12-Day Morocco Imperial Cities and Sahara Desert Tour with Atlas

12 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Morocco is home to snow-capped Atlas Mountains, endless sands, medieval towns, and exquisite architecture that chronicles a bygone era. Discover the mysteries o...

Duration: 12 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Moderate · Accommodation: Included · Budget · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: Yes · Cities: Casablanca, El Jadida, Fez, Marrakech, Essaouira, Meknes, Midelt, Rabat, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Aït Benhaddou, Ziz Valley, Erg Chebbi, Tinejdad, Skoura, Moulay Idriss, Boumalne Dades, Volubilis · Languages: English

Know before you go: Many Moroccans do not want you to take their photos.; Non-Muslims are not allowed in most mosques in Morocco.; It can be freezing in winter in Morocco.; Trains in Morocco are reliable and affordable.; Government-run tourist attractions in Morocco are a great value.

About El Jadida

Morocco

El Jadida

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What's Included

Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel/airport
An air-conditioned 4x4 Land Cruiser or a spacious minivan for groups
English-speaking driver
Camel rides and an overnight stay in a private traditional nomad tent
No forced shopping stops
Dinners in Merzouga, Dades Valley, and Ouarzazate

Not Included

Lunch and drinks
Entrance fees
Travel insurance

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Casablanca and Visit to Rabat

Meet your guide at the airport. Meet your guide at the airport. Depart for a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. Depart for a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. Continue to Rabat to visit Morocco's administrative and political capital. Continue to Rabat to visit Morocco's administrative and political capital. Dinner and overnight.
2

Day 02

Moulay Idriss, Volubilis, Meknes, and Arrival in Fez

After breakfast, depart for Fez via Moulay Idriss, the holy city, and visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. After breakfast, depart for Fez via Moulay Idriss, the holy city, and visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Have lunch and visit Meknes, known as "The Versailles of Morocco". Have lunch and visit Meknes, known as "The Versailles of Morocco". Visit the monuments of Meknes. Visit the monuments of Meknes. Arrive in Fez. Arrive in Fez. Dinner and overnight at the riad.
3

Day 03

Historical Discovery of Fez

After breakfast, the day is dedicated to discovering Fez, the oldest imperial city and medina, founded by Idriss II and considered a center of Arab-Muslim culture. After breakfast, the day is dedicated to discovering Fez, the oldest imperial city and medina, founded by Idriss II and considered a center of Arab-Muslim culture. See the Mosque of the Andalusians, the tanneries, the potters' district, and the medina. See the Mosque of the Andalusians, the tanneries, the potters' district, and the medina. Have lunch in a palace in the medina. Have lunch in a palace in the medina. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Hispano-Moorish buildings and Medersas Nejjarine. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Hispano-Moorish buildings and Medersas Nejjarine.
4

Day 04

Through the Middle Atlas to Merzouga Dunes

Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast. Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast. Starting from Midelt, travel through the Middle Atlas. Starting from Midelt, travel through the Middle Atlas. Stop for lunch. Stop for lunch. Continue to Erfoud along the Ziz Valley, passing through a successive series of fortified villages whose architecture announces the pre-Saharan oases. Continue to Erfoud along the Ziz Valley, passing through a successive series of fortified villages whose architecture announces the pre-Saharan oases. Reach the dunes of Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), where you will stay in a kasbah or in a nomad tent. Reach the dunes of Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), where you will stay in a kasbah or in a nomad tent.
5

Day 05

Merzouga Desert Excursion and Camel Caravan

After breakfast, take the grand tour through the dunes, visiting the two oases of Merzouga, the wandering deposit, the village of Khamlia (village of the blacks), the MIFISS mines, the desert plateau to meet the Berber nomads, and the oasis of Tisserdmin. After breakfast, take the grand tour through the dunes, visiting the two oases of Merzouga, the wandering deposit, the village of Khamlia (village of the blacks), the MIFISS mines, the desert plateau to meet the Berber nomads, and the oasis of Tisserdmin. Back at the hostel, at around 15:00, begin your camel caravan to watch the sunset in the dunes, with about one and a half hours on camelback. Back at the hostel, at around 15:00, begin your camel caravan to watch the sunset in the dunes, with about one and a half hours on camelback. Spend the night under nomad tents in the dunes and enjoy the silence of the desert beneath a sky full of stars. Spend the night under nomad tents in the dunes and enjoy the silence of the desert beneath a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight in a private tent.
6

Day 06

Sunrise in Merzouga and Journey to Todra Gorge

After sunrise, return to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. After sunrise, return to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. Then depart for Tineghir via Rissani, Erfoud, and Tinejdad, arriving at Todra Gorge. Then depart for Tineghir via Rissani, Erfoud, and Tinejdad, arriving at Todra Gorge. Dinner and overnight.
7

Day 07

Valley of Roses, Skoura, and Ouarzazate

After breakfast, depart for Ouarzazate via Kelâa Gouna, the city where the Rose Festival takes place every year. After breakfast, depart for Ouarzazate via Kelâa Gouna, the city where the Rose Festival takes place every year. Have lunch and continue to Ouarzazate through the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses, and Skoura, stopping to visit Kasbah Ameridil. Have lunch and continue to Ouarzazate through the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses, and Skoura, stopping to visit Kasbah Ameridil. Then continue to Ouarzazate. Then continue to Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight at the riad.
8

Day 08

Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, and Marrakech

Visit the city of Ouarzazate, founded in 1928, which became a well-known cinematographic center. Visit the city of Ouarzazate, founded in 1928, which became a well-known cinematographic center. Stop en route to visit the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, then continue to Marrakech. Stop en route to visit the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, then continue to Marrakech. Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon. Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
9

Day 09

Cultural Tour of Marrakech

After breakfast, the whole day will be devoted to visiting Marrakech, "The Pearl of the South", founded in the eleventh century. After breakfast, the whole day will be devoted to visiting Marrakech, "The Pearl of the South", founded in the eleventh century. In the morning, visit the Koutoubia, the Saadian Tombs, the Menara Garden, and the Bahia Palace. In the morning, visit the Koutoubia, the Saadian Tombs, the Menara Garden, and the Bahia Palace. Return to the hotel for lunch. Return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the souks of the old medina and Jemaa El Fna. In the afternoon, visit the souks of the old medina and Jemaa El Fna. Have dinner in a Moroccan restaurant. Have dinner in a Moroccan restaurant.
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Day 10

Journey to Essaouira and Medina Tour

After breakfast, depart for Essaouira. After breakfast, depart for Essaouira. Upon arrival, have fish for lunch. Upon arrival, have fish for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour and discover the medina of Essaouira, formerly known for its handicrafts, Portuguese fortifications, silver jewellery, and inlaid thuja wood. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour and discover the medina of Essaouira, formerly known for its handicrafts, Portuguese fortifications, silver jewellery, and inlaid thuja wood. Dinner and overnight.
11

Day 11

Atlantic Coast Drive to Casablanca via El Jadida

After breakfast, depart for Casablanca via El Jadida and El Oualidia, with the possibility of eating fish specialties. After breakfast, depart for Casablanca via El Jadida and El Oualidia, with the possibility of eating fish specialties. Continue to El Jadida along the Atlantic coast. Continue to El Jadida along the Atlantic coast. Arrive in Casablanca. Arrive in Casablanca. Dinner and overnight.
12

Day 12

Departure from Casablanca

After breakfast, transfer to Casablanca Mohammed V Airport. After breakfast, transfer to Casablanca Mohammed V Airport.

Meeting Point

Meeting point: Mohammed V International Airport, Rte de Nouasseur, Casablanca, Morocco · Tour start: Casablanca, Morocco — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.