Morocco Tour 1: Morocco Imperial Cities & Sahara (14 days/13 nights)

Tour 1: Morocco Imperial Cities & Sahara (14 days/13 nights)

You can enjoy this classic Morocco tour itinerary by joining our deluxe Cultural Experience group tours of Morocco or on your own private tour of Morocco

Ө  Itinerary Overview
Ө  Deluxe Morocco Group Tour Departure Dates & Pricing
Ө  Morocco Private Tours Dates

PROGRAM INCLUSIONS

• 12 nights’ accommodation at riads, Kasbahs or hotels
• 1 night camping in Berber nomad tents at desert camp oasis
• 13 breakfasts
• 2 dinners (Merzouga & Desert Oasis Camp)
• Full-day city tour of Fes with English speaking local Fes guide
• Full-day city tour of Marrakech with English speaking local Marrakech guide
• Overnight desert camel safari in Sahara Desert sand dunes
• Entrance fees for included sightseeing
• Air-conditioned private vehicle with English speaking driver/guide

MOROCCO TOUR 1 ITINERARY

Day 1: Casablanca

Begin your Morocco travel adventure when you arrive at Casablanca Airport and are welcomed to fascinating Morocco by your Berber Treasures driver and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon your city tour of Casablanca introduces you this famous city’s principal sights including the impressive Hassan II Mosque. Overnight in Casablanca.

Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Fes

Today you holidays in Morocco really get underway as you travel north along the Atlantic coast to your first imperial city, Rabat, the current capital of the Kingdom. During your city tour of Rabat you will visit the Oudaia Kasbah, the Hassan Tower,and the medieval Necropolis of Chellah, situated in the ruins of the Roman town of Sala Collonia. Continue your journey to the old imperial city of Meknes for a city tour including the old city’s famous massive gate of Bab el Mansour,the main entrance to the second Alaouite sultan, Moulay Ismail’s 17th century city. Travel to the ancient Roman town of Volubilis where you will explore the ancient ruins which include some marvellous mosaics before continuing on to Fes via Moulay Idriss, Morocco’s holiest town. Overnight Fes.

Day 3: Fes

Full-day city tour of Fes, one of Morocco’s oldest imperial cities. Visit the old walled medina, historical monuments (including Madrasa (Medersa) Bou Inania, the Kairaouine Mosque and Mihrab), bazaars and souks (such as the Souk Ain Allou (leather), the Souk Attarine (spices), Souk au Henne (henna and kohl), Fes el Jdid, the exterior of Dar el Makhzen (Royal Palace) including the enormous Merenid gate of Bab Dekakene, formerly the main entrance of the royal palace, and enjoy the panoramic view of Fes from the late 16th century Borj Nord fortress. Overnight in Fes.

Day 4: Fes – Ifrane (Middle Atlas Mountains) – Erfoud – Merzouga

Today your tour of Morocco travels via Ifrane, Azrou and Midelt south to Merzouga. Passing cedar and pine forests, the route from Ifrane to Azrou crosses through the Middle Atlas Mountains and is one of the nicest routes across this mountain range. Continuing on to Midelt you begin the climb into the High Atlas Mountains before descending along the road following the valley carved by the Ziz River. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful Ziz Gorge with its vast date palm groves. Shortly after passing through the town of Erfoud you can see some of Morocco’s rich fossil fields and quarries and then make your way to the desert Berber village of Merzouga and Morocco’s spectacular Sahara Desert sand dunes, the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes.  Here you will rest for the night in a kasbah peacefully located on the fringes of the soaring Erg Chebbi dunes.  Overnight Merzouga area.

Day 5: Desert Camp Oasis 

In the morning you explore the Merzouga/Rissani area learning more about the Berber people of the Morocco Sahara Desert area.  You will see the local oasis area, seasonal Merzouga lake and visit a local Berber family to share a cup of delicious mint tea before returning to your kasbah. After relaxing at your kasbah, in the late afternoon you take a camel safari into the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert to watch the sun setting over the desert. Tonight is spent camping under the stars in a Berber nomad’s tent at a desert oasis. Overnight in desert. (Option to overnight at Merzouga kasbah.)

Day 6: Merzouga – Zagora

You can rise early to watch the sunrise over the sand dunes of the desert. After breakfast you return to your Merzouga kasbah to refresh before your Morocco tours itinerary takes you to the old desert camel caravan oasis town of Zagora. Zagora is famously claimed to be 52 day journey by camel caravan to Timbuktu. Overnight Zagora.

Day 7: Zagora – D’raa Valley & Oasis  – Ouarzazate

Your Morocco travel adventure continues.  This morning you visit the small village of Tamgroute, renowned for its library which contains ancient manuscripts.   Travelling through the lush D’raa Valley oasis and Jebel Saghro Mountians your Morocco tour takes you to the old French Foreign Legion garrison town of Ouarzazate – now the movie making capital of Morocco. Overnight Ouarzazate.

Day 8: Ouarzazate

Optional excursions to Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge, the oasis village of Fint or relax at your kasbah. Overnight Ouarzazate.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Taroudant

Your Morocco desert tour adventure continues visiting the stunning UNESCO world heritage designated ksar village of Ait Benhaddou, which has some of the Atlas region’s most exotic and best preserved Kasbahs. Heading south west, passing between the High Atlas Mountains and Anti-Atlas Mountains you enter the Souss Valley with its abundent saffron fields and the southern camel caravan towns of Taliouine and Taroudant. Overnight Taroudant.

Day 10: Taroudant – Essaouira

Today your holiday in Morocco tours the scenic Altantic coastline.  Making for Agadir you head north following a route along the ruggedly beautiful coast as you travel to Morocco s relaxed coastal town of Essaouira with its fascinating blend of traditional Moroccan and Portuguese colonial architecture and history. Overnight Essaouira.

Day 11: Essaouira – Marrakech

This morning you have free time to explore Essaouira’s delightful 18th century medina, designated a world treasure by UNESCO, and its souks or relax on the beach before departing for Morocco’s sparkling “Jewel of the South” – the wondrous old imperial city Marrakech, a highlight of all Morocco tours. Overnight Marrakech.

Day 12: Marrakech

Full-day city tour of Marrakech with your expert local Marrakech travel guide. Your heritage tour of Marrakech showcases the city’s stunning past and allows you to immerse yourself in sights, sounds and smells of this captivating city.  You explore the UNESCO designated world heritage old walled medina, La Bahia Palace, el-Badi Palace, Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian tombs, Place Djemaa El-Fna with it magicians, story tellers and snake charmers and Marrakech’s famous souks. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 13: Marrakech – Casablanca

Morning free time to explore more of Marrakech; visit some of the famous gardens, uncover some exotic handcrafts and foods in the souks or relax a traditional Moroccan hammam. Afternoon departure for Casablanca. Overnight Casablanca.

Day 14: Casablanca Airport

Morning transfer to Casablanca Airport and sadly now your holidays in Morocco come to end… until next time.

2012 DEPARTURES & PRICING

Berber Treasures Morocco Private Tours of Morocco:

• Departures every day
• Luxury to budget accommodation options available
• Lots of fabulous kasbahs and riads in Morocco with great hotel options too
• Your personal chauffeured vehicle with English speaking driver guide
• Private airport transfer included on Day 1 and last Day
• Variations to the itinerary permitted – or choose a personalised tailor made itinerary
• No minimum numbers
• Lots of optional activities and inclusions available

EMAIL US now for pricing information, further details and to book your private tour of Morocco.

The price of your private tour of Morocco depends on the standard and type of accommodation you seek, the itinerary you choose, the number of people travelling and the time of year you are planning to travel to Morocco.

Berber Treasures Morocco Group Tours:

• Deluxe Cultural Experience group tour of Morocco
• 4 star**** accommodation
• Fabulous kasbahs and riads in Morocco with great hotel options too
• Regular departures
• Small groups only
• Private transport with English speaking driver guide
• Group airport transfer included on Day 1 and last Day at scheduled time
• Lots of optional activities, inclusions and private airport transfers available

Deluxe Cultural Experience of Morocco Group Tour
(Sun – Sat)

*  A single supplement for single client bookings (single room only) applies.  Please ask for details. 
^ In Fes during the Sacred Music Festival
† Saturday – Friday itinerary
# Special Christmas/New Year itinerary.  Please ask for details.

EMAIL US now for this Morocco tours itinerary details and to book your Morocco holidays.