9 days desert tour from Marrakech to Casablanca

9 days Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival day at Marrakech:

If time allows, we'll visit Marrakech's famed Jamaa Elfna Square on the first day of our 9-day desert journey. The tour will continue through the Sahara, Fez, and Casablanca.

After checking into your hotel, you'll have the opportunity to tour the city for the first time. Are you prepared for that? A vacation to Morocco would be worthless without visiting Marrakech. It is one of the most stunning and fascinating cities in the country.

This 1,000-year-old city boasts a bustling medina and excellent shopping. Its architecture is some of the most stunning you've ever saw. Another reason for Marrakech's popularity is its stunning Riads. They are frequently former family homes that have been converted into guesthouses.

The city is full of lovely small boutique Riads. Marrakech will take your breath away with its intensity and vitality. Anyone who visits expects to have an Arabian Nights dream.

Day 2: A guided tour to discover Marrakech with Local Guide:

On the second day of your 9-day Marrakech itinerary, you will see the Red City. After breakfast, spend the day seeing Marrakech, the "Pearl of the South," with your local guide.

As one of the Kingdom's capitals, the city has numerous museums and historical attractions. They date back to the reigns of three Moroccan sultans.

You can tour the city's main attractions. These include the famous Jemaa el-Fna Square and the Koutoubia Mosque. You can also visit the souks, public spaces, and museums. There is little doubt that Jemaa el-Fna is a magnificent and fascinating place. Lost travelers were common sightings. The Jemaa el-Fna Square is easily accessible from any Medina alleyway. The square is fairly crowded, which may be daunting for first visitors.

However, given how beautiful the location is, staying there for such a short length of time is undoubtedly challenging. UNESCO has just designated the square as a World Heritage Site. You will also visit local attractions such as Gueliz, the Menara Gardens, and the Majorelle Museum. Explore the Medina. Bargain for treasure. Admire the vibrant architecture and palm-lined parks.

You can find practically anything here. This includes apparel, ceramics, jewelry, and Marrakech presents for loved ones. You will explore Marrakech's riches. In Morocco, tradition and modernity coexist.

This is a shoppers' delight. This city is full with hidden jewels, and it's especially appealing to foodies! Spend the entire day exploring the maze of souks in search of riches. Then, relax on a rooftop deck with tagine and mint tea.

Day 3: Marrakech– Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah- Ouarzazate – Dades valley:

On the third day of this nine-day journey from Marrakech, you will see the Atlas Mountains. You'll go across the Tizi n'Tichka pass to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aït Ben Haddou gained popularity with the HBO series Game of Thrones and the film Gladiator.

The Atlas Film Studios and kasbahs may be found in Ouarzazate, which is our next destination. Ouarzazate, located on a desert plateau south of the High Atlas Mountains, at an elevation of 1,560 meters (5,120 feet). Its broad streets, stone structures, and French colonial hotels make it appear modern.

This little city is often known as the "Gateway to the Sahara". Despite its small size, Ouarzazate is a surprisingly diversified city. The city has many well-preserved kasbahs, or old Moroccan forts.

This little village is commonly referred to as the "Gateway to the Sahara." Ouarzazate has a diverse terrain despite its small size. The city is home to a number of surviving kasbahs, or old Moroccan fortresses.

The most notable is Taourirt Kasbah. It was the site for numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including Lawrence of Arabia and Babel. You'll appreciate your visit to Atlas Studios.

You will enjoy dinner at Dades Gorge after we leave for a local hotel to spend the night.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Merzouga Desert:

Following breakfast, you'll go to Morocco's Draa Valley to observe the long river. It is one of the nation's longest. You'll pause to photograph the kasbahs, Berber settlements, and the Draa Valley's magnificence.

Following that, you will arrive in Todra Gorges. Todra Gorges is a prominent tourist attraction in Morocco. The Todra River dug out the gorge, a tiny canyon in the High Atlas Mountains. You can climb the rocks, go through the canyon, or swim in the river. Visitors can explore various tunnels in the gorge.

After a quick lunch at Nkob or Alnif, you'll have two hours to drive to the breathtaking Merzouga dunes, also known as the "Desert of Fine-Grained Sand Dunes." To enter the heart of the desert, you'll swap your vehicle for an animal-powered ride. The landscape is always changing as the dunes move and shift.

When you arrive at the camp, we will place you in camel hair tents, as nomadic families do. Play drums with the camel guides under the stars, then eat and sleep in a Berber tent. The stargazing there is fantastic. It's because of the vastness, the lack of light pollution, and the feeling of oneness with the universe.

Looking up into the desert night sky, for whatever reason, is an unforgettable experience. The constellations are sharply focused. Stars shine brightly nearby.

Finally, you can join the Berbers in singing and dancing around the fire. It is a traditional activity that symbolizes the Berber people's joy and happiness.

Day 5: Merzouga Desert Tour:

Today's a full day in the desert. "Date with the Dawn" is worth waking up early for. If you're in the desert, you can watch the most beautiful dawn from a dune near the camp. It is a natural wonder.

The following morning, you will ride camels back to Merzouga. There is a wonderful lunch waiting for you there. Morocco's Big Dune, which stands more than 250 meters tall, is located in the Erg Chebbi, a large sandy desert.

There are 334 people living in the "Village of the Blacks." They are a Gnawa-Berber hybrid. During slavery, slave dealers transported Gnawa to Morocco. The residents are nice, courteous, and gracious. They see music as sacred and of immense importance.

Before you visit the desert's oasis, consider a traditional tagine dinner. Spend the night at your Merzouga hotel.

Day 6: Merzouga – Ziz valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane-Fes:

You continue your nine-day journey from Marrakech to northern Morocco. Following breakfast, you will walk through Tafilalet palm agriculture, the world's largest palm plantation.

There are several palm trees along the 20-kilometer trip. After descending from the High Atlas, you will arrive in the Ziz Valley, where a river nourishes a palm grove. You'll pause here to take in the breathtaking views of the valley and the village of Aoufous from above.

You will then make a halt in Midelt, located in the Atlas Mountains. You will have some free time for lunch and relaxation. Monkeys can be seen when you travel through the Cedar Woods in the afternoon. You stop to snap photographs. Barbary macaques are known to inhabit Azrou's forest.

The next destination will be Ifrane. It's 1,630 meters high on the northern slope of the Middle Atlas Mountains. This city resembles a Swiss town. It boasts wide roads, lush growth, gardens, green spaces, and exquisite architecture.

Ifrane is uncomfortable in Morocco. Because of this, it is referred to as "the Moroccan Switzerland." In addition, Michlifen is a popular ski resort. It has a thriving nightlife thanks to its abundance of bars and clubs. You'll arrive in Fez later in the day and spend the night at a traditional Riad in Medina.

Day 7: Fes sightseeing with a local guide:

Today, take a guided city tour with a local guide. Fes is a city worth getting lost in because of its enormous (and often perplexing) old Medina. Beginning at the Royal Palace, you'll walk through the old Jewish District before ascending to one of the Borj towers for panoramic views of the medina.

You will then visit a mosaic residence to see a demonstration of the traditional ceramic methods used by Fassi craftsmen. You will be able to observe every step of the process, from clay production to mosaic construction.

Following the demonstration, the tour will take you through Fes's Medina, where you can explore the historic streets and neighborhoods, visit the various artisan neighborhoods (including the tanneries), and see important historical landmarks such as Idriss II's Tomb and Al-Qarawaiyin University, the world's oldest continuously operating university.

Your journey will end after lunch, and you will have the remainder of the day and evening to spend as you like in the Medina. To signify Islam's sacred color, the mosaics on Bab Boujloud's arch change from blue on the exterior to green on the inside.

Wander through Medina's markets and streets. If you get lost, don't worry; it's all part of the experience. As you descend the hill, head back to your Riad (a traditional Moroccan home with an internal garden) for the evening.

Day 8: Fes – Volubilis – Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca:

The eighth day of your nine-day tour from Marrakech will start with a delicious breakfast. Before you leave, take some photographs of the deserted streets.

You will visit the Volubilis antiquities, Africa's farthest Roman outpost. UNESCO safeguards them.

Wander the complex. Visit the temples, some mosaics, and merchants' residences. They have working heating systems.

We then went to Meknes, the Ismailis' imperial metropolis and capital. Bab Al-Mansour will include stops at the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, and the granary.

Next, we'll drive you to Rabat, our capital, to view the Hassan Tower, which dates back to the 11th century. Then there's the Oudaya Kasbah. It is an 11th-century Andalusian-style castle. It offers excellent views of Salé and the Atlantic Ocean.

We'll have lunch before heading to Casablanca, Morocco's commercial center. Our first stop in Casablanca is Hassan II Mosque. It is the second largest in the world.

Its location on a rocky bay above the ocean is a prime example of Moroccan architecture.

Next, we'll go to Place Mohamed V, which is home to several former government buildings. Finally, you will be taken back to the riad for the night.

Day 9: Transfer to Casablanca Airport:

Here we are, at the end of our Morocco tour. We sincerely hope you enjoyed the tour. It has been a lot of fun. We've done everything together, from laughing to savoring. But it's time to split ways. We wish you a safe return travel. The nine-day journey from Marrakech will conclude with the driver leaving you off at the airport. Some travelers may find this journey too busy. We are aware of this. This is just an example itinerary; you can customize it to your liking. Older people prefer more relaxing travel, lasting a day or two at each location. Please notify us if this applies, and we will change the schedule.