16-Day Grand Morocco Tour: Sahara Desert, Imperial Cities & Essaouira

Day 1 -Arrival Casablanca Airport/ Casablanca

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be met and transferred by van to your Casablanca hotel, where you will check in and relax for the afternoon and evening. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 2 –Casablanca / Rabat / Chefchaouen

After breakfast, you will have a tour of the Hassan II mosque. You will then leave towards Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of Morocco in the Rif Mountains. On route, you will stop at Rabat, the capital city and residence of the King and visit a few of its highlights, before continuing on to Chefchaouen for the night. Dinner will be served at the Riad.

Day 3 –Chefchaouen (Guided Tour)

After breakfast, you will have a tour of this “cool” blue town, tucked away in the mountains. You will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the Rif Mountains. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.

Day 4 –Chefchaouen /Volubilis / Meknes / Fes

After breakfast, you will set out in the morning to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. You will spend the morning exploring the 2000-year- old ruins and getting a picture of life during the Roman Empire. Lunch will be taken in Meknes one of Morocco’s Imperial cities. After lunch, your guide will take you on a tour of Meknes, and then you will head off to Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. Dinner will be served in the Riad or Hotel.

Day 5 –  Fes (Guided Tour)

After breakfast you will begin your guided tour of the medina, one of the worlds largest walled in cities. You will explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other art objects of Morocco. A visit to the Kings Palace, the tanneries, and potters are just a few places you will experience. For lunch you will eat in traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina. After lunch you will complete the tour and return to your hotel for the evening. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.

Day 6 –Fes/ Middle Atlas/ Erfoud

After an early breakfast you will begin your ascent across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Most of the day will be spent winding your way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as you cross the Atlas Mountains and begin to descend towards the Sahara Desert. Half way, you will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks.

On arrival at the hotel in Erfoud, a hot shower or dip in the swimming pool (depending on the weather). Dinner will be served in the Kasbah.

Day 7 –Erfoud /Errissani/ Sahara Desert

Most of the day will be spent relaxing at the Kasbah or exploring the small but interesting desert town. In the afternoon, you will head off in some 4-wheel drive vehicles across the barren land to the majestic Sahara sand dunes. You will set off by camel for a short camel trek to watch the sunset and return to where you will spend the night in Berber tents.

Day 8 – Merzouga/ Todra Gorges/Dades Gorges / Ouarzazate

After breakfast, you will return from the tents by 4x4s and head back to Erfoud. From Erfoud you set out behind the High Atlas Mountains on route to the Todra Gorges. In the afternoon, you will take a walk up in the towering Todra Gorges (600 feet high). The picturesque river valleys make for a beautiful journey towards the southeast of Morocco. Then you will continue your journey towards Ouarzazate, where you will spend the night. Dinner will be served at the .

Day 9 –Ouarzazate / Marrakech

After breakfast, you will appreciate the beautiful scenery in and around Ouarzazate. Tucked away in the High Atlas Mountains, it is one of the jewels of Morocco. In typical Moroccan fashion, the true treasures must be searched out and discovered…usually off the beaten path. In actuality, this setting has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco; films including, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and recently The Gladiator. Lunch can be taken at Ait Ben Haddou. After your visit to this famous Kasbah, you will complete the drive over the High Atlas Mountains. Once in Marrakech, you will check into your hotel and then head off to the Djemaa el-Fna, the center square of the medina. The Djemaa el-Fna, is one of the center attractions of Marrakech. Coming alive at night with the local storytellers, entertainers, and mouth-watering barbeque pits, the square is well worth a visit. A quiet cup of tea on the terrace of an adjacent café provides a spectacular aerial view of the bustling square. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 10 –Marrakech (Guided Tour)

After breakfast, you will have a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. You will discover the Palace of the Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, and many other hidden treasures. After lunch, you will continue with the tour on  the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous Djemaa el-Fna. The tour will conclude with an exploration of the souk (market) of Marrakech. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.

Day 11 –Marrakech

This will be a free day to relax after all your traveling and sightseeing and visiting places. You can use this day to take it easy resting up in your hotel or sitting in one of the many picturesque parks in the city or people watching in a café near the Djemaa el-Fna square. You can also choose to visit the spectacular Majorelle Gardens, designed by the great Yves Saint Laurent, where you can enjoy an absolutely incredible botanical experience! Most people like to devote about 3 hours to visiting the Majorelle Gardens.

 OR After breakfast, you will drive into the High Atlas Mountains, where you will spend the day exploring the beautiful Ourika Valley and visiting Berber villages. First, you will drive out to Setti Fatma, located at the southern end of the valley, where you can choose to enjoy the short hike (hiking trails range from beginner to advanced levels) to the stunning Seven Waterfalls with a licensed mountain guide. Following your hike to the falls, you may enjoy lunch by the river. After lunch, you will drive back towards Marrakech, stopping along the way to visit the Berber Eco-Museum in the small village of Tafza and the botanical gardens of the Nectarome in the village of Tnine (In addition to enjoying the beautiful gardens, foot-weary hikers may enjoy a footbath & foot massage with the organic oils prepared. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 12 -Marrakech / Essaouira

After breakfast, you will set off to the coastal city of Essaouira, a picturesque fishing town, lying on the southwest coast of Morocco. With an exquisite beach to the south, Essaouira has become most popular coastal towns. Many of the countries wood carvers and artists make Essaouira their home.

Dinner will be served in the riad.

Day 13 –Essaouira (Guide Tour)

Full day in Essaouira to relax, walk along the beach, and explore more of the medina. Optional activities include visiting art galleries, Cooking Class or taking a camel ride on the beach. Overnight in Essaouira. This will be a free day in Essaouira. Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Day 14 – Essaouira / Casablanca

After breakfast, your last day of travel will take you back to Casablanca. You will leave Essaouira for Casablanca with a stop at El Oualidia on the way. We drive along the coastline to El Jadida where we visit the citadel and see the underground cistern. We then continue on to Casablanca, where we spend our last night in the country.  Dinner will be served at Rick’s Café, a place designed to recreate the bar that was made famous by the classic movie, Casablanca.

Day 15 – Casablanca

This will be a free day to enjoy. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 16 – Casablanca

You will be transferred to the airport at the appropriate time for departure