kingdom of the light: morocco grand tour 15 days

Welcome to Morocco!  Arrival to Med V airport in Casablanca where you will be meeting assisted and transferred to your Hotel depending on the time of your arrival you will have a city tour of the biggest city of Morocco ;Diner and night in the riad.

In Casablanca we’ll visit Hassan 2nd Mosque, the biggest mosque in Africa, and experience the Cornish coast before departing for Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we will see the Oudaya Kasbah and its beautiful gardens, this Kasbah of Oudaya is located at Abou Regreg River, it was built during the reign of the Almohad dynasty in 1150 AD, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V and Hassan II, and Hassan Tower which is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat were constructed in 1195 AD, he tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world with the mosque.

After breakfast in your riad, you will spend some time in Rabat then start travelling to Chefchaouen via the city of and Ouzzen, most of the drive to Chefchaouen will be by the coast of Ouled Mesbah and Moulay bousselham, you will have few stops along the way to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and take pictures.

Taking the right way, moving into the west of Morocco through the country side villages where most of the farmers living enjoying the real Moroccan lifestyle, next stop for lunch break at Ouzzen then, we will continue your journey over the foothills of the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.

After breakfast in your riad, you will a free day to exploring the Medina and its alleys.

Chefchaouen, in the Rif Mountains of Morocco’s North, is a popular destination for visitors, nestling in a valley beneath the “horns” of the mountains to which its name alludes (Ichawen means goat’s horns in the local Berber dialect), Chefchaouen is famous for the blue-painted houses in the steep and winding alleyways of the medina, this northern area of Morocco was once a Spanish Protectorate and there are many elements of Spanish culture and language still in evidence.

The city of Chefchaouen is well worth exploring for a day or two; the medina is attractive and small enough to navigate easily and you will find shops and artisans offering many local crafts, near the river you can see women washing laundry in the way they have for centuries, in their colorful striped aprons which are typical of the region, you’ll have the opportunity to meet locals and walk in this beautiful Medina.

After breakfast in the hotel, we will depart for Fes through Ouazzan and Volubilis and Meknes, leaving the blue nice city behind, after a couple of hours drive arriving in Ouazzan – a beautiful town in the Rif Mountains – you will experience amazing views over the fertile plain of Lukus Valley ) after we will continue to Meknes, the city protected by over 40km of ancient walls, Meknes the ismaili capital of Morocco. before a panoramic tour of the city and the famous doors of El Mansour and El Khamis. before going through the Roman ruins of  Volubilis , dating back to 3rd century BC, volubilis ( Volubilis has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage ) .

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 breakfast and shower, we will depart for Merzouga through the Middle Atlas region, we will drive through Ifrane, the ‘Switzerland’ of Morocco and the cedar forests of Azrou where we will stop, Azrou is a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – Here you will have the opportunity to see the Barbary apes in the wild, and have the chance to feed them while taking some memorable pictures (hand feed the monkeys) .

The journey then takes us over the Middle Atlas Mountains to Midelt along the magnificent hills and mountains of the Atlas, you will be travelling through the Atlas Mountains enjoying the fascinating Tiz Ntalghamt of Midelt pass and the Ziz Gorge, taking in views of the High Atlas plateau, before arriving to Errachidia city, afterwards you will travel along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views

Continue our trip to Erfoud and Rissani, here you will have lunch and enjoy the Berber hospitality, next arrive to Merzouga on the afternoon.

After a luxurious breakfast in the riad you will start an explorative journey of the area, today we will explore the desert region, we will make a circuit of the desert dunes where you will have the opportunity to visit the nomads in their goat hair tent and learn about the desert life, afterwards to Khamlia, village of Gnawa people , originally slaves brought from Sudan; here you will have the opportunity to listen to their music and learn about their culture and lifestyle. You may also visit the nomad wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities.

On the afternoon you will ride  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! we 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,our camp is equipped with western bathrooms.

If you like, early in the morning, your camel man will wake you up  to see the spectacle of the sunrise – what well may be the best sunrise of your life -over the dunes of the Sahara, you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to your riad for aluxurious  breakfast and a shower, after breakfast we will leave for Rissani, if it is a Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday this is an opportunity to explore the souk , once a meeting place for many caravans coming from Timbuktu in Mali, Rissani, once Sijilmassa, is the foundation of the Alaouite Aynasty, the current ruling family, with most of the woman veiled, and men hooded, this is a very traditional Moroccan town .We’ll continue driving towards Tinghir Todra gorges, the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco.

Here you will have the option to hike for an hour within the valley, where you will meet locals and learn about the culture and geography, after a tradition lunch in the heart of the gorge, you will continue to the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”.

After breakfast in the hotel, you will travel through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazat, the road through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip, next you will enjoy the fertile Rose valley and the rock formations along the way.

We’ll stop at Kalaat M’gouna, “the rose city” known as the ancient city of the Jews of the Dades, the fortress of Tiliit has been the centre of a Jewish region ruled by the Spanish-Jewish family of Perez from the end of the 15th century until the reign of Moulay Ismail in 1672( Where you will have the option to visit the cooperative for the roses, to purchase the rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over) continue to Skoura and the birds valley, visit the Kasbah Ameridil, a well-preserved kasbah in this area, after some hiking in the valley stop in a high restaurant, lunch in high looking the whole valley, on to Ouarzazate .

Ouarzazate “the door to the Sahara desert”, it’s the main Berber city in the south known for its spectacular sunsets and dramatic mountain and desert scenery, Surrounded by breathtaking valleys, Ouarzazate was once crossing point for African traders seeking to reach northern cities in Morocco and Europe, Ouarzazate its “the Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscapes has attracted many world class movie producers.

Here you may choose to visit the studios, containing props used in movies, you may have already seen, such as The Mummy, Gladiator and the Last temptation of Christ.

We will meet you at your accommodation in Ouarzazat and start travelling to Marrakech via the Ait Ben haddou Kasbah, located 32 km from Ouarzazate the picturesque village.

Aït Benhaddou is situated in Souss Massa Draa on a hill along the Ouarzazate river, we will stop be at the famous Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco, the kasbah was built by THAMI EL GALOUI  one of the last berber cheiftains during the 18 th cenrtury, now a house of many Glaoui people.

Continue via  the fascinating valley to Telouet, another Berber Mud castle built by Thami El Glaoui, some of the mosaics are in very good shape and the view from the  upper floor is breathtaking, your journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, Arriving in Marrakech

After Breakfast in the Riad you will have a full guided tour will be scheduled to discover Marrakesh which is known as the “Red City”.

Marrakesh is the most important former imperial city in Morocco’s history, it is situated near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountain (Like all the old cities) we will ensure that you see the most important sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Menara Gardens, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, delving through the alleys of the souk where they will have the opportunity to see in action at different artisans working leather, carpet weaving, tailoring slippers, etc….

During our visit we will see The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century in the reign of Al moravid Dynasty, after lunch at a restaurant near the square, we will walk through narrow streets and allies in the ancient city and souks and view hundreds of handicrafts, on the afternoon, you will have some free time to wonder by yourself and see Marrakech as you like.

Walk back to the riad for dinner and night …

After breakfast in your kasbah, you will start travelling to Essaouira via Marrakech -High Atlas Mountains- after couple stops for pictures, 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, a stop at one of these cooperatives is worthy to see how Berber women squeezed the Argan fruits between hands to extract this precious oil.

Arrive to Essaouira 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 .

Overnight accommodation in hotel.

Free time in Marrakech ,you will enjoy walking within the famous square of Jemaa Elfna, entertained with magicians, story tellers, musicians and snake charmers. Then going back to riad .

After  breakfast in your riad , we will drive you to Casablanca/Marrakech airport for your flight back home.

Your tour ends at the airport.