10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech

Day 1: Marrakech

The first day of 10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech, we will welcome you at Marrakech airport. Transfer to the riad or to the hotel. Depending on arrival time, the rest of the day will be at leisure. Our driver will be available for an orientation drive of Marrakech and night accommodation at the riad.

Day 2: Marrakech – High Atlas Mountains – Kasbah Ait ben Haddou – Ouarzazate

Our day starts by leaving Marrakech which is considered as the fourth largest city in Morocco, and it’s one of the imperial cities and was a capital of the Almoravid empire, and it’s known as Red City, we are going to drive by a crossing the high atlas mountains, also it is our first spot to explore in our first journey of 10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech, through passing Tizi N’Tuchka is known as second highest in Morocco (2260m), where we have a stop for taking a break and for enjoying the landscapes of high atlas mountains. Later on, we continue our journey to the next spot called Telouet which is famous for its mud-brick Kasbah and with a history of lavishness and traitor ship, the Kasbah was built by Thami El Glaoui in 1860, he was one of the most Pashas of the 20th Century and Lord of the Atlas because he controlled Kasbah by imposing taxes and keeping order for those caravans who wanted to cross the High Atlas Mountains in order to reach Marrakech, thus sometimes called Kasbah as the palace of Glaoui, nowadays the Kasbah is a spot for those who want to visit it.

We continue our journey to the next Kasbah Ait Ben Haddo via driving of a huge Berber village till we reach Ait Ben Haddo Kasbah is a site that declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, the Kasbah located on the top hill affords a view of Ounila River, and its houses linked together within a great wall for fortification also inclusive corner towers and gate and houses decorated with geometric motifs, Kasbah Ait Ben-Haddou is regarded as a stopping place for caravan coming from Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as having free time for lunch in town. Afterward, we will drive to Ouarzazate, identified the gate of the Sahara desert, which is a city of Draa-Tafilalet region too, it’s a Berber town which a majority of inhabitance speaking Tamazight “Berber” from its name in Berber which signifies “City Without Noise”. Furthermore, Ouarzazate is called “The Hollywood of Africa” because it is an elementary tourist destination and one of the favorite spots for filmmakers over the world, and if you are pretty interest we can visit the biggest cinema studios in the region that attract international companies to work in. Movies filmed are “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. In addition, Our next site in Ouarzazate to visit is Kasbah Taourirt built on 17th by a dominant local family, good to know that Kasbah has an important position which 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. Spend your night at Hotel/Riad including dinner and breakfast.

Day 3: Ouarzazate – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga Desert

After an early stunning morning in the middle atlas mountains with a great breakfast at hotel/riad, our third day of the 10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech by driving back through Dades valley towards Tinghir and the Todra valley. After one hour and a half of driving, we will reach one of the famous spots of the high atlas called Todra Gorge located 16KM far away from Tinghier, it consists of several canyons and a huge river, and watching the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley. Besides, Todra Gorge deem as a station for tourists and locals who are interested to do climbing and hiking in its canyons. After having a walk through the gorge, you will have lunch in a beautiful restaurant which is overlooking the river. We take route to Merzouga Sahara via visiting Erfoud “Fossils City” as well-known as filmmakers’ destination thanks to the beauty of the surrounding Desert Sahara and town of oasis areas. Those movies filmed here were March OR Die, The Mummy, and Prince of Persia.
Afterward, we will drive to Merzouga Sahara where we find camels waiting for us for starting the desert trip, when reaching our location we will take a break and have a cup of Berber whisky “Mint Tea” before starting your camel ride to explore the golden Sahara planet, with it is magnificent views of dunes when you are close to reaching the desert camp you will have a stop for a sunset view on the top of the dune and experience its spectacular dunes, which it will be one of the best highlights of your trip. After your dinner at the desert camp, you will have a chance to listen to and play local music in the starry sky sitting around the campfire; you will spend your night in a traditional Berber nomad tent.

Day 4: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi (Gnawa music, mines, black desert) – Merzouga (night in the desert)

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. In afternoon, our journey ends in hotel where you will spend second night in Merzouga hotel including dinner&breakfast.

Day 5: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Medilt – Middle Atlas – Ifran – Fes

half of our 10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech will be started by dating with the sunrise in a panoramic view that is worth waking up for after your breakfast at hotel, we leave Merzouga after a great lifetime experience in the Sahara desert, driving toward 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, later driving through beautiful palm trees of Errachidia, along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rock, After a stop in Hassan Addakhil Dam, we will travel through the charming of Tizi N’talghamt Pass, where you can see views of the High Atlas plateau.
We continue our trip to Midelt to have lunch before continuing our day trip to Fes, later on, driving to High Atlas ranges we 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. Besides driving to Ifrane “Moroccan Switzerland” which is the city of wonders and its cleanest city in the world, you will have a chance to sightsee and explore the white lion sculptural; Ifrane was carved by a German warrior during World War II. After a break in Ifrane we will continue our journey to Fez which is a fourth imperial city, and it was 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. You have two nights at Riad in old medina of Fes.

Day 6: Fes sightseeing

On this day of Fes Sightseeing, we can say it is one of the best highlights of our 10 Days Morocco Cultural 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 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 produced 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 cedar wood carvings on the ceiling.
• Karaouine Mosque: One of the biggest religious structures in Morocco, 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, which is also as close as a non-Muslim can get.
• Place Nejjarine: A beautiful fountain can be seen at the Place Nejjarine, a square deep in the heart of the 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 breaks 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 7: Fes – Beni Mellal – Marrakeсh

After your breakfast in your accommodation, we will start from accommodation at 8:00 am. We will drive toward Beni Mellal via the Atlas Mountains Forests. Beni Mellal is a city in north-central Morocco, and it sits at the foot of Jbel Tassemit (Tassemit Mountain). Our spot to visit in Beni Mellal is Kasbah Bel-Kush is fortified quarter of a city. The fortress (Kasbah) of Beni Mellal is quite modern and forms an important economic center for petrochemical products as well as textile manufacturing considered as a backbone of the wider community. The Kasbah classified monument by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture. In the afternoon, after lunch, we continue the journey to Marrakech; which is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco, and it was founded by the Almoravid Empire in 1070 under Emir Abu Bakr Ibn Umar. Spend your night in Riad in old Medina.

Day 8: Marrakech sightseeing

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 9: 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 riad.

Day 10: Essaouira – Marrakech airport

After an early breakfast, this day will be hard for us to say goodbye after greatness and an unforgettable experience. We pick you up from your accommodation and driving to Marrakech airport (RAK). The drive will take three hours to reach RAK airport. Our service of “10 Days Morocco Cultural Tour From Marrakech” ends when we drop you off at the RAK airport.

Tour Map: