Morocco, in Moroccan dialect, is called “al-Maghrib”, which means “the land of the setting sun”. On our journey through Morocco we see of numerous remarkable sunsets, whether in the sand dunes, at the coast or between the mountains. The country reveals to us the enchantment of the Orient, as in the folk tales of “One Thousand and One Nights”. We discover the rich culture of Morocco in the four royal cities: Fèz, Marrakech, Meknès and Rabat. We will cross the sandy desert and spend many nights at the foot of the highest sand dunes, in fertile oases and at the range of the Erg Chebbi, one of the greatest dune landscapes formed by the wind. We will often sleep in tents, under the starry night sky. We will trek through huge gorges, visit ancient locations, admire giant oases, stroll through the labyrinths of the kasbahs and the souks, stop in picturesque villages, all along enjoying the local cuisine and the infinite hospitality of the Moroccan people. We will spend a few days in Marrakech and in the harbour city of Essaouira. In Marrakech, you will meet Moroccan jugglers, snake charmers, storytellers, soothsayer, artists and musicians, and stroll through the colourful, magnificent souks.
This trip is for those who are looking for a balanced mixture of cultural, natural and trekking experiences.
• Opportunity to simultaneously experience Morocco's culture and nature
• Visit to the four royal cities of Morocco: Rabat, Meknès, Fèz and Marrakech
• Drive down the road of 1000 Kasbahs
• Diverse landscapes: beautiful gorges, clear lakes, golden sand dunes, picturesque villages and mysterious kasbahs with typical houses made of clay and stone
• Archaeological town of Volubilis and holy town of Molay Idriss Zerhoune
• Trekking and many overnight stays in the heart of the desert under the starry night sky
• Plunge into the fabulous atmosphere of Essaouira and Marrakech
• English-speaking tour guide
• Familiar and cordial atmosphere in our team
• Delicious meals traditionally prepared by our cook
• Accompanying team of locals, berbers, with their mules transporting the luggage
According to the new legislation, only passengers are allowed to enter the airport building, so we kindly ask you to exit the terminal and look for the sign of the agency at the exit. A member of our team will then welcome you and drive you to your hotel in the city centre. No activities are planned for this day, thus you can indulge in free leisure time. Relax or explore on your own the famous city from the Academy Award-winning film named after it. Our staff will be happy to advise you at any time. Overnight stay is in hotel “Maamoura”.
Distance 240km, approx. 3 hours After a full breakfast, a brief city tour awaits! We visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. At height of 210 meters, its minaret is currently the tallest in the world which makes the mosque the world’s tallest religious building. We relish in the details of the hand-crafted exterior of the mosque as only Islam believers are allowed to enter. Take this chance to appreciate the incredible view of the Atlantic coast and breathe in the freshness of the sea. We continue our day trip along the ocean on a beautiful route to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. In Rabat, we first visit the partially constructed minaret of the city's largest unfinished mosque. At the beginning of the 13th century the construction was stopped, but the huge complex remains a landmark in Rabat to this day. We shortly visit the mausoleum of kings Mohammed V and Hassan II, a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty architecture. Then we head to Kasbah of Oudaia, the impressive fortress that for decades belonged to a berber dynasty of Almoravid. After this day tour of Rabat we move along the monumental city walls towards Meknès, a city at the foot of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Overnight stay is in a hotel in Meknès.
Distance 140km, approx. 2.5 hours Today we focus on sightseeing and get to know some of the most noteworthy places in Morocco. Surrounded by lush olive groves, the town of Meknès is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The souks of Meknès are among the most distinctive and original in Morocco. The city walls and its gates are also highly impressive. The most imposing gate, Bab Mansour, is one of Morocco's and North Africa's most important and prominent gates, along with other notable gates such as Bab Lakhmis and Bab Berdaine. The city of Meknès also impresses us with the largest water and grain storage facilities in the country. Afterwards the agency bus takes us to the holy village of Moulay Idriss Zerhoune (founder of the city and saint) and his mausoleum, which, due to its sanctity, takes up a special place in the heart of the Moroccans. In this village we can take the opportunity to savour local specialities prepared over an open fire for lunch. With our bellies satisfied, the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis await us. This is one of Morocco's most important archaeological finds and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. A short bus ride to Fèz follows. Overnight stay is in riad “Mimosa Fes”.
Fèz as a cosmopolitan city connects the Middle Ages with the present. With about one million inhabitants, it is the third largest city in Morocco. It is the oldest of the four royal cities in the country and has been long regarded as the spiritual centre. We dive into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages this city has to offer. The majority of the time is spent in the old town, or Medina, which is the perfect example of an oriental city. We walk through the narrow streets where time has stood still, protected from the blazing sun by ancient buildings standing close together and admire the deep blue of the ceramics, which is considered to be the symbol of Fèz. We visit landmarks like the old mosque (exterior only for non-Muslims), the first and world's most notable university, Al-Quaraouiyine, built in 859 by a rich and faithful young woman from Tunisia, Fatima Al-Fihri, the mausoleum of King Moulay Idriss II, a 14th-century college and colourful timeless souks with numerous merchants and craftsmen, where you can find either folk, fashionable, or luxurious goods. In the labyrinth of streets of the old town, we often hear the word "balak", which means "caution", because the traders use carts and donkeys to transport their goods. Overnight stay is again in riad “Mimosa Fes”.
Distance 470km, approx. 7.5 hours Today we leave the North of Morocco and drive towards Southern Morocco through a small village of Immouzer Kandar, also known as the "sleeping beauty". Neglected by the majority of tourists, this is a peaceful place where the locals live off the sale of fruits, especially apples, nuts and figs. Afterwards we have a short stay in Ifrane, a well-kept city, where the building structures reminds us of the modern European ones. Due to the appearance of its towns and its picturesque surroundings, this region is called Morocco's "Little Switzerland" and is a popular location for summer holidaymakers and winter sport enthusiasts. The Al-Akhawayn Elite University in Ifrane is largely funded by the kings of Morocco (Hassan II) and Saudi Arabia from the year 1995. We continue our trip to the neighbouring town of Azrou, famous for the largest cedar forest in North Africa. We pause for lunch at the beautiful and very clear lake Aguelmame Sidi Ali at the altitude of 2200m. On our way to the town of Errachidia, we cross the Col-du-Zad Pass at 2178m, which is known for its extremely steep slope and narrow roads. Shortly after Errachidia we arrive at the highlight of our day - an overwhelming view over the gigantic Ziz Oasis, one of Morocco's largest oases, with 3 million date palms. Enclosed between the red mountains, these palms form a green, endless river. Now it is time to arrive in Merzouga. The warm desert wind has touched us, the immense sand dunes continuously emerge on the horizon, and the silence of the desert finally shows its presence. Overnight stay is in hotel “Ksar Bicha”.
Distance 120km, approx. 2 hours We travel on the agency bus in the direction of Erfoud, a small village in the heart of the Talilaft oasis group, to the small town of Znaiqui. This group of oases covers an area of 1380km², comprising 300 small villages, which makes it the widest-stretched oasis in the world. Its inhabitants mainly live off the sale of dates and, after the explosion of tourism, fossils. While we approach our destination, the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes in Morocco, emerge on the horizon. There the caravan of dromedaries awaits us, which will accompany us on our excursions through the endless fields of golden sand. Overnight stay is in a tent.
Hike 4 - 5 hours Today we begin our journey afoot. We load up our luggage on the "ships of the desert" and trek for hours through the desert of stones and rocks, Hamada du Guir, which stretches for over 260km from north to south. In the distance, mountains of El Bega show up on the horizon. After 15km we will arrive at our final destination for today, at the riverbed of Qued Mardani. Overnight stay is in a tent.
Hike 4 - 5 hours Today we trek another 15km through the highest dunes of Morocco. The environment and atmosphere of this place remind us of the arid hostile landscapes of a foreign planet that we have only seen in science fiction movies. Neither fauna nor flora can find refuge in these places. However, it carries a unique beauty that brings an escape from civilization and the modern world, where acceleration has become an integral part of everyday life. Our destination is our camp in Bouyegd. Overnight stay is in a tent.
Hike 3 - 4 hours The last stage of our trekking tour extends for just over 12km until we arrive in the small village of Ras Ermal where we can relax in a beautiful guest house. Our lunch is already waiting for us here. The afternoon is free. Overnight stay is in a traditional berber tent.
Distance 250km, approx. 3.5 hours After an early morning breakfast we return to the Merzouga on our “desert ships” and take our bus towards the urban city of Rissani, famous for its spice and cattle markets. We stop there and stroll through its souks. Afterwards we visit the irrigation systems from the late Middle Ages and hike through the imposing 400m high Todra Gorge and the surrounding palm oases. The gorge is formed of limestone and is known as a climbing paradise all over the world. Finally, we head towards the oasis town of Boumalene Dades. Overnight stay is in a youth centre.
Distance 150km, approx. 2.5 hours The route between Ouarzazate and Errachidia has become known "The Road of 1000 Kasbahs". The beautiful old clay houses, the lush green of the oases and the reddish mountains on the horizon create dreamlike visuals. After a break and a short walk in Kasbah Taourirte, we hike on through lovely scenery to the Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Overnight stay is in hotel "La Kasbah".
Distance 200km, approx. 3.5 hours We start our day with a walk through the labyrinth of alleys of the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. From the top of the Kasbah we will have a beautiful view of the Ounila Valley and the Atlas Mountains, including the magnificent M'goun and Toubkal, the two highest mountains in the country. Many kasbahs had belonged to Pasha El Glaoui, who, in those times, was one of the most powerful men in Morocco and had owned about one-eighth of the entire country. Then we return to our bus and head towards Marrakech, the “Pearl of the South", with a short break on the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2260m altitude. Overnight stay is in hotel in Marrakech.
We explore the city on foot and visit the Bahia Palace, Saadian tombs and the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Southern Morocco and one of the city's landmark. Then we stroll through the countless alleys and colourful souks of Marrakech. The afternoon is at your leisure. Relax or explore on your own the fabulous souks with their lively oriental merchants and numerous colourful stalls. Our hotel is located near Djemaa el Fna Square where jugglers, snake charmers, storytellers, soothsayer, artists and musicians gather. There are numerous stalls where culinary specialities of the region are offered. Overnight stay is in hotel in Marrakech.
Distance 200km, approx. 3 hours In the morning we drive towards the marvellous harbour city of Essaouira, which has an indescribably sensual flair and captivates you from the very first moment. In 2001, Essaouira was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together we go on to explore this little city. We walk through the labyrinth of the small charming alleys of the old town to the Skala de la Kasbah, the city fortification, where there is a collection of cannons from the 17th century. These were used in the past to defend the city against attacks from the sea. On the descent to the harbour of Essaouira you can relish the sunset on the sea horizon. You also have the chance to taste the delicious local fish dishes. Overnight stay is in the riad "Benatar".
Distance 400km, approx. 4.5 hours We spend the morning in Essaouira and enjoy again the fresh sea air. We then return to Casablanca, driving along the Atlantic coast. Overnight stay is in hotel "Maamoura" in Casablanca.
At the end of our adventure together, we will bring you to the airport and wish you a pleasant journey home.
