8 Days Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech

After your breakfast, your driver would pick you up from your hotel/riad in Casablanca at 08/09 AM. You will start your 8 days Morocco desert tour from Casablanca to Marrakech traveling to Rabat; which is one of the imperial cities in Morocco, and the current capital. It is located in the northwest of Morocco. Where you are going to visit, the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V as well as The Kasbah of Oudaya. After having your lunch we continue our journey to the bleu city while admiring beautiful landscapes provided by the Mamora forest, one of the largest cork oak forests, by the fields covered with olive trees groves and the fertile plains of the Rif Mountains. Overnight in authentic Riad in Chefchaouen.

Our second day of 8 days Morocco desert tour from Casablanca will be in Chefchaouen, which is located in the Rif Mountains. The Blue city is split into an eastern half, the medina, and into a western half, the new part of the city. The old medina is a delightful combination of Moroccan and Andalusian architecture, with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings, and narrow streets. In the heart of the medina, you can encounter Plaza Uta el-Hammam and its restored Kasbah. This area is surrounded by craft stores, roof-top restaurants, and cafes… that’s why Chefchaouen is the best place for relaxation. Overnight at the same riad.

Today we leave Chefchaouen towards the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. It is well preserved, as it is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has many beautiful mosaics scattered here and there, along with ancient pillars and archways. After strolling in the ruins, we drive 30 km to visit Meknes. The city is considered the Ismaili capital and one of the imperial cities, where we could visit Bab Al-Mansour, Sahrij Souani basin, the Royal stables, the granary, and also the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. In the late afternoon, we head to Fes. Overnight in Riad/hotel.

Full day dedicated to visiting Fes, the oldest of the imperial cities, founded by Moulay Idriss II. The visit will begin with the old medieval medina and its universities (Mederse) including Bou Anania and Attarine which boasts splendid decoration. We will see the Nejjarine fountain and the richly decorated Karaouiyne Mosque. The imposing building has 16 naves. The prayer hall is embellished with stucco and kufic, the ancient Arabic calligraphy form. Don’t miss the Koranic schools. Finally, we will enter the Fes market. Overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive south to Merzouga desert via Midelt and Ziz-Valley. Your first stop will be at Ifrane city (the Moroccan Switzerland) built by the French in the 1930s to resemble a Swiss village. The second stop will be at the cedar forest in Azrou where we meet the barbarian apes. Feel free to feed them. Later, we continue to Midelt “the apple capital”, where we will have free time for lunch.

After that, we’ll go via the amazing Tizi-n-Talremt pass and the stunning Ziz Gorge, enjoying the views of the High Atlas plateau and seeing the scenery transform to give indications of the desert as we approach the province of Errachidia city in the south-east. After that, you’ll journey through the spectacular Ziz Valley, stopping for a panoramic view before continuing on to Erfoud, which is famed for its fossils and seasonal festival dates market. Then it’s on to Merzouga town, where we’ll spend the night at a hotel on the edge of Morocco’s largest sand dunes. In the riad for dinner and the night.

After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll start our Merzouga 4×4 excursion to explore different and interesting sites around Erg Chebbi dunes. You will start your journey visiting a village called KHAMLIA (Blacks’ village) they’re originally from Sudan, where you will have time to listen to their music Gnaoua style and also dance with them. After that, we will continue to enjoy a panoramic view of golden sand dunes. during our Merzouga 4×4 excursion, we’ll go to M’ifis mines also famous for minerals and fossils. Later on, we’ll drive to the Sahara desert area to visit the nomad family, who are still living under a Berber tent, and share a cup of tea with them. Then you’ll take a break in Khamlia village for a delicious meal of Berber Pizza.

After lunch, you’ll go to the Hassi Labied oasis, which is fed by an underground irrigation system, and have a walk around the oasis at the foot of the dunes. Later we will drive back to the village of Merzouga where we will be left the car and take a camel ride to the heart of Erg Chebbi sand dunes. It will be a great opportunity to take amazing pictures of the sunset. When we arrive at the camp, you will have free time to climb the dunes for sandboarding or just walking. Then have a delicious Moroccan dinner. And gather around the fire to enjoy a session of singing, dancing, and laughing. Sharing beautiful moments, and forget the stress of the world under a vast sky with countless brilliant stars. Spend the night in the privately equipped tent.

Your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise in your life over the amazing sand dunes. After these lovely moments, you will have breakfast and shower at the camp. Then you can ride the camels or transfer by 4WD back to the location where you will meet your driver. We will continue our 8 days tour from Casablanca. We will drive towards Rissani Once called Sijilmassa, which was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali. Here you’ll see different stuff and different life.

Rissani is known by the traditional market which takes place 3 times a week. It considers as the biggest local market. After we’ll go to Tinghir and Todra gorges where you will have time for lunch. Then walking between its clifts and canyons for about 300m high, it is very famous for rock climbers. Afterward, We’ll travel through the Dades Valley, passing by majestic sand castles, amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes,” and many Berber village landscapes. Finally, we will arrive in the Dades valley, where we will spend the night in a hotel/riad with dinner and breakfast.

After breakfast in your hotel, we continue our 8 days Morocco desert tour from Casablanca crossing the authentic Dades Valley to Kalaat M’gouna, where we’ll be visiting the Rose valley (A Rose Festival has held annually in May) Where the locals offer their rose products, from perfumes, rose water, oil, to cosmetic products. Then, drive to Ouarzazate, known as “The Gate of the desert” and due to the presence of a big movie-making set here, it is also known as the Moroccan version of Hollywood. Here you can see the beautiful Taourirt Kasbah and the world’s largest film studio by acreage, Cinema Studio Atlas.

What is more interested on our last day is visiting the famous Kasbah of Ait-Ben-Haddou, a fortified village recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Furthermore, the Kasbah has appeared in many movies including Alexander, Gladiator, The Mummy…etc. And also TV series as Game of Thrones. Free time to have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the Kasbah. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi ‘n’ Tichka pass (2260 m altitude) over the High Atlas Mountains. where you can stop also to explore the process of making the argan oil at the women’s cooperatives before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech. Where our 8 days Morocco desert tour from Casablanca to Marrakech ends.