Morocco Grand Tour 15D

You will enjoy the tour of Tangier following breakfast. Admire the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and the well-known Strait of Gibraltar, which make for the ideal photo opportunity. Before proceeding to the old Medina, mingle in the Kasbah neighborhood that is close to the port. Explore the quaint, colorfully-flocked doorways that line the historic and contemporary streets. Pass the Grand Sacco and the Petit Sacco, which are filled with riads and boutique hotels. You will go to Cape Spartel and Hercules Cave. After leaving Tangier, we travel to the charming blue town of Chefchaouen, traveling through the verdant valleys of the Rif Mountains, where you can have lunch on your own. Chefchaouen is renowned for its wavy streets and vibrant blue-raised buildings. Register at the hotel. The Riad offers a welcome dinner.

After breakfast, discover the blue washed narrow alleys of the friendly medina. Visit the walled fortress of the Kasbah with beautiful gardens. There is a small museum and art gallery inside the kasbah which houses the rich culture of the Rif Mountains. From the rooftop of the Kasbah view a spectacular panorama of the blue and white washed houses, tiled roofs and tiny balconies.  After exploring the medina, walk in the nearby hillsides with the wonderful and magnificent waterfalls. The town offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular. Overnight at the Riad.

Today we drive from Chefchaouen to the impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa. Your certified local guide will explain about life in the Roman Empire as you peer into old bathhouses, marveling at the still-present mosaic floors and gazing up at the towering marble pillars. Afterward, drive towards the imperial city of Meknes. See the impressive 18th-century Bab Mansour, the ornamental gate to the imperial city of Meknes built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Continue to the small but impressive Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Then, pass by the entrance of the Meknes Royal Palace and end up at Moulay Ismail’s massive Heri es Souani. This was his personal stable & granary for his 12,000 horses.

Later, leave Meknes - the Versailles of Morocco and travel to Fez. Overnight at the Riad.

After breakfast, meet your private tour guide for a guided city tour to explore the first imperial city of Morocco, Fes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in the 9th century and is home to the world's oldest university. The first stop of the morning is a visit to the entrance of the largest royal palace in Morocco. Afterward, drive for a wonderful panoramic view of the whole medina from the southern tower of Fes. Visit a pottery co-operative where tiles and Moroccan mosaics are made. Visit the tanneries, to watch the locals working with the skins of animals such as goats, camels, and cows. Explore a Madrassa (Koranic school), the Nejjarine fountain, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the Karaouine Mosque University as well as the Karaouine Library. Enjoy a Moroccan lunch (on your own) at a traditional restaurant in Medina. Afterward, continue to explore the medina and its narrow alleys that house hundreds of merchants and craftsmen selling a range of products such as dates, fish, spices, copper urns and musical instruments. Overnight at the Riad.

Today, drive to Midelt with a stop at the green town of Ifrane where you will have some time to stretch and breathe the fresh breeze of the morning and have a drink. Afterwards, continue towards the middle Atlas Mountains and make another stop in the Cedar Forest, where you may see the Barbary Macaque Monkeys. Continue the drive towards the city of Midelt with a stop to visit an Apple Farm. After lunch on your own, transfer to the hotel to relax for the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, a departure from Midelt and drive through the dramatic Ziz valley, which is particularly well-known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis. All along the road, there are innumerable ksars and small villages of individual houses, stop for lunch (on your own) in Errachidia, a town nearly frozen in where you will encounter people with their donkeys, mules, and horses leading a much simpler life. From here we reach Erfoud, famous for its date festival and fossils. Continue driving to the village of Merzouga, where you will spend the night. Dinner in Kasbah Hotel overlooking the dunes of Erg Chebbi

Today, enjoy a leisurely breakfast. At 10 am, start your adventurous drive with the 4WD through the stony and sandy desert. Stop at a Berber family tent to experience the nomad life. Next, stop at the black stone mine in the village of Khamliya. Witness the delightful sounds of the African music of Gnawa, played by the members of the community. Then, visit the lake of Merzouga where a lot of immigrant birds come depending on the season. Enjoy a picnic lunch in an Oasis or in a nomad family tent. Afterward, arrive at your desert camp where you will have an option of choice for the possible activities including Quad bike – ATV - Sand board - Sand dunes smooth walk, and trek with an extra fee. Overnight with dinner at the luxury camp.

Today, rise early to enjoy a picturesque sunrise before breakfast. Later, ride camels back to Merzouga. After breakfast, drive through various small villages to the famous road of the thousands Kasbahs, visiting the old city of Rissani, historically known as Sijilmassa and some other authentic towns, discovering the local Berber traditions along the way. Stop at the marvelous canyon of Todra Gorges known for its impressive bare escarpments. Free time to walk around the Gorge and have lunch (on your own). Then, continue  the journey to Tinghir and visit its Mellah gateway and the ancient colorful Jewish quarter. Next, stop at Kellat M’gouna known as Rose city. Visit Tiliit (5 miles from KellatM’gouna), known as the ancient city of Jews of the Dades. The fortress of Tiliit has been the center of Jewish region ruled by the Spanish – Jewish family of Perez from the end of the 15th century until the reign of Moulay Ismail in 1672. Continue to the palm grove of Skoura where you will spend the night in a Kasbah hotel.

Today, visit the Kasbah of Ameridil and drive through the palm groves of Skoura before driving to Ouarzazate. In Ouarzazate, you can choose to visit the atlas studios (at additional cost) where some of the famous movies were filmed such as The Mummy and Gladiator. You will have time to explore the Jewish Quarter "Mellah". Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO heritage site and, the most spectacular fortress village in the south of Morocco. Also known as the Hollywood of Africa the iconic Kasbah has been the backdrop to many historical films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Would Be King, Jesus of Nazareth, The Jewel of the Nile, The Living Daylights, The Sheltering Sky, The Mummy, Gladiator, and Alexander the great. After that, drive through the high Atlas Mountains with many panoramic views and attractive Berber villages to reach Marrakech. Overnight at the Riad.

Today, explore the magnificent Marrakech with an English-speaking tour guide. The tour usually starts at the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. This mosque's beautiful minaret dominates the skyline of Marrakech and can be seen from almost every approach to the city, thanks to a long-standing planning ordinance that forbids any other building in the old city to rise above the height of a palm tree. Visit the El-Bahia Palace.  This 19th-century palace is elaborate in its decoration and was built over a period of seven years for Ba Ahmed, the son of Grand Vizier Si Moussa. One of the most visited sites in Morocco is the Saadian Tombs, which were opened to the public and can now be accessed via a narrow passage that leads to an enclosed garden watched over by two mausoleums that include more than one hundred mosaic-decorated tombs. The Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef is a Theological college founded by the Merenid Sultan Abu Hassan in the 14th century.  It was restored in 1564 by the Saadians who made it the largest theological college in the Maghreb. The Djemaa el-Fna, is an enormous square and atmospheric wonderland of torch-lit food stalls, snake charmers, storytellers, and acrobats. Overnight at the raid.

After a leisurely breakfast, head for Essaouira. En route, see many Argan trees, important to the region both economically and ecologically. You may also see local goats perched in the trees, feeding on the fruit and leaves. At the women's Co-operative of Argan Oil, there will be an opportunity to learn about the wide ranging applications of the oil, from cosmetics to medicines. Arrival in the coastal city Essaouira. Check-in at the Riad. The afternoon is free to walk and explore by yourself. Overnight at the Riad.

After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the main sites of Essaouira town. Visit the Skala Fortress and the port. See the Mellah, the former Jewish quarter and The Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful arts and crafts to be found, including objects carved out of local Thuya wood. Enjoy a mint tea in one of the local cafés and explore the Atlantic-facing sandy beach.  Overnight at the Riad.

After breakfast, drive from the coastal town of Essaouira to another coastal city. Casablanca is the economic capital and the largest city in Morocco, linked to the 1942 movie Casablanca, with modern architecture and white building with distinct French art deco influences.  Upon arrival, enjoy a short city tour starting with the mosque of Hassan II built by King Hassan II which shows wonderful sample of Moorish influences in Morocco. Then, walk by the seaside of Casablanca. Visit the main square of Med V, and the Cathedral of Sacred Coeur, which blends Moroccan and European influences.

Evening, enjoy a farewell Dinner at the famous Rick’s Café.  Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your return flight, with plenty of tales of Arabian and Berber days and nights.