Imperial Cities and desert

Imperial Cities and desert

Dettagli programma
Fès, Marrakech, Rabat and Meknès: these are the Imperial Cities of Morocco, which are all beautiful in different but extraordinary ways. They are so called because over the centuries they’ve passed the role of capital (the current one is Rabat), periods during which the ruling dynasties made them sumptuous and elegant cities. We propose you a tour that allows you to visit all of them, starting from Casablanca and ending in Marrakech, passing by other countless sites and by the desert. If you’re interested but your arrival/departure airports do not coincide with the start/end places of this itinerary will be possible modify it in according to your needs.

Day 1: welcome in Casablanca

Welcome at the airport (or port) of Casablanca, where we’ll have the pleasure of getting to know each other and welcoming you. Loaded your luggage we’ll reach the heart of the city and accompany you to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight stay in hotel.

Day 2: Casablanca, Hassan II Mosque, Rabat (Oudaia Kasbah and Tower Hassan), Meknès (km 238)

This tour will start from Casablanca, we’ll pick you up early in the morning and go to Hassan II Mosque, that’s the largest in all over Morocco and the only one open to non-Muslims people. The structure overlooks the sea and stands on a promontory that stretches for a part above the Altantic Ocean, that’s visible from the glass attic in the main hall. Actually Pinseau, the French architect who built it, was inspired by the Koran verse that quotes “the throne of God was built on water”. You’ll visit Hassan II Mosque with a guide and it will be a very interesting experience. Then we’ll go to Rabat, the current capital of Morocco, and we’ll visit the Oudaia Kasbah and the Tower Hassan. It was been declared official UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2012 and, originally, it supposed to be the minaret of a mosque never completed. We’ll have lunch and then go to Meknès, the smallest Imperial City and nicknamed “Versailles of Morocco”. Dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 3: Meknés, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Fès (km 100)

In the morning you’ll visit medina area with an official guide, you’ll reach Bab El-Monseur El-Hedim square and the Agdal water basin. After we’ll leave Meknés and go in direction Zerhoun Mountains, where you’ll visit Volubilis, Roman archaeological that has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. You’ll be able to walk among the ruins and you can admire the Arch of Triumph, the old Roman thermae, the oil mills, the colonnaded garden and much more. Then we’ll reach Moulay Idriss, a picturesque town perched on a hill, which is considered a sacred destination for pilgrimages from all over Morocco. Actually here is located the tomb of Idriss I, great-nephew of the prophet Mohammed. We’ll visit the city and climb the steps to the left of the Mausoleum, where there’s the only cylindrical minaret in all of Morocco and from where we can admire a wonderful view. Then we’ll reach Fés and stop in riad for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Fés and its beauties

In the morning an official guide will pick you up directly in riad and go to visit medina area. You can admire the most famous buildings, such as Bab Boujeloud, Bou Inania Madrasa, Nejjjarine Square and Seffarine Square. You can also walk in the souq and reach the tanners’ quarter, known as Chouwara Tanneries. Rest of the day completely free, you can walk inside medina or relax in a traditional hammam. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 5: Fés, Ifrane, Cedar forest (Azrou), Midelt, Ziz Valley, Al-Hassan Addakkhil lake, Errachidia, Tafilalet Oasis, Erfoud, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi desert (km 468)

Early in the morning we’ll leave Fés and start our trip passing through rural areas. We’ll reach Ifrane, also called “little Switzerland of Morocco”, that’s located at an elevation of 1.670mt and it looks like Northern European cities. We’ll visit it and then reach the largest Cedar forest in the world, we can admire centenary trees and see the Berber macaques, the community of monkeys that populate this area. After we’ll reach Midelt, we’ll have lunch and then cross the Tizi-n-Thalrhemt, descending into the Ziz Valley. We’ll pass through Errachidia and we’ll skirt artificial lake Al-Hassan Addakhil. We’ll reach Tafilalet’s palm grove and admire this amazing oasis. We’ll pass through Erfoud, a small village surrounded by date palms, we’ll arrive in Merzouga and here you’ll ride your dromedary. You’ll cross the Erg Chebbi desert and enjoy a wonderful sunset on the great dune. You’ll arrive at the tent camp, you can drink a typical Berber tea and find your luggage directly inside your tent, which will be equipped with every comfort. You’ll have time to relax and after enjoy a typical Moroccan dinner. After we’ll stay under the starry sky of Sahara, sitting around a bonfire, where desert nomads will come to enchant us with drums and stories about the history of their ancient traditions.

Day 6: Erg Chebbi desert, Merzouga, Erfoud, Tinejdad, Tinghir, Todra Gorges, Dades Valley (km 266)

We’ll wake up very early to admire the sunrise, we’ll have breakfast and leave the camp. We’ll pass through Tinejdad, Tinghir and we’ll reach Todra Gorge. Following the river by foot you can take a suggestive walk among the rocky walls carved into the mountain, about 600mt high. Along the way you can meet the local Berbers, women washing their clothes and shepherds walking with their flocks. We’ll have lunch in a local restaurant surrounded by greenery and then cross an area characterized by palm trees, lush fields and kasbah. We’ll go into the Dades Valley, characterized by red clay houses that blend beautifully with same color hills. Then we’ll reach a beautiful panoramic accommodation, we’ll enjoy a beautiful sunset and stop for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Dades Valley, El Kelaat M'Gouna, Roses Valley, Skoura Oasis, Ourzazate, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, High Atlas, Tizi n'Tichka Pass, Marrakech (km 324)

After breakfast we’ll reach El Kelaat M’Gouna, located in the Roses Valley. This area is famous for the centifolia roses and can visit an association of local workers, where petals are transformed into creams, essences and edible products. Then we’ll continue along Skoura Oasis, until we arrive in Ourzazate. We’ll reach the famous Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou we’ll visit it. We’ll have lunch in a local restaurant and then go in direction High Atlas, along a suggestive panoramic road. We’ll cross several Berber villages, we’ll reach Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260 meters above sea level) and stop to enjoy the view. Along the way we’ll meet Cooperatives of Argan Oil and we can visit one of them, being able to admire millenary manufacturing processes still today carried out manually. We’ll reach Marrakech in late afternoon and accompany you directly to your accommodation.

Day 8: Marrakech and its beauties

In the morning, after breakfat, you’ll visit Marrakech with an official guide. You’ll go to the famous Jemaa El Fna square, that has ben declared UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001and then you’ll continue in direction Kotoubia Mosque, where you can admire its wonderful minaret and walk through the lush gardens that surround this area. Then you’ll visit other monuments, such as Ben Youssed Madrasa, the largest Koranic school in Morocco, El Badi Palace and the sumptuous Bahia Palace. You can also visit the Saadian Tombs, the elegant Saadian dynasty mausoleum, and admire the spectacular Bab Agnau. Then you’ll admire the colourful, crowded and exceptional souq. You’ll also visit the Mellah, the main former Jewish quarter, famous for spices, legumes and cereals. Rest of the day will be completely free, you can maybe have fun haggling to bring home the latest souvenirs, not forgetting to admire the sunset from one of the beautiful terraces overlooking Jaama el-Fna. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 9: come back home

If your return flight will be from Casablanca, we’ll leave Marrakech, we’ll cross Ait Moussi, Ben Guerir, Sidi Abdallah and Settat. Finally, we’ll arrive in Casablanca and we’ll accompany you directly to the airport. If your return flight will be from Marrakech, we’ll go directly to Marrakech airport!

Inchallah, see you next adventure together!

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