Gems of Morocco From Casablanca - 11 Days

Once you have arrived at Casablanca Airport, you will be met at the airport exit where our driver will be waiting with a sign showing your name.

You will then be transferred to your accommodation in Casablanca. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to grab a meal, start exploring or relaxing.

Casablanca - Rabat - Chefchaouen. This morning, we visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Casablanca.

We then continue to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Here we visit Bab Challah, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, one of the main gates of the Royal Palace, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas. You will have time for lunch at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, we drive to the blue city of Chefchaouen. Along the way we pass through several small towns and stop for breaks.

We arrive in Chefchaouen with time to walk through the blue alleys of the medina, take photographs and try the local food of the town.

Chefchaouen - Fes. You will have the morning at leisure to explore the blue city of Chefchaouen, located in the Rif Mountains in the north-west of Morocco. The town is known for the remarkable buildings of its old town painted in different tones of faded blue.

Leather and weaving workshops line the steep cobbled alleys. In the shaded central square of Outa el Hammam stands the kasbah with its red walls, a fifteenth-century fortress and keep with ethnographic and artistic exhibitions. Nearby rises the octagonal minaret of the Great Mosque.

In the afternoon, we travel to Fes, where we will stay for the next two days.

Today, we explore Fes, the oldest city in Morocco, walking through its narrow alleys and small streets.

Our visit begins at the Royal Palace gate, followed by the Jewish quarter, the first Mellah built in Morocco during the 14th century.

We then continue to several important cultural and historical sites including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the oldest university in the world, the tanneries, and the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum.

After lunch, we visit the tiles cooperative and then enjoy a panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes.

Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Merzouga. After breakfast, we leave Fes and travel towards Merzouga. Our journey takes us through Ifrane, a beautiful mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco, before continuing to the cedar forest in the Middle Atlas Mountains.

We stop at Azrou, a Berber village located in the middle of the largest cedar forest in Morocco, where we may see the Barbary apes. Along the way we enjoy views of both the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountains as we travel through the hills and mountains of the region towards Midelt, where you have time for lunch.

After lunch in Midelt, we continue through the Tiz Ntalghamt Pass and the Ziz Gorge, enjoying views across the High Atlas plateau as the landscape gradually changes and the first signs of the desert appear near Errachidia.

We then travel along the Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views on the way to Erfoud and Rissani.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Merzouga, where we are welcomed with a glass of mint tea. We then ride camels into the dunes of the Sahara Desert of Merzouga to reach the desert camp, where we spend the night.

Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Valley. We have an early start to watch the sunrise over the desert dunes. After sunrise, we camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga, enjoying views of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes as their colours change with the morning light.

After breakfast and a hot shower at the riad, we continue our journey to Rissani, Tinghir, and the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco.

After time for lunch in the heart of the gorge, we drive through the Dades Valley, where we see the sandcastle formations and the rock formations known as monkey toes. Our accommodation is a guest house overlooking the Dades Valley.

Dades Valley - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech. This morning, we travel through the Dades Valley towards Ouarzazate and continue to Marrakech. The road through the valley is known as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, offering many opportunities to stop and take photographs.

We stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, the centre of the Rose Valley, where you have the option to visit a rose cooperative and purchase rosewater.

We then continue to the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, built by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains of the 19th century. The kasbah later became home to many members of the Glaoui family.

Our journey continues across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 metres in the High Atlas Mountains, where we stop at a Berber women’s cooperative to learn about the production of argan oil, a product found only in Morocco, before arriving in Marrakech.

Today, we explore Marrakech, known as the red city of Morocco. Our visit includes some of the most important historical and cultural sites, including the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian Tombs, and the Bahia Palace.

You will have a full day at leisure to explore Marrakech. You may choose to relax or enjoy some additional activities such as a hammam, massage, or spa treatment. You can also explore more of the city or visit the surrounding areas. There are several nearby places worth discovering, including valleys, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes around Marrakech.

Marrakech - Essaouira. This morning, we travel to the coastal town of Essaouira. Along the way, we may see the famous goats climbing the argan trees, and there is an opportunity to stop at an argan forest and visit an argan oil cooperative. Medina Essaouira is a relaxed coastal town and a great place to enjoy time by the sea. Its medina combines history and culture with modern cafés and restaurants.

The town has a long promenade and a large sandy beach, where it is safe to swim. It offers a refreshing change from the busy atmosphere of Marrakech and a chance to enjoy the cooler coastal climate.

Essaouira is also an exceptional example of a late 18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of European military architecture in a North African setting.

Essaouira - Casablanca. After our final breakfast, we will make our way back to Casablanca, where you will be dropped off at the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!