south of Morocco. The ancient town of Ait Benhaddou enchants its thousands visitors with its curious towers. They stand stout in face of surrounding desert resisting its harsh weather forging a place in Morocco’s history. During the 20th century, this Kasbah was the stronghold of Ethami Glaoui as one of the most powerful men in Moroccan History. His fame was worldwide inviting V.I.P.s from all over the world to attend his affluent ceremonies. George Orwell paid him a visit in one of these Kasbah as well as in Marrakesh. Towns like Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou played an important role in Morocco’s past as key stops on the lucrative sub-Saharan trade routes. They were a safe stopover as well as a link over the vast deserts and mountain ranges for commercial caravan coming from Timbuktu to the heart of Morocco: Marrakesh. Like Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate encloses an important fortified centre, the Taourirt Kasbah. Ouarzazate is the administrative capital and the biggest city of a province well known for its Kasbahs. The same ones that might have inspired Jimmy Hendrix during his visit to Morocco in 1965 to write his famous song “Castel made of Sand”. The etymology of the word ‘Ouarzazate’ comes from the Berber expression meaning ‘without noise’. As part of its effort to join the human struggle against climate change, the province of Ouarzazate had settled the world largest solar power plant. In a collaboration with many other entities and organizations such as the NASA, its value is estimated at around $9 billion. These solar plants will provide 75% of the Moroccan national needs of energy. Our journey today will start in the old town of Taourirt with its large ancient Kasbah. Its noble founders have moved out, leaving its many towers to families of White storks. The next stop will be in Morocco’s largest movie studios. Over the years, thanks to their prime desert location, these studios have helped turn out classic film like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000). Recently, certain episodes of Game of Thrones were filmed here. For flexibility purposes and time restraints, we will have to choose of these options, we can visit either the cinema museum or one of the studios. Leaving Ouarzazate, we will be pass through the Dades Valley. This a region famous for its sprawling palm groves growing over an underground river. Along our way, we will visit the famous little town of Kalaat M’gouna. It is identified across Morocco for its high quality rose water. A traditional Rose Festival is yearly organises in May where a local committee elects a beauty queen. Our journey for the day ends upon our arrival to the town of Boumalne Dades where we will spend the night in a traditional Kasbah hotel overlooking the sand castles and the palm groves.

Day 4: Drive from Boumalne Dades to Merzouga

After local breakfast in our Kasbah in Boumalne Dades in the morning, we will leave the town to explore the little villages on our way to the sprawling desert sands of Merzouga. Our first stop of the day will be in the small town of Tinghir. It is a small picturesque town where we can get a glimpse on how locals in this region live. We will also make a short break in the Todra Gorges. The 300m high cliffs attracts climbers from around the world to fight gravity and fear as they scale vertically. Our journey will take us on foot to have a better sight on this fascinating area. Continuing on our way, we will notice how the landscape gets more and more arid, as the temperature gets hotter. As we make our way away from the mountains and towards the desert, we will pass through the town of Erfoud. We will stop for lunch in this beautiful little town and visit a fossil museum. Upon our arrival to Rissani, a local guide will lead us though this town to unveil all the myths that surround the life in this sacred village. We will notice hooded men and men bargaining and trading as they used to do centuries ago in their uncovered traditional market. After our little tour of Rissani, we will drive directly towards the shores of the Sahara desert to get to Merzouga. It is the last towns before the end of the road and the beginning of the desert. Upon our arrival, a camel caravan will be waiting to take us over the sand dunes to our Berber camp deep in the Sahara Desert. Our Berber hosts will cook us traditional desert meals. They will also teach us about their culture and the secret tips they inherited from their ancestors to ease their life in the harsh climate of the Sahara. Our evening will be a mesmerising one. We will huddle around a under the Milky Way and the Poles Stars.

Day 5: Drive from Merzouga to Fez

This morning will be our second chance to witness a mesmerising natural show. Early in a blue-skied morning of our last day in our journey in uncovering the beauties of Morocco, our blue camel man will wake us up to witness one of the most beautiful Natural Shows of Mother Nature: The Sunrise in the Sahara. This natural show displays one of the most beautiful artworks of Mother Nature: a shadow of light pink and orange shadowing the blue desert sky combining the reflection of the golden sun along with all these colours. After breakfast, he will carry us atop his camel friends’ caravan thorough the desert following invisible pathways to our van in Merzouga. We will have some time to shower and freshen up, and then we will proceed to Fez across the atlas. Our first stop will be in Azrou. It is the ancient capital of the Amazigh people in the Middle Atlas region. Situated at 1,250m above sea level, Azrou finds itself nestled cosily in the surrounding hills of the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is famous for its cedar forests, butterflies, and Barbary apes. The rural vibe of this village makes a perfect opportunity to connect with nature. In Azrou, we will visit the old town with the possibility of also taking a walk in the abundant nature. As we ascend on the shoulders of the Atlas Mountains, we will arrive in Ifrane. Thanks to its alpine climate, at 1,665m above sea level, Ifrane cannot escape getting large quantities of snow every winter. As such, the roofs of its buildings are sloped so not to be crushed under the weight of snow, earning Ifrane the cute nickname the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’. French architects designed it in the 1930s as an escape for the French settlers in Morocco from the overwhelming Medinas. During the summer, though, the temperature rises and Moroccan’s flock to Ifrane for its tidy parks, clean air, and beautiful scenery. Ifrane is also famous for the world-renowned Al-Akhawayn University. It attracts the best and brightest students in Morocco and North Africa. We will also make a stop at the Ifrane National Park to appreciate the ancient cedar trees and try to find finding a colony of Barbary apes. Lunch will be in Ifrane in one of its good quality restaurants downtown offering a stuffed menu of local and Western dishes. Our last stop will be in Imouzer. This town is famous for its Apple Festival in September. Many of the inhabitants of Imouzer are of Amazigh descent and speak a language different from Arabic as their mother tongue. The area around Imouzer is dotted with lakes. They are formed during a period of intense volcanic activity in the distant past. Stopping at one of these lakes, Dayet Aoua, we will have the opportunity to go for a quick horse or donkey ride on the lakeshore. In the evening, we will arrive to Fez with all its vibrant sensations concluding our journey as Caravans used to do for a thousand of years ago.

Day 6: Tour in Fez

After a night in one of the cosy Fez Riads, we will wake up in the morning ready to start a journey in uncovering the mystics that surround this saint city. It is the spiritual and intellectual capital of Morocco. It is the pumping heart of Moroccan civilization. As the biggest urban car-free zone in the world, the UNESCO considers it a world heritage. Its Ancient medina is a massive labyrinth of dusty alleys dating back to the 8th century. The sumptuous houses and palaces that cuddle inside its surrounding walls gives an unforgettable time journey that surpasses space. The hectic markets offers a variety of shopping options that once were carried across the desert from India. The medieval urban maze of its ancient medina offers a strong proof of what humanity can achieve collectively. We will discover the recently restored leather tanneries with is century old techniques of making leather. The Foundouk Nejjarine and wood working museum and the Dar el-Magana water clock are the sites that once made fez an industrial capital during its glory times. The hilltop Merinid Tombs gives a surreal panoramic view over the whole medina. The serene Bou Inania Koranic School and the Qaraouine University, the oldest university in the world, are the major schools that make Fez an intellectual capital alongside the modern Universities in the new city. The Moulay Idriss II Mausoleum is the pumping heart of Moroccan spirituality. As the centre of the Moroccan handicraft industry, Fez is also the perfect place to do some souvenir shopping. Scarves, leather goods, carpets, spices, metal goods, pottery, etc., Fez has it all as it did for over a millennia now. Our time journey finishes when we take the highway to get you back to Meknes before dinnertime. Overnight in our cosy Riad/Hotel.

Day 7: Fez to Chefchaouen visiting Meknes and Volubilis

Early in a blue-skied morning, our professional driver will pick you up from your hotel in fez at an appointed time. Then, we will hit the road heading west as a start of our journey to uncover the mystics that surround the history of Morocco. For flexibility purposes, we will have a chance to decide, if we have any preferences, which route we take: the highway, or the scenic route. The latter is highly recommended for its panoramic views of Oulad Shaker reservoir and the surrounding rolling countryside. They are dotted with wheat fields, olive groves, fruit trees, and vineyards. Our first stop will be at the ruined Roman city of Volubilis. French archaeologists began excavating Volubilis in the early 20th century. However, half of the immense city remains beneath centuries of topsoil. We will plunge into the famous wonders of the Basilica, the Triumph Arc, and many other palaces with their exquisite mosaics. We can chose to have the tour of Volubilis either with or without a local guide. Afterward, we will make a quick stop in the adjacent small town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. Hovering atop a hill overlooking Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun houses the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss I (745-791), the first Muslim king of Morocco. During our stop in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, we will go to a panoramic viewpoint to get a glimpse on the fascinating natural scenery joint with the centuries old houses. Then, we will hit downtown for lunch. Our last stop will be in the great ancient capital of Morocco: Meknes. Smaller in comparison to the other Moroccan Imperial Cities, Meknes held the status of capital of Morocco for only 55 years during the reign of the famous Sultan Moulay Ismail (1634-1727). This sultan is recorded as one of the few who reigned over Morocco with an iron fist. His capital was the strongest walled city in his time. The walls are more than 1.5m thick to sustain the canons of the rebellious tribes and foreign powers trying to seize power in Morocco. Meknes’s old city offers a trove of sights for curious visitors: Moulay Ismail’s massive stables, the capacious granary, and the cavernous underground prison. Foreign captive corsairs built most of these sites. They were a apart of the European raid attacking the sultan navy on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during the 17th century. We will also visit Moulay Ismail’s mausoleum (one of the only mosques in Morocco open to tourists). The monumental Mansour Gate is also a part of our journey. A Portuguese architect designed it as a price for his freedom. We will also visit the covered food market, and the El Hedim Square. At the end of our journey to Meknes, we will head north to Chefchaouen before sunset to witness a show of Mother Nature setting the sun and concluding the day. Overnight and dinner in Chefchaouen.

Day 8: tour in Chefchaouen.

On the second day of our journey exploring the mystics of the north of Morocco, we will explore the beautiful, blue town of Chefchaouen. Upon our arrival, we will enjoy a fascinating panoramic view over the city. Nestled in a green mountain valley at 600m above sea level, a local chieftain built it as a hidden outpost. Its name remained a mystery for foreign intruders as it literally means in Tamazight language (Berber) “look at the horns”. Its strategic position on the foot of two horn-like mountains, Megou and Tisouka, helped push back the increasing incursions of European powers into Morocco in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the Reconquista and fall of Islamic rule in Spain, Muslim Andalusian refugees flocked to Chefchaouen to begin new lives on the African continent. Until the middle of the 20th century as Spanish rule of northern Morocco began, Chefchaouen had held a strong reputation for being impossible for non-Muslims to enter. The clean and fresh air of Chefchaouen marks the simple walking in its blue narrow streets a healthy benefit. Its fountains are pouring some of the best quality mineral water in all of North Africa. As it is much calmer and cosier than Fez, it is an escape from the overwhelmingly busy street of Fez’ old Medina. Its most striking feature is its old city’s picturesque sky blue painted walls and streets ornamenting the two horn-like Mountains with beautiful tidy houses. Among the major sights in Chefchaouen are the Kasbah (fortress), and the Ras El Ma River Valley. For flexibility purposes, we can chose to explore the village either with or without a local guide. Overnight in one of its cosy hotels.

Day 9: Daytrip from Chefchaouen to Akchour

Our 2nd day will be a gear in the mountains. Today’s daytrip will take us from Chefchaouen to visit Akchour’s National Park in the mountains north of Chefchaouen. We will enter Akchour National Park on foot, following a roaring mountain stream. Make sure to bring good shoes! Our hike through Akchour will take us deep into a mountain valley. We will cross the stream at least ten times. Deep in the valley, many surprises await. We will discover some mini–waterfalls and beautiful picnic spots near the river. The deeper we get into the valley the higher our chances are to spot wild troops of Barbary apes. The trail will take us an hour or so deeper into the valley. Upon our arrival in its main attraction, a towering waterfall, we will have some time to rest. Depending on the season, we may plunge in its blue refreshing water. Back near the entrance of the park, we will take another path into a different mountain valley where we will discover God’s Bridge. It is a natural stone bridge carved out of the mountain. For those of who are uninterested in exploring the area by foot, we can rent a 4x4s truck and drive down some beautiful mountain roads to reach the small villages. Azilane and Talassemtane are cuddled up deep in the pristine mountains. We will have many opportunities to grab a snack by the trail or roadside. As our day ends, we will return for overnight and dinner in our hotel in Chefchaouen.

Day 10: Chefchaouen to Tangier via the Mediterranean coast

At an already appointed time, we will leave Chefchaouen in the morning. We will spend the whole day exploring the north of Morocco. For flexibility purposes and time restrictions, we will have enough time to visit some of the many exciting options. Our first option is in the old medina of Tangier. The centuries old Kasbah and the American Legation will provide us an opportunity to travel trough time. The other option is swinging through Tetouan to visit its UNESCO protected old medina. After our tour of Tetouan, we will proceed towards the beautiful mountain towns of Martil, M’diq, or Marina Samir. They are on the sweeping Mediterranean coastline at 15 minutes’ drive from Tetouan. We can also spend the rest of the day enjoying the sunny Mediterranean beach having some time to relax, swim, ride horses, and windsurf in the blowing breeze. At the end of this enjoyably flexible day, we can either spend the night in a hotel by the beach, or hit the road towards Tangier by the evening and sleep there.

Day 11: tour in Tangier

We will meet in your hotel in the morning at an already appointed time. Our journey in exploring the mystical and ancient city of Tangier and its surroundings begins when we drive out of town. Our first stop is the scenic Cape Spartel. This site overlooks the Mediterranean. On a blue-skied day, we can catch a glimpse of British Gibraltar and the European continent in the distance. Cape Spartel is one of the northernmost points in Africa. It is the point where Hercules separated the two continent with his massive hands. The mystery of the lost continent of Atlantis that sank into the Atlantic Ocean is not far from Cape Spartel. Going down from Cape Spartel, we will visit the majestic Caves of Hercules. Both nature and man carved them over the past centuries. In ancient times, it was thought that Hercules slept in this cave before completing his 11 labour tasks. In the afternoon, we will return to Tangier. We will have the rest of the day to explore Tangier’s historic old medina. Some of the famous sites we may want to visit in the old medina are the Kasbah fortress and the American Legation. The latter was one of the first international American diplomatic posts. Today, it houses a cultural centre and a museum. Overnight and dinner in a cosy hotel in Tangier

Day 12: Ouarzazate to Marrakech

Day 12: Tangier to our departure point (Fez/Rabat/Casablanca) On the last day of our exciting tour in unveiling the northern mystics of the beautiful kingdom of Morocco, we will meet our professional driver at an already appointed time. He will drive you to your accommodation/ Airport anywhere in the North of Morocco (Fez/Rabat/Casablanca)

Day 12: Tangier to our departure point (Fez/Rabat/Casablanca)

On the last day of our exciting tour in unveiling the northern mystics of the beautiful kingdom of Morocco, we will meet our professional driver at an already appointed time. He will drive you to your accommodation/ Airport anywhere in the North of Morocco (Fez/Rabat/Casablanca)

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