• Morocco Private Tours
• Morocco Private Tours from Casablanca

Casablanca Tours – Authentic Morocco 8 Days

This authentic intimate Morocco tour from Casablanca provides a journey of a lifetime through one of the best, diverse and unbelievably beautiful parts of Morocco. Starting and finishing in Casablanca, we explore some of the most scenic places in Northern Morocco & Sahara Desert. We navigate routes that are embedded into Moroccan History and Berber Culture: we follow the Ziz valley River as we leave Fes Medina, make our way to the Majestic Sahara Desert and Rocky Atlas Mountains before following the Caravan Trade Routes to Todra gorge and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. Along the way, you will experience distinctly Moroccan activities that will deepen your understanding of Moroccan culture, nature and landscape. Be sure to pack your binoculars for this real life experience tour!

Highlights

 

Day 1 / Date: 24 March, 2023
Casablanca.
Meals included: dinner

Welcome to Morocco!
On arrival to Casablanca airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation.
After, have a guided tour of Hassan II Mosque, the second largest in Africa, with a two hundred meters minaret, the tallest in the world. Sitting on a rocky edge of the Atlantic. The Mosque is looming from a far distance in the city and accommodate 25,000 worshipers. It took 1400 master local craftsmen to make this extraordinary proud structure.

please note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday, and that there will a Welcome Meeting with your leader tonight at 6pm – check with hotel reception to confirm the time.

Tonight, join your group for welcome dinner in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of Casablanca, in a traditional Moroccan setting and get served a local and modern cuisines.

Group Arrival Transfer
• Included

Included Activities
• Welcome meeting
• Welcome dinner

Accommodation
Val Anfa Hotel

Day 2 / Date: 25 March, 2023
Chefchaouen
Meals included: breakfast, Dinner

We will make our way to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, enjoy the charming garden of Challa, surrounded by walls and beautiful defensive gates, built between 1310 and 1330. Later we will stop at Mohamed V Museum built in 1972, and we will visit the tombs of Moroccan kings Mohammed V, who died in 1962, Hassan II who died in 1999, the tomb of Moulay Abdullah the uncle of Mohammed VI and Hassan Tower which was built in 12th century.
Oudaya Kasbah which was built in 12th century and served as a military base for the Almorabits army in their defense against the Spanish army. The roof of the Kasbah allows a stunning view of the surrounding area. You will also get to see the 240 km long Abi-Regrag river, located in western Morocco between Rabat and Sala.
After Lunch, We will then drive to Chafchaouen through the cities of Knitra and El Ghareb, a very agrecultural and farming area, stopping in Ouazzane, passing by spectacular scenery with cedar, oak and olive trees. we will arrive to Chefchaouen in the afternoon.

Check in to your hotel, followed by orientation walk of Chefchaouen the adorable little blue gem, beautifully perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif mountains is the most attractive city in Morocco.

On arrival, check in and relax before walking orientation with your tour leader.

Included Activities
• Hassan II mosque guided tour
• Chefchaouen orientation walking tour

Accommodation
Riad Hicham / Casa Hassan

Day 3 / Date: 26 March, 2023
Fes
Meals included: breakfast,

Morning is at leisure in Chefchaouen.:
Enjoy a panoramic view of Chefchaouen as you enjoy breakfast with fresh fruits, jams and natural squeezed juices from your hotel’s terrace. After breakfast explore and tour Chefchaouen, the blue-washed town (old medina) by foot along with your guide who will share stories of Chefchaouen’s history.
Start your tour with the kasbah museum in the medina. The kasbah of Chefchaouen belongs to the early 18th century, and was built by the legendary ruler Moulay Ismail. It is fairly simple without architectural surprises however it is surrounded by gardens on the interior and exterior. Inside the Kasbah, you can visit the ethnographic museum containing antique weapons, musical instruments, and photographs of the old town.
Step onto the museum’s roof and take pictures of a panoramic view of the Hispanic flavored town lined with blue and white washed houses, tiny balconies, tiled roofs and patios embellished with citrus trees. Next, visit the cobbled main square, Plaza Uta el- Hammam and where the striking 15th century Grand Mosque sits. The Mosque and its nearby buildings were built by Jewish refugees, who alongside Muslims escaped the Spanish persecution to Chefchaouen. Until the Spanish arrived in the 1920’s the town remained isolated and with the exception of three western men who snuck in.
Try fresh goat cheese salad, a local Rif specialty, chicken pastilla or a lamb tajine with prunes. For dessert sit outside by the mulberry trees of Plaza Uta el- Hammam and enjoy local sweets from one of the cafes or browse the small shops famous for selling woven rugs, blankets and woolen goods.

Afterwards Drive to the nearby archeological site of Volubilis, a Roman ruin once was ancient capital of the
kingdom of Mauretania during the 3rd century BC. Stroll among rundown massive columns, remains of altars and temples with splendid mosaics, and triumphal archs, and walls with Roman paintings illustrating Greek and Roman gods.
Optional if time permits, depart for Meknes, visit Bab El Mansour gate was completed by Moulay Ismail’s son, Moulay Abdallah, in 1732. Stop next at Hri Souani, which is a complex of three different buildings built for granaries and stables. This amazing site has been used as a scene for many films, the most famous of which is probably “The Last Temptation of Christ” in 1988 by Martin Scorsese. Explore the delightful streets, Continue on to Fes, arriving by evening (approximately 1.5 hours), the spiritual heart of Morocco

continue to Fes the finest medieval city in the Arab world, an ancient Imperial capital for centuries, and a former Morocco`s intellectual and spiritual heart.

This evening it will be time for some savoury local treat, the salt sweet pastilla with local family in old medina, experience where you will have an opportunity to get closer to Moroccan culture and Art.

Included Activities
• Guided tour of Volubilis
• Home-cooked dinner

Accommodation
Riad Marjana / Palais Houyam

Day 4 / Date: 27 March, 2023
Fes
Meals included: breakfast,

At 9am, Enjoy the guided city tour of Fes. Begin with the entrance to the largest royal palace in Morocco. Continue with a panoramic view of the ancient medina. Enjoy an authentic experience at the traditional ceramic crafts village of Fes after that. Your next stop is Fes El Bali, the ancient town or Medina, which is a medieval part of Fes that has not changed for centuries. Optional lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the famous Al-Karaouine mosque, built by Fatima Al Fihria in 857. Al-Karaouine mosque became home to the University of Al-Karaouine, which is the first university in the world and the world’s foremost center of learning at the beginning of the second millennium. The university was built by Fatima Al Fihria in 859, and, since then, it has become one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world. In the medina, visit also a Merdersa, which is a Coranic school. Complete the city tour of Fes with the leather Souq and the oldest Leather Tannery in the world. The tannery dates back at least nine centuries.
Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. It is made up of three distinct ‘cities’, or quarters, and you will stay in elegant, riad-style accommodation on the edge of the huge, well-preserved medieval old city – the mother of all medinas. Today head into the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, arguably the world’s most fascinating and confounding old city. Medieval Fes was one of the world’s great centres of education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and libraries are legendary, its mosques of great renown. Walk through the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods, and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Filled with historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, and where the squawk of chickens, smell of spice and sound of hammering of copper fills the air, it’s not hard to imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages. Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting, Mederassa Bou Inania, the tanneries and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn
Balance of the day is at leisure.

Included Activities
• Guided tour of Fes old medina
• Funduk Nejjarine visit
• Tannery visit
• Jewish Quarter

Accommodation
Riad Marjana / Palais Houyam

Day 5 / Date: 28 March, 2023
Merzouga
Meals included: breakfast, dinner

Meet at your hotel in Fes at 7am and embark on long drive, The day has come to go on a desert adventure to cross off Merzouga from your bucket list. Merzouga is the rocky desert plateau that give way to a vast stretched sea of sandy hills, the far-flung Erg Chebbi.
In the way we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran. This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The king of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university. Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag in the beginning of the 17th century. From a vast plateau you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. We meet our camel men, embark on a 1hour camel ride into the desert to spend a wonderful night enjoying these dramatic dunes, wonderful skies and stars at night, you may get involved in some drumming arround the fire with the berbers tonight, dinner in the campsite. Car : 7 hours –

The golden magical dunes regularly moving by wind blows across wide part of north Africa including Algerian border nearby. On arrival check in to your riad, enjoy sunset drink and relax admiring the sunset over the dunes.

Included Activities
• Dinner under stars if weather allow it
• Astronomy experience
• Camel Ride
• Sleeping in the tents
Accommodation
Luxury desert Camp

Day 6 / Date: 29 March, 2023
Dades Valley
Meals included: breakfast, dinner

Visiting Errisani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. It was noted for its leather and goat skin trading in ancient ages.
we will then visit the underground irrigation channels used by the nomads to irrigate theire oasis of palms and henna during the drought times, we will visit the oasis Museum to discover the Saharan Heritege and Berber culture.
1 hour drive from here to the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons.
We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley another valley called valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival each end of April, overnight in Dades valley.

Included Activities
• Visit Date Markets
• Irrigation Channels – Khattara
• Visit Oasis museum
• Todra Valley walking Tour

Accommodation
Maison d’hote la valee des Figues.

Day 7 / Date: 30 March, 2023
Marrakech
Meals included: breakfast, dinner

From the the dades valley we go along the road of 1000 Kasbahs, since there are enormous Kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately a lot of them are ruins.
Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century.
Why this town is nicknamed as Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005).
We start our day visiting the fortified city of Aït Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once up on a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah.
Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004). From this beautiful fortified house we head west to the city of Marrakech. It is called the “Homeland of God in Berber”. The ramparts of the town are nearly 30 kilometers long, continue to Marrakech, via the windy high Atlas mountains, arrive in the afternoon, visit to the Jamaa Lafna square.free time.

Included Activities
• Kasbah Ait Benhaddou visit
• Moroccan tea time at Tawesna association
• Visit to Ouarzazate Studios

Accommodation
Hotel 3 Palmiers

Day 8 / Date: 31 March, 2023
Marrakech
Meals included: breakfast,

Enjoy a guided city tour of Marrakech, Paris of the Sahara as Winston Churchill once described it. Stop first at the Koutoubia Mosque, which is an old monument built under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184 to 1199). This monument inspired other buildings such as the Giralda in Seville in Spain and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Stop next at the Bahia Palace. This Palace was built in the late 19th century and was intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style. Visit Madrasa Ben Youssef after that. This Coranic school is named after the Almoravid Sultan Ali Ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142). Madrasa Ben Youssef is the largest in all of Morocco. Stop next at the Saadian tombs, which is a site that dates back to the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were discovered in 1917 and were restored by the Beaux-arts service. Optional lunch at a local restaurant. Continue the tour with the world famous Jema El Fna Square where you will enjoy amazing performance of traditional activities by storytellers, snake charmers, peddlers of traditional medicines. Your last stop is the bustling souks in the old medina.
Free afternoon in Marrakech at leisure.

Included Activities
• Marrakech Guided Tour
• Jamaa Lafna

Accommodation
Hotel 3 Palmiers

Optional Activities
Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage – MAD450
Hot air Balloon – MAD2500
Cooking class – MAD450

Day 09 / Date: 01 April, 2023
Departure
Meals included: breakfast.

There are no activities planned for the final day, Transfer to the airport.

Airport Departure Transfer

 

Pick Up : Pick up at Casablanca airport / Drop Off : Drop off Marrakech Airport /