Morocco Two-week Itinerary – The Ideal Plan for a Magical Moroccan Trip!

Day 1 ARRIVE AT CASABLANCA AIRPORT –> RABAT

• Upon your arrival at the Casablanca airport, a member of our team will greet you. Before you leave Casablanca for Rabat, if time permits, we’ll visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world built by the former King of Morocco, Hassan ll.

• Your tour of Casablanca also includes a short drive through the Houbous, the Art Deco area of Casablanca.

• Then we’ll leave for Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where you’ll explore the main historical sites of the city including the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah and the Shallah ruins before checking in to your accommodations at Riad Zyo/Riad Kalaa (BB).

 

Day 2 RABAT-> MEKNES -> VOLUBILIS -> FES

• After breakfast at your riad, we will drive towards Meknes, which was the capital during the 17th century and one of the Imperial cities of Morocco. You’ll see the famous gate of Bab Mansour, the Sahrij, the Souani basin used for irrigation, and the Mouly Ismail mausoleum.

• The next stop is Volubilis, a large Roman ruin where your local guide will lead you through the history of the Roman ruins and the mosaics that date back to the 2nd century B.C.

• After lunch overlooking the medina, we’ll head to Fes and check into your riad in the heart of the media, Riad Yacout/Riad Ahlam (BB).

 

Day 3 EXPLORING FES

• After breakfast in your riad, our local guide will take you on a journey into the oldest medina in Morocco that dates back to the 9th century.

• You’ll explore the narrow winding cobblestone streets of the medina, where donkeys are the main mode of transportation.

• Your tour will include historical sites of the medina, including the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest university in the world started in 851 by a woman (Fatima Fhriya), the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine fountains, the famous (and odiferous) tanneries, as well as the King’s Palace and the Jewish quarter where, if you like, you can visit a synagogue in the Mellah.

• Lunch will be in the medina. The tour ends around 3-4 p.m. at your riad.

 

Day 4 FES –> AZROU –> MIDELT –> MERZOUGA

• In the morning we’ll drive toward the Sahara desert, stopping first in Ifran, known as Little Switzerland.

• Then we’ll continue through the Cedar Forest where with luck you’ll see Barbary apes. Most of the drive will be through the scenic Atlas Mountains and the Ziz Valley.

• After lunch in Midelt, we continue the drive through the scenic Ziz Valley, stopping at scenic views along the way.

• We’ll arrive in the village of Merzouga on the edge of the desert by the afternoon and check into your riad, Riad Madu/Riad Nezha (BB).

 

Day 5 EXPLORING THE AREA – CAMEL TREK

• After breakfast, you can explore Merzouga and see how the villagers irrigate their crops in an oasis.

• Then it’s on to the village of Khamlia, home to the black people who were brought to Morocco as slaves decades ago.

• You’ll be treated to a performance of their unique Gnawa music and have lunch in the village.

• Afterward, we’ll drive to the other side of the dunes where you’ll visit with a nomad family who still live in tents, and share a glass of mint tea with them.

• Return to your riad for a rest before heading out on camels into the Sahara Desert where you will become more than just a tourist. You’ll spend the night in tents in our comfortable desert camp, equipped with flush toilets and showers. Dinner will be served under the stars.

 

Day 6 MERZOUGA -> TODRA GORGES -> DADES VALLEY

• In the morning, your camel guide will awaken you to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise over the dunes. This experience is considered one of the trip’s highlights.

• After your breakfast in the middle of the Erg Chebbi dunes, you’ll ride your camels back to the village of Merzouga.

• Then it’s off for a drive to the Dades Valley via the Todra Valley and Gorges where we will stop for pictures of the kasbahs built by Berber Jews during the 17th century.

• You’ll have a chance to walk through and photograph the Todra Gorges before carrying on to the Dades Valley.

• Overnight accommodation will be at Hotel Xaluca Dades (HB).

 

Day 7 DADES VALLEY -> ROSE VALLEY -> OUARZAZAT -> AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH -> MARRAKECH

• After breakfast at your riad, we’ll drive to Marrakech via the Rose Valley, with its dramatic rock formations and ancient kasbahs, and then on to the Rose Valley, known for its damask roses that are harvested in April.

• Continuing on our journey, we’ll head to Ouarzazat, known as African Hollywood, and tour the movie studios.

We’ll then continue to a UNESCO Heritage site, the Ait ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco where movies like The Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Jewel of the Nile were filmed.

• Then it’s on to Marrakech through the Tichka Pass, one of the highest mountains in Morocco.

• Arriving in Marrakech by the afternoon, your accommodation will be at Riad Princess du Desert or Riad Maialou or similar.

 

Day 8 EXPLORING MARRAKECH

• After breakfast, our local guide will take you through some of the historical sites of “The Red City,” including the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, Jemaa El fna Square, and Ben Youssef Madrasa. Walking through the souks, you’ll enjoy the sights, sounds of Marrakech.

 

• Then it’s on to the new part of Marrakech and the beautiful Majorelle Gardens, created by Yves St. Laurent, before heading back to your accommodations.

• After sundown, we suggest you walk to Jamaa el Fna, the main square in the old city that comes alive at night with snake charmers, storytellers, merchants, and tourists enjoying the sights and sounds of Marrakech.

• Overnight accommodations will be at Riad Maialou/Princess du Desert or similar.

 

Day 9 MARRAKECH –> ESSAOUIRA

• On this day, we’ll leave for Essaouira. Along the way, we’ll drive through the Land of Argan, the only place in the world where argan trees grow.

• You can visit one of the women’s cooperatives to see how the argan oil is made, by hand, the old-fashioned way.

• Your accommodation will be at Riad La Maison du Sud.

 

Day 10 EXPLORING ESSAOUIRA

• Enjoy a leisurely day visiting the Skala Fortress and wandering through the alleys of the medina.

• Enjoy fresh-caught grilled fish for lunch and a walk by the beach where you will see surfers enjoying their sport. Overnight accommodations will be at Riad La Maison du Sud.

 

Day 11 ESSAOUIRA -> MARRAKECH

• After breakfast in your riad, we will drive back to Marrakech.

• We’ll arrive in Marrakech by lunchtime and stop at the Majorelle Gardens, created by Yves St. Laurent, before checking in to your riad, Riad Maialou/Riad Princess du Desert.

 

Day 12 DEPARTURE

• After your breakfast at your riad, we will take you to the airport where your 12 days tour itinerary from Casablanca with Legendary Morocco travel company ends for your departure.