Forever immortalized by the movie classic of the same name, Casablanca is Morocco's modern metropolis. Even though it is not one of the famous imperial cities, having grown in no time from a small settlement into a sprawling city of three million, Casablanca offers visitors an equally rare experience. Everything is bigger here: the streets, the hotels, the office blocks and the slums.
Fez is a maze of stone, marble and plaster surrounded by orchards. An aura of 1001 nights lingers here, but as the spiritual centre of Morocco, the old town lives in the shadow of the minarets, sprawling outwards from the mosque like a spider web of alleys, houses and shops.
Built by the French beside the perennial Ziz River, the little town of Erfoud is not characterized by the charm of a centuries-old settlement. It's red sand buildings, however, stand out in impressive contrast against the surrounding desert, and with its good hotels, restaurants and a lively souk, it is an excellent place from which to explore the surrounding landscape of desert and oases.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Casablanca / Rabat - Arrival at Casablanca Mohamed V airport. Welcome, assistance and transfer to Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco. Check into the hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Rabat / Volubilis / Meknes / Fez - After breakfast, departure to Fez with stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Continuation to Meknes which was founded at the end of the 17th Century by Moulay Ismael. Check in at the hotel. Overnight.
Day 3: Fez - The whole day is devoted to the sightseeing of Fez, the oldest cultural and spiritual city of Morocco. The clients will see the craftsmen working in the old age way with a possibility to buy one of these items. Free lunch and continuation of the visit. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Fez / Midelt / Erfoud - Earlier departure to Midelt via Azrou; a Berber village known for its handicraft cooperative. Continuation through Midelt, Ziz river and series of fortified villages. Arrival in Erfoud and check in at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 5: Erfoud / Merzouga / Erfoud - Earlier departure by 4x4 to Merzouga where you can have the opportunity to see one the best sunrise in the world.
Day 6: Erfoud / Tineghir / Ouarzazate - Breakfast and departure to Tineghir via Rissani. Visit of the ruins of Ksar Abbar and through the Tinjdad road. Arrival at Todra Gorges known with their impressive bare of escarpments. Free lunch and continuation to Ouarzazate via El Kelaa M’Gouna and the Dades valley. Arrival to Ouarzazate for accommodation at the hotel.
Day 7: Ouarzazate / Zagora / M’Hamid – Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the administrative capital of the Draa valley. Departure to Zagora via the mountains of Anti Atlas. the village of Agdz and the Drâa valley. this desert route is dramatically contested by innumerable oasis teeming with palm, figures, pomgrete and date trees, surrounding the various kasbahs. Arrival to Zagora. Continuation to M'hamid village the last settlement before the sand dunes of the Sahara desert. Exploring the desert by land Rover. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 8: M’Hamid / Ouarzazate – Departure from M’hamid via Tamegroute to Ouarzazate. Arrival at the end of the day for overnight.
Day 9: Ouarzazate / Taroudant – Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to taroudant via Taliouine and many Berber villages. Arrival to the quiet city of Taroudant for overnight.
Day 10: Taroudant / Marrakech - Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure. Travel through stands of indigenous argan and thuya trees, where the areas famous tree-climbing goats can be seen. Or, weather and nerves permitting, travel to Marrakech, visit the highest pass through the Atlas Mountains, Tizin Test. Arrive Marrakech for overnight.
Day 11: Marrakech - The entire day will be devoted to the visit of Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city, known as the pearl of the south. The city was founded by the Almoravides at the end of the 11th century. The historical sightseeing includes the Menara garden, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia palace, the Koutoubia and the Dar Si said museum. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, visit of the souks and handicraft quarters displaying a variety of items and the famous place Djemâ El Fna with its non stop entertainment. Dinner with Fantasia. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 12: Marrakech / Essaouira - Breakfast and departure to Essaouira, ex. Mogador via Chichaoua. Free lunch and visit this city which is a typical Portuguese harbour with fine examples of both Moorish and Portuguese art. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Essaouira / Casablanca – After breakfast, departure to Casablanca via El Jadida with a stop at El Oualidia. Free lunch and continuation along the Atlantic coast to reach El Jadida for an orientation tour. Arrival to Casablanca. Check-in at the hotel, overnight.
Day 14: Casablanca departure - After breakfast, departure transfer to Mohamed V airport for return flight and assistance to the boarding formalities.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Welcome & assistance at Casablanca airport
- Hotel accommodation
- Daily breakfast & dinner
- Transportation in private deluxe A/C vehicle-type according to the number of participants
- Private English speaking driver/escort
- Jeep excursion to/from the dunes
- Local guides for private cities tours
- Entrance fees to the monuments indicated in the program
- Fantasia dinner & show in Marrakech
- Porter fees at airport & hotels
- Arrival & departure assistance
Note: Driver also acts as guide on route and is supported by local guides in some cities.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Morocco
Cultural Journey
Desert Expeditions
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