8 DAYS DESERT TOUR FROM MARRAKECH TO MERZOUGA DESERT
DAY 1 : MARRAKECH – CASABLANCA – RABAT
We will start off our journey by driving to Casablanca. Often called “The Marseilles of Africa” . it had always been the center of trade and industry, finance and the stock exchange and with a population more than Four million people. The most dignifying monument is Hassan II mosque, the biggest in Africa and one of the grandest mosques in the entire world. Its fine architecture overwhelms its visitors, its ornaments, it is over viewing landscape of the pacific ocean. The Hassan II mosque is often also heralded as a symbol the renaissance of Moroccan craft skills , inaugurated in 1993. We will have lunch in Casablanca and then continue to Rabat to stay the night in.
DAY 2 : RABAT – CHEFCHAOUEN
Rabat is the administrative and current capital of the ruling dynasty. It beard numerous civilizations and still stands. Thad roman beginning, as Colonia sale jonnie , a prosperous settlement watt to Berber Chellah , and then came the almohads , who made Rabat el Fath , the fortress old victory , an imperial capital « The unfinished Tour Hassan minaret dates from this time », in the 17th century. We will drive to Chefchaouen where we will spend the night in.
DAY 3: CHEFCHAOUEN – VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FES :
After having breakfast we will stroll down the city’s streets to explore its magic by daylight. After that we will hit the road towards Volubilis, characterized with its important roman ruined sites , it is located in a very spectacular place somewhere between the hills and Moulay Idriss, the site used to host numerous roman artifacts yet most of them were taken to museums. Overall the city is still intact, and looks as it once looked. We will have lunch at Meknes the ancient capital of Moulay Ismail. While walking down its streets you can overlook the Zerhoun mountain which rises to 1000 meters to the north, the city is worldwide known for its quality of olives, Meknes is an imperial city and considered one of the first ones to be built by Ismaili dynasty as a result the city is filled with history and heritage from the ancient times, it has gigantesque gates adorned with traditional moro-andalus sculpture. The city also contains Medrassa Bouanania another heritage by the ancient civilizations, vibrant souks, dar Jamai, El Hdim Square, which is similar to Jamaa El Fna square with its acrobats performers, storytellers, snake charmers, after we have fun in the olive city we will move not far away just 40 km to Fez where we will spend the night at in a traditional riad.
DAY 4 : FES GUIDED TOUR
After having breakfast we will start our trip around Fez, one of the most important cities of the kingdom, and actually it is believed to be the first built city by the Idrissids, it is the spiritual, cultural, scientific and artistic capital of Morocco, walking down its narrow ancient streets of the medina you would feel as if time had stopped in the middle age, we will visit historical sites and buildings like the Quaraouine mosque which is also considered as the first university to ever exist founded in 859. It is a prestigious center for the Arab world, its influence grew as the Marinids took charge over it. Fez was divided into two ^parts fortunately they were reunited by Almoravids. And in the 11th century Fez became one of the major cities of Islam. At sunset we will drive upwards to a wonderful hill where we can overlook the whole city in one scenery. After that we go back to the Riad to rest and get ready for the next day.
DAY 5 : FES – ZIZ VALLEY – ZIZ GORGES – MERZOUGA
After having breakfast we will head to Erg chebbi dunes. Yet as we go along the road we will stop at Ifran and Midelt to rest and continue through the marvelous Tizi N Talghamt mountain pass, and the ziz gorges. As we proceed you will be able to notice the change in sceneries from mountainous to desert-like. We will have lunch in Errachidia among very welcoming habitants. We will continue via Ziz valley’s formidable landscapes, we will make a quick stop at Erfoud to view its famous and marvelous fossils. In the afternoon we will be found in Merzouga, you will be received with fresh cup of mint tea and a charming smile. And then we go to rest in the hotel getting ready for tomorrow’s activities.
DAY 6 : ERG CHEBBI TOUR – NOMAD FAMILLY – CAMEL TREKKING TOURS
As daylight breaks we will have a tour to visit nomad families in their homes, visit also the Merzouga Oasis of palm trees. After that we will stop at Khamlia village home to many Malawian and Sudanese people. Then we will enjoy A beautiful concert of Gnawa whilst sipping delicious mint tea. Once we go back to the hotel we will find the camels waiting for us to carry over the high dunes of Erg chebbi , the trip would take 40 min, but it would be joyful and peaceful as we tour the vast seas of sand while the sun sets. When we arrive we will have a yummy delicious traditional meal under a starry sky. You will sleep in nomad tent for you to enjoy full nomad experience.
DAY 7 : CAMEL DESERT TOUR – RISSANI – TODRA GORGES – OUARZAZATE
Make sure not to miss the spectacular sunrise over the golden high dunes of Sahara. After that we will go back to the hotel , shower and have breakfast. Then we will drive to Rissani which was once the capital of Tafilalt region, also a very important trade center. It was founded at around 757 by the great Arab leader Moussa Ben Nasser, the region was considered important for trade because it laid on the length of the sahel Europe trade route, people were trading gold, and many goods. Besides it contains some major archeological sites like the roman ruins between the village and the river. It also contains an exquisite Kasbah built by Moulay Ismail which unfortunately had been destroyed by Ait Atta tribe in 1818. The region is rich of history, it used also to be the home for the current ruling dynasty the Alaouits before they gained the Moroccan territory in the 17th century. After exploring a little bit of history and south Moroccan culture. We will have lunch in Tinjdad and then continue the road through the 1000kasbah, it is located between Merzouga and Ouarzazat. The road is always adorned with huge palm groves, and high mountains in the back, we will spend the night in a hotel in the marvelous region of Dades valley.
DAY 8 : OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU – HIGH ATLAS – MARRAKECH
Once we take breakfast in the hotel, we will stroll down the narrow gorges before the depart to Marrakech, as we drive we will pass by Dades valley, Kalaat Mgouna also known as the capital of flowers, each year in May or June its local inhabitants host a ceremony the rose festival in which they crown young girls and celebrate their floral productions. Our journey still proceeds as we go along the 1000thousand Kasbah route, valley of roses. At lunch time we will stop at Ait Benhadou a small well known village for its cinematic location for movies like the Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia….. It is also a unesco heritage site. As soon as we finish exploring the exquisite site we will hit the road again to Marrakech via Tizi n Tichka mountain pass. As the sun sets we will be found in the heart of Marrakech and that would be the end of our services.
