8 Days Tour From Casablanca to Merzouga Desert Fes and Marrakech

8 Days from Casablanca to Marrakech via Desert
Day 1: Arrival to Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes
Upon your arrival or pick up you at your hotel in Casablanca. We will visit the biggest Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. The Hassan II Mosque will be the first introduction of Moorish influences in Morocco. It is built by the king Hassan II between 1987 and 1993. Over 25 thousand worshipers can pray inside and 80 thousand worshipers pray outside in the big square of the mosque. We travel to Rabat to visit some historical site like Chellah, this archaeological site inscribed on the list of world cultural heritage of UNESCO since 2012, its lovely spot In Rabat where you see a breathtaking combination of Roman and Merinid remains. You have the unfinished mosque Tower Hassan and the piece of art mausoleum Mohamed 5th to visit. After the tour of Rabat we move to the next city Meknes. It was built by the sultan Moulay Ismael in 18th century, famous of beautiful gates, mosques and madrasas. Overnight in Meknes.
Day 2: Meknes – Volubilis – Fes
Next Morning after a nice breakfast we start our visit of Meknes with the granary Sahrij Swani. It is used to store food and water for the ‘’black Army’’ of the sultan Moulay Ismael. We can visit the mausoleum of the sultan and admire the Arab-Andalusian style. We will have a look at the tremendous gate of Bab Mansour. Only 30 km from Meknes we discover Volubilis .The archeological roman site well-preserved listed in UNISCO (1997), remains of astonishing mosaics, hundreds of Latin inscriptions and artistic materials. Our trip for today will be finished in Fes.
Day 3: Fes sightseeing
After breakfast you meet our local guide of Fes; you are going to explore the old medieval medina of Fes and the 1st imperial city, a real labyrinthine of more than 9000 alleyways and deserves to be the intellectual and cultural capital of the kingdom. Mingled with fasi people in these streets full of articles, colours and donkeys carrying goods. You will see a lot of handcrafted items,Fes is number 1 in crafts, like old days using the same materials .The tanneries ,famous in fes, is one the highlights of the tour, watching locals working on skins of goat, lamp, camel and cow, in small pits. You also will indulge yourselves with some special dishes of Fes cuisine. You will enjoy a panoramic view in the southern tower of Fes;and visit the cooperative of pottery where they make tiles and Moroccan mosaic .Or maybe you go for a entertainment dinner show with belly dancers to end up your tour of Fes.
Day 4 : Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Merzouga Desert
We are going to leave the medieval Fes and heading to another part of Morocco. Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains .We stop for a short break in Ifran or the small Switzerland where is the first ski resort in Morocco. We will be surrounded by amazing sceneries and landscapes of mountains and plains. A special species of native monkeys living in cedar woods, over 30 members in one family called Maggot monkeys in Azrou. We will have lunch break in Midelt, it celebrates the festival of apples every years. There is a big contrast of landscapes especially when we drive through Ziz valley to get us to Arfoud, the gate of the sahara, to Merzouga.
Day 5 : Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges – Palm Groves of Skoura Ouarzazate
After your breakfast we leave the Sahara and head towards the old system of irrigation that is still used in the oasis of Eljerf.A break on the way in Tinjidad .We will have lunch in valley of Toudra. It is considered as one of the oldest valley in Morocco for caravan trading and where the first Moroccan money was made out of silver.A beautiful valley of 15 km of date palms ends up with a spectacular Gorges, mainly used for rock climbing and picnics. We embark on Dades valley which has an astonishing rock formation made by million years of erosion. We cross more Rose Valley, the only place in Morocco where we harvest Damascus rose in which we extract some products like rose water and rose oil best for skin treatment and anti-wrinkles. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Day 6: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Telouet – Marrakech
Next morning there are two place to visit in this cinematographic city. Taourirte Kasbah which is a real image of Berber architecture made out clay and straw and the studio of cinema. On our arrival to Ait Ben Haddou village we will go for a walk to visit this ancient village. An old village where a list of movie credits were made starting with the first movies “Lawrence of Arabia”, ”Jesus of Nazareth”, ”Gladiator” and the list is still going on. It is also listed in UNISCO as a site of world and national culture in 1987. Then we head to the great Telouet Kasbah strong hold fort, built by the lord of the atlas Thami Pasha and was trading center of caravans. We travel to the north of High Atlas Mountains via Tizi-n-Tichka(2260m).A spectacular road of red mountains and Berber villages to Marrakech.
Day 7: Marrakech sightseeing
For the city tour of Marrakech you are going with the local guide. You will visit Bahia palace;built by Bahmad Grand visir of Marrakech with its incredible mosaics and stucco and hear some interesting stories about 4 wives and the 24 concubines. The extraordinary architecture of Saadian Tomb, royal necropolis of 17th century. Spending some great time in the famous souks of Marrakech; you going to like different smells, colours, itmes and how big is the souks of Marrakech. Jack Majorelle garden,a peaceful spot in the ville nouvelle, contains botanic and exotic plants brought from all over the world, with dominating indigo blue to paint the wall.You will finish your tour at the square Jamaa Elfana. A bustling place where there are snake charmers, monkeys, food stalls and musicians, the most animated square in Marrakech!!
Day 8: Marrakech – Casablanca
When you are ready you will have a transfer to the airport of Marrakech or airport of Casablanca and it will be the end of imperial cities 8 days in Morocco.