Because this 10 Days tour from Casablanca can be easily customized – ideal for one person or a small group that knows each other. In terms of time, places and also content.The following steps are from my trip (Monika) – a sensible and exciting recommendation. The main focus in this journey is to stay a bit in certain places as well. Of course, this trip can be booked just as suggested here. Optimal travel time: May or September
The itinerary:
● Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca – Head to Fez
- Casablanca – Arrival at the airport, pick up by our driver.
- Depending on arrival time, drive to Fes for a city tour with a local guide (English).
- Overnight stay in a hotel/riad organized by us.
- Dinner at the hotel/riad.
● Day 2: Visit the Sources Oum Rabia and Overnight in Ifrane
- Departure after breakfast to the Oum Rabia sources (about 3 hours).
- Relaxation at the waterfall in a rented oriental hut.
- Tajine, freshly squeezed orange juice and tea on site included.
- In the afternoon, leisurely drive back to Ifrane (arrival approx. 4pm).
- Visit of the monkeys, walk in the “Moroccan Switzerland” or, if you like, you can book a horseback ride (approx. 50 EUR).
- Accommodation in an apartment or house.
- Dinner in one of the local restaurants or delivery/cooking service for the group on request (about 9 EUR per person).
● Day 3: Visit Ouzoud Waterfalls – Marrakech for overnight
- Departure after breakfast at a local restaurant or delivery/cooking service for the group on request (approx. 6 EUR per person).
- 6-hour drive (incl. stops) – snacks included.
- Check-in at the local hotel/apartment organized by us.
- After a short relaxation drive to the waterfalls.
- We will taste Warri berries, sugar cane juice and sweet wood.
- If you feel like it, you can take a boat ride below the waterfall (about 5 EUR).
- Dinner: Delivery/cooking service for the group (included).
● Day 4: Marrakech Sightseeing tour
- Continue after breakfast (delivery service included) – about 3 hours including stop – to Marrakech.
- Check-in at the riad organized by us. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant (exclusive).
- Afterwards guided sightseeing tour incl. visit the famous Koutoubia Mosque with a local guide (English).
- In the evening we enjoy the vibrant city together, listen to the music and go for a stroll on the large Jemaa el-Fna square.
- If you feel like it, you can enjoy a carriage ride (exclusive).
● Day 5: From Marrakech and continuation to the road of the 1000 Kasbahs Overnight in Telouat
- In the morning after breakfast, the morning is at leisure. Today you could visit one of the many beautiful gardens.
g. the Jardin Majorelle. If you are interested in Austrian art, you can visit the 3000 m2 botanical garden of André Heller with sculptures by the artist.
More for those interested in herbs: Paradis du Safran Maroc – here you can visit the garden and even buy original saffron. - Lunch at local restaurant (exclusive)
- Meet at 13.30 and continue to the first Kasbah Telouet, Ouarzazate (about 4 hours incl. stop at Col du Tichka at 2260 meters above sea level).
- Check-in at a local hotel. Dinner included
- The evening is free – tip: visit the dilapidated Kasbah Telouet (approx. 2 EUR/20 Dihram).
● Day 6: Continuation through the road of 1000 Kasbahs to Boumalne Dadés
- After a typical and leisurely breakfast we set off for the widely famous Kasbah Aît Ben Haddou. Many famous movies have been filmed here – most recently “The Game of Thrones”. We spend the morning there, visit the typical museum (entrance fee included) and stroll through the winding alleys of the medieval castle complex up to the observation tower.
- Around 12 o’clock we continue to the Kasbah Taourirt, a largely preserved and restored castle complex (Unesco World Heritage Site). There we have lunch in a local restaurant (exclusive) before we get a guided tour through the walls of the castle (entrance fee included).
- Continue around 4 pm to our next destination on this individual tour Morocco: Boumalne Dadés! (approx. 2 hours drive).
- After checking in at the typical hotel we will drive to the bubbling watercourse of the Dadés. Dinner on site directly at the Dadés (exclusive) or at the hotel (inclusive).
● Day 7: Along the Dades Valley further to Merzouga for overnight stay.
- After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, we set off for the Sahara and its dunes. We are on the road for about 4 hours. The landscape is dotted with river oases, villages and more Kasbahs.
- Check-in at a hotel directly at the sand dunes. Possibly also in a luxury camp (top equipped tents).
- Lunch à la carte (excluded). The afternoon is at your free disposal. Who likes, can try the swimming pool.
- Ride on a camel into the dunes and experience the breathtaking sunset in the desert!
- Dinner at the hotel (included).
- Cozy ends at the campfire.
● Day 8: Round trip in Merzouga
- Today on the 8 Days tour from Casablanca we start a round trip to the Gnawa musicians, stop for tea with real nomads and visit a fossil museum. The area is famous for its fossil treasure and wealth. We stop for lunch with our host family before continuing on to the impressive monuments of the German artist Hannsjörg Voth. We also get to see the round mountain on the way back. Many movies have been filmed here (such as “The Mummy”).
- We return late in the afternoon. If you still like, you can rent a quad and drive through the dunes or “sandboard” (free rental).
- Dinner at the hotel (included).
● Day 9: Return to Fez
- Today we get up early. Who likes, can experience once again the sunrise over the dunes. After a good breakfast we will drive back to Fez. The drive takes about 7-8 hours. For lunch we will have packed lunches.
- Optionally, we offer an overnight stay in Midelt (with swimming pool and dinner) after about 5 hours of driving – or the overnight stay/dinner in a hotel/riad in Fés after the entire driving distance.
● Day 10: Departure in Fez
- Depending on the time of departure and the place of accommodation (from Midelt it is still about 3 hours drive to Fez), you can still take the guided tour of Fez, if not already taken on the day of arrival.
- Transfer from the hotel/riad to the airport
INCLUDED:
- Transfer from the airport
- 8 Nights in typical Ridas
- Stops along the way for ( photos, breaks, …)
- Pick up & drop off from to your accommodation.
- English/French/Spanish speaking driver during the tour
- a night in a Desert camp
- Free time to explore the sites such as Ait BenHaddou kasbah, Walks, Canyons, Breaks for photos,..Etc
- Fuel
- Camel ride in Sahara Desert
- Comfortable car 4×4 or Minivan it depends in number of people
- Sandboarding in Merzouga
- Dinner in ( Merzouga, Bomalen dades)
- Fes and Marrakech tour guides
NOT INCLUDED:
- Drinks & lunches
- Tickets of Museum or plane
- Tips for Driver and Guide, Nomads, Gnawa, Hotels
The Main Destinations of the tour:
the tour Whether you want to focus on something specific – be it landscapes, cities, customs, or traditions – or whether you want to experience as many aspects as possible that Morocco has to offer, that is the first decision that needs to be made. Since Morocco is such a huge country, it is better to decide and then focus on one or two areas where you can experience this. You should bring enough time to take in and enjoy everything you want to see and experience, rather than trying to fit it all in. Also, the Moroccan population is a mix of Berbers, Arabs, Africans and Andalusians, which is also something to consider when planning your itinerary, depending on what cultural and traditional aspects (e.g. gastronomy) you want to experience on your trip.
In Merzouga Desert:
Today we will take a dune “hike” by 4×4 around the Erg Chebbi dunes, a populated desert region of sand. You’ll learn how and where nomadic families live in this area. We will stop in Khamelia, a village where the inhabitants are mostly from Mali and Senegal – the Gnawa. We will enjoy their famous Gnawa music together with a delicious local glass of tea, and learn more about their culture and ancient traditions. Afterwards we will continue to Mefiss, a place where Berbers have been extracting eyeliner coal from the mountains for many years, but where the French army also lived during the colonial period. At noon we will visit a local restaurant specializing in Berber pizza.
Additional sites in Sahara:
If you are interested in German art, we will make a detour to the imposing monuments of the German artist Hannsjörg Voth, built in an incredibly wide plain during a twenty-year construction period at the end of the last century.
Stage 1 – the local open pit mine In Mefiss we make a first stop. Here Hassan shows us the quarries where even today Eyliner coal is laboriously mined. He told me (Monika) that he himself worked here as a child after his father died at an early age. He gives me such a stone. Shiny and special.
Stage 2 – La Musée du fossiles et minérales On we go to the fossils. Incredible what can be found here in this plain. A small museum contains fascinating treasures. Outside we see a whole “turtle family”. Some of the fossils are still cut and polished by hand. You can buy beautiful plates, polished coral fossil or snails.
Stage 3 – The Stairway to Heaven – German Art in Morocco We continue with the guide to the Marha Plain. A special place. First we drive near the Stairway to Heaven. See it already from far away. Impressive. The entrance fee, however, costs. On to the next sight, the City of Orion. And finally to the golden spiral. Impressive. This vastness, coupled with these strange eye-catchers. Shapes and relations -the relation of the vastness and to the universe – to the stars – yes, that touches.
Stage 4 – The round mountain – Gara Medouar We continue to the next sight – the round mountain. Already from a distance it stands out from this eternal expanse. It is said that caravans used to seek shelter from sandstorms in this mountain. And that there was a Portuguese prison here in the last century. The entrance – walled up at that time. Inside a huge courtyard. The mountain walls peppered with caves that were once the cells. This mountain – like so many other places here – was also the backdrop for various movies. The most famous: The Mummy.
In Fez:
After a leisurely breakfast we will get to know the so-called religious and cultural capital of the country and the oldest city. We will visit the great royal palace gate and then the famous Al Qaraouine University. The tanneries and the Attarine Museum are on the program as well. After a break for a delicious lunch, we will visit the most exotic and oldest part of the city: Fes El Bali, the walled medina with narrow pedestrian streets and ornate entrance gates, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Fes el Bali is a paradise for local handicrafts with colorful Moroccan styles, leatherwork, metalwork, etc. Dinner and overnight stay in Fez.
In Marrakech:
During our visit to Marrakech, there are several places that we must see. Firstly, the Koutoubia Mosque is a must-see attraction. This mosque is one of the largest in the city and is known for its impressive minaret. Visitors can also explore the surrounding gardens and take in the stunning architecture. Secondly, the Bahia Palace is another must-see attraction. This palace was built in the late 19th century and is known for its intricate tilework and stunning gardens. Visitors can explore the many rooms and courtyards, each with its own unique design. Finally, we cannot leave Marrakech without visiting the famous souks. These markets are a vibrant hub of activity and offer a wide range of goods, from spices and textiles to jewelry and pottery. Visitors can haggle with the vendors and experience the lively atmosphere of the souks. A visit to Marrakech would not be complete without seeing these three attractions. They offer a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the city and are sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor.
In Ifrane:
After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel in Fés or Mèknes and drive together to Ifran (64 km).This day we will cross the High Atlas Mountains, the most fascinating and beautiful natural region of Morocco. Ifran is one of the cleanest and unique cities in this region, also called Moroccan Switzerland. The tour continues through the Ifrane National Park with one of the largest cedar forests in Morocco, home to the endangered Barbary macaques. If we are lucky, we will encounter this famous monkey species that has migrated as far as Gibraltar. Here feeding is allowed, but still caution is advised
