8 days Travel: Imperial Cities, Anti / High Atlas and Desert Erg Chebbi

Day 1: Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Moulay Idriss - Fez

Morning departure for Meknes, the Imperial City of Sultan Moulay Ismail, with visits to its Medina, or old city, and Bab el Mansour, the monumental gateway and main entrance into this 17th century city. Next, stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis—the finest archaeological site in Morocco –with its mosaics, temples and triumphal arch, on your way to the village of Moulay Idriss, the holy founder of the first indigenous Islamic kingdom of Morocco. Continue to Fes for check-in at your hotel (breakfast).

Day 2: Fez – Visit Guided

Pick up from your hotel to make a visit of Fes, the oldest imperial city. Visit of the mellah (Jewish quarter), the medina, the exterior of the mosque, visit to the Koranic school Al Boaunania and the university El Karaouine. Lunch at a typical restaurant in the medina. External visit of the Andalous mosque and Moulay Idriss tomb. Panoramic visit of the city. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 3: Fez – Merzouga

Pick up from your hotel after breakfast, then drive south to Ifrane and Azrou through the Middle Atlas mountains. On the way you will stop at the cedar forests to see the Barbarian Apes in their natural habitat. Travelling through the Tizi Ntalghamt pass to Midelt and along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rock, you’ll see views of the Middle-Atlas plateau and the scenery changing to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia. After lunch we’ll continue our journey through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga hotel where you will leave your luggage in a safe room , after a cup of tea you will take a camel ride to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi Dunes which are the highest sand dunes in North Africa. The camel trek takes about 1 hour 30 min to the camp. The tents are well equipped with mattresses, blankets, and cushions. After dinner you will gather around the fire and enjoy the sound of traditional Berber drums under the stars. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 4: Merzouga

Early morning riding camels to the edge of the Sahara desert and to the Dunes of Merzouga, the highest in North Africa, to see the sun rise. Imagine yourself on the camel, enjoying the Saharan landscapes. Also, we will have the chance to listen to Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia. Then on through date palm groves to the remains of what was once the medieval city of Sigilmassa. Tonight we enjoy a dinner of local food. (Dinner/breakfast).

Day 5: Merzouga – Tazarine – Agdez – Ouarzazate

Early morning, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, followed by breakfast in the camp the camel trek back to the hotel at the dune line for a quick shower. We drive to Rissani, a small Saharan town in southeast of Morocco, here we can stop to visit a fossil workshop before we continue to Agdez and Draa valley junction where we head north to Ouarzazate after crossing the small volcanic Atlas Mountains. Overnight in Ouarzazate.

Day 6: Ouarzazate - Marrakech

Visit of Morocco’s ‘Hollywood’ before we depart for Taourirt and the famous Kasbah village of Ait Benhaddou and on to Marrakesh. (Dinner/Breakfast).

Day 7: Marrakech City Tour

Visit the Arabic palaces and old Koran school for a taste of Morocco culture and history. Visit Ménara Garden and the Souk where many guild artisans can be watched as they work. Beautiful tapestry and fabrics and leather. Exotic spices. The Plaza Djemna el Fna with Berber musicians, snake charmers, fortune-tellers, fire-eaters, storytellers is a must. The night brings the FANTASIA spectacular, a special Marrakech dinner.

Day 8: Marrakech - Casablanca - Rabat

After breakfast, prepare for departure to Casablanca and Rabat to airport as you carry your Morocco holiday travel experiences with you,... Journey's end.

Please contact us for further information or current price of this private tour.