Sahara Desert & Imperial Cities from Tangier to Marrakech - 10 Days

DAY 1: Tangier - Tetouan - Chefchaouen

You will meet your driver at the port or the airport of Tangier up to your arrival time and drive to Chefchaouen through Tetouan and the Rif Mountains you can make some stops for photos on the panoramic landscape of the Rif mountains after 3 hours you will reach the blue city Chefchaouen where you will spend your first overnight. you will check in your accommodation and you have the rest of the day to walk around the blue streets on your own.

DAY 2: Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fes

This morning, after breakfast, we will go to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage town, an ancient Roman settlement. Here you can admire the alleyways, gates, monuments, and mosaic floors. Dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the Roman ruins here are considered the best-preserved in Morocco. Our next stop will be in Meknes, a World Heritage Unesco Site and one of the 4 Imperial cities of Morocco. Meknes, the site of the first Arab dynasty created by Moulay Ismail and here you can visit the Medersa Bou Inania and the Bab Mansour, the Gateway to Moulay Ismail Palace. Afterward will take the way to Fes and check into your accommodation.

DAY 3: Full day to visit Fes

After breakfast, you will meet with a local official tourist guide to exploring Fes, the most ancient and holy of the Imperial cities. Your cultural and historic tour will take you through the 2000-year-old living medina. A labyrinth of narrow streets, alive with markets and souks, craftsmen, donkeys, and mules transporting their loads. Visit the Attarine and Bou Anania Medersas (Islamic universities), the Nejjarine fountain, the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum, and the Karaouine Mosque. Finish your tour with a visit to Fes Jdid, and the revered Merenid Tombs for a spectacular panoramic view of Fes.

DAY 4: Fes - Ifrane - Azrou - Midelt - Ziz Valley - Merzouga

Pick up from your hotel in Fez very early in the morning and depart for the south of Morocco. You will have a stop in Ifrane, known as the Switzerland of Morocco to enjoy its beauty and to have some memorable photos. After that, you will head toward Azrou to see the monkeys in the cedar forest. Continuing to Midelt for a lunch meal in a restaurant. In the afternoon, we will cross the pass of Tizi N Talghamt to reach Errachidia while admiring the views of Ziz gorges. Later you will have a stop for a panoramic view of Ziz valley. The drive continues to Erg Chebbi Dunes passing by Aoufous and Erfoud (the last is famous with fossils and dates) where you may want to visit a local fossil craft workshop. After that you will continue to the captivating dunes of Erg Chebbi, these dunes are called also Merzouga Dunes. Arrive at the hotel where you will spend the night. Dinner in the hotel.

DAY 5: Merzouga - Hassi Labied - Khamlia - Nomad family - Fossil Site - Tour of the dunes - (Camel Ride & Night in Sahara)

This morning after breakfast in the hotel, you will have a tour of the dunes on 4×4 allowing you to visit the black volcanic rocks of fossils, visit a nomad family living in a tent, visit Khamlia village, and entertainment of their spiritual music of Gnawa. Visit the lake Date Sarji that forms in springtime which attracts pink flamingos and wildlife. Then you will have a break for lunch in Merzouga or Hassi Labied. After lunch, you will see the canal irrigation system and have a walk on the oasis located at the foot of the dunes. In the afternoon get ready for a 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 nomad tent. Dinner and spend the night in a bivouac in the middle of the dunes.

DAY 6: Erg Chebbi Dunes - Erfoud - Tinejdad - Todra Gorges - Boumalne Dades

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise on the top of the dune in the Sahara Desert and then have your breakfast. After these beautiful moments, you will ride your camel back to Merzouga. We depart towards Tineghir passing by Erfoud and Tinejdad. Have a break for lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue to Todra gorges via Tineghir. Stopping along the way for photos and admiring the views. Arrive at Todra Gorges to enjoy its marvelous Canyon views while hiking on foot. Later on, we drive to Boumalne du Dades and stopping for a panoramic view of Dades Valley. Check into your accommodation and later you will have a delicious dinner.

DAY 7: Boumalne Dades - Kelaa M’gouna - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Tizi N'Tichka Pass - Marrakech

This morning after breakfast in the hotel, we depart to Marrakech. The next site to visit is the Rose Valley going through the big Skoura palm grove, a beautiful place to contemplate more than 700.000 palms and numerous kasbahs that are built in the surrounding area. In this Valley damascenes, roses are raised for cosmetic use such as the valued rosewater. The next stop is in Ouarzazate, also known as “The gate of the desert” which in the Berber language means “noiseless or without confusion”. Here we´ll see the Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars in Morocco. Stopping for a panoramic view of the kasbah of Taourirt then another photo stop near the Atlas studio and after that, we continue to the ksar (fortified village) of Aït Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot on this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penélope Cruz…etc. After that, we will drive to Marrakech over the mountains of high Atlas passing through the Tizi N’tichka pass (2260 m in altitude). Arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon and check into your accommodation.

DAY 8: Marrakech sightseeing

After breakfast in your accommodation, you will have a private guided walking tour of Marrakech Medina with an official guide from Marrakech. You will see the famous Mosque of Koutoubia, the Medina, and its souks, and explore some more of Marrakech’s secrets: Ali Ben Youssef Koranic school, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, and Majorelle Gardens. In the afternoon the best option is to explore the medina on your own, approaching the square that in the evening is full of narrators, jugglers, diviners, snake charmers, and musicians.

DAY 9: Day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech

This morning we will depart at 8 am for the seaside town of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. A relaxing 3-hour journey, lined with Argan oil trees, where we will make a stop to watch the goats climbing on Argan trees. Later we will make another stop on an Argan oil feminine cooperative, where you will have the opportunity to see the process. Later we reach Essaouira, this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. The windswept fishing port, with broad beaches and ancient walled medina with ramparts built into the cliffs, has long been a popular destination. With its relaxed feel, take in the small but lively medina, stroll along the ramparts or beach, or visit the port to see the daily catch and have a great lunch with seafood in a local restaurant. In the afternoon at about 4:00 pm, we drive back to Marrakech. The driver will drop you off in your accommodation.

DAY 10: Transfer to Marrakech airport

The driver will transfer you to the airport up to your flight departure time and the end of our services.

- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.

- Infant seats are available.

- Not wheelchair accessible.

- Not recommended for travelers with back problems.

- Not recommended for pregnant travelers.

- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

- Most travelers can participate.

- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate.

What to Bring For the Tour:

- Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen cream.

- Comfortable jeans or trousers for camel trekking.

- Camera & phone chargers.

- Warm clothes in the winter season.