7 Days Tour from Fes to the Imperial Cities and Sahara

Tour From

Itinerary

Day 1: Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen

Our driver will meet you at the airport for the pick up then you will Travel to Meknes, the former Moroccan capital, in the afternoon (it will take about two hours), take a stroll over Meknes and explore the quaint streets of the old medina. Walk to the shrine of Moulay Ismail, who transformed Meknes from a small town to an imperial city in the 17th century, from Bab Berdaine’s northern gate. Once there, explore the ornately decorated public buildings tucked away in these meandering streets, such as the old souk and Mouly Ismail’s granary. Visit the famous gate of Bab Mansor near the square of El-Hdim (little Jamaa el-Fna square). Proceed to the neighboring archaeological site of Volubilis, where the ruins stand on the edge of a long, high plateau and provide an incredibly striking sight. Later, you continue through the impressive Rif Mountains to visit the pearl of North, Chefchaoue, it’s famous for its blue painting streets and buildings. You will enjoy strolling the Medina and taking marvelous pictures in its narrow beautiful alleys. You can also hike a high point of the city from where you can see a panoramic view of the whole city. It seems like a large ship over the sea. Overnight and dinner at your hotel/riad.

Day 2: Chefchaoun – Rabat – Casablanca

Today, we will wake up to leave for Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, after breakfast through the Rif Mountains. With a colorful and lengthy past, Rabat has hosted pirates, Roman settlements, and most recently, the Moroccan parliament. It has many excellent Arab monuments, some from the Almohad and Merenid dynasties, which ruled from the tenth to the fifteenth century, and others much older. You will go on a brief orientation walk and then have some free time to explore the city. Take a stroll around the Medina and Souks to begin your visit. After that, explore the charming walled area of the Kasbah des Oudaias and savor a complimentary local beverage. After that, you will discover the famous Hassan Tower, a minaret of an incomplete Mosque and also, you will visit the Mohamed the Fifth Mausoleum. Then, you will drive to Casablanca, the economical capital and the largest city in Morocco. Lunch first then you will start your city tour by strolling the old Medina, visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, and discover the great Hassan II Mosque, the largest Mosque in Africa situated in the marginality of Casa overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and part of it on the sea. It’s the only mosque that non Muslim can enter. You can  walk over the cournich in the evening for a relaxation time after a long day of discoveries and visits. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 3: Casablanca – Eljadida – Oualidia – Essaouira

Continue your trip from Casablanca to Essaouira by leaving via the Coastal Road after breakfast and  crossing the ancient Portuguese city of El-jadida, also called Mazagan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, you will arrive in Oualidia for a little break. Oualidia is known for its gorgeous beaches and beautiful lagoon. Continuing to Essaouira, once known as Mogador by the Portuguese settlers. On our way, we may stop to visit a women’s cooperative of local products such as Argan Oil. You have the freedom to explore at your own pace during this time. Savor lunch at one of the many genuine eateries that offer freshly caught seafood while overlooking the ocean. Following lunch, you might want to explore the Medina and an old Portuguese fortress, as well as take pictures of the vibrantly colored fishing boats and little fish market right there in the port. Night and dinner at your hotel.

Day 4: Essaouira – Marrakech

Today, we will leave the beautiful calm city of Essaouira and get from the peace to the hustle and bustle of the Red city of Marrakech, the tourism capital of Morocco. Arrive in Marrakech and start your visits to its sightseeing. You will visit the famous Koutoubia Mosque which is an icon Moorish-islamic architecture. Then, you go for a walk at the Menara Garden, where you can feel the calm and enjoy the nature. Your guide will provide you with the historical and reasons of building each place or attraction you visit. Majorelle Gardens are one of the must-see of Marrakech, it’s a gorgeous garden was built by the French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1923. Later, you can have a walk over the old Medina, Mellah, and enjoy the colorful traditional Souk, it’s known for its different smells of spices. Tanjia is recommended for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Square of Jemaa el-Fna. Spend the afternoon strolling the famous ‘Saht Jemaa el-Fna’ where different shows and folklore dances and songs are being presented to the audience. Also, you can rent what we call ‘Koutchi’, a Calech – horse and carriage, it’s famous in Marrakech for traditional journeys over the city. Overnight and dinner at your riad/hotel.

Day 5: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate

Today, you will have your breakfast at the hotel and make the check-out. You will depart for Ouarzazate, you will see the impressive Tizi n’Tichka pass in the Atlas Mountains. We will drive to the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continuation to Ouarzazate, where we will visit filming studios. Tens of international movies and episodes of famous series were filmed here in Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Hadou and Merzouga, such as the Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Viking, etc. We will check-in at the hotel and overnight and dinner at your hotel.

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Dades Valley – Merzouga

Have your breakfast first then you will depart for Merzouga, passing through beautiful Berber towns called Ksours. You will stop to explore the gorgeous Boumalen Dades before continuing to the impressive Gorges of Dades in Tinghir, famous for its high walls of rocks and climbing. You can have your breakfast here in the valley of Dades.  Arrival in Merzouga in the late afternoon. You will meet a local guide to prepare you for your desert experience starting with a camel ride to reach the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga and drink a cup of tea at your desert camp. Hike a high dune for the breathtaking sunset and spend special night under the starry sky with Berber Gnawa music around the fire.

Day 7: Merzouga – Azrou – Fes

Early morning wake up to not miss the panoramic sunrise in the desert. Then, you will return to Merzouga on a camelback to have your shower and breakfast before leaving back to Fes. We will stop to explore one of the biggest and traditional Souks in Morocco, in the village of Rissani. Then, we will continue our way by crossing diverse and beautiful landscapes, from mountains to fertile plains. Our second stop will be at the famous Cedar Forest in Azrou. Taking pictures and feeding the Barbarian Monkeys. We will arrive in Fes where our 7-day tour ends.