Upon arrival at the port or airport in Tangier, you will be greeted by your driver/guide to begin the journey to Chefchaouen, crossing the Rif Mountains and the city of Tetouan. Once in Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue Pearl” for its streets and buildings painted in various shades of blue, you will have the opportunity to explore it. This sacred city, inaccessible to foreigners for centuries, has recently gained fame as a hidden tourist destination. The medina, a maze of blue alleys, reflects the Andalusian roots of the city, founded by Spaniards from Andalusia. The historic center houses the Outa-el-Hammam square, with the Tarik-Ben-Ziad Mosque and an imposing fortress. The new city extends further down. Dinner at your own expense and overnight in a riad or hotel.
After breakfast, we will depart with the driver towards Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, known for being the capital under the reign of Moulay Ismail and for its Versailles-like charm, with numerous minarets. Meknes offers a mix of lively souks, historic palaces, gardens, and the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter. Among the places to visit are El-Hedim Square, the Dar Jamai Museum, Bab Mansour Gate, Bou Inania Madrasa, Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum, and the Dar el Ma complex. In the afternoon, we will leave for Midelt, crossing the Atlas Mountains and admiring the cedar forests. Dinner and overnight in a riad.
After breakfast, we will depart from Midelt towards Merzouga, passing through Errachidia and the Ziz Valley, famous for its palm groves and picturesque Berber villages. We will arrive in Erfoud, known as the “City of Fossils” due to the abundance of fossil stones in the region. In the afternoon, we will continue towards the village of Merzouga, located on the edge of the desert. Dinner and overnight in a riad.
After breakfast, we will depart from the village of Merzouga to explore the magnificent dunes of Erg Chebbi, offering the opportunity to admire and photograph extraordinary landscapes. Along the way, we will make a brief visit to nomadic families living in these remote desert areas. We will continue to the village of Khamlia, inhabited by black populations originally from Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, where we will enjoy an engaging Gnawa music concert. We will also make a short visit to the Mifiss mines before returning to the riad or hotel in Merzouga.
In the late afternoon, we will set off on camelback to reach the traditional Berber tents, known as “Haima.” Here, dinner will be served under a starry sky, and we will be immersed in traditional Berber music accompanied by drums. Overnight in the tented camp.
Early in the morning, we will wake up to watch the sunrise over the desert dunes. After this breathtaking spectacle, we will return by camel to the riad, where a refreshing breakfast will be served, along with the option for a hot shower.
We will then continue our journey towards Fes, crossing the picturesque Ziz Valley. Later, we will head to Azrou, where we will have the opportunity to observe the Barbary monkeys inhabiting the lush cedar and oak forests. The day will end with dinner and an overnight stay in a riad.
After breakfast, we will depart from Fes heading back to Tangier, concluding our service.
