Imperial Cities, Desert & the Coast Tour

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, your private driver will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel, where you will check in and relax. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a tour of the Hassan II mosque one of the most elaborately designed mosques in North Africa! Dinner will be served in your hotel.
Overnight: Casablanca | Meals: Dinner Included.

This morning we journey to the capital Rabat. Strategically located on the Atlantic coastline, Rabat began as a settlement in the third century BC. This morning we enjoy a tour of the old city including visits to the Royal Palace, Ouadaya Gardens Kasbah and the Hassan Tower Mosque. We leave Rabat before lunch and drive to the Berber town of Meknes. Formerly the capital of Morocco during the reign of Moulay Ismail, he transformed the town, constructing intricate gateways, beautiful gardens and at 40m the largest ramparts in the country. Next is ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Recently listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and dating back as far as AD40, Volubilis is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa. We finish the day with a short drive to the mediaeval city of Fes.
Overnight: Fes| Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

Today you have an early start for your private 4WD transfer to Skoura. The drive takes you through the Atlas Mountains before ascending to the Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass (the highest in Morocco). You will be able to stop at various points of interest in order to take photos, including visits to the impressive Ait Benhaddou kasbah and the crumbling kasbah of Telouet.
Overnight: Fes| Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

You’ll be covering a lot of ground today as you work your way south toward your final destination outside the desert town of Merzouga. Ascend the Middle Atlas mountains through fragrant cedar forests, and over the Col du Zad pass. Stop and stretch your legs in the “Apple City” of Midelt—known for its fruit orchards—and lunch near the Moulouya River. Continue to the palm forests of the Ziz Valley by way of the Tizi n’Talremt pass, noting the many fortified ksars merchants built to protect and stock their precious goods (gold, salt, and spices). Reach Erfoud, known for dates and fossils, and stop at a local artisan collective to learn everything there is to know about the types of fossils found in the area. Head toward the sea of sand of Erg Chebbi, where some dunes are more than 600 feet tall. In Merzouga, meet your camel and hop aboard to trek to your evening’s accommodation: a Bedouin-style tent. Race to the top of a nearby sand dune to watch the desert sunset over the dunes before returning to your site for dinner and a campfire under the starry night sky.
Overnight: Erg Chebbi| Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

Catch the sunrise before renting a sandboard to test your skills. Leave the dunes and head to Khemliya to experience a traditional Saharan village—its people originally from Mali. Continue west to pass through a dramatic gate into Rissani. A market town, Rissani holds a livestock auction and is home to a “donkey parking lot”, a site worth (hearing) and experiencing! Make your way to the desert town of Tinerhir before reaching the 984 feet (300 m) deep Todra Gorge. You will have time to explore the gorge and relax in the cool water of the shallow Todra River. Travel through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Though many kasbahs (old fortress or fortification) are now in disrepair, local families still live in some of them. You may even come across nomads herding their animals. Head west to Kela’a M’gouna. Known for its Festival des Roses, here you can see extensively cultivated farmland bordered with fragrant rose bushes. Continue west to Ouarzazate, a gateway to the Sahara Desert made popular by the film industry. Join a studio tour and discover how the nearby desert landscapes have been featured in many films.
Overnight: Ouarzazate | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

Travel to nearby Ait Benhaddou. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Ait Benhaddou is believed to date from the 11th century during a time when it held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert. Follow the narrow streets up to the Granary for a view of the surrounding landscapes. From there, ascend the High Atlas mountain range and look out for the highest peak, Mount Toubkal (13,671 feet or 4,167 m). Stop near the top of the Tizi n’Tichka pass (7,415 feet or 2,260 m) to enjoy the views over the mountain range. Soon you will be a part of the noise and clamor of Marrakech. After a long day on the road, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you like. In the early evening, the main square—and busiest square in all of Africa—Jemaa el-Fna, comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games, and food stalls, a catch-all of entertainment. If you want to enjoy the spectacle from a distance, choose one of the many cafés surrounding the square and enjoy a cup of mint tea and a meal.
Overnight: Marrakech | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

Begin your day exploring the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque and take a respite from the heat in its gardens amid fountains and palms. Indulge your senses and explore the spice market, Souk el-Attarin, or Souk Smata for your choice of slippers, rugs, and leather goods. Next, visit the Islamic school, Ben Youssef Madrasa, for a taste of 16th-century architecture and marvel at the exquisite details: arabesques, Islamic calligraphy, and colorful geometric tile work. As you walk Marrakech’s alleys, notice the Fondouks or Caravanserai—medieval inns along ancient trade routes that provided travelers and traders with shelter and supplies. Depending on timing and your energy level, you may wish to visit a few sites south of Jemaa el-Fna. Some options to consider are the 500-year old Saadian Tombs, the extensive courtyard and sunken gardens of the 17th-century El Badi Palace, or the intricate woodwork and painted ceilings of the 19th-century Bahia Palace. Return to Jemma el-Fna for a bite to eat before retiring to your accommodation for the evening.
Overnight: Marrakech | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

After breakfast, make your way west to the Atlantic coast and to the laid-back beach town of Essaouira. The route along the way takes you over extensive rolling plains and through endemic argan forests. If you’re lucky, you may see goats in the trees grazing on the argan fruit, a sight seen when grass pasture is limited or unavailable. Along the way, there is an option to stop at an Argan Oil Cooperative to see how the precious and expensive oil is extracted from the nut. Arrive in the port city of charming Essaouira, a nice contrast to frenetic Marrakech, and spend the rest of the day as you choose. Walk the Skala de la Kasbah (the 18th-century seafront ramparts) along the coast. Explore the UNESCO-protected medina before making your way to the windswept beach. Jimi Hendrix fans may want to take a short taxi ride to Diabat at the end of Essaouira’s beach where he reportedly spent some time. Walk back to Essaouira and enjoy a meal of freshly caught seafood.
Overnight: Essaouira | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

After breakfast, you will start your return journey to Casablanca. There will be the option to break up the four to five-hour coastal drive with stops in seaside towns, along the way. Upon arriving in Casablanca, explore more of the Old Medina, bargaining with local vendors in the bazaar and pick up any last-minute souvenirs and gifts.
Overnight: Casablanca | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Included.

Depending on your departure details, your driver will take you to Casablanca Airport, with plenty of tales of Arabian days and nights.
Meals: Breakfast Included.