Best 12 Days Desert Tour from Casablanca

Today you will discover the city of Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant,
noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. 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, Medresse el Attarine, the tanneries and the splendid Fondouk Nejjarine, a beautifully
restored 18th century inn. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and perhaps spend the
evening relaxing in this calming oasis, away from the buzz of the medina

Departure from Fez at around 08:00AM am for a 1 hour’s drive west to the Imperial city of Meknes. Driving across the plain you will see vast acreages of vineyards which produce good quality wine, much of which is exported to France. You will have up to three hours in Meknes to explore the town including souks, the fascinating historical sites and to take lunch. Moulay Ismail made Meknes the capital city of Morocco during his reign around 1700; his mausoleum and the Rouah, his stables for over 12,000 horses, together with Place el-Hedim, the central pedestrian square in the Medina, are well worth a visit. The souks of Meknes are refreshingly spacious compared to Fez, which makes the city a relaxing place to explore.

Meknes to Moulay Idriss

After lunch our journey takes you 30 km north to the hillside settlement of Moulay Idriss. The town is one of the country’s most important spiritual sites and a place of pilgrimage as it is the site of the tomb of Moulay Idriss, a prominent Moroccan saint in the late 8th century and a great grandson of the prophet Mohammed. The town is often bypassed by non-Muslim tourists, whose closest encounter is often a photograph taken from nearby Volubilis. There is limited access to the green-tiled shrine but the myriad of narrow streets leading to vantage points for views over the valley towards Volubilis are well worth a short stop.

Moulay Idriss to Volubilis and Fez

Leaving Moulay Idriss for the short 4 km drive to the World Heritage Site of Volubilis, there are a number of vantage points to take photographs of the town. Volubilis is the site of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, particularly noted for its superb mosaic floors; it has fabulous views of the Rif Mountain foothills, particularly at sunset. A guided tour of the Volubilis site with an official guide (20 dh paid locally) is well worth it if you are interested in some detail of the site’s history. At around 4.30 you depart Volubilis returning to Fez at around 18.30pm.

Start your day early and travel south toward Merzouga to arrive at the Sahara dunes
by for a sunset camel ride. Along the way, you will climb up an elevation of 7,146 feet
(2,178 m) over the Col du Zad pass and through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas
mountains. Enjoy sightings of the local Barbary macaque monkeys before stopping
for lunch in Midelt (the ‘apple city’), relishing the nearby Moulouya River. Continue
over the Tizi n’Talremt pass and into the Ziz Valley, known for its hidden oases and
palm tree clusters. Along the road, you will see many fortified houses known as
ksars—built to protect precious wares, including gold, salt, and spices.
Continue on to Erfoud, known for its date festival and fossil mining. Here you can visit
a local collective to learn more about the process and meet some local artisans. End
your day at Erg Chebbi, an extensive sea of sand dunes covering an area of 13.5
square miles (35 square km). Never stationary, the massive dunes shift and travel
depending on the changing wind! Upon reaching Merzouga, switch gears and ride
your camel through the dunes to your already-prepared-for-you camp. Climb a
nearby sand dune to watch the sunset before returning to camp for a delicious
dinner, relaxing by the campfire.

Today you will have to wake up very early in the morning to see what will may be the
best sunrise of your life. You will set over the Sand Dunes of Sahara of Erg Chebbi to
watch wonderful sunrise. After watching the sunrise you will go down to the Camp for
breakfast. Then you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga. While
enjoying morning camel ride you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the
spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with the light as the day
progresses.Once you arrive the village of Merzouga, you will meet the driver again to
continue the tour to Dades. You will have optional stop in Rissani to visit the
Mausoleum of Moulay Ali chref, the founder of the Alaouit dynasty, and then you will
continue to Arfoud to visit the fossilized marble factory before continuing to the Todra
valley, where you will have lunch. Once in Todra you can highlight a half-hour walk to
see the gorges calmly and you will be guided through the palm grove and the Jewish
quarter. Todra gorges is the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. The Todra River
has formed a gorge of enormous vertical walls of great beauty; it is a climber’s
paradise and a unique place.
In the evening we will drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic
sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight
accommodation will be in a fancy guest house overlooking the Dades Valley.

Leave Aït Benhaddou behind to begin the ascent over the High Atlas mountains.
Spot Mount Toubkal, the mountain range’s highest peak, at 13,671 feet (4,167 m).
Stop in Taddert to visit an Argan Oil Cooperative and learn how the argan nut and
fruit are processed for various uses (and try some samples). As you descend the
High Atlas, you will notice a dramatic change in the climate and landscape as the
rocks change to foothills and into flat plains. Soon you will be a part of the noise and
bustle of Marrakech.
After a long day on the road, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon
as you like. In the early evening, Jemaa el-Fna Square comes alive with musicians,
performers, snake charmers, games, and food stalls, a catch-all of entertainment! If
you want to enjoy the spectacle from a distance, choose one of the many cafés
surrounding the square and enjoy a cup of mint tea and a meal.

After breakfast in your Hotel/Riad, you can start to explor Marrakech; «the red city of
Morocco”. You will visit the most important sites of historical and cultural interest,
including the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia
Palace and main square place Ljamaa Lfna. After Lunch at a restaurant near the
square, you will walk through the souks and view hundreds of handicrafts. On the
afternoon, you will have some free time to wonder by yourself the other parts of the
city.
Marrakech nicknamed the “Red City” for its old red sandstone city walls and
buildings. It has Berber rather than Arab roots and was an important trading capital
for tribes of the Atlas mountains. Orient yourself around Marrakech’s bustling Jemaa
el-Fna Square: the souks are to the north, the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens to the
west and the kasbah area with the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi
Palace are to the south. In the new city, you will find the Majorelle Gardens.Indulge
your senses as you explore the complicated labyrinth of souks, tucked behind
ordinary restaurants and shops. Check out Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, and Souk
Smata for a selection of spices, woodwork, and babouche (traditional Moroccan
slippers). Visit Souk of Tanneries or the dyers’ souk to see how cloth and yarn are
dyed using traditional methods. Next, admire the fine example of Moroccan Islamic
architecture of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 16th-century Koranic school, and note
the ornate detail of its interior: carved cedar ceilings, sculpted plaster, and zellij tiling.

After breakfast you will head down to Essaouira. On the way to Essaouira you can ejoy the
amazing view of goats claiming argan trees as well as you can stop to see argan forest and
cooperative of argan oil if you would like that. Essaouira is a coastal town that provides an
excellent opportunity to relax on the beach. Its Medina combines between history, culture
with modern cafes and restaurants. Essaouira has a long promenade with a large sandy
beach and it is safe to swim. It’s a perfect opportunity to get away from the city rush, and
enjoy the cooler climate of the coastal town of Essaouira. Essaouira is an exceptional
example of late-18th century fortified town. It is built according to the principles of
contemporary European military architecture in a North African context.16th-century Koranic
school,orvernight in the hotel in essauira.

Transfer to the airport depending on your flight details.
The itinerary of the tour can modify as much as you like