Atlas Desert Tours
Atlas Desert Tours
Highlights of Morocco
7 Days/6 Nights
Highlights of Morocco: Casablanca, Marrakech, the Sahara & Fes
Discover Morocco's highlights with this fast-paced 7 days Morocco itinerary starting and ending in Casablanca. Visit the 4 imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech. Travel along old caravan routes in the desert, and spend the night camping among Saharan dunes and listening to traditional Berber music. Discover old fortified kasbahs and hidden oases.
We run this amazing 7 day Morocco private tour on a daily basis. You will be picked up from Casablanca airport or Marrakech airport, depending on your flights' schedule, and start your Morocco private tour from there. You will be traveling in a modern, air-conditioned car (4x4 or minivan ) with your friendly, professional multilingual driver/guide for the entire trip.
Please note that this tour can be customized according to your flights' schedule and interest.
Itinerary in Detail:
Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca - Marrakech (you can also arrive in Marrakech)
Welcome to Morocco!! Upon arrival in Casablanca airport, you will be met by an Atlas Desert Tours’ professional, English - speaking driver
head towards Casablanca downtown by the Cornish where you will visit the seaside Hassan II mosque; the world's third-largest mosque and has the tallest minaret in the world (210m high). It is one of the fewest mosques that non-Muslims are allowed to enter.
After your visit to the mosque, you will have time for a meal before heading towards Marrakech. Once in Marrakech, you will visit the Majorelle Gardens before you check into your riad in the heart of the old Medina. A Hammam Spa will be great for you tonight. Overnight includes bed and breakfast.
Day 2: Explore the best of Marrakech with a Local Guide
Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech
After breakfast, your local guide will meet you in your riad and take you on a private guided tour around the most interesting monuments in Marrakech including the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. Its 225ft masterpiece minaret dominates the skyline of Marrakech and can be seen from almost every corner of the city.
Marrakech is the home of beautiful palaces such as the 19th century palace of El Bahia with its Andalusian and Moorish architecture. It has a trapezoidal garden, a huge tiled courtyard, Andalusian and Moorish architecture and many hidden antique treasures.
You will also visit the historical Saadian Tombs; built by Saadian Sultan Ahmed el Mansour in the 16th century. It has a beautiful design with soaring domed ceilings, intricate wood carvings, imported marble statuary and colorful tile mosaics.
Next, we will tour the Koranic School, Medersa Ben Youssef; the largest Medersa in North Africa. It is a theological college - once boarding approximately 900 students for religious study. It was built in the 16th century. Its Moroccan architecture, Moorish archeways, rectangular courtyard and colorful mosaics make it one of Marrakech's most picturesque buildings.
After lunch, we will visit the Djemaa El-Fna, Marrakech's main square and open air theater...Snake charmers blast oboes to calm hissing cobras, henna tattoo artists beckon to passersby, musicians play, and so much activity....You are sure to be entertained!
Overnight in your riad includes bed and breakfast.
Day 3: Marrakech to Dades Valley through the High Atlas Mountains, the Kasbah Trail and the Old Caravan Routes
After breakfast in your riad, you will be picked up around 8:30 am and start travelling to the Dades Valley via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and over the High Atlas Mountains.
Today ,you will enjoy travelling through the dramatic pass and the fascinating views of the Berber villages and the amazing landscape changing as the day progresses. You will stop in Ouarzazate to visit the Kasbah Taourirt, one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in this area. You’ll have lunch by the Kasbah and continue to the Dades Gorge through the road of “the Thousand Kasbahs”, which offers many fine photo opportunities of nature and people. Your first stop will be at Skoura in the Birds Valley to see the standing 18th century Kasbah of Ameridhil, then we’ll get to Kalaat Mgouna - famous for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May.
On to the Dades Valley where you will enjoy seeing the amazing rock formation famous as “the monkey toes”. You will stay here overnight in a riad or hotel includes dinner, bed and breakfast.
Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
Day 4: From Dades Valley to the Todra Gorges and the Majestic Erg Chebbi Dunes in Merzouga Desert - Camel Trekking and Sahara Desert Camping
Today has to be the highlight of your 7 day tour with us. It's Sahara magic day!
After a delicious breakfast in your riad, you will start traveling towards the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes in the Sahara desert. Along the way, you will notice how different the scenery is compared to what you experienced the first day of the trip. Today, the scenery will be more like a rocky desert with its wonderful, old, muddy Berber villages and palmeraies providing you with many photographic opportunities. You will stop for a short hike in Todra gorge; One of the most spectacular canyons in the world and the most popular rock climbing destination in Morocco.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will continue our journey towards Erfoud, known as the fossil city, and is a great introduction to Moroccan archaeology. Here, you have the option to visit one of Erfoud's fossil museums to learn about Moroccan fossils and the process they go through before locals use them to make items such as tables, plates, and more...
You will arrive in the Merzouga desert by 4 pm. Your camel guide will have your camels ready to take you on an adventure into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi; the highest dunes in Morocco (2400 ft). You will enjoy beautiful scenery, an amazing sunset and the quietness of the desert before you reach your deluxe tented camp. Overnight includes dinner, Berber drums live show, bed and breakfast.
Camel Trekking in Erg Chebbi Dunes
Day 5: Journey towards Fes via Ziz Valley, the Middle Atlas Mountains, Azrou and Ifrane.
Waking up early to watch the sun rising over the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes will be a great way to start your day.
After showering and breakfast in the camp, you will leave the Erg Chebbi dunes to embark on another adventurous day towards Fes via the breathtaking Ziz Valley; one of many oases that dot Morocco’s desert-like landscape, and the Middle Atlas mountains. You will be stopping for panoramic views along the way. Lunch will be taken in Midelt (the Apple City) before we journey deep in the middle Atlas mountains to Azrou; a Berber town with magnificent views of cedar and pine forests. Here, you will be able to see and hand-feed Barbary Macaque Monkeys living in the Cedar Forest, the largest forest in Morocco.
Our adventure continues to Ifrane, a town built in the 1930s by French Colonialists. It is tidy, modern, and feels more like Switzerland with its red-roofed houses, blooming flower beds and beautiful parks, all kept impeccably tidy.
Arriving in the medieval city of Fes around 5 pm. Overnight in a riad includes bed and breakfast
Sahara Desert Camp - Deluxe Berber Tents
Day 6: Fes Tour with Local Guide
Today, our local guide will take us on a walking tour around Fes; the spiritual capital and the oldest city of Morocco. Most of our guided tour will be within the Medina with its narrow alleys and traditional markets (souks); our guide will ensure we discover sites with cultural and historical interest such as the famous Al Karaouine Mosque and University, one of Africa's largest mosques and possibly the oldest University in the world, this mosque is the spiritual heart of Fes and Morocco itself. It can take up to 20 000 people at prayer.
Another 14th century landmark of Fes is Medersa Bou Inania, the finest of Fes' theological colleges which was renovated a few years ago, and the results are amazing: elaborate zellij and carvedplaster, beautiful lattice screens and massive brass doors.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit the Tanneries; one of the city's most iconic sights and where leather is produced. We then stop at the Royal Palace gate; a stunning example of modern restoration. You will walk through the Jewish quarter “the Mellah” and visit the pottery cooperative... In the afternoon, you will have free time to enjoy medieval Fes and take in its beautiful atmosphere while interacting with the locals. Overnight in your riad includes bed and breakfast
Fes Tanneries
Day 7: Departure from Fes airport or Casablanca depending on your flight schedule (4 hours drive)
Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to the airport in Fes or Casablanca for departure. If your flight leaves late in the afternoon or in the evening, you will have time to explore few highlights of Rabat along the way such as the Royal Palace, the Hassan Tower which is Rabat's most famous landmark. It was built by Sultan Yacoub El-Mansour who died before it was finished. He intended a 60m-tall minaret, but the tower was abandoned at 44 m. Otherwise, it would have been the second largest mosque of its time, after Samarra in Iraq. We will also visit the marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V; built in traditional Moroccan style. Its decoration gives off an air of tranquility.
Tour end.
INCLUSIONS
INCLUSIONS
- 7 day private transport in an air-conditioned 4x4 or mini-van.
- 6 nights in authentic Moroccan accommodations (riads/Kasbah/ Boutiques/Camp)
- All breakfasts and few dinners as per itinerary.
- Multi-lingual driver (guide) for the entire trip.
- Oficial, English-speaking guide in Marrakech and Fes
- Camel trekking through Erg Chebbi dunes along with an overnight in a Sahara camp.
EXCLUSIONS
EXCLUSIONS
- Lunches.
- Dinners in Marrakech and Fes
- Airfare (Flight Tickets).
- Beverages (Drinks).
- Tips for guide, drivers.
- Travel insurance.
Request your Morocco tour itinerary, prices, and examples of accommodations today!
Request your Morocco tour itinerary, prices, and examples of accommodations today!
