Meet at the airport or port and transfer to your riad. Depending on your arrival time and availability, you will have the opportunity to visit the Hassan II Mosque. Dinner and overnight in the riad.
Upon arrival in Marrakech, meet your guide for a tour of this fascinating city, known as the “Pearl of the South.” Start with a visit to the Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace, followed by the Saadian Tombs and the Menara Gardens. Explore the Medersa Ben Youssef, an ancient Quranic school, the Marrakech Museum, and the Majorelle Gardens. Then immerse yourself in the lively medina and colorful souks, ending at the famous Jemaa el-Fna Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant, enjoy a mint tea on a terrace overlooking Jemaa el-Fna Square and the majestic Koutoubia Mosque.
After a hearty Moroccan breakfast, cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, the highest point at 2,260 meters. Stop at Telouet to visit the local Kasbah, then continue through picturesque Berber villages to Ait Ben Haddou, one of the best-preserved Kasbahs in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This Kasbah is famous for its use in films like Gladiator and The Sheltering Sky. After a relaxing lunch, proceed to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight in a riad.
After breakfast, begin your visit to Ouarzazate, known as the “Gateway to the Desert” and the “Moroccan Hollywood” due to its Atlas Film Studios, where famous movies like Lawrence of Arabia were filmed. Explore the Taourirt Kasbah and the palace of the Glaoui Pasha. Continue along the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” passing through the Valley of Roses, known for its rose cultivation and annual festival. Discover Skoura’s lush palm groves and then head to Boumalne and the Dades Valley for an overnight stay.
Travel along a route lined with spectacular Kasbahs, stopping along the way to admire the scenery. Reach the impressive Todra Gorge, with its towering vertical walls, a paradise for climbers and nature lovers. Continue south to the mesmerizing dunes of Merzouga, where time seems to stand still in the peaceful desert. Enjoy some free time to witness an unforgettable sunset over the dunes, followed by a traditional dinner and an evening of Berber music, songs, and dancing. Overnight in a riad.
Spend the day exploring the eastern Sahara with an exciting 4×4 excursion through the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Visit various Berber villages, experience nomadic life, and cross oases along the way. Arrive in Khamlia, known for its community of Gnawa musicians, who will enchant you with their traditional music and dances. In the evening, take a camel ride to witness a magnificent sunset from the dunes. Spend the night in a Berber tent with a traditional dinner and an evening of music under a starry sky.
After breakfast, depart for Fes, crossing the fascinating landscapes of the Atlas Mountains. Stop in Midelt, known for its apples, for a refreshing lunch. Continue through the cedar forests, where you may spot monkeys. These forests are beautifully covered in snow during the winter. Arrive in Fes and settle into a riad within the Medina.
After breakfast, meet your official guide for a full day of exploring Fes, the oldest imperial city, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idriss II. Famous for its labyrinthine Medina, Fes is a treasure trove of culture and history. Visit the Attarine Madrasa, the Ennajarine Fountain, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II. Admire the Karawiyin Mosque and explore the new medina, Fes Jdid. End the day with a visit to the famous Fes tanneries, symbolizing the ancient art of leather tanning.
Spend a few more hours exploring Fes before departing for Meknes. On the way, stop at Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring impressive Roman ruins, including temples, public buildings, and residential quarters. Continue to the sacred city of Moulay Idriss, a significant pilgrimage site for Moroccans. Arrive in Meknes for an in-depth exploration of this imperial city and an overnight stay.
In the morning, depart for Casablanca, with a stop in Rabat, the political and administrative capital of Morocco and one of the imperial cities. Discover Rabat, surrounded by ancient Almohad walls, and explore its medina, the historic Kasbah of the Udayas, and its museums. Arrive in Casablanca in the evening.
After breakfast, enjoy a free morning to explore Casablanca. Depending on your schedule, you will be transferred to the airport or another location for departure, concluding your 11-day tour through Morocco’s imperial cities and the desert.
