8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech – Cultural & Desert Adventure

Day 1: Arrive at Marrakech

We will start our 8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech by picking you up at the airport. Then transfer to your Riad. You will have free time to relax while exploring the main square Jemaa el Fnaa or just Relax. Your night spend at a Riad in the Medina.

Day 2: Marrakech Guided Tour

On this day, you will accompany a knowledgeable official guide from your accommodation to explore the most famous and exciting imperial city. Marrakech is the fourth largest Moroccan city and one of the four imperial cities of the kingdom. Marrakech had founded by the Almoravid Empire in 1070. Its founder was Emir Abu Bakr Ibn Umar, and Marrakech is known as Red City because various buildings had constructed in red sandstone official guide will show the most sites of the red city starting with the old medina (Old part of Marrakech), in this part, you will visit Bahia Palace built by Alaouite leaders, it was a palace of grand vizier of Alaouite’s leader, today it is considered as a historical monument and attraction site, where tourists visiting in. Besides, your coming site is El Badi Palace, a ruined palace commissioned by Sultan Ahmad Al Mansour in the Saadian period. The palace was neglected after the death of the Sultan, and eventually, it turned out to the ruined.
The journey continues by visiting Saadian Tombs are located in the Kasbah area of the Marrakech Old Medina, the tombs consider nowadays as a historic royal necropolis. Later on, you will visit the second oldest medina after Fes Medina, walking through small streets where you have time to discover the lifestyle of local people. In Addition, during your visit to the old medina and souk (Market), you will visit also the Tanneries of Marrakech, and the leather workers and the metalwork in the shape of countless lamps, carpets, and Berber rugs. The sightseeing of the old part will finish with a talking lunch on the famous square here in Marrakech, Djemma El Fna is a place where you find local food, juice stalls, dried fruit, and nut stalls, storytellers, snake charmers, and women applying henna.
The rest of Marrakech sightseeing will be in the new parts of the city by car. Our driver will meet you next to the Djemma El Fna Square after your lunch, and driving to the Majorelle Garden had been designed by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1980. The garden contains a psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents. In recent years, the garden has become a popular tourist attraction. The site each year receives around 900,000 visitors. Finally, the last site will be Kutubiyya Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech. It was founded in 1147 by Almohad Caliph Abd Al Mumin and later rebuilt by a caliph. The mosque is known with Marrakech’s iconic landmark and could see towering over the city. The journey of the Marrakech sightseeing tour ends as your driver accompanies you to the Riad/Hotel.

Day 3: Marrakech – Casablanca – Rabat

Third day of our 8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech, we will have three hours of driving in order to reach the largest city in Morocco called “Casablanca”, which is considered the economic capital. In Casablanca, we are going to visit one of the most famous sights in Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque, built on the water alongside the Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest mosque in Africa, founded by King Hassan II, and it can hold 105,000 worshippers. A mosque that showcases Moroccan architecture and artisanship is one of the mosque that is open to non-Muslims to visit through selected guided tours lasting around an hour. Later, we continue trip toward Rabat, the capital of Morocco and the seventh-largest city in the country, located on the Atlantic Ocean. Rabat was founded by the Almoravids in the 12th century and developed under Yaqub al-Mansur Almohad, the Caliph. The sightseeing of Rabat will start by visiting the Hassan Tower, built by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur.
The tower was planned to be the largest minaret in the world and built the largest mosque in the world. Construction had come to a halt when Yaqub Al Mansur died. Then we will visit Udayas Kasbah, which was built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. It’s has listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with other sites in Rabat. The Kasbah is located on a hill at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. The Oudaia Kasbah is the original citadel of the Almohad, Merinid, and subsequent Andalusian towns in Rabat. The Kasbah is a small, airy place that is easy to wander through. Chellah, our coming site in Rabat, is one of the most beautiful and peaceful Moroccan ruins. Chellah is an ancient ruin of a Roman city and a Merenid necropolis. Besides that, we will visit the Hassan Mosque, which is considered the most famous landmark in Rabat and one of the most ambitious of all Almohad buildings, as well visiting The Palace Museum and Mohamed V Mausoleum. You have night at Riad.

Day 4: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

After your delicious Moroccan breakfast, the half our 8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech, we travel to Meknes, one of Morocco’s ancient imperial cities, where you will have a break for drinking some coffee and strolls in its busy square and Medina (Lahdim). Further, you will end your day with dinner at your riad in Meknes.
In the morning devoted to discovering this magnificent Imperial city is well known as one of the fourth imperial cities of Morocco founded by the Almoravids dynasty in the 11th century, located in the north where it has a strategic position in the heart of the country. In Meknes, we are going to visit many sights such as the big gate of Bab Mansour designed by sultan Moulay Ismail in the bustling Lahdim square and you will walk or drive to our coming site is Habs Qara “ Qara Prison ” built in an underground labyrinth that could host thousands of inmates.
After lunch, you will continue the journey to Volubilis, the best example of an ancient Roman city in Morocco, the well preserved Roman empire dating to 225 BC, Volubilis is by far the most important Roman settlement in Morocco, and best-preserved and having been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. In addition to that, Volubilis is where you will see the most beautiful mosaics in Morocco, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Here you will have a guided tour of the site and learn a lot about the Roman Empire, next you drive through Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the holiest Islamic town in the Kingdom of Morocco, where thousands of the Moroccan faithful come on pilgrimage every August to pray at the tomb of this descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. Then you will continue to Fes and end your day with dinner at your riad in Fes medina.

Day 5: Fes Guided Tour

On this day of Fes Sightseeing, we can say it is one of the best highlights of our 8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech. After breakfast at the Riad/Hotel, we will pick you up and start exploring the sights of the new city and the old medina with our professional guide. The sites include:

• Royal Palace Gate: The Royal Palace is one of the most elegant structures in Morocco with a large and impressive gate; it’s located in the new part of Fez (Fes El Jdid). The royal palace was rebuilt by the Alaouites dynasty starting in 1969-1971. The gate of the palace had an excellent piece of modern Moroccan craftsmanship. And it is had decorated with mosaic tile and carved cedarwood, as well as the gate, which has gilt bronze covered in geometric patterns.

• The Jewish headquarter: The first Mellah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century, as you know that Fez had long hosted the largest and one of the oldest Jewish communities in Morocco.

• Bab Boujloud Gate: The Bab Boujloud Gate is the most famous in Morocco. It is also the main entrance to the Medina. See the striking blue and green colors that cover either side of this monumental gate.

• South Borj: On the hills overlooking the old city (Medina) of Fes, built by the Saadian dynasty in 1582.

• Andalusia Mosque: This stunning mosque is easily definable by its imposing green and white minaret. Built at the end of the 9th century by a woman, its wood carvings are exquisite.

• Tanners’ District: One of the main attractions of Fez, the tanners’ quarters is where leather is output using the same centuries-old methods. You can get a bird’s eye view from the raised platform and watch the entire process.

• El-Attarine Madrasa or the Medersa Attarine: Visit Fez’s most popular attraction, the El-Attarine Madrasa in the heart of the city, built-in 1325. See the fine examples of Merenidcraftsmanship around the madrasa, especially the stucco and cedarwood carvings on the ceiling.

• Karaouine Mosque: One of the biggest religious structures in Morocco and was founded in 859 by Fatima Al-Fihri, this mosque lies in the heart of the medina. The university attached to the mosque has been the center of Islamic learning in Morocco for more than 1000 years.

• Azouia Moulay Idriss: The tomb of Moulay Idris is a highly revered shrine. At the entrance, women pass offerings through a hatch its close as a non-Muslim can get.

• Place Nejjarine: A beautiful fountain could see at the Place Nejjarine, a square deep in the heart of the old medina. It is also home to the Nejjarine Museum of Wood and carpentry and showcases Fez’s renowned wood-carving tradition. See exquisite furniture, thrones, and objects of everyday use. Nearby is the souk of the carpenters.

The tour will have a break for lunch at Moroccan restaurants in Medina. After lunch, continue with your guided exploration of the attractions of Fez.
The highlights of this tour include:
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• Tombs of the Merenid Dynasty: Get spectacular views over the city from this resting place of the Merenid Sultans who played a crucial role in making Fez the cultural and religious capital of Morocco. The ruins are a great place to take in the sprawling vistas of the Medina below.

• District of the potters: See where the world-famous cobalt blue enameled pottery is made.

Late afternoon we will drop you off at your riad.

Day 6: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Erg Chebbi

Our journey to Sahara begins from your Riad/Hotel in Fez. After your breakfast, our professional driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Fes, then later leave one of the largest cities in Morocco. Fez is a fourth imperial city, and it has founded under the Idrisid dynasty during the 8th-9th centuries, and it is located northeast of the Atlas Mountains and is linked to a couple of cities in different regions, as well Fes known as a spiritual city. We will drive to our first city called Ifrane by way of Imouzzar Kandar, where you will explore and enjoy the Middle Atlas Mountain’s view, Ifrane “Moroccan Switzerland” is the city of wonders and its cleanest city in the world, you will have a chance to sightsee and explore the white lion sculpturally. Moreover, Ifrane was carved by a German warrior during World War II.
We continue our trip through passing beautiful and tranquil passes over both the Middle and High Atlas ranges will catch a first glimpse of the south, and drive-by hills covered in forests of cork oak and giant cedar and its home of a few Barbary Macaque Apes. We will reach Midelt to have lunch before continuing our day trip to Merzouga Sahara via visiting many sites on our way to Sahara, where you can notice how landscapes change to reveal hints of the desert. After a stop in Rich town, we will travel through the charming of Tizi N’talghamt canyon and the Ziz gorge, where you can see views of the High Atlas plateau, later driving through beautiful palm trees till reaching Hassan Addakhil Dam nearby the city of Errachidia. We continue our journey to Merzouga Sahara by drive among gorgeous Ziz Valley – where we have a stop for its marvelous panoramic also the Valley has a huge oasis containing over six million palm trees, edged by many ksours (fortified villages) on the road of Erfoud, also it is considered as a central source of dates here in Morocco.
Afterward, when arriving in Merzouga, you will be welcomed with our traditionally Berber whisky “Mint Tea” before starting your camel ride to explore the golden Sahara planet, with it is magnificent views of sand dunes when you close to reaching the desert camp, you will have a stop for a sunset view on the top of the sand dune, and try sandboarding with magnificent colors of the sun, which it will be one of the best highlights of your trip. After your dinner at a desert camp, you will have a chance to listen to and play local music (Berber Drums). This night in Merzouga Desert determines as one of the high spots of 8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech.

Day 7: Erg Chebbi – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

The day will be started by dating with the sunrise in a panoramic view that is worth waking up for after your breakfast at camp you will have two options to drive back from your desert camp to Merzouga Sahara, which is to come back by camels or by Jeep 4X4. And then, we leave Merzouga after a great lifetime experience in the Sahara desert, driving toward Rissani is the ancient capital of Tafilalet which was a principal road of caravans, and considered as a commercial center in the region with a large market “Souk” where you will take a chance to connect and to interact with locals, then continue our journey to Erfoud “Fossils City” as well-known as filmmaker’s destination thanks to the beauty of the surrounding Desert Sahara and towns of oasis areas, movies had filmed here are March OR Die, The Mummy, and Prince Of Persia. After two hours of driving, we will reach one of the famous spots of the high atlas, called Todgha gorge located 16KM far away from Tinghier consists of several canyons and a large river.
This stunning area affords plenty of opportunities to walk between the gorgeous oasis palm trees, such as along the river through the garden or up the road on the other side of the gorge. Besides, the Todgha Gorge had deemed as a station for tourists and locals who are interested in climbing and hiking in its canyons and having a walk through the gorge, you will have lunch in a beautiful restaurant which is overlooking the river. In the afternoon, we carry on our journey to the Boumalne Dades is famous with lovely valley located in a desert plateau, 1500m high and is known as an old way of transhumance, and the valley has recognized as Figs Valley.
Furthermore, we continue our expedition to another valley called Valley of the Roses “Kalaat M’gouna” the city is the central district of many villages, and it has two special days for the local market, first day in Tuesday, it is only for livestock trade, and Wednesday is the second day is for food and other goods. Kalaat M’gouna is well-known for its rose products of beauty recognized as natural products, also used in Moroccan cuisine and the perfume industry, as well the city famous for a festival in early of May because there is no set date for the festival, it determines on the harvest season, during festival local Berber musicians playing traditional instrumentals and dancing.
The last day of a festival is a special day to choose Ms. Roses. You will stop enjoying and discovering the fascination of one thousand kasbahs road, you reach Ouarzazate, known as the gate of the Sahara desert, which is a city of the Draa-Tafilalet region too. Our first site to visit is Kasbah of Taourirt, built-in 17th by a dominant local family, the kasbah had a great position controlling the junction of several river valleys because considered as Desert Sahara Trade Roads, in the 1990s registered as historical attractiveness in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Furthermore, Ouarzazate is an elementary tourist destination and one of the favorite spots for filmmakers over the world, if you are interesting, we can visit Atlas Studio is biggest cinema studio in the region that attracts international companies to act in. films had filmed for instance “The Man Who Be King” in 1975, “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988), “The Mummy” (1999), “Gladiator” (2000), and Hanna in 2011, and so on. You have overnight in Riad/Hotel.

Day 8: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

After your breakfast, we will depart toward Marrakech. By visiting Kasbah Ait Ben-Haddou 15km from our past place Ouarzazate, we will explore another site that was declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, a kasbah located on the top of a hill that affords a view of the Ounila River, and its houses are linked together within a great wall for fortification also inclusive corner towers and gate and all the quarters decorated with geometric motifs. Kasbah Ait Ben-Haddou was the main road for caravans that came from Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as you will have free time for lunch in town. Later on, we will drive to Marrakech through the mountain called Tizi N’tuchka (the second-highest altitude in Morocco at 2260m), it is a part of the High Atlas Mountains well-considered as controlled pass by El Glaoui last Pasha of Marrakech, where we will have some stops to take pictures of a delightful landscape. Transfer to the airport 2 hours before your flight time. Our service of “8 Days Morocco Imperial Cities & Merzouga Desert Tour From Marrakech” ends when we drop you off at Marrakech airport.

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