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12 days tour Casablanca to Marrakech via Sahara Desert

Overview:

On this best 12 days Morocco tour from Casablanca, (and back to Casablanca) you’ll see several fabulous places and spend a magical night in the Sahara Desert ( you can choose between a standard camp and a luxury camp).

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: CASABLANCA AIRPORT:

We will pick you up from the airport to your accommodation.

Day 2: CASABLANCA TOUR – RABAT:

After a delicious breakfast, we will tour this active city, Casablanca. It is a mixture of sights, feelings, and culture; outside the Medina, it resembles a European city, but once you enter the Medina, you realize you are in Morocco, with its friendly people, the narrow alleys of its souk, and the sound of the call to prayer, all of which make it a beautiful and captivating city. We will visit the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest in the world, a magnificent structure with breathtaking views of the ocean, as well as the most fascinating areas of the city, including the Boulevard de la Corniche, the Park of the United Nations, and the Mohamed V square. We will continue to the city of Rabat; protected by several fortifications, the medina of Rabat reflects the spirit of the ancient city with its magnificent carpets, metalworkers, and numerous artisans who practice their craft in full view of the passing public. We will be able to visit, among other sites, the Royal Palace, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, and the Hassan Tower. Spend the night at your hotel.

Day 3: RABAT – VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FES:

Following breakfast at your Riad, you will begin your journey to Fes via Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, another important imperial city in Morocco, also known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will see the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Moulay Ismail mausoleum. After lunch, you will continue your journey to the Roman city of Volubilis, where you will have the opportunity to view the beautifully preserved mosaics, Roman roads, and city design. As you travel through the Moroccan countryside, you will have a chance to photograph the Holy City of Moulay Idriss. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Fes and settle into your Riad in the Medina. Spend the night at the Riad.

Day 4: FEZ – UNESCO HERITAGE SITE:

You will have your morning meal in your Riad, then begin on an exploration of the Medina, where you will discover many hidden treasures known only to the locals. Fes was the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years, and the University of Al Karaouine is the world’s oldest regularly accessible university. Your excursion will take you to the Moulay Idriss mausoleum as well as… After lunch, you will view the exterior of the Royal Palace and wander through the famous Jewish quarter “Mellah,” where you will have the opportunity to visit one of the few active synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fes involves a brief stop at the known ceramics factory. Overnight at your Riad.

Day 5: FES – IFRANE – MIDELT – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA:

Following the caravan routes to Merzouga, you will depart your Riad in the southeast after breakfast and head to Merzouga. Throughout this trip, you are going to see glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Over the Middle Atlas Mountains, you will stop at the largest cedar forest in Morocco, where you will spot barbarian monkeys. After lunch in Midelt or nearby, you will continue through the vast, open high desert and see how the landscape changes as you approach the city of Errachidia, revealing glimpses of the desert. Your journey proceeds through the green Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet date palm plantation, which is known for its date cultivation. This region is the origin of the Alaouite dynasty – Morocco’s current ruled royal family. You will arrive in Merzouga in the evening, where you will be greeted with mint tea before checking into your Riad. Half-Board.

Day 6: EXPLORE ERG CHEBBI – DESERT TOUR:

This morning after breakfast in the hotel. You will have a Desert tour around dunes on 4×4 allowing you to visit the black volcanic rocks of fossils, visit Nomad families living in tents, then head to Khamlia village and entertainment of their spiritual music of Gnaoua, and visit the lake Dayte Sarji forms in springtime which attracts pink flamingos and wildlife you will have a break for lunch in Merzouga or around. After lunch, you will see the canal irrigation system and have a walk on the oasis located on the foot of the dunes Continue to your hotel for relaxation. Arrive at the hotel and get ready for the Camel trek for an hour and a half to enjoy the sunset. While on the back of your dromedary, you will continue to the camp for an overnight in a traditional Nomadic tent. Spend the night in a bivouac (Berber tent) in the middle of the dunes.

Day 7: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – ERFOUD – TODRA GORGE – DADES VALLEY:

If you rise early enough, we are able to see the magnificence of sunrise, when the color of the dunes combines with the play of shadows to create a breathtaking scene. After breakfast, we ride camels for a couple of hours (or less, depending on your preference) before heading to Tinghir and Todra Gorges for lunch. This route crosses Tinjdad and the Todra Valley. This beautiful area offers numerous opportunities for walking, including along the river through the gardens and up the road on the other side of the gorge. We will then proceed to the Dades Valley and Dades Gorges before staying the night in a Riad.

Day 8: DADES VALLEY – BOUTAGHAR – VALLEY OF THE ROSES – SKOURA – OUARZAZATE – MARRAKECH:

If you rise early enough, we are able to see the magnificence of sunrise, when the color of the dunes combines with the play of shadows to create a breathtaking scene. After breakfast, we ride camels for a couple of hours (or less, depending on your preference) before heading to Tinghir and Todra Gorges for lunch. This route crosses Tinjdad and the Todra Valley. This beautiful area offers numerous opportunities for walking, including along the river through the gardens and up the road on the other side of the gorge. We will then proceed to the Dades Valley and Dades Gorges before staying the night in a Riad.

Day 8: DADES VALLEY – BOUTAGHAR – VALLEY OF THE ROSES – SKOURA – OUARZAZATE – MARRAKECH:

After breakfast, we will travel through the villages of this picturesque region, passing Berber women’s fields and the highest points of the High Atlas as a backdrop. Our trip will then proceed toward Ouarzazate along the Roses Valley, which is well known for its May Rose Festival, and by the oasis Kasbah of Skoura. Then comes Ouarzazate. We will visit the cinematographic museum and the At Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the filming location for numerous Hollywood spectacles. This is the most known kasbah in Morocco. From here, begin crossing Africa’s highest road point, Tizi N’Tichka. Arriving in the evening in Marrakech.

Day 09: VISITING MARRAKECH WITH LOCAL GUIDE:

After breakfast at the Riad, you are going to go on a guided tour of Marrakech, “the Red City of Morocco,” in the morning. Your guide will ensure that you visit all historical and culturally significant sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadian monuments, the magnificent Palace of Bahia, and the Ben Youssef Quranic School. In the evening, walk through the medina alleys, looking at the various artisans at work, before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square; have lunch at a restaurant near the square; and in the afternoon, visit the Majorelle gardens and take a short tour of Gueliz, the new city of Marrakech. You will have the option to stroll through the square after dinner while being entertained by magicians, storytellers, tooth-pullers, and food sellers. Your overnight lodging will be in your Riad.

Day 10: MARRAKECH – ESSAOUIRA:

You will begin your journey to Essaouira, a town on the coast of Morocco. A two-and-a-half-hour journey will get us there to explore the city. You will visit the Skala Fortress, watch artisans carving Thuya wood, wander through the medina, and view hundreds of handicrafts. This “City of the Wind” draws surfers from around the world. Essaouira has been influenced by numerous civilizations, including the Portuguese occupation, which is obvious in the city’s architecture. You will also visit an Argan oil women’s cooperative. They extract the oil known for its culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal uses. The lunch will be prepared in the Moroccan style, with fresh seafood “cooked to order” at the fish market. Later in the afternoon, you can explore more about the city on your own. Spend the night at the Riad.

Day 11: ESSAOUIRA – CASABLANCA:

On our way to Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, we will stop in Oualidia, a picturesque resort located on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by numerous lagoons, with a 3 km stretch of white sand beach. When the tide moves out, you can experience a spectacular view of the sand beach and the ocean as a horizon, which is one of its peculiarities. We will continue our excursion along the coast until we reach El Jadida. This town has preserved all of its walls and four of the five original bastions, and its fishing port, well-preserved medina, and accessibility to the ocean are its primary attractions. In the middle of the afternoon, we will reach Casablanca after continuing along the coast to look at the Portuguese vestiges.

DAY 12: CASABLANCA:

Breakfast and transfer to the airport. Unfortunately, our best 12 days Morocco tour from Casablanca will end here.

Tour Includes:

Tour Excludes:

Our tour gallery:

NOTE

NEED HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP

Alternative tours and itineraries are available for those who can devote more time to the 12-day excursion. We can create custom Marrakech excursions that conclude in any Moroccan city, or you can modify any of the existing Marrakech tour itineraries to meet your requirements.