Imperial Cities of Morocco with Sahara desert
Though not confined to a singular geographic region of Morocco, we have pooled together the four Imperial Cities of Morocco for travellers who wish to see the most important historical palaces and medinas that have served as the seat of power for different dynasties. At some point in history each city has served as the capital and in most cases more than once. Today it is Rabat where the current King, Mohammed VI is in residence.
There are four Imperial Cities – Fes, Rabat, Meknes and Marrakech. Any of our Imperial Cities tours will combine these key destinations with guided visits of their main monuments and sights. As Casablanca and Marrakech are both very easily accessible through their international airports, tours can be adapted to start or end in either of these cities. Along the route that links all the Imperial Cities we also include the Roman ruins of Volubilis as well as the holy town of Moulay Idriss – the site of the first Arab dynasty in Morocco founded by Idriss I in 789AD. These additional destinations are important links in the chain of dynastic chronological history that have shaped modern Morocco. To visit all the Imperial Cities of Morocco and to include a guided day tour of each with a licenced city tourism guide, requires a minimum of one week. The territory covered by our Imperial Cities ‘region’ of Morocco opens with Rabat on the northern Atlantic Coast of Morocco, then Meknes and Fes which are both inland in the fertile plains north of the Middle Atlas Mountains while Marrakech is a good deal further to the south, close to the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat
Our driver / guide Meet & greet at Casablanca Mohammed V airport before transfer directly to your accomondation in rabat,before we leave casablanca this city is the economic and industrial capital of Morocco and has a population of around 8 million,and Depending on your time of arrival in Casablanca, you will visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque the largest in the Kingdom. With space to accommodate 25,000 worshippers it is the second largest mosque in the world. After visite will continues along the Atlantic Coast for about an hour until you reach Morocco’s coastal capital city - Rabat - to stay at a boutique riad in the pretty Kasbah Oudayas neighbourhood with its ramparts overlooking the Atlantic ocean, Bouregreg river and nearby Salé.
Day2: Rabat - Chefchaouen
In the morning after your breakfast at your riad you will explore the picturesque Kasbah Oudayas on the northern fringes of the medina, dating from the Almohad dynasty. Also you visit the nearby Hispano-Moorish Andalucian Gardens and the Chellah necropolis which was once a Roman garden and olive grove. It subsequently became a royal cemetery with the addition of lush, exotic gardens and terraces which are now open to the public and it is a beautiful, peaceful haven. The tour also includes views of the Royal Palace, where the current King Mohammed VI is in residence, the Hassan Tower - a half-built minaret which was intended to be the tallest minaret for the largest mosque in the world when construction began at the end of the 12th century under the reign of Almohad Sultan, Yacoub el Mansour.After the visite the journey continues across verdant landscape of the Rif Mountains, heading due north to reach the picturesque ‘blue’ medina of Chefchaouen. This evening you are free to explore the small medina and choose your own restaurant serving local Rif specialities including locally produced goat’s cheese.
Day 3 : Chefchaouen - Rif mountains – Fès
Today is free in morning for you to explore this charming, blue and whitewashed medina, nestled in the Rif Mountains. The town get’s its name from the Berber words for “look” or “chauf” and “horns” or “chaoua” as the town resembles a pair of goats horns perched as it is on two neighbouring hilltops. A local guide can be offered if required. It’s easy to navigate and you can explore the main points of interest: the winding streets of the medina, the 18th century kasbah and museum, the 15th century Grand Mosque and the Plaza Uta el-Hammam. In the afternoon journey takes you south from Chefchaouen, via the Ketama region. You tour through breathtaking Rif Mountains scenery and forests with plenty of opportunities to stop for photos. Lunch en route and you reach the spiritual capital of Morocco - Fes .
Day 4: Fès
After your breakfast Full day private guided walking tour of Fes old medina - Fes El Bali with an English-speaking city guide. The guide will walk you through the maze of souks and sights visiting some of the highlights including the famous Fes pottery sous, the musical instrument makers, metalworkers, carpet souks and the Chaouwara tanneries. There are over 9,000 cobbled medieval streets weaving their way through markets, mosques, Koranic schools, riads and hidden fountains. Worth visiting are the Moulay Idriss Zaouia or shrine, Bab Bou Jeloud ornamental gate, Al-Kairaouine Mosque and University - the oldest university in the world, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine fountain, King’s Palace, the Dar Batha Museum, Nejjarine Museum of Arts & Crafts and the Jewish quarter or mellah. Your guide will include as much as possible in your day. You are free to make your own plans for lunch and dinner today.
Day 5: Fès - Ifran – Azrou – Erfoud - Merzouga desert
After breakfast we’ll leave Fes to explore the high Atlas Mountains, the most intriguing and beautiful natural regions of Morocco. Starting by ifran a Tidy, epic city, that feels more like Switzerland relocated to the Middle Atlas.Our trip continues via the Cedar Forest through a variety of woods to the famed cedar forests inhabited by endangered Barbary Apes. Passing through Tizi Ntalghamtt where Ziz Gorges provide a rocky passage to Tafilalt oases. Passing by Errachidia (you’ll have lunch and enjoy Berber Hospitality beyond borders), then Erfoud and Rissani stopping for panoramic views along the way of Ziz valley. After arriving at Merzouga, you will be welcomed with a glass of mint in our riad.After a nomadic welcoming in glass of mint tea, you will mount your camel, guided by a skilled camel man to explore the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi.
At your nomad tents you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the sunset over golden dunes one of the best sunsets in the world. And finally, you will have dinner ahead of the camp, where you may spend your 1st night in the tent or under the stars. keep in mind at your request we can bring Berber nomads musicians to play traditional music with drums and dancing around the camp fire. For your convenience, our camp is equipped with western bathrooms and showers, dinner and breakfst.
Day 6:Merzouga – Sahara Oasis - Todgha Gorge – Dades Valley
We will wake you up early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise Climbing the sand to experience sunrise at Merzouga is a unique experience that is so often embedded in the minds of our visitors. Then you’ll camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga admiring the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with their colors as the day progresses.
After breakfast in the Raid, you’ll leave for Dads Valley (Road of a Thousand Kasbahs) through Rissani, Erfoud (a historic region and an archaeologist’s delight that is packed with fossils) and Tinghir showing the traditional rural life of this region, a beautifully constructed houses dotting the landscape of the largest oasis. Reaching Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco- undoubtedly one of the most spectacular natural attractions that Morocco has to offer.
The walls of the gorge are cut in the walls of the gorge reaches 300 meters you can have a walk under them. Afterwards we’ll drive through the Dads Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes» and many landscapes of Berber villages. Then take you to your accomondation diner and breakfast.
Day 7:Valley Dades - Bouthgrare – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhadou - Marrakech
After having breakfast in the hotel, we’ll drive through The Dades Valley which is a fascinating part of the famous Road of a thousand Kasbahs. We’ll stop at Kalaa-Mgouna, “the rose city” that is a famous with its annual festival of roses, to purchase the rosewater, and a lot of cosmetics local products.
Continuing on to Skoura and the bird’s valley where the main features are the mud brick Kasbahs especially the Kasbah of Ameridil, a well-preserved Kasbah in this area. After some hiking in the valley, you will have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the whole valley. The tour continues to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscapes has attracted many world movie producers.
We’ll dive the UNESCO protected Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, one of the most beautiful Kasbahs on this area.The Kasbah has magnificent views of the surrounding palms, before heading to Marrakech via the Tizin’TTichka pass. We’ll stop to visit the town of Telouet and its ancient 17th century Kasbah then we’ll continue exploring the Tizin’Tichka road especially its great landscape of Berber’s villages.
At afternoon at Marrakech you can have a free time to wander in Djemâa El-Fna and enjoy its charm and have your drinks while enjoying the view from roof restaurants. We’ll get overnight at our local riad in Marrakech.
INCLUDE :Comfortable car 7 days /luxury (riad /hotel 5 nights) / luxury camp /7 breakfasts / 2 dinners in (desert /valley dades) /sundboarding .
EXCLUDE : Drinks / lunch / Entrance fees to monuments, museums and historic sights.
