Morocco 10-Day Grand Tour: From Marrakech and Essaouira to Fes and Chefchaouen through the Sahara Desert
Morocco 10-Day Grand Tour: From Marrakech and Essaouira to Fes and Chefchaouen through the Sahara Desert
Morocco 10-Day Grand Tour: From Marrakech and Essaouira to Fes and Chefchaouen through the Sahara Desert
In these 10 days and 9 nights, you will visit many amazing sites, including the highlights of Marrakech and Essaouira, the High Atlas Mountains, and the Tizi-N-Tichka pass. You will also visit the Ait-Ben-Haddou Kasbah and Ouarzazate city, as well as the Amridil Kasbah, Dades Valley, and Todra Gorges. Additionally, you will explore the Merzouga Sahara Desert, where you can ride camels, witness magical sunsets and sunrises, and spend the night in a desert camp. You will also explore the Sahara Desert of Merzouga in a 4×4 car.
Furthermore, you will visit the traditional market in Rissani and the fossil town of Erfoud. Then, you will visit Ifrane, known as the Switzerland of Morocco, and the cedar forest where Barbary macaques live. You will explore Fes and Meknes, two of the imperial cities of Morocco, visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and the blue city of Chefchaouen. Finally, the tour ends in Tangier.
Itinerary :
Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech The 10-day Morocco tour starts with a pick-up from the airport in Marrakech. Then, we will have a small tour of the city before transferring you to your accommodation. Overnight stay in a Riad.
Day 2: Marrakech – Essaouira After breakfast, we drive west to Essaouira city. On the way, we will make stops to see the Argan trees with goats and for panoramic views. We reach Essaouira, formerly Mogador, one of the important coastal cities in Morocco. We will visit the fishing port, the ancient ramparts with cannons, and the old medina. Overnight stay in Essaouira.
Day 3: Essaouira – Guided Tour of Marrakech After breakfast, we return to Marrakech to explore its highlights with a local guide. The city is considered one of the imperial cities in Morocco. The visit includes the Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, and the Ben Youssef Quranic Mosque. We will stroll through the largest traditional souk in Morocco and have free time for lunch near Jemaa El-Fna square. Later, we will visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in Marrakech, and the Majorelle Garden. Finally, we will transfer you to your accommodation. Feel free to wander in Jemaa El-Fna square on your own.
Day 4: Marrakech – High Atlas Mountains – Telouat Kasbah – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate After breakfast, we pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech early in the morning. We will drive through the fascinating High Atlas Mountains and Tizi-N-Tichka pass, making stops for panoramic views of the breathtaking landscapes. We will visit the Kasbah of Telouat and then continue to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Kasbah has appeared in many movies, including Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, as well as TV series like Game of Thrones. We will then head to Ouarzazate, known as “The Gate of the Desert.” Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 5: Ouarzazate – Skoura (Kasbah Amridil) – Rose Valley – Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga Sahara – Overnight in a Luxury Camp After breakfast, we will visit the Atlas Studio, where famous movies were shot, and Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate. We will then drive southeast to visit Amridil Kasbah, surrounded by palm groves in Skoura, and continue to Rose Valley, where a Rose Festival is held annually in May. We will drive through the Dades Valley, stopping to enjoy the spectacular landscape of Dades Gorges, and continue to Todra Gorges, where the Todra River has carved out a grand red cliff-sided canyon through the mountains. You will have free time for lunch and to wander in the gorges and appreciate the beauty of the landscape.
In the afternoon, we will reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, where you will switch to camels and cross the sandy desert. A stop will be made for you to enjoy the magical sunset on top of a high dune. Then, you will spend the night in a luxury camp.
Day 6: Explore Merzouga Region – Nomads – Khamlia – Merzouga Lake – Erg Chebbi – Palm Grove
Waking up early in the morning is a must to contemplate the beautiful sunrise in the middle of the desert. After breakfast, you will return on camels to Merzouga, where the driver awaits. The day is dedicated to exploring the Merzouga region, which boasts incredible sites such as sand dunes, a wild lake, mines, fossil areas, and fabulous oases, ideal for various outdoor activities.
We start our journey in Merzouga by driving off-road to visit an ancient eyeliner mine. Then, we visit the nomads in their handmade woven tents and learn about their lifestyle while enjoying Berber tea. Our next destination is Khamlia village, where you will enjoy Gnaoua music and dancing performances. The inhabitants of Khamlia originate from sub-Saharan countries like Mali, Sudan, and Niger. After lunch in a restaurant, we take a stroll in a palm grove and then drive a few kilometers to see the wild lake of Merzouga, also called Flamingos Lake. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 7: Merzouga Dunes – Erfoud – Midelt – Cedars Forest – Ifrane – Fes
After breakfast, we leave the desert to visit Rissani town, the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Rissani remains a major trading center in the region, with a large, lively souk. After a stroll in Rissani souk, we continue to Erfoud to visit one of the workshops of fossilized marble.
We then drive along the Ziz River, stopping for a panoramic view of the valley. After lunch in Midelt, we continue to the cedars forest, where the Barbary macaques live. Feel free to feed them while wandering in the forest. We then visit Ifrane, famous for its low temperature, snow, and alpine-style houses, earning it the nickname “Switzerland of Morocco.” Finally, we drop you off at your accommodation in Fes.
Day 8: Guided Tour of Fes
After breakfast, we pick you up from your accommodation in Fes to explore the city. Fes is considered one of the imperial cities and is the cultural and religious center of Morocco.
We start the day by visiting the Royal Palace gate, followed by the well-preserved medieval Medina, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Blue Gate, or Bab Boujloud, is the entrance to the old Medina. You will enter the Medina with a local guide to visit the Medrasa Bouanania, the Najjarine Fountain, the Tanneries, and finally the Quaraouin Mosque and University, the oldest university in the world. After leaving the Medina, we visit the Jewish quarter, “the Mellah,” and then drive to an ancient fortress for panoramic views of the Medina and the city of Fes. We then return to your riad.
Day 9: Fes – Meknes – Volubilis Ruins – Chefchaouen
After breakfast, we depart to visit Meknes, the Ismaili capital and one of the imperial cities. In Meknes, we visit Bab Al-Mansour, Sahrij Souani Basin, the Royal Stables, the Granary, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch, we drive 30 km away from Meknes to visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Volubilis is well-preserved and features beautiful mosaics, ancient pillars, and archways.
After strolling through the ruins, we head north through Ouazzane to reach Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, also known as the Blue City. The city is famous for its buildings and alleyways painted in blue. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 10: Transfer to Tangier Airport
After breakfast, depending on your flight time, you can have free time to stroll through the beautiful alleyways of the Blue City. We then drive through the Rif Mountains to reach Tangier Airport, marking the end of the Marrakech 10-day tour.
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