9 Days The Best Of Morocco South And Imperial Cities

ITINERARY OF THE TOUR

DAY 1 : TANGIER – TETOUAN – CHEFCHAOUEN/ HOME HOSTED DINNER.

After breakfast, you leave for Tetouan passing by the Mediterranean coast. Following the road to Chefchaouen which is known for its distinctive blue-washed buildings. Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as a small kasbah (fortress) by Moulay Ali Ibnou Rachid. Many Moriscos and Jews settled here after the Spanish inquisition. So, you might feel like you’re in the hills of Spain. After making it to the town in the afternoon, you’ll check into our Riad. Then, you’ll take a walk through the narrow streets of the surrounding neighborhood. Tonight, you will be invited by a local family for a home hosted dinner. You will enjoy the local food of Northern Morocco.

DAY 2 : CHEFCHAOUEN – VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FEZ

This morning, you leave chefchouen behind and driving to Fes. you stop to explore Volubilis – the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana. The detailed mosaics here are still intact and the site gives a good idea of the layout of provincial settlements. Then drive to Meknes, once the heart of the Moroccan Sultanate, lying amidst the landscapes of the Oued Boufekrane river valley. The Sultan loved Meknes, and he would have liked never to leave it once wrote a chronicler to the tyrannical Sultan Moulay Ismail. Ismail (1672- 1727) was a tireless builder, and his greatest efforts were reserved for his capital at Meknes, which at its peak, with over 20 grand gateways and 50 palaces, must have been a sight to inspire any who looked upon it. The short journey takes you to Fes.

DAY 3 : FES GUIDED TOUR/ HOME HOSTED DINNER

After breakfast, you will have a guided visit at 9:00 Am in the medina of Fez. To begin with the southern tower and the fortress of 16th century face to face with northern one, a panoramic view over the medieval city. You will visit an enjoyable cooperative of pottery. It will enhance your knowledge about the making of Moroccan mosaic “zellige” and the blue pottery of Fez. You will travel in time back to the medieval period of the city where people still work in small narrow streets, several tiny stalls of all kinds of traditional crafts, and donkeys loaded with supplies are going up and down in the streets of the medina. You will feel no sense of direction and time halts for a while. The medina of Fez is rich of its Islamic monuments: the fascinating old mosques, the University of El-Karaouiyine and its libraries. All These elements made Fez the intellectual and cultural capital of the country. To finish the day there is an optional to see Jewish quarter including the Aben Danan Synagogue. Tonight, you will be invited by a local family to enjoy a specialty of Fes.

DAY 4 : FES– MIDDLE ATLAS – ERFOUD

Turning south today you climb steadily into the dramatic landscapes of the Middle Atlas, heading first towards Immouzer and Ifrane and passing near the small mountain village of Azrou, which in the Berber tongue translates as ‘the rock’. This is the land of the fiercely independent Berbers, the Lords of the Atlas, whose traditions and ways still hold sway up here in their mountain strongholds far away from the cities below. The Berbers present you with a unique view of a way of life lost to the rest of North Africa, where music and dance, even language and religion, are far removed from their Arab neighbors. Continuing into Berber sheep raising country you head to Timadite and over the Col du Zad, before crossing the Tizi N’Tairhemt Camel Pass and continuing via the Gorge du Ziz to Er Rachidia. Finally, you traverse a broad plateau past Meski Oasis, the so-called ‘Blue Spring’ bordering the arid desert plains, from where your journey brings you at last to the desert settlement of Erfoud .

DAY 5 : ERFOUD- RISSANI/ – MERZOUGA/ HOME HOSTED MEAL/ VISIT THE NOMADIC FAMILY.

Your day starts by following the meandering Ziz River towards Rissani, the last sizeable community and the end of the vegetation belt before the dunes of the Sand Sea begin. The settlement is the homeland of the Alaouite dynasty, which reigned in this region for 300 years, and this morning you’ll have an opportunity to visit the founder’s Mausoleum and explore something of the local ksour (fortified villages). Then, you then drive on to the settlement of Merzouga, which lies on the edge of Erg Chebbi, an area of spectacular high dunes that are amongst some of Morocco’s most spectacular natural landscapes. You will enjoy a home hosted lunch. You will learn and discover the way of life of Sahraoui people.

In the afternoon you start your Safari adventure by taking a 4WD tour around the high sand dunes with a stop to share a cup of tea with nomadic family. Later, you come back to Merzouga village and get ready for the camel ride which takes about 01h or more as you like to reach the camp where you continue the spirit of the nomadic Berber lifestyle. After dinner you gather round the fire and enjoy the desert night perhaps with traditional Berber drumps.

DAY 6 : MERZOUGA- TOUDRA GORGES/ HOME HOSTED MEAL – DADES VALLEY – OUARZAZATE

The camel man will wake you up early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise of your life. After having your breakfast, shower in the camp, you’ll peacefully ride your camel back to the village appreciating the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. You’ll leave for Tinghir and Todra where you will be invited by a local family for a home hosted meal. Then, continue to Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco to get the Rose valley. Famous for its roses, the town lies blanketed under a landscape of scented blooms each spring, which are then harvested in May during the famous Festival of the Roses and processed into rosewater to be sold throughout the Islamic world. Your arrival to Ouarzazat will be at late afternoon.

DAY 7 : OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADOU – MARRAKECH/ FOOD TASTING TRAIL

After breakfast; you will have time if you are interested to visit the museum of cinema, before you drive to the famous Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco. Walking tour with your guide takes 1 hour to see and visit the most beautiful Berber Village before you drive to Marrakech via spectacular Tichka Road and the high Atlas Mountains. This evening, you head for a food testing. You will test some Moroccan donuts with some tea, some nuts, olives, roasted lamp, you end your testing food at the main and great square of Jemaa el Fna one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech

DAY 8 : MARRAKECH SIGHTSEEING GUIDED TOUR/ MEETING LOCALS

This morning you’ll visit the old part of Marrakech, the Medina, with its palaces, souks and historical heritage as the Medersa Ben Youssef, the Bahia Palace and the Saadien tombs and of course the souks. In the afternoon you’ll visit to Majorelle gardens where you will have plenty of time to wander the gardens, visit museum, sit in the garden café and have a mint tea, browse the library and gift shop.

DAY 9 : MARRAKECH – AIRPORT

Transfer from your hotel or Riad to the airport.