9 Days Tour Agadir to Imperial Cities & Sahara

Day 1: Agadir – Taroudant – Taliouine – Taznakht – Ouarzazate

Our first day of 9 Days Tour From Agadir to The Imperial Cities Via Desert Sahara will start from your hotel in Agadir in the early morning, and we will drive to the first stop, which is in Taroudant. Taroudant is located in the Sous valley and is known as the “Grandmother of Marrakech” because it looks like a smaller Marrakech with its surroundings. Taroudant was the capital of the Saadi dynasty before moving to Marrakech in the 16th century. In addition, the town was occupied by the Almoravids in 1056. Nowadays, Taroudant is well known for its local crafts, including jewelry and carpets. The city also contains a small tannery, which is considered a source of leather goods such as sandals, leather bags, and belts. Here, you will have a small inside town before continuing our journey to Taliouine. Taliouine is our next destination. It’s famous as the producing town for saffron (which is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus) because it is considered the heart of the saffron growing area of Morocco.
Besides, we will visit a cooperative for saffron and buy some saffron if you are interested. Later, we will carry on our trip to the rugs and carpets city of Taznakht. Taznakht is a town in Ouarzazate. Its carpets and rugs are handwoven using the traditional Moroccan methods made of premium wool quality, using different pure Amazigh designs and mostly earthy color palettes. The carpets and rugs use sheep wool and are hand-woven and knotted with natural colors such as saffron, henna, and mint, and they can be used for summer or winter, floor or against the wall. We will stop at the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. The Kasbah is one of the most intriguing red earth castles lining the ancient road of the Kasbahs and is a UNESCO world heritage site. We will continue our expedition to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa” the town has one of the biggest studios in the world where a lot of movies you might have seen, such as “Gladiator”, “Jewel of the Nile” and “The Sahara” where shot. Check into your Riad/Hotel where you will be accommodated with dinner and breakfast.

Day 2: Ouarzazate – Skoura – Kalaat M’guna ( Roses City ) – Boumalne Dades – Gorge Todra –Tinjdad – Underground Irrigation System – Merzouga Desert Camel Ride

After an early stunning morning in the middle Atlas Mountains with a great breakfast at hotel/riad, our second day of the 9 Days Tour From Agadir to The Imperial Cities Via Desert Sahara will start by driving 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 large 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 3: Merzouga Desert Camel Ride – Erfoud – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

On this day of your 9 Days Tour From Agadir to The Imperial Cities Via Desert Sahara 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. Therefore, 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.

Day 4: Fes Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide

On this day of Fes Sightseeing, we can say it is one of the best highlights of our 9 Days Tour From Agadir to The Imperial Cities Via Desert Sahara. After breakfast at the Riad/Hotel, we will pick you up and start exploring the sightseeing 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:
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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.

In the evening, we will drop you off at your riad.

Day 5: Fes – Chefchaouen

We will start our journey once you finished your breakfast, and departing to Chefchaouen, one of the stunning villages at the feet of Rif mountains, “The Blue City” known as the prettiest of the Rifine cities, and the name of “Chechaouen” came from Tamazight language “Isakon or Echaouen” means The Horns; and Chefchaouen means “look at the horns” because “Chef” which means “look at” the founder of the city was by Moulay Ali Ibn Rashid al-Alami in 1471 it was just as small as fortress Kasbah before expanding in recent years; the town was colonized and controlled by Spanish colonization that’s why many names are Spanish sounding. Moreover, Chefchaouen sightseeing starts with first contact with the peaceful Old Medina. It’s a historical neighborhood where blue and white paint dominates the walls and houses. The streets are so narrow that cars cannot pass. Moreover, you will visit The Kasbah is considered the first building constructed in the city, then the square yard of Outae Hammam, which is the biggest yard in the old medina with more than 4000 m2, where you can find cafes and restaurants. As a result, Spanish civilization and Moorish architecture have had a large influence. During the walking tour around the city, one will notice that nothing has changed in Chefchaouen for many centuries. We will have time to make stops throughout the day for photography and discover the mesmerizing world of Chefchaouen, with its alluring culture, beautiful people, and colorful markets. Later on, visiting a crafts market, typical hand-washing laundries are dotted along the slopes of the Rif hills across the river. In the afternoon, you will have your own time to explore more of The Blue Pearl, and have a great meeting with sunset on the top of the panoramic view, and overnight at hotel/Riad.

Day 6: Chefchaoune – Rabat – Casablanca

A joyful day starts from your accommodation (riad/hotel). After your Moroccan breakfast, drive forward to Ouazzane via the Rif Mountains. These mountains belong to the Alboran Sea geological region. The Rif Mountains are not part of the Atlas Mountains System. After an hour and a half of driving through Rif Mountains curves, we reach another northern town called Ouazzane. The city is well-known throughout the Islamic world as a spiritual capital, and it was home to many of the pillars of Sufism, and it was also known as the “House of Safety”. Thus, Ouazzane was the Holy City of Moroccan Jews. They made pilgrimages there to venerate the tombs of Moroccan Saints (Marabouts). Therefore, Ouazzane was an important city to supply a base for the French Army in 1926. After a couple of hours drive, we will get to 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. After your lunch, we continue our journey to Casablanca. It will take 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Casablanca. Spend your night at Hotel in Casablanca.

Day 7: Casablanca – Marrakech

Our expedition will start once you finished your breakfast. Then you will see the sights of 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, you will have a beautiful walk by the shore that is also worthwhile to feel the breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. Further, the Corniche located at the seaside neighborhood of Ain Diab is famous for hosting trendy clubs, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.
Enjoy a walk on the seaside, and maybe a cafe or a cup of mint tea at leisure. Your coming site will be in the Medina of Casablanca. Although it is not as old as Marrakech or Fes Medinas, a large portion of it remains residential, with its narrow streets. From here, you will continue to the city center to visit the Cathedral of Sacred Heart, which was built in the 1930s by the French colonials. Afterward, we will head to the United Nations Place, looking at art deco buildings on the sides of the street. Then we continue to the Arab League Square hosting the “Palais de LA Justice”. You might choose to have lunch at leisure at the legendary Rick’s Café, designed to recreate the Gin joint bar in the movie classic of ‘’Casablanca’’ (Booking in Advanced). Later on, we will take a road to Marrakech via highway. You will have an overnight in Marrakech’s Riad.

Day 8: Marrakech Sightseeing day tour with local guide

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 – Agadir

This day will be hard for us to say goodbye to you after greatness and an unforgettable experience. We leave Marrakech, driving to Agadir airport. The drive will take three hours to reach Agadir airport. Our service of “9 Days Tour From Agadir to The Imperial Cities Via Desert Sahara” ends when we drop you off at the airport.

Tour Map: