11 Days Must-See Morocco Cultural Tour from Casablanca

Overview

Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Morocco’s cultural wonders with our 11 Days Must-See Morocco Cultural Tour from Casablanca. This immersive adventure begins in the bustling city of Casablanca, where you’ll marvel at the architectural splendor of the Hassan II Mosque, a testament to North African craftsmanship. From there, we’ll wind our way through historic El-Jadida and Safi, tracing the Portuguese legacy before reaching the enchanting coastal town of Essaouira, a haven of artistic inspiration and Jimi Hendrix’s muse.
Continuing our odyssey, we’ll venture towards Marrakech, where the rhythms of Jemaa El-Fnaa square will captivate your senses. Our journey then leads us through the High Atlas Mountains, where the ancient kasbah of Ait Benhaddou stands as a cinematic icon. Traverse the Dades and Todgha gorges, their sheer cliffs and lush oases offering a glimpse into Morocco’s natural wonders.
The desert beckons next, as we navigate the golden dunes of Merzouga by camelback, a surreal sunset casting its spell over the Sahara. Further north, Fes awaits with its labyrinthine Medina, a UNESCO treasure trove of history and tradition. Nearby, Chefchaouen’s blue-washed walls whisper tales of Andalusian influence amidst the Rif Mountains’ tranquil embrace.
Our cultural sojourn concludes in Rabat, Morocco’s political heart, where the Hassan Tower and Oudayas Kasbah offer a final glimpse into the country’s rich heritage. With memories etched in every corner explored, our journey ends back in Casablanca, leaving you with a mosaic of experiences and a longing to return to Morocco’s captivating embrace.

Highlights 

• Visit the Hassan II Mosque, North Africa’s largest, and marvel at its majestic minaret, a beacon of Moroccan architectural grandeur.
• Explore El-Jadida’s UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortifications before heading to Essaouira, a laid-back coastal gem known for its artistic vibe and historic charm.
• Immerse yourself in Essaouira’s bohemian atmosphere, inspired by Jimi Hendrix, then journey to Marrakech, where the evening comes alive with the vibrant spectacle of Jemaa El-Fnaa square.
• Traverse the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass to discover Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar featured in iconic films, and continue through stunning valleys to Dades Gorges.
• Experience the dramatic Todgha Gorges, explore ancient fossils in Erfoud, and culminate your day with a camel ride into the golden dunes of Merzouga for a magical desert sunset.
• Delve into Fes’ labyrinthine Medina with its historic landmarks like Karaouine University and the vibrant tanneries, guided by local insights into centuries of Moroccan culture and learning.

Itinerary 

Day 1 : Arrival to Casablanca CMN

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 – Eljadida – Safi – Essaouira

Around 8am you’ll head southwest of Casablanca to the 15 century Portuguese fortified city of Mazagan known now as El-Jadida, nicknamed « the Deauville of Morocco » its Portuguese structures, fortified ramparts and a system of defense surrounding the Medina which advances out into the sea, all evoke the city’s past history. (Listed as World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO), an ancient coastal town impressive testimony of Portuguese architecture. When you leave El-Jadida your road takes you to Safi, the Sardines and Pottery town, most of its old medina was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. From Safi to the most laid-back beach city in Morocco. Essaouira is more than just a town is a muse, it’s Jimi Hendrix inspiration site, a source of undying inspiration.

Day 3 : Essaouira – Marrakech

You have a free morning to explore Jimi Hendrix’s town today before you head to Marrakech. After having your breakfast you’re free to roam in the city that was once and still a heaven for hippie backpackers and Gnawa musicians. You can book a local guide, if not you can start your visit by the ramparts a series of forts that were built in the 15th century around the Medina of Mogador. Inside the Medina you’ll have a chance to visit The Mellah (former Jewish quarter), the Morocco’s 3rd fishing port where you can have a delicious fish meal. Afternoon you will head to Marrakech, and in your way towards the Red city, If you’re lucky you will have chance to see the tree goats’ phenomenon. To arrive in Marrakech to drop quickly you baggage at the hotel and join the carnival night of the crazed cacophony of musicians, snake charmers and vendors in the open-air famed Jemaa El-Fnaa square.

Day 4 : Marrakech City 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 5 : Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – valley of roses – Dades gorges

Around 8:00am your driver/tour guide will pick you up from the nearest point of your hotel/Riad. Through Tizi- N’Tichka pass (2260m) in the High Atlas Mountains, you will enjoy a snaky windy road (if you get car sick have your medication), beautiful landscapes with different colors and Berber villages along the way. The first pause will be in Ait Barka village. It will be around 10:00am to take beautiful pictures and have a cup of mint tea. It’s a point to start the highest Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The second pause will take place in the top of Tizi n’Tichka arriving to Ait Benhaddou, the 11th century UNESCO-protected red mud-brick ksar that has formed the backdrop for many Hollywood movies production such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many others. Here you will also have time to explore the history of this amazing heritage. Then you will have lunch before continuing via Ouarzazate, « Ouallywood » studio and Taourirte Kasbah. Traversing the valley of roses and daggers straight 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.

Day 6 : Dades Gorges – Todgha Gorges – Tinejdad – Erfoud – Risani – Merzouga Desert

This morning, you head southeast towards Merzouga and the gateway into the golden dunes of the Sahara desert. Before getting there you’ll be stuck between gigantic rock walls and a hard place is a sublime experience in the Todgha gorges. Then it’s onward to Tinjdad where a local Berber culture museum is worth a lunch stop, later on after lunch we head to Arfoud where you can marvel at the million-year-old fossils that the area is famous for.  Then it’s off to Merzouga that has the highest dunes in Morocco, you can store any luggage while packing an overnight bag to bring along. You’ll have the chance to ride your camel « ship of the desert » into the sandy seas. After hour-long camel ride you will be among the luckiest to watch the sun set over the Sahara dunes. Your stay for the night will be a Bedouin style tent.

Day 7 : Merzouga Desert – Midelt – Ifran – Fes

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 Ifran through the Ziz Valley, among the largest producer oasis dates in Morocco. En route we will stop for lunch with a local family in Midelt. After lunch we will pass through the cedar forests of Ifran, the Switzerland of Morocco, if are lucky we’ll come across the Barbary macaques in our way to Fes where you can prepare for tomorrow’s amazing tour in its mysteries and secrets of the 9000 alleyways that make it a maze, do not panic the guide will show the must see sites.

Day 8 : 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,
Option: when you finish your visit of the Medina, we will drive you out of Fes to have a delicious house-made food in Lalla Aicha’s place in Sefrou or experience a Traditional Moroccan Hammam-spa.

Day 9 : Fes – Chefchaouen

You will be picked up by your driver/ tour guide and head north to Chefchaouen or Chaouen a city that perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif Mountains. The « Blue Town » has a mystical blue-washed Medina, surely the prettiest and the smallest when compared to others in the country. The town remained isolated with the Andalusian character architecture. Chaouen is undoubtedly a place to enjoy exploring at random.

Day 10 : Chefchaouen – Ouazane – Rabat

Morocco’s political, administrative capital is waiting to host tonight. Today you will have five hours driving from Chefchaouen to Rabat. The capital may be short on top-drawer tourist attractions, but it compensates with plenty of charm. You will have the opportunity to explore the city in a short sojourn, first through the monumental Hassan Tower with the pillared stumps of its mosque being all that remains from the earthquake of 1755. There is also the near-by Mausoleum of the royal family. And do not miss to have a cup of mint tea in red Oudayas, a walled village within a city.

Day 11 : Rabat – Casablanca Departure

As our journey draws to a close, we bid farewell to the enchanting city of Rabat, reflecting on the unforgettable moments we’ve shared. Today, we embark on the final leg of our adventure, traveling to Casablanca. Along the way, our driver/Tour Guide will ensure a smooth transfer to Casablanca Airport, arriving three hours before your flight. Although it’s time to say “see you again” instead of “goodbye,” may the memories of Morocco linger in your heart, promising future journeys filled with discovery and wonder. Safe travels!

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