New 8 days Imperial Cities Morocco Cultural Tour from Casablanca

Overview

Embark on an immersive 8-day Imperial Cities Morocco Cultural Tour, beginning and ending in Casablanca, Morocco’s vibrant economic hub. Start your journey by exploring Rabat, the capital city known for its historic landmarks such as the Hassan Tower and the charming Kasbah des Oudaias. From there, venture to Meknes, renowned for its grand Bab Mansour gate and the ancient Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, before continuing to Fes.

Discover Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest medina, where narrow alleys lead to hidden mosques, artisan workshops, and bustling souks. Journey towards the Sahara Desert, passing through Ifran’s cedar forests and witnessing a sunset over the majestic dunes of Merzouga. Experience an unforgettable night in the Sahara, immersed in Bedouin hospitality and under the starry desert sky.

As you journey northwest, marvel at the ancient Kasbahs and Ksours that line the Sahara villages, and explore the dramatic Todgha Gorges with their towering rock formations. Arrive at the Dades Gorges, where rust-red cliffs and picturesque valleys await.

Departing from Dades, continue your adventure to Ouarzazate, known for its UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou kasbah, a testament to Morocco’s rich history and architecture. Traverse through the Atlas Mountains, where snow-capped peaks and lush valleys provide a breathtaking backdrop, before concluding your tour in Marrakech.

Explore Marrakech’s vibrant medina, from the historic Bahia Palace to the lively Jemaa El-Fnaa square, where storytellers and musicians captivate visitors every evening. Reflect on your journey through Morocco’s imperial cities and diverse landscapes, filled with cultural riches and natural wonders, before returning to Casablanca for your departure.

Highlights 

• • Explore Casablanca’s iconic Hassan II Mosque, North Africa’s largest, and marvel at its towering minaret.
  • Journey through Rabat and Meknes, discovering the Hassan Tower, royal mausoleum, and Meknes’ grand Bab El Mansour gate.
  • Navigate Fes’ labyrinthine medina with a local guide, visiting landmarks like the Karaouine University and traditional tanneries.
  • Venture from Fes to Merzouga, passing through cedar forests, the Ziz Valley, and experiencing a camel ride to watch the sunset over Saharan dunes.
  • Witness a sunrise over the Merzouga dunes, explore fossil-rich Erfoud, and marvel at the towering Todgha Gorges and Dades Gorges.
  • Journey through the Valley of Roses, visit Ait Benhaddou’s UNESCO site, and cross the Atlas Mountains to vibrant Marrakech.

Itinerary :

Day 1 : Arrival to Casablanca

Touch down to Casablanca. After your driver/tour guide has picked you up & dropped you off at your hotel you might like to discover some of Casablanca’s sights. Notably the Hassan II Mosque which is considered to be the largest in north Africa and the third largest in the Islamic world, with its splendid esplanade and its tallest minaret in the world. It is a long reach of marble and emerald zellige rising 210 meters into the sky. Grand and timeless, the Great Mosque is constantly busy, a meeting point for Sunday strolls.

Day 2 : Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Fes

Dive down an eastward journey from Casablanca towards Fes, with captivating stops in Rabat and Meknes along the way. Begin your day with a swift one-hour drive to Rabat, Morocco’s administrative capital. Here, marvel at the imposing Hassan Tower, whose remnants stand tall since the 1755 earthquake, alongside the nearby Mausoleum of the royal family. Witness the ceremonial horsemen guarding the gate, a testament to Rabat’s historic grandeur.

Continue your journey to Meknes, an imperial city rich in architectural splendor. Discover the grandeur of Bab El Mansour gate, delve into the opulence of Dar Jamai Palace and Museum, and visit the royal stables, Hedim square, and Moulay Ismail’s tomb. Wander through the labyrinthine alleys of the Mellah, once home to Jewish families, before heading towards Fes.

Arrive in Fes, a city renowned for its labyrinthine medina, boasting over 9,000 winding alleyways. Prepare to immerse yourself in the secrets and mysteries hidden within this ancient city, where every corner reveals a piece of Morocco’s rich cultural tapestry.

Day 3 : Fes walk and talk Medina guided tour

Do not panic the guide will show you the must-see sites. With your private Fes born and bred guide you will have the opportunity to discover the ancient breeding ground for scholars and artisans and the largest Medina of the world. Your will see the America Fondouk, Nejjarines, the Tanneries, the Medersa (Theological college) and Karaouine the first established university in the world. Your guide will shed light on many tales and 1200 years of history of this UNESCO-protected Medina. Optionally, after exploring the Medina, we can drive you to Sefrou for a delicious home-cooked meal at Lalla Fatiha’s place, or you can indulge in a traditional Moroccan Hammam spa experience.

Day 4 : Fes – Ifran – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

An early-morning start is recommended for this day. We leave the mazing Medina of Fes with its mysteries and secrets of the 9000 alleyways head to southeast towards Merzouga and the gateway into the golden dunes of the Sahara desert. En route we will pass by the cedar forests of Ifran, the Switzerland of Morocco, where you might think that you are in the Alps. If we’re lucky we’ll come across the Barbary Macaques in our way to Midelt where we’ll stopover for lunch. After eating we drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach the Ziz Valley, which considered to be among the largest producer oasis dates in Morocco, then it’s off to Merzouga with its highest dunes in Morocco, you can store any baggage while packing an overnight bag to bring along. You’ll have the chance to be accompanied by a camel and blue-turban-robed guide into the sandy seas. After hour-long camel ride you will be among the luckiest to watch the sun set over the Sahara dunes and spend a night in a Berber style tent.

Day 5 : Merzouga Desert – Erfoud – Todgha Gorges – Dades Gorges

This morning you’ll wake up with the sun shining on you face to witness what we hope is a glorious sunrise among the dunes, meanwhile to watch the light creep slowly down the dunes and pull all the world around you outside their warmth heavy mound of blankets for an early-breakfast. After an hour-ride camel back out of the desert you will depart and head for Erfoud where you can marvel at the million-year-old fossils that the area is famous for. Then heading north for a sublime experience in the Todgha gorges where we’ll be stuck between the gigantic rock walls. Arriving to Dades gorges a rust-red and mauve mountains. A series of crumbling Kasbahs and Ksours line the valley in the Berber villages to the monkey Fingers Mountains.

If we get there earlier and you still have some energy to hike a couple of hours we will drop-off our luggage at the hotel and get dressed for the hike.

Day 6 : Dades Gorges – Valley of Roses – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

You leave Dades at 8:00am traversing the valley of roses and daggers straight to the 11th century UNESCO-protected red mud-brick ksar, which has formed the backdrop for many Hollywood movies production such as Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus of Nazareth, Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many others. You might also like to explore Ouarzazate, home to Taourirt Kasbah and the «Ouallywood» studio. Wind up the memorable Tizi n’Tichka pass via the north Africa’s highest peak, the high Atlas Mountains with the Berber villages lined beside the road to arrive to Marrakech where you will have a day-long to explore the crazed cacophony of musicians, snake charmers and vendors in the open-air famed Jamaa El Fnaa square, and the highly recommended sites with your guide.

Day 7 : Marrakech walk and talk Medina guided tour

Today, with your private Marrakech born and bred guide, you embark exploring the Red City from its old part with its Medina’s skinny lanes that leads to lavish sites, tombs and religious monuments decked out in marble. Bahia and El-Badii Palace and Saadien’s Tombs will be your targets. Afterward, you driver/Tour Guide will pick you up for the outside medina visit to explore the Majorelle garden, Museum Saint Laurent, Berber Museum. While in Marrakech you will surely encounter thousands of motorcyclists and horse-carts roaming in the city and some of them pull over next the vast square of Jemaa El-Fnaa where it’s carnival night every night and musicians, acrobats, storytellers and slapstick acting troupes tap into the Medina frenetic pulse.

Day 8 : Marrakech or Casablanca Departure

Airport Shuttle

Our Morocco Cultural Tour comes to an end today, we hope that you spent a good time with us. Either you’ve arranged your depature from Marrakech or Casablanca pleae note that your driver/tour guide will let you know the time when he shall pick you up to the Airport.

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