14 Days Casablanca Desert Tour

Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes

Our first day of 14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour, will start once you arrive at Casablanca airport. Then we will drive to 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 mosques that are open to non-Muslims to visit through selected guided tours lasting around an hour. Later on, we will drive 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 Marenid 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. After your delicious Moroccan lunch, we take a road 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). Finally, you will end with dinner at your accommodation in Meknes.

Day 2: Meknes – Volubilis – Moulay Idriss Zarhoun – Fes

Second Morning of 14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour to discover 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. Sightseeing of Meknes includes as well:
• Grand Mosque of Meknes: the oldest and one of the most important mosques in Meknes, it is based in the center of the old medina and was founded by the Almoravids in the 12th century. Furthermore, the mosque had an extensive financial and religious section because it contained the main Souq streets.
• Madrasa Bou Inania in Meknes: Madrasa means school for higher learning in Islamic science established through the Marinid period by Sultan Abu Al Hasan. Today the school “Madrasa” is not just a place for practicing religion, but it also is open for tourists.
• Nejjarine Mosque in Meknes: Considered as an old mosque in the historic city of Meknes, it was built during the Almoravid period in the 12th century AD. In 1996 the mosque was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Lalla Aouda Mosque in Meknes: Found in the Marinid era in 1276, Lalla Aouda refers to Lalla Masuda Waliya (Saint), the mother of Sultan Ahmad Al Mansour Saadi. The mosque has been massively shrouded by the cause of the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail’s big construction projects in the late 17th century as part of a new imperial city in Meknes.
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 3: Fes

On this day of Fes Sightseeing, we can say it is one of the best highlights of our 14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour. 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. Fes 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 Marenid craftsmanship 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:
• 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 4: Fes – Ifran – Azrou – Midelt

At midday, we will start our trip by driving 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 had 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 and catch a first glimpse of the south-east and drive-by hills covered in forests of cork oak and giant cedar and its home of a few Barbary Macaque Apes. After spending few minutes within the forest, your journey continues to Midelt along the magnificent hills and mountains of the Atlas. In Midelt you will be accommodated in a luxurious hotel.

Day 5: Midelt – Errachidia – Merzouga Desert

After an early morning in the middle Atlas Mountains with a great breakfast at your hotel/riad, our second day of The 14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour will start by leaving Midelt and heading south-east towards Merzouga located in the Sahara desert. On our way to the Sahara desert, we will visit many sites and notice how the landscape changes to reveal hints of the desert. After a stop in Rich town, we will travel through the charming Tizi N’talghamt canyon and the Ziz valley where you can see views of the High Atlas plateau. Moreover, we will drive past beautiful palm trees till we reach the Hassan Addakhil Dam near the city of Errachidia. We continue our journey to Merzouga Sahara by driving through the gorgeous Ziz Valley—where we have a stop for its marvelous panoramic views. The valley also has a huge oasis containing over six million palm trees, edged by many ksours (fortified villages) on the road to Erfoud. It is considered a principal source of dates here in Morocco. We will reach Merzouga before sunset as well, where you will have an overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 6: Merzouga

After breakfast, we’ll start exploring the area of Merzouga, the first place of the excursion is Merzouga Lake (A seasonal lake) destination of popular migration birds when the lake is full of water, and then, we will continue our journey to Khamlia village will stop to visit a car museum on the way to Merzouga. Once we arrive at Khamlia, we’ll have the opportunity to listen and enjoy the spiritual Gnawa music played by local people originally from the Soudan, Mali, and other Subsaharan countries. Besides, we will continue our journey to the Mifis Village, an old village built by the French during the colonization also known as the mines village, because the mineral mines where some Moroccan people still work on the active mines. We will continue into the black desert (volcanic stones) and have a stop at a mountain with a panoramic view, it will be our first stop in the black desert before we continue to a nomadic family who is still living a nomadic life and take a cup of tea with them.
Later on, we have to drive back to the Hassi Labied town, where we will visit an oasis and a garden beside the dunes. The garden managing by the people of the village and discover how the people get the water from the sand dunes to the oasis using a traditional irrigation system. Back to the hotel for rest and getting ready for an adventure (camel trekking) in the heart of the desert. In the evening, you will start your camel ride to explore the golden Sahara desert with its magnificent views of sand dunes. Just as you approach your overnight desert camp, you will stop for a sunset view on the top of a sand dune, which will be one of the highlights of your trip. After your dinner at the desert camp, you will have a chance to listen to and play the local Berber music with your hosts.

Day 7: Merzouga – Er Rissani – Merzouga

After breakfast, half of our tour “14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour”, we will depart to the holy city of Er Rissani, a site where the Alouette dynasty buried in the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sherif. Visit the ruins of Ksar Abbar, a kasbah that dates from the 17th century. Rissani is surrounded by 360 ksars (fortified villages with many towers) and has a big souk (an open market) held three times a week. After that, we will have a tour of Rissani’s famed palmer and a glimpse of life as it is lived on the edge of the desert. Visit the ksar Oulad Abdelhalim, which was built around 1900 for Sultan Moulay Hassan. Then continue our trip through the open black desert back to Merzouga. Overnight accommodation will be in Merzouga.

Day 8: Merzouga – Rissani – Tinghir – Boumanle Dades

The day will be started by dating with the sunrise in a panoramic view that is worth waking up for after your breakfast at hotel. 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, 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 going through the Boumalne Dades region, we will have a short walk for exploring the charming of the valley and visiting Monkey Fingers, as well you will spend a night in that valley and dinner in your Riad/Hotel.

Day 9: Boumanle Dades – Ouarzazate

We will start our day after your delicious breakfast at the accommodation, you can enjoy the stunning view of Dades valley from one strategic lookout in the high atlas mountains, then, later on, 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 10: Ouarzazate – 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. There we will stop for lunch: local tagine or barbecue before we continue to Marrakech where you will be accommodated overnight at the hotel or the riad.

Day 11: Marrakech

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 12: Marrakech – Essaouira

After incredible days in the Red City, we will leave Marrakech. When you finish your breakfast, it is time to go towards the Atlantic Ocean and Essaouira. It has long been considered one of the best anchorages on the Moroccan coast that is to be an escape site from the stress and busy life of Marrakech. So, we want to go to such a beautiful and silent town with a beautiful beach. The journey will take us through numerous villages scattered alongside the road, with beautiful scenery of Argan trees, and we will make a stop to see goats climbing the trees. Then later, we are going to visit a cooperative of one of the most famous and unique oils in the world, Argan Oil, also known as Liquid Gold or Moroccan Oil. You will visit a local ladies’ cooperative to learn how some fine cosmetic products which are locally had made out of the rich Argan oil. By the way, you can buy the oil and other products made from argan.
When we reach Essaouira, you will start your explorative journey of the city. The first site of the day is visiting the Skala Fortress; seeing Thuya wood carved by artisans; walking through the alleys of the medina, and viewing hundreds of handicrafts. Today you will have lunch the Moroccan way: freshly bought fish, cooked to order. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to wander around, go to the beach, and enjoy some time to yourself. Essaouira is known as the City of the Wind, and it attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira knew many civilizations–including the Portuguese occupation, which had affected much of its architecture. However, it remains a small village with much history. Because of its size, therefore, it has characteristic blue doors and washed walls are regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic.” There is an annual festival of “Gnawa music,” where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world. Usually, it starts in the second week of June. You have overnight at the riad.

Day 13: Essaouira – Casablanca

After breakfast, we start our day by driving back to Casablanca via the picturesque coastal road. During the journey, we will visit the oldest city in Morocco, Safi or Asfi. It’s located in the west of Morocco and is a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean. Safi has founded by the Carthaginian Hanno, and it was an important port under the Almohads dynasty, and it had ruled under the Portuguese after a war with Saadians, and it became a Fortaleza of the Portuguese. In addition, in Asfi, we will visit the Portuguese fortress has built to protect the city. Later on, we will travel to another coastal town called Oualidia, where you will have seafood for lunch in a local restaurant with a sea view. Continue to El Jadida, where we will visit the famous citadel, built under the Portuguese occupation in the 16th century, which is nowadays considered a major port on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. After 1h30min of driving, we will get to Casablanca, where you will have the final night of your greatness tour 14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour at the hotel.

Day 14: Casablanca

This day will be hard for us to say goodbye after greatness and an unforgettable experience. We pick you up from your accommodation, driving to Casablanca airport. The drive will take one an hour to reach CMN airport. Our service of “14 Days Casablanca Sahara Desert Tour” ends when we drop you off at the CMN airport.

Tour Map: