Day 1: Casablanca airport – Rabat
Upon arrival at Med V airport, we will meet you and drive you to Rabat city, the administrative capital of the kingdom. Extensive sightseeing includes the Mausoleum Mohammed V, Hassan Tower, the Chellah necropolis and the Kasbah Oudaya. Late afternoon, check into your hotel, dinner and overnight. (Please note that those arriving early in the day may choose a short tour of Casablanca, the financial capital of Morocco and the commercial centre of North Africa, where we will visit Hassan II mosque.)
Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Fes
After breakfast, you will take the highway towards the youngest imperial city of Meknes, one of the UNESCO sites. Here, among other things, you will visit the gate of Bab Mansour, El Hdim place, the silos, the stables, Mausoleum of the Sultan Mouly Ismail and the ramparts of the old medina, etc. Dinner and overnight in the ancient city of Fes.
Day 3: Fes
A whole day devoted for the visit of Fes, the intellectual and religious center of Morocco as well as the capital of craftsmanship. After breakfast, you will explore the medieval medina of Fes, another UNESCO’s world heritage. A labyrinth of around 9500 alleys, narrow cobbled streets that teem with ancient mosques (around 365 mosques), Mederasas (Koranic schools), fountains and Foundouks besides the souks and the famous tanneries……
Day 4: Fes – Volubilis – Fes
After breakfast you will visit the ramparts of Fes including the royal palace, nothern and southern towers that provide a stunning view on the medina, and the Jewish quarter. You then will drive to Volubilis, the ancient Roman ruins, classified as one of the UNESCO’s world heritage. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Fes, check into your hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Fes – Midelt – Erfoud-Merzouga
After breakfast, we leave Fes and drive towards Midelt via Ifran and the cedar forests of the middle Atlas. We then continue to the old Sijilmassa and Erfoud, en route exploring the beautiful Ziz valley and discovering one of the famous hills where locals extract fossils. Heading to the village of Merzouga and its dunes, we will exchange our vehicle for camels. A short ride will bring us to an oasis where we will have dinner and spend the night under the stars in our nomadic tents.
Day 6: Erfoud – Todgha gorges- Tinghir-Ouarzazate
The most beautiful event in the desert is to watch the sun rise over the golden dunes of Merzouga. After breakfast and a ride back to the hostel to shower, we leave to travel through the Todgha gorges to Tinghir and on to Ouarzazate (known as the Hollywood of Africa ) . En route we will travel the road of 1,000 kasbahs and cross the colorful valley of roses. You will also discover the city of roses in Kelaa Mgouna and the fascinating Skoura palm grove. Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate.
Day 7: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou- Marrakech
After breakfast, you will visit the famous Kasbah Taourirt and one of the cinema studios. Then you head off to Ait Benhaddou village, the most preserved ksar in the south of Morocco. Movies such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia were shot there. The Ksar has also been used as a setting for many tournaments and has been classified by UNSECO as a world heritage site. In the afternoon we drive to Marrakech where you will check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Marrakesh.
Day 8: Marrakesh
Breakfast then whole day will be devoted to exploring the impressive city of Marrakech, also named `the pearl of the South’. You will visit the Koutoubia mosque, the Bahia Palace, and have ample time to walk the many souks of the old medina. We will end at the famous place, Jemaa El Fna Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of the city , crowded with legendary snake charmers, storytellers, musicians, barbers and sellers of fruit, water, spices, food, etc. Late afternoon you return to your hotel; dinner and overnight in Marrakesh.
Day 9: Marrakech-Ourika Valley Waterfalls
After breakfast, you will have an excursion to Sitti Fatima village and Ourika Valley waterfalls where we will discover fascinating Berber villages along the way. We will have lunch by the waterfalls in a Berber restaurant that prepare local fresh food. In the late afternoon you will drive back to Marrakesh with an optional visit to a Fantasia show with dinner . Overnight in Marrakesh.
Day 10: Marrakech-Essaouira
After breakfast you will travel to the magical coastal city of Essaouira, 170 kilometers from Marakech, along the Atlantic Ocean. You will be taken on a walking tour to discover the fascinating history of the city. You will visit the Skala, the Portuguese harbor as well as the Jewish quarter. Enjoy free time to wander along the beach in the wind city or a sunset drink overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from different cafes, located at the main exit of Skala. Check into your hotel; dinner and overnight in Essaouira.
Day 11: Essaouira – Safi – Casablanca
Breakfast in the hotel, free morning to visit the city on your own . You can visit art galleries , shop for Thyia wood handicrafts and try fresh seafood in one of the restaurants on the harbor. Return to Casablanca on the coastal road. Check into your hotel; dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Casablanca – Med V airport
Breakfast then transfer to the airport for your flight home. Additional sightseeing in Casablanca is optional depending upon departure time.