Departure Tour From Marrakech ...
15 Days Morocco Grand Tour To Imperial Cities, Coast And Desert Sahara From Marrakech
15 Days Morocco Grand Tour To Imperial Cities, Coast And Desert Sahara From Marrakech
Introduction
15 days morocco grand tour to imperial cities, coast and Sahara Desert from Marrakech is complete tour that will allow you to appreciate the multiple beauties of Morocco from the North to the South and from the West to the East. At first glance, you can admire the impressive architecture of the land of the great South, on the slopes of the Mountains and the verdant oases, you will be taken by the impressive gorges of the Atlas and the austere beauty of the desert areas. Then you will cross the Middle Atlas and its overhanging massifs and you will discover one after the other, the imperial cities of Morocco, witnesses of the splendor of the royal dynasties. Finally, you will go down the coast and discover El Jadida El Oualidia Essaouira. To end in beauty with the South Pearl: Marrakech.
Highlights
- The delicate aroma of rose water hovers around an old bazaar full of colorful silks.
- The carpets, with refined and complex textures, take us back to the distant past and show off on their own, lay out along the walls of the old imperial cities.
- Architectural elements of French colonization overlook the parapets of the new market.
- The seductive story of an old commercial city in the middle of the desert is still told in the shadow of an imposing fortress guarding the sandy landscape.
- Explore the unique and amazing architecture of the fortified kasbahs.
- This tour of Morocco will take you to discover the wonders of a country full of charm.
- Travel through the history of the old civilizations: Berbers, Arabs, Romans and Europeans.
- Discover the coastline of Eljadida and Essaouirra.
itinerary of the tour
Day 1 : MARRAKECH
Arriving at the Marrakech airport which has just been renovated, you will be taken care of by our staff who will take you to the hotel. Meals: D
Day 2 : MARRAKECH - AIT BENHADDOU - OUARZAZATE
At 8:00 am pick up at the hotel or riad and departure from Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas by the Tizi Tichka pass (2,260m altitude). You will pass through interesting villages until you reach the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987), a fortified enclosure within a walled town that you will surely recognize, since this citadel has been the setting for such famous films as Gladiator, the kingdom of heaven…. After the visit of this kasbah, you will have a short drive to Ouarzazate. Meals: B, D
Day 3 : Ouarzazate – Rose valley- Dades valley – Todra gorges/ home hosted meal.
After breakfast, you head to visit the movie studio where different movies have been filmed, take a guided tour of the studio. Then, you drive to Skoura Oasis, home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here visit the Kasbah Ameridil: a castle or a fortress which is dated back to seventeenth century. The family owner is Arabic, and the picture of the kasbah is on the previous bank note of 50 dirhams. It is the kasbah where the famous movies were filmed. It represents the earth building technic of southern Morocco. After looking around, you drive to Todra gorge via Rose and Dades valleys. Tonight, will be invited by a local family for a home hosted meal. Meals: B, D
Day 4 : Todra Gorges - ErfoudI (Enjoy a local food “Madfouna” -drive to Merzouga - Camel Trek in the desert
After breakfast, you drive east of Morocco. You will across different villages of Roses and Dades valleys. You stop to see the beautiful gorge of Todra, a massive trench that rises over 150 meters to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. You will take a walk through this beautiful gorge. Then you drive to Erfoud where you stop to enjoy a local food known as MADFOUNAor MEDFOUNA. Whatever way you want to spell it, either with “e or a,” it still means the same dish which is a pizza with meat stuffing; often called by the visitors “Moroccan Pizza or Amazigh flatbread.” Madfouna in Moroccan language means “Buried” and it is quite similar to Calzone and Sausage Rolls with spicy meat and vegetables tucked between the crusts. You then drive on to the settlement of Merzouga, which lies on the edge of Erg Chebbi, an area of spectacular high dunes that are amongst some of Morocco's most spectacular natural landscapes. You will find your camels and leave during a camel trip of about an hour and a half until you reach a tent camp in the Berber style. You will appreciate the sheer beauty of the landscape, sitting on a campfire on an unforgettable night under the starry sky.
Day 5 : Merzouga-Midelt/ visit a local family in the afternoon/ interactions with locals.
You wake up early in the morning to enjoy a sunrise before breakfast. As the sun rises the color of the dunes changes and creates a great picture opportunity. Then, you enjoy the breakfast outside the campsite, meet our driver to continue our journey north. You stop to see the biggest palm groves in Morocco known as Tafilalt oasis. You enjoy a great view over this beautiful oasis. Then, continuing via the gorge of Ziz and camel pass 1907 m to Midelt. In the afternoon, you take a walk through the berber village of Berram. Stop for a tea and interact with the berber family. Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 : Midelt - visit a nomad family-Fes
Today, you drive north and you reach the beautiful plateau of Middle Atlas where the Berbers graze their animals. On the way you might stop to enjoy a fresh mint tea with the Berber semi-nomadic family. you will interact with the family and learn from them. You continue to the beautiful town of Ifrane where you stop to walk around or enjoy the café. Ifrane it nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco. Afterwards, you drive to Fes for about 1h30 Mn. Meals: B, D
Day 7 : FEZ GUIDED CITY TOUR
Founded in 790 by Moulay Idriss, Fez is the religious, intellectual and artistic capital of Morocco. The discovery of Fes throws you into the labyrinths of the narrow, winding streets, cut with the stairs and covered passages. You will discover the largest and certainly one of the most beautiful of the ancient Koranic universities, the Medersa Attarine and also the Najjarine square famous for its magnificent fountain decorated with mosaics, zellig and stucco, the esplanade of the royal palace and its sumptuous golden door, and the vestiges of the Merinid tombs (dynasty of the XIII - XIV). Enjoy the view from the top of the city, its walls and the landscape that surrounds it, before coloring your path, visiting the leather and pottery factories. Meals: B,
Day 8 : Fes – Volubilis ruins – Meknes/ home hosted meal/ interaction with the family.
Your journey continues towards Meknes through the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, near the prestigious holy city of Moulay Idriss. Volubilis - the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana. The detailed mosaics here are still intact and the site gives a good idea of the layout of provincial settlements. after looking around, a short journey takes you Meknes, the city of Moulay Ismail, the Moroccan "Louis XIV", stands out for its 25 km of walls, its extensive parade grounds and impressive buildings. You will visit El Hedim Square, Bab El Khemis, Bab Mansour - one of the most beautiful monumental gates of Morocco - the Royal Stables, the Mosque and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Tonight, you will be invited by a local family for a home hosted meal. Meals: B, D
Day 9 : Meknes -Rabat/ meeting locals in the evening.
Today, you leave Meknes heading to Rabat (approximately two hours). On your arrival you take the guided tour of Rabat. The city is the country's political capital and whose historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012. You enjoy brief panoramic tour of the city. You will see the Royal Palace (from outside) and the Kasbah of the Oudaya, the Mausoleum of Mohammed the fifth and an unfinished Mosque dated back to 12thC known as Hassan Tower. The afternoon, is left at leisure to explore more the town. Meals: B, D
Day 10 : Rabat - Oualidia
Through the coastal road, you arrive at El Jadida, the ancient Mazagan, the "Deauville of Morocco", where you can admire the ancient Portuguese city behind its walls. From there you will reach the south, halfway to Safi, the seaside resorts El Oualidia with its enchanting beach. Meals: B, D
Day 11 : Oualidia - Essaouirra
Still in the South, the route continues towards Essaouira crossing Safi, an ancient Phoenician and Roman place, a town of fishermen and ceramists where the Portuguese left a "Castello di Mare" and an elegant white fortress, the Kechla. Surrounded by mimosa planted to stabilize the dunes, Essaouira, the ancient "Mogador" has become a pleasant seaside resort, which surprises by its isolation. The well-designed white and blue city by a French architect for the Sultan Ben Abdullah, in the 18th century, with its Vauban walls, has a certain prestige. Meals: B, D
Day 12 : Exploring Essaouirra/ cooking class
Day dedicated to the visit of Essaouira. Enjoy the casual charm, its white houses, its quiet squares, its cozy cafés, its Marina port and its Skala with its bronze cannon alignment, its ancient fishing port, its quality craftsmanship ( wood inlay And the unique, warm atmosphere that prevails in its streets where the inhabitants mingle with tourists and artists from around the world. You might join your leader for a cooking class
Meals: B, L
Day 13 : Essaouirra- Marrakech/ food tasting trail
You leave the coast to reach Marrakech, within the village. In the afternoon, stroll through the Majorelle gardens and admire the city's famous ocher walls. This evening, you head for a food testing. You will test some Moroccan donuts with some tea, some nuts, olives, roasted lamp, you end your testing food at the main and great square of Jemaa el Fna one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. Meals: B, D
Day 14 : Marrakech/meeting locals
Your day will be entirely dedicated to the "Pearl of the South". Among the monuments witnessing its great history, you will especially visit the Koutoubia mosque, whose majestic silhouette dominates the red houses and the palaces of earth color, the Bahia Palace, seat of the Grand Vizier Ba Hmad (end of the 19th century) Saadian Tombs (16th ) and the famous Jemaa El Fna square, beating heart and permanent show of Marrakech, classified to the oral heritage of humanity, where you will have a refreshing break. You will find the famous Souq in the old Medina, with the blacksmiths, the dye-works, the Moroccans, the sellers of spices with good fragrances, cabinet makers, tailors, etc. Meals: B, D
Day 15 : MARRAKECH DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport and assistance until boarding. Meals: B
Good to Know
Included
- Accommodation in selected Hotels and Riad.
- Mineral water in the Van.
- Comfortable 4WD or Minivan.
- 15 Days of Car services.
- Fuel and all car expanses, taxes and road tolls.
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver.
- Entrance Fees.
- Professional Local guides in Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes, and Marrakech.
Not included
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal Expenses
- Travel insurance