Destination Experts Morocco
FEZ – SAHARA DESERT- TOUBKAL – MARRAKECH – ESSAOUIRA ITINERARY
11 Days/10 Nights
Day 1 FEZ – MERZOUGA
You will be met at your Hotel by your English speaking driver and depart Fes for Merzouga. Experience spectacular views of cedar forests, visit the Barbary Apes at Ifrane and tour through the beautiful and scenic Midelt on route to the Sahara. Travel through the Ziz valley and view the Efous oasis which offers amazing photographic opportunities. Arrive late in the afternoon for your night in Merzouga, the threshold of the Sahara.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 2 ERG CHEBBI (SAHARA DESERT)
Erg Chebbi is the large sand-sea which effectively marks the start of the real Sahara and some of the dunes in this area rise to over 245 metres. The colours of the rising and setting sun over these dunes make for a truly magical experience.
Enjoy a leisurely morning before your driver picks you up to meet your camels and guide. Your guide will take you into the desert, around an 1½ – 2 hour ride by camel. When you reach your bivouac you can relax, climb the dunes or just star gaze while your guide prepares your evening meal.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Activity: Overnight Desert Excursion
Day 3 MERZOUGA – TODRA & DADES GORGES
Rise early in the morning to see the amazing sunrise over the dunes then head back to your hotel in Merzouga to re-fresh and take breakfast before departing for Todra Gorge & Tinehir & finally the Dades Gorge.
One of the highlights of the South is the massive fault in the plateau that divides the High Atlas from the Jebel Sarhro, called the Todra Gorges. The offer a dramatic landscape and great photographic opportunites.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Travel through the beautiful Valley of the Roses, La Palmarie Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate.
Home of Morocco’s ’Hollywood’ movie Industry you can choose to stop off at the movie studios and see where films such as Gladiator and the Mummy were filmed.
On route to Imlil and the National Toubkal Park is Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most exotic and best preserved Kasbahs in the entire Atlas Region. The Kasbah is now under UNESCO protection and has magnificent views of the surrounding palmeraie and beyond.
In the afternoon head to Toubkal national park, where you will find Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Morocco and at the base the traditional Berber Village of Imlil.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Today we organise a visit to the village of Imlil at the base of Jebel Toubkal with a Berber Mountain guide. You can choose to go on foot or by mule to visit some of the surrounding Berber villages & look at some of the working co-operatives, stopping for a traditional Moroccan lunch with a Berber family.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Guided Tour of Imlil and the surrounding co-operatives including lunch with a Berber family
Spend the morning at leisure or alternatively we can organise for a mountain guide to take you on a short hike to one of the scenic vantage points of Jebel Toubkal.
In the afternoon depart Imlil for Marrakech. After driving through the High Atlas Mountains and some beautiful scenery you’ll arrive at Marrakech where you can spend some time settling into your accommodations.
Later in the evening take a wander thru the souks and spend the evening at the famous Djemaa el Fna Square being mesmerised by snake charmers, storytellers and any other of the great spectacles that might cross your path!
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 MARRAKECH – GUIDED TOUR
While Marrakech is alive with modern life and development, it is also home to a wealth of buildings, sites and artefacts of crucial importance to Moroccan history.
Your vehicle, driver and tour guide are at your disposal for the whole day. Some sights visited in the tour include the Koutoubia Minaret and gardens, Marjorelle Jardin, the Saadien Tombs, the El Badi and El Bahia Palaces and Dar Si Said, home to the Museum of Moroccan Arts.
Meals: Breakfast
Activity: Guided Tour Marrakech
Day 8 MARRAKECH – FREE DAY
Spend today at your leisure.
Some ideas may include exploring the many varied and splendid souks of Marrakesh offering an assortment of Moroccan products that range from elaborate and traditional thru to sleek modern designs. Or perhaps spend the afternoon indulging in a Moroccan Hammam Experience including a luxurious massage and beauty treatments using traditional Moroccan oils.,
Later in the evening head into the Ville Nouveau to try some of the fabulous Moroccan cuisine on offer and experience the vibrant Marrakech nightlife.
Your vehicle, driver and tour guide are at your disposal for the whole day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 ESSAOUIRA
This morning depart Marrakech for the seaside village of Essaouira.
A picturesque fishing town lying on the southwest coast of Morocco, Essaouira has an exquisite beach to the south and has become one of Morocco’s most popular coastal towns. Many of the countries wood carvers and artists make Essaouira their home.
Famous for it’s live music and once a favourite haunt for Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley this old Portuguese fishing village once known as Mogador will be a relaxing change from the vibrancy of Marrakech.
The town has a lovely white washed medina and is particularly good for sourcing arts and crafts, most notably the woodcarvings famous as being one of the oldest artistic forms that has thrived in the town.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 ESSAOUIRA – CASABLANCA
Your last day of travel will take you back to Casablanca. After breakfast depart Essaouira for Casablanca with a stop at El Oualidia on the way. We drive along the coastline to El Jadida stopping to visit the citadel and see the underground cistern. We then continue on to Casablanca, spending your last night in the country
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 CASABLANCA
Spend the morning at your leisure.
Your vehicle and driver are at your disposal for the remainder of the day and will transfer you to the airport.
TOTAL PRICE PER PERSON:
Mid range accommodation: 1620 Euro
High end Accommodation: 1950 Euro
PRICE INCLUDES:
*Accommodation
*Daily Breakfast & Dinner where stated
*Transportation in private deluxe A/C Vehicle
*Private English speaking driver/escort available 24 hours for the duration of your tour
*Camel Excursion in the Sahara with expert local guide & Berber Bivouac
*Mountain Guide and Tour of Imlil & surrounding Berber Villages including lunch with Berber family
*National guides for Private tours of Fez and Marrakech on specified days
*Entrance fees to national monuments
*Bottled water whilst on the road (max 1.5litre per person allocated)
Excluded in price:
Airfares
Lunches and dinners except where stated
Personal Drinks, Snacks & Alcohol
Tips for drivers and tour guides
Additional activities
Itineraries are samples only and easily adjusted to fit the needs of individual requests.
Prices are an indication only and adjusted according to individual requirements.