15 days tour to Marrakech through Chefchaouen
Embark on a 15 days Moroccan adventure, starting in Casablanca and Rabat. Explore iconic sites like the Hassan II Mosque and Hassan Tower. Discover the charm of Chefchaouen and immerse yourself in the vibrant streets of Fes. Journey through the Middle Atlas mountains and the Sahara Desert, experiencing camel rides and desert camping. Visit picturesque towns like Essaouira and Taroudant before concluding your trip in lively Marrakech. This journey promises a blend of cultural exploration and natural beauty, creating unforgettable memories.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 : Casablanca > Rabat
You arrive at Casablanca airport, where we will meet you and drive to Casablanca, and then to Rabat. In Casablanca, you will see the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque outside Mecca. Continuing to Rabat – the capital of Morocco – you will see the Hassan Tower and walk the Oudaya Kasbah before you check in to your overnight accommodation in a Riad at the heart of the Medina
DAY 2 : Rabat > Assilah > Chefchaouen
After breakfast in your riad, we will drive to Chefchaouen via the city of Asilah. Most of the drive will be by the coast. Our first stop will be in Asilah, where you will have the opportunity to explore the city. Asilah is known for its annual festival for the art – most ofthe walls of the Medina are painted by various famous artists from all over the world. Your visit includes the Skalla fortress, where you will experience a wonderful view of the Medina and the ocean. If time permits, you will have a drive through Tanger to get a feel of the city. Afterwards you will continue over the foothills of the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. Overnight with breakfast in the Riad.
DAY 3 : Exploring Chefchaouen
After breakfast in your riad, you will start exploring the Chefchaouen “The blue city of Morocco” with your own time to wander around unguided. Situated at the footstep of 2 higher mountains, Chefchaouen is a beautiful unique city, with its white washed walls and blue doors and windows. Unlike many parts of Morocco, Chefchaouen was occupied by Spain; therefore there is much influence from the Spanish civilisation and Moorish architecture. In the afternoon if you want to walk to the Spanish mosque to watch the sunset on the mountain. Overnight with breakfast in the Riad.
DAY 4 : Chefchaouen > Volubilis > Meknes > Fes
After breakfast in your riad, you will start travelling to Fes via Ouazzan and the Roman site of Volubilis. After a couple of hours drive, you will get to Volubilis, the well preserved Roman empire dating to 225 BC, where you will see the most beautiful Mosaics in Morocco dating back to 3rd century BC. Here you will have a guided tour of the site and learn a lot about the Roman Empire. After that we travel to Meknes, the Ismaili capital of Morocco. In Meknes we see the fascinating gate Bab Mansour built by the sultan My Ismail; the granary and the Sahrij Souani, used for irrigation and plantation. Your visit includes also the Mulay IsmailMausoleum. We then continue via the highway to Fes. Overnight with breakfast in Riad.
DAY 5 : Exploring Fes
After breakfast in your riad, you will start exploring Fes the “the Sprititual City of Morocco”. You will spend the whole morning exploring the Medina and its alleys; visiting most of the sites with cultural and historical interest – including the famous Al Karaouine Mosque and University (the oldest in the world), the Medrasa Bouanania, the Tanneries and the Najjarine fountain. After lunch, we will drive you outside the Median to see the Royal Palace gate, walk through the Jewish quarter “the Mellah”, and then visit the pottery cooperative. In the afternoon, we will drive you to one of the fortresses to experience an amazing panoramic view of the whole Medina of Fes. Overnight with breakfast in Riad.
DAY 6 : Fes > Ifrane > Azrou > Midelt > Errachidia > Ziz Valley (400 Km about 6 hours’ driving)
After breakfast, departure to the Ziz valley through the mountains of the Middle Atlas and the cedar forest and after passing Zad pass (2178m/7146ft), you arrive to Midelt, following to Errachidia to reach the Ziz Gorges then to Errachidia and continue towards to the Ziz valley where we stop for dinner and overnight in the hotel.
DAY 7 : Ziz Valley > Erfoud > Merzouga Dunes (Camel ride and night in a camp)
After breakfast departure to Merzouga (dunes of Erg Chebbi) along the Ziz valley from a subsequent series of fortified villages with a pre-Saharan landscape rich with date palms, in the afternoon arrival in the dunes of Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) at Mohayut hotel to cool off a bit in the pool before the departure of your camel caravan to participate in the in the middle of the dunes (about an hour and a half camels). Overnight in the nomadic tent in the dunes to enjoy the desert sky full of stars with diner
DAY 8 : Merzouga > Rissani > Erfoud > Tinejdad:
Wake up early in the morning to admire the sunrise, for those who like it. After a mint in the bivouac, go back to the hotel to have breakfast and take a shower. The return journey goes first to Rissani where you will visit the local market, after the visit, continue to Erfoud and Tinejdad. In the afternoon visit the old village with the museum, dinner and overnight in the Kasbah.
DAY 9 : Tinejdad > Todgha Gorges > Dades Gorges > Dades Valley > Ouarzazate
After breakfast depart to Ouarzazate via the Todra Gorges, After a walk in the gorges, continue to the Gorges of Dades and afterwards at the Kelaa M’Gouna in the valley of roses the city holds a roses celebration every year after continuing to Ouarzazate through the valley of roses to Skoura with a stop to visit the Ameridil kasbah, then continue to Ouarzazate, dinner and overnight at the hotel
DAY 10 : Ouarzazat > Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah > Tazenakt > Taliouine > Taroudant
After breakfast in your riad, we’ll head to Taroudant via Taznakht, visiting Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco. Built during the beginning of the XXth Century by T-hami El Glaoui -one of the last Berber chieftains -Ben Haddou Kasbah used to be one of his stops during his long travel from the sub-Saharan countries to Marrakech, and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. On to Taliouine, the capital of saffron in Morocco, where you have the option to visit the Safran co-operative. If your visit coincides with the saffron harvest, you will have the opportunity to meet the Berber people and their families who are harvesting the saffron in their fields. We should arrive at Taroudant in the afternoon, here you will see the ramparts and walk within the small alleys in the Medina. Taroudant is always referred to as “The little Marrakech” because it was built by the Saadian dynasty, which used it as their capital before they moved to Marrakech in the 16th century. Diner and Overnight at Riad.
DAY 11 : Taroudant > Agadir > Essaouira
Breakfast in the riad, and then head for Essaouira, travelling via Agadir. Our first stop will be at Agadir, a resort city which has been a very popular tourist destination for many years. After lunch and a small walk along the Promenade, you will continue to Essaouira. The coastal road offers beautiful scenery, an area famous for Argan trees.
Here you will see herds of goats climbing the Argan trees, looking for better food than they can find on the ground. After several stops along the coast, we get to Essaouira in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation with breakfast in Riad
DAY 12 : Exploring Essaouira
Breakfast at the hotel in Essaouira, then start our explorative journey of the city. You’ll visit the Skala Fortress; see Thuya wood carved by artisans; walk through the alleys of the medina and view hundreds of handicrafts. Today you will have lunch in a Moroccan way, freshly bought fish ‘cooked to order’. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to wander around , go to the beach and enjoy yourselves. Essaouira is also referred to as The “City of the Wind,” and it attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira knew many civilisations, including the Portuguese occupation, which affected much of its architecture – however, it remains a small village with much history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic”. There is an annual festival of “Gnawa music”, where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world. Usually, it starts in the second week of June. Overnight accommodation with breakfast in Riad.
DAY 13 : Essaouira > Marrakech
After breakfast in your riad, you will have some free time before leaving for Marrakech. On our way – since this is the land of Argan culture – this is an opportunity to visit the women’s co-operative of Argan oil where they extract the oil that is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medical properties. After several stops to take photographs, you will continue your travel to Marrakech and check in to your riad. After dinner, you will have the option to enjoy walking within the famous square of Jemaa El fna, entertained with magicians, story tellers, musicians and snake charmers. Overnight accommodation with breakfast in Riad.
DAY 14 : Exploring Marrakech
After breakfast in the riad, you can start exploring Marrakech “the Red City of Morocco”. Your guide will ensure that you see most of the sites with historical and cultural interest, including the famous Jemaa El Fna square, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian tombs; the Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Coranic School. Lunch at a restaurant near the square, then in the afternoon visit the Majorelle Gardens, and have a short visit to the new city of Marrakech and the Koutoubia tower. During the next day, you will have the option to try a Moroccan Hammam, a cooking class and some free time to explore the city on your own. Overnight accommodation with breakfast in Riad.
DAY 15 : Marrakech and Departure
After breakfast in your Riad, we will drive you to the airport for your departure flight. Your tour ends at the airport of Casablanca, depending on your departure time and the end of our services