9-Day Morocco Highlights with Sahara Desert

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech, Airport Transfer and Free Day

On arrival at Casablanca International airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the surroundings on your own or take a good rest in your comfortable room.

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day

Day 2: Marrakech City Tour

After breakfast, you start the tour around Marrakech, the pearl of the south of Morocco. You visit the Bay Palaces and the Badi, the tombs, the Menara, and many other hidden treasures. You have lunch in one of the best traditional Morrocan restaurants. Then you go on the tour to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous market square.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you back to your hotel, and you’ll have some free time to explore Marrakech or relax.

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 3: Marrakech — Ouarzazate — Rose valley — Dades Gorges

After breakfast we depart from Marrakech at 8 a.m, driving 200 km through the High Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate, making a short stop to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and taking photos along the way. Our first main stop is to visit Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah – a 16th-century fortress classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987; many big movies have been filmed there including ‘Gladiator’, ‘Laurence of Arabia’ and ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ We have lunch at Aït Benhaddou Kasbah or in Ouarzazate – the capital city of cinema in Africa. After lunch we drive a further 160 km through the Rose Valley and the Road of the Kasbahs, arriving in Dades Gorges at around 5 p.m. Overnight stay at your hotel in Dades Gorges.

• Overnight in Dades Gorges
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 4: Dades Gorges — Todra Gorges — Erfoud — Merzouga

After breakfast, we drive towards Todra Valley to visit the spectacular Todra Gorges – a series of limestone canyons with rock faces towering over 500 feet. Then we drive to the charming oasis town of Erfoud, where you can have lunch. After lunch, we drive to Merzouga, known as the gateway to Morocco’s Sahara Desert. We make a short stop in a hotel by the dunes for refreshment, in two hours before sunset we go for a camel trek into the dunes, observing mesmerizing desert landscapes before arriving at our camp at around 6 p.m. We drink traditional mint tea with the nomads then travel over the rippling sands to watch the amazing sunset. Back at the camp, we have dinner, after which the nomads play music around the fire until we retire for the night in tents underneath the stars.

• Overnight camping in Merzouga
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Merzouga — Fes

We awake early to watch the wonderful sunrise and have breakfast and shower at the camp before we ride camels back to the hotel in Merzouga where you meet our driver to travel to Fes through the Middle Atlas region, a journey that takes us through many beautiful landscapes. We make a brief stop in the region of Er Rachidia to take in the incredible views of the lush palmeraie of the Ziz Valley, followed by lunch in Midelt. Later we make a short stop in Ifrane, known for its alpine-style architecture, where you may catch a glimpse of the curious monkeys who live within the beautiful cedar forests. We arrive in Fes at around 6 pm.

• Overnight in Fes
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 6: Fes — Chefchaouen

After breakfast in the hotel, you will have a guided tour of Fes, visiting the Royal Palace Gate, the Jewish Quarter, and the old medina. In the afternoon we travel to Chefchaouen, stopping en route for lunch. One of the prettiest towns in Morocco, Chefchaouen is known as ‘the blue city’ – an arty, blue-washed mountain village. The old medina is a delightful mix of Moroccan and Andalusian influences with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings and narrow lanes. Overnight stay at your hotel in Chefchaouen.

• Overnight in Chefchaouen
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 7: Chefchaouen — Volubilis — Meknes

After breakfast in the hotel, we travel to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes. First we stop to visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, where we will spend some time exploring the 2000-year-old ruins and getting an idea of life during the Roman Empire. We then continue to Moulay Idriss, known as the holy city of Morocco, which holds a special place in the hearts of the Moroccan people; followed by Meknes, where we will have a magnificent view of the medina. In the heart of the medina is Place El Hedim, the large square facing the huge gate of Bab El Mansour – the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. We also visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the final resting place of one of Morocco’s greatest rulers. Overnight stay at your hotel in Meknes.

• Overnight in Meknes
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 8: Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech

After breakfast in the hotel in Meknes, we travel to Rabat the capital of Morocco than to the coastal city of Casablanca to visit the Hassan II Mosque and some of the city’s other attractions including the old medina and the Corniche of Ain el Diab. We then travel back to Marrakech, arriving in the evening. Overnight stay at your hotel in Marrakech.

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 9: Marrakech – Airport

This is the last day of your tour of Morocco. After breakfast, you check out from the hotel and meet your driver who transfers you to the Marrakech* airport for your flight back home. We hope you enjoyed your Morocco experience and we’ll be looking forward to seeing you on our tours again!

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports
• All transfers to/from airport & hotel by a private air-conditioned vehicle
• English-speaking driver/guide during the tour
• 3-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Marrakech
• 1-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Dades Gorges
• 1-night accommodation at a Nomad camp with dinner and breakfast in Merzouga
• 1-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Fes
• 1-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Chefchaouen
• 1-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Meknes
• 8 breakfasts and 1 dinner
• One Bottle of Mineral Water to each person
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Airfare
• Entry visas to Morocco
• Tips & Personal Items
• Any optional tours
• Lunch
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)
• Travel Insurance

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• Please advise us on your arrival details at the time of booking.