14-Day Grand Tour from Casablanca

DAY 1 : Arrival to Casablanca

Upon your arrival at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport, our driver will be waiting for you at the exit, holding a sign with your name. The driver will then transport you to your hotel in Casablanca.

DAY 2 : Casablanca, Rabat & Tanger

Your morning will begin with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Casablanca. Afterward, you'll travel to the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Once there, you'll explore the Bab Challah, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, one of the main gates of the Royal Palace, and the Oudaya Kasbah. You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading straight to Tangier City. Upon arrival in Tangier, you'll check into your hotel and spend the night there.

DAY 3 : Tangier, Chefchaouen

Following breakfast at your hotel, you'll embark on a tour of Tangier and its surroundings. This will include a visit to Spartel Cape and the Hercules Caves, which offer stunning views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. You'll also explore the Kasbah district near the port and the old Medina, where you can peruse the various craftsmanship shops and admire the magnificent Minaret. Additionally, you'll have the chance to pass by the Grand Socco, which has hosted famous artists and writers like Matisse, Camille Saint Saens, and Paul Bowles in its small hotels.

After lunch, you'll leave Tangier and travel for about 2 hours to reach the charming blue city of Chefchaouen. Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and have the rest of the day free to explore the city's beautiful sights. You'll spend the night at the hotel in Chefchaouen.

DAY 4 : Chefchaouen, Fes

You'll have the morning free to explore the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, situated in the Rif Mountains in northwest Morocco. This city is renowned for its old town's faded blue buildings of various shades. Its steep cobbled alleys are lined with leather and weaving workshops. In Outa el Hammam, the shaded central square, you'll find the casbah, a fifteenth-century fortress and keep with ethnographic and artistic exhibitions and red walls. Nearby, the Great Mosque's octagonal minaret towers over the city. After lunch, you'll continue on your tour to Fes, crossing the Rif Mountains via Wazan and other Rif villages. You'll arrive at your hotel in Fes for an overnight stay.

DAY 5 : Fes, Day trip to Meknes and Volubilis

You will depart from Fez at 8:00 AM and drive for an hour west to reach the Imperial city of Meknes. As you travel across the plain, you'll see vast vineyards that produce high-quality wine, much of which is exported to France. Once you reach Meknes, you'll have up to three hours to explore the town, including the souks, historical sites, and have lunch. During the reign of Moulay Ismail around 1700, Meknes became the capital city of Morocco, and his mausoleum, the Rouah (his stables for over 12,000 horses), and the central pedestrian square in the Medina, Place el-Hedim, are all worth a visit. The souks in Meknes are relatively spacious compared to Fez, making the city a relaxing place to explore.

After lunch, you'll travel 30 km north to the hillside settlement of Moulay Idriss. The town is one of the most important spiritual sites in the country and a place of pilgrimage, as it is the site of the tomb of Moulay Idriss, a prominent Moroccan saint in the late 8th century and a great-grandson of the prophet Mohammed. The town is often overlooked by non-Muslim tourists, but the narrow streets leading to vantage points for views over the valley towards Volubilis are worth a short stop.

Leaving Moulay Idriss, you'll take a short 4 km drive to the World Heritage Site of Volubilis. As you drive, there are several vantage points to take photographs of the town. Volubilis is home to the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, known for its stunning mosaic floors and incredible views of the Rif Mountain foothills, particularly at sunset. A guided tour of the Volubilis site with an official guide (20 dh paid locally) is highly recommended if you are interested in learning the details of the site's history. You'll depart from Volubilis at around 4:30 pm and return to Fez at approximately 6:30 pm.

DAY 6 : Exploring Fes Medina

Today, you will have the opportunity to discover Fes, which is considered the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. The city is vibrant, noisy, fascinating, and can be overwhelming, offering a visual and pungent feast for the senses. Your first stop will be Fes el Bali, the old city, which some consider to be the most fascinating and perplexing old city in the world. During the Middle Ages, Fes was one of the world's most significant centers of education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish, with legendary religious institutions and libraries, as well as renowned mosques. As you walk through the winding streets and alleyways, you'll pass by donkeys carrying heavy loads, explore the specialty sections that divide the souk, and encounter historic khans, medresses, and dye-pits, as well as stalls selling fruits, herbs, and soups. The air is filled with the squawk of chickens, the smell of spices, and the sound of copper hammering, making it easy to imagine yourself transported back to the Middle Ages. Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting some of its most iconic sites such as Medresse el Attarine, the tanneries, and the beautifully restored 18th-century inn, Fondouk Nejjarine. Later, return to your hotel in the late afternoon and spend the night in the Hotel/Riad

DAY 7 : Fes, Middle, Atlas, Erfoud & Merzouga Sahara Desert

Begin your day early with a journey south towards Merzouga, where you'll arrive in time for a sunset camel ride in the Sahara dunes. Along the way, you'll pass through the Middle Atlas mountains, climbing up to an elevation of 7,146 feet (2,178 m) over the Col du Zad pass and through cedar forests. Keep an eye out for Barbary macaque monkeys before stopping for lunch in Midelt, also known as the 'apple city,' and enjoying the nearby Moulouya River. From there, travel over the Tizi n'Talremt pass and into the Ziz Valley, which is famous for its hidden oases and clusters of palm trees. As you drive, you'll see many fortified houses known as ksars, built to protect valuable items such as gold, salt, and spices. The next stop is Erfoud, renowned for its date festival and fossil mining. Here, you can visit a local collective to learn more about the process and meet some local artisans.

End the day at Erg Chebbi, an expansive sea of sand dunes covering 13.5 square miles (35 square km). The massive dunes are constantly shifting and moving, depending on the changing wind patterns. Upon reaching Merzouga, hop on a camel and ride through the dunes to reach your pre-prepared camp. Climb a nearby sand dune to watch the sunset before returning to the camp for a delicious dinner and relaxing by the campfire.

DAY 8 : Sahara Desert, Todra Gorge & Dades Valley

You will need to wake up very early today to witness what could be the most breathtaking sunrise of your life. You'll head to the Sand Dunes of Sahara in Erg Chebbi to watch the sunrise, and then return to the camp for breakfast. As you peacefully ride your camel back to the village of Merzouga, you'll be able to appreciate the unique beauty of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which change with the light throughout the day. Once you arrive in Merzouga, you'll meet up with the driver again to continue the tour to Dades. You can opt to stop in Rissani to visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali chref, the founder of the Alaouit dynasty, before heading to Arfoud to visit the fossilized marble factory. Afterward, you'll continue to the Todra valley, where you'll have lunch. In Todra, you can take a half-hour walk to see the stunning gorges at a leisurely pace and be guided through the palm grove and the Jewish quarter. The Todra gorges are the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco, with enormous vertical walls of great beauty, making it a climber's paradise and a unique place.

In the evening, you'll drive through the Dades Valley, where you'll see majestic sand castles and incredible rock formations known as "monkey toes." You'll spend the night in a luxurious guest house with a view overlooking the Dades Valley.

DAY 9 : Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, Tizi n'Tichka Pass & Marrakech

After breakfast at your accommodation, you'll set off on a journey through the Dades Valley towards Ouarzazate and then Marrakech. This road is known as the "Way of the Thousand Kasbahs," providing ample opportunities to capture stunning photographs along the way. You'll make a stop in Kalaat M'Gouna, the center of the rose valley, where you can visit the rose cooperative and purchase rosewater, which will keep your linen smelling fresh long after your trip ends.

Next, you'll travel to Marrakech via the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. The Kasbah was constructed by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains, in the 19th century and is now home to many Glaoui people. Your journey will take you through the majestic Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains, where you can explore the production process of Argan oil, which is found only in Morocco, by Berber women in their cooperative. Finally, you'll arrive at your overnight accommodation in Marrakech.

DAY 10 : Marrakech Exploring the Red City

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel/riad, you can begin exploring Marrakech, also known as the "Red City" of Morocco. You'll visit the most significant historical and cultural sites, such as the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, and the main square, Place Ljamaa Lfna. Following lunch at a restaurant near the square, you'll stroll through the souks and witness hundreds of handicrafts. You'll have some free time in the afternoon to explore other parts of the city on your own.

Marrakech was nicknamed the "Red City" due to its old red sandstone city walls and buildings. It has Berber roots rather than Arab roots and used to be a crucial trading capital for tribes from the Atlas mountains. Jemaa el-Fna Square is the heart of Marrakech, with the souks to the north, the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens to the west, and the kasbah area with the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace to the south. In the new city, you'll find the Majorelle Gardens.

Explore the intricate labyrinth of souks hidden behind ordinary restaurants and shops, indulging your senses. Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, and Souk Smata are excellent places to find a selection of spices, woodwork, and babouche (traditional Moroccan slippers). Visit the Souk of Tanneries or the dyers' souk to witness how cloth and yarn are dyed using traditional methods. Admire the beautiful example of Moroccan Islamic architecture of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 16th-century Koranic school, and take note of the ornate details of its interior, such as the carved cedar ceilings, sculpted plaster, and zellij tiling.

DAY 11 : Marrakech Day Trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls

The day tour to the Ouzoud Waterfalls starts at 8:00 AM from your hotel in Marrakech. The driver will pick you up from your accommodation or from the nearest accessible point to the car. If the car is not accessible to the hotel, the driver will come on foot to your hotel. On the way to the Atlas Mountains, you'll drive through fields of olive trees on a scenic route towards the Ouzoud Waterfalls. Around 10 AM, you'll stop at the natural bridge of Imi Nifri for a tea break and enjoy the beautiful views. Upon arrival at Ouzoud, you'll have a delicious Berber lunch near the waterfalls surrounded by lime, pomegranate, and oak trees. After lunch, you can choose to relax by the pools or take a stroll along the network of trails leading to the pools beneath the falls. For the more adventurous, an exciting walk explores underground passages near the nearby Berber village. With luck, you may see a beautiful rainbow at the bottom of the falls, and the resident Barbary apes may make an appearance to drink from the river. You'll then return to Marrakech in the evening.

DAY 12 : Marrakech (Free day)

You'll have a free day in Marrakech to relax and explore additional sightseeing on your own. There are plenty of extra activities to enjoy in Marrakech, such as visiting a hammam, getting a massage, or going to a spa. You can also venture out to the suburbs of Marrakech, where there are many incredible places to explore, including valleys, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes.

DAY 13 : Marrakech, Essaouira

After breakfast, you'll make your way to Essaouira. En route, you'll have the chance to witness the amazing sight of goats climbing argan trees, and you can stop to see the argan forest and an argan oil cooperative if you wish. Essaouira is a coastal town that offers a great opportunity to relax on the beach. Its Medina combines history and culture with modern cafes and restaurants. Essaouira boasts a long promenade with a large sandy beach that is safe for swimming. It's the perfect chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the cooler coastal climate of Essaouira. The town is an exceptional example of a late-18th century fortified town.

DAY 14 : Essaouira Transfer to the Airport of Casablanca

We will arrange for your transfer to the airport according to your flight departure time. If you wish, the itinerary of the tour can be modified to suit your preferences. We hope that you have enjoyed our services and that you are satisfied with your experience.