12 Days Tour from Marrakech & Imperial Cities

Day 1: Arrival at Marrakech

The first day os our 12 days tour from Marrakech & Imperial Cities. Landing at Menara International Airport in Marrakech, welcome and assistance from our staff and transfer to riad. Accommodation in riad, then, depending on arrival time, free time to visit the medina. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 2: Marrakech guided tour

After breakfast in the riad begins a several-hour guided tour of the city with an official, Italian-speaking guide.

Marrakech, called “The Pearl of the South,” was founded in the 12th century by the Almoravid dynasty. Morocco’s founders left remarkable palaces and gardens. Visit the Saadian Tombs, the splendid Ben Youssef medersa, the interesting museum of Moroccan art and culture, the Koutoubia gardens, and the enchanting Bahia Palace. Then visit the souk and walk through the alleys of the medina, where the scenery is fascinating. Finally, visit to the famous Djemaa El Fna Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the show is permanent and artists of all kinds take turns: snake charmers, fire eaters, storytellers. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 3: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddhou – Dades Valley

After breakfast, depart for Ouarzazate crossing the high Atlas Mountains on the Col du Tichka pass (2260 meters), from where you can admire the spectacular High Atlas landscapes. Visit the Telouet kasbah, consisting of two majestic kasbahs built by a Pacha in the 12th century. Then visit the stunning Ksar of Ait Benhaddhou, a splendid sand castle nestled as if by magic in a field of almond trees; so beautiful with its play of light that it became the setting for many famous films such as “Lawrence of Arabia” and “A Tea in the Desert.” Ksar, meaning fortified stronghold, of such pride that it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the only ksar that shows intact southern Moroccan architecture. Continue through the verdant valley of roses until you reach the long Dades Valley, also called the valley of a thousand kasbahs because of the many buildings typical of this area made of mud and thatch that served as fortresses to protect the inhabitants from marauding attacks. Arrival in the Dades Valley and accommodation in riad. Dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 4: Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga

After breakfast visit the beautiful Dades Gorges with its interesting canyons and rock formations. Then on to the incredible Todra Gorges through Tinhrir and its immense palm groves. Walk through the Todra gorges, stunning gorges carved into the mountain, over 300 meters high. Free time for lunch then continue in the afternoon until we reach Erfoud, where we will stop to admire the fossil processing, of which this area is rich. Finally we will arrive in Merzouga, at the gateway to the Erg Chebbi desert. From here we will depart with dromedaries for a camel trek of about one and a half/two hours through the high golden dunes (Alternatively, it is possible to reach the camp by jeep instead of dromedary). Arrive at a Berber-style tented camp in the desert and settle in. Dinner and overnight stay in camp under thousands of stars.

(The camp has private tents furnished with beds, equipped with mattresses, clean sheets and blankets, a tent with toilets and another tent restaurant).

Day 5: Merzouga – Gnowa Village – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Midelt

After admiring a beautiful sunrise over the dunes we will return by dromedary (or jeep) to a hotel in Merzouga where it will be possible to have breakfast and shower. Then we will visit the village of Khamlia, famous for its inhabitants from Black Africa and their Ignowa music. We will continue to Rissani, where we will visit the lively local souk and the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sherif with its beautiful garden. We will then depart for the Ziz valley characterized by immense palm groves, canyons and rock formations dating back to the Jurassic period to arrive in Midelt. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

 Day 6: Midelt – Middle Atlas – Azrou – Cedar Forest – Fes

After breakfast continue to the Middle Atlas with its cedar forests. Here it will be possible to admire the barber monkeys that live in the cedar forest. We will then pass through Ifrane, a typical European-style town, until we arrive in Fes. Accommodation in a riad inside the medina. Free time to visit the medina. Dinner and overnight stay in the riad.

Day 7: Fes guided tour

After breakfast the morning will be devoted to a guided tour of the city with an official, Italian-speaking guide.

Fes is the oldest of the Imperial cities; it was founded in 790 by Moulay Idriss II and is the cradle of the country’s civilization and religion.

The city quickly became Morocco’s main religious center and the first religious university in the Islamic world was founded there. Visit the medieval-era Medina, the Mederse (ancient Islamic religious universities) Bounanaia and Attarine, the exterior of the Karaouine Mosque and the famous Neijarine fountain. Continue with a visit to the souks, some of the most beautiful and lively markets in Morocco with the famous dyers’, blacksmiths’ and potters’ quarters.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

Day 8: Fes – Volubilis – Meknes

After breakfast we depart for Meknes with a stop at the Roman archaeological site of Volubilis, one of the largest in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Volubilis was founded by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century BC and was dominated by the Romans from 40 AD until the arrival of the Berbers in 280 AD. Continuation to Meknes, accommodation in riad inside the medina.

Then several-hour guided tour of the city with an official, Inglech-speaking guide.

Meknes, once famous as the Versailles of Morocco, was an imperial city and an Ishmaelian capital, well known for its 40 km of walls, the Bab Mansour gate, the palace, the huge royal stables, the Agdal basin, the medina and the Jewish quarter.  Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

Day 9: Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca

After breakfast we depart for Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco. In Rabat we will visit Méchouar, the ramparts of the Royal Palace, the kasbah of the Oudaya, with its amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V with the tower of Hassan II. Continue to Casablanca by highway, check into hotel and visit the medina. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Casablanca – El Jadida – Essaouira

After breakfast we will visit the famous Hassan II Mosque, the largest in Morocco and the third largest mosque in the world with its 210-meter-high minaret.  Then continue along the Atlantic coast where we will stop at the typical village of El Jadida, once a Portuguese stronghold and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuation along the coast to Essaouira. Accommodation in riad inside the medina. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 11: Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast the morning will be devoted to visiting Essaouira, the ancient Portuguese Mogador, with its distinctive white UNESCO World Heritage medina, port and beach. In the afternoon return to Marrakech through the many argan fields in which the region is rich, where it will be possible, if desired, to visit a women’s cooperative and observe how Argan oil is produced. Arrival in Marrakech late afternoon. Accommodation in riad inside the medina. Free dinner and overnight stay in riad.

Day 12: Marrakech Airport

After breakfast depending on flight schedule departure Menara airport for international flight. End of our 12 Days Tour from Marrakech & Imperial Cities.