2 WEEKS TOUR OF MOROCCO |

2 WEEKS TOUR OF MOROCCO

Day 1: Arrive to Marrakech

When you arrive at Marrakech airport we collect you and drive to your riad at the heart of the Medina, in the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to walk around the famous square of Jemaa El Fenna,

Overnight accommodation will be in riad, providing bed and breakfast.

Day 2: Exploring Marrakech

After breakfast in your riad, you will spend the whole day sightseeing in this fascinating city, Marrakesh is the “pearl of the south” founded by the Almoravides dynasty at the end of the 12th century, this city is located in the heart of a palm grove and surrounded by snow-topped mountains, spend the morning discovering the souks of Marrakesh and the Jemaa El Fenna square, which by day is a market place but at night an endless parade of a variety of performers and entertainers.

In the afternoon you will visit the lavishly decorated Saadian Tombs, Dar Si Said which houses the Museum of Moroccan Arts, the Menara and Agdal city gardens, the Koutoubia (this tower is nearly 70m high and is visible for miles), and the Bahia Palace.

This evening you have an optional dinner in a typical Moroccan restaurant with folklore show.

Day 3: Marrakech – Essaouira

After breakfast in your riad, you will start travelling to Essaouira (Mogador) .On our way you will see enormous Argan trees on both sides of the road. These Argan trees are frequently climbed by goats. Argan oil is produced by several women’s cooperatives and it is used to prepare couscous, salads, and is traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases before being founded as good enough for cosmetics by European manufacturers. Get to Essaouira and check in your riad.

Day 4: Exploring Essaouira

After Breakfast, a day of your own leisure, you can explore and enjoy Essaouira it is well renowned for its kite surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind, horse riding, camel riding along the beach, quad biking are activities that you can enjoy while staying in Essaouira, it is known by the delicious seafood too, and then from other side you will explore the city, you’ll visit the Skala Fortress, the port, the souks and see Thuya wood carved by artisans; walk through the alleys of the medina and view hundreds of handicrafts.

Essaouira is known for its strong winds most of the year so it is known as the “City of the wind” thus it attracts wind surfers from all over the world, Essaouira knew many civilizations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture – however, it remains a small village with much history, because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantics”.

Our visit includes the Mellah – the Jewish headquarter, in Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town, since 1998 Essaouira is getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in the last week of June, it brings artists from all over the world. Although focused on Gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz and reggae, in early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello, now there is a square named Orson Welles, usually the Gnaoua Festival starts in the second week of June, so if your trip coincides with this, you have the option to extend your stay for an extra day.

Today you will have lunch in a Moroccan way, bought fishes ‘cooked to order’, on the afternoon, you have free time to walk and explore by yourself or you could just spend the rest of the day relaxing in your hotel.

Overnight accommodation in riad at the Medina.

Day 5: Essaouira – Taroudant

After breakfast in the riad, you will travel to Taroudant via the coastal city of Agadir, the coastal route offers beautiful scenery with the fishermen villages along the coast, get to Agadir the capital of Berbers since it is the biggest Berber city of the kingdom, where you will have lunch and have a short walk on the beach,

Then continue to Taroudant (About 70 km from Agadir) get there on the afternoon, our explorative journey starts by visiting the Kasbah and the Ramparts, and then a walk through the alleys of the Medina (Unlike the other Moroccan cities Taroudant has a Berber Souk and an Arab one)

In the afternoon go for a carriage ride around the ramparts. Dinner will be in a restaurant outside the walls; overnight accommodation at riad.

Day 6: Taroudant – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazat

After breakfast in the riad, you will leave for Ouarzazat via Taliouine and Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah.

First stop to visit the Safran Cooperative in Taliouine. Then you will continue via the track of caravan to Ait Benhaddou Kasbah built by the last Berber chieftain El Glaoui Ethami, late 19th century, the Kasbah is recognized as a UNESCO matrimonial historical site, now a house of many Glaoui family members, where you have lunch and visit with your tour guide, afterwards to Ouarzazat, “the Hollywood of Africa”, where you have the option to visit and see many props used in movies you may already have seen such as Gladiator and Alexander the Great.

Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Ouarzazat.

Day 7: Ouarzazat – Skoura Rose Valley – Dades Valley

After breakfast in the hotel, you will travel to explore the fascinating Dades and Rose Valleys.

Your first stop will be at Skoura to walk within the Birds Valley and visit the beautiful and well preserved Kasbah of Ameridil, and next continue to the famous village of Kalaa M’gouna, famous for its roses and rose products, a rose festival is held here every May, when the roses are harvested, since this is the road of the thousands Kasbahs you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take some beautiful pictures.

Your journey continues to the Dades Gorge where you enjoy seeing the amazing Rock formation called “the monkey Toes” and the standing Kasbah of Kasbah Ait yul, after that you will drive to the hotel.

Day 8: Dades Gorge – Todra gorge – Merzouga Camel trek

After breakfast, you will drive to Merzouga where the golden dunes are located by passing the Berber villages which are scattered along the way, we’ll pass through Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud where we’ll enjoy the beginning of the Saharian oasis Palms of Tafilalet, your journey continues to to Merzouga, after relaxing in your riad at Merzouga, where your camel will be awaiting you, after a welcoming glass of mint tea, you’ll mount your camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi, on your way, pause to watch the sunset then continue your ride – seemingly in the middle of nowhere! you will have a traditional dinner and delicious mint tea in front of the camp where you will spend your first night under canvas – or if you prefer, under the stars. For your convenience,

the camp in equipped with flash-toilets and shower

Day 9: Merzouga area

After breakfast with the Bedouin family you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga.

Enroute you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses, arriving late morning back in Merzouga, freshen-up and start an explorative journey of the area, we will visit the ‘black village’ of Khamlia to see the Gnawa musicians, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle, not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations, you may also visit the nomad wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. that evening you’ll be entertained by Berber and Gnaoua musicians and will be accommodated

overnight in a local guesthouse

Day 10: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Fes

After taking shower and breakfast, you will start your tour on the way to Fes leaving the dunes behind .first stop in Risani where your guide home family (you will Get some Family hospitality with the family) you will have the opportunity to walk within the authentic Souk, full with vegetables, spices, dates and alot more; here you will see a lot of conservation with men hooded and women veiled.

Your journey will continue to Errachidia along the magnificent rich Ziz valley, you will have a stop to enjoy the panoramic view over the ziz Canyon, and through the Tizi Ntalghamt Pass to Midelt and Ifran, next Stop in Zaida to enjoy a barbecue and refresh with a glass of mint tea then continue your journey to Azrou, a berber village in the Middle Atlas Mountains, before which we stop to see the Barbarian apes in the famous Cedar forest, on to Ifran “the French village”, stop for a picture or a drink then drive to your accommodation in Fes midena.

Day 11: Exploring Fes

After breakfast, you have a full day of sightseeing, we visit the authentic city of Fes, where the old medina offers a step back in time, you’ll start the visit of the spiritual capital with an inspiring panoramic view from the south of the Borj, off the Medina, then on to discover the famous pottery factories on foot; the souks, the dyers and the tanneries, the square and the Nejjarine Fountain, outdoor views of the Karaouyine Mosque in heart of Medina, lunch will be in an ancient palace in the Medina. In the afternoon, an outdoor visit of the Royal Palace, also exploring Fes’s heritage in and around the Jewish Quarter noting its particular houses with forged iron balconies, for lunch you may choose to eat in a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina, after lunch you will continue the tour and return to your riad for the evening.

Day 12: Free time in Fes

After breakfast in your riad, you will have the opportunity to explore the rest of the city of Fes you may choose to try a Moroccan Hammam or enjoy a relaxing time in your riad or shopping at old souk or supermarket.

Overnight Riad.

Day 13: Fes – Chefchaouen

After breakfast in your riad, you will travel to chefchaouen via the city of Ouazzan – a beautiful town in the Rif Mountains – you will experience amazing views over the fertile plain of Lukus Valley).

Arrive at Chefchaouen around Noon, check in to your riad and start exploring the city, Chefchaouen is a beautiful unique city with its white watched walls and its blue doors, and windows, unlike many parts of Morocco, this city was occupied by Spain; therefore there is much influence of the Spanish civilization and culture, you have the opportunity to meet locals and walk in this beautiful Medina.

Overnight accommodation at riad.

Day 14: Chefchaouen – Rabat

After breakfast in the riad and after spending the morning exploring the rest of the city, you will travel to Rabat via the city of Ouazzan, In Rabat you will see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Med 5th.