Imperial Cities Desert Tour
Duration:9 days, 8 nights
Highlights: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fez, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt,, Ziz Valley, Erfoud, Rissani, 4WD Desert SafariErg Chebbi Desert – Sunset camel ride to Berber desert camp, Merzouga, Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Dades Canyon, Ouarzazate, Ait, Benhaddou – Kasbah – Tizi N’tichka Pass, Ourika Valley
Departures: Sunday, Please Departure check dates
Imperial Cities and Desert Tour / Moroccan Melodies Itinerary
Day 1 – Casablanca
Welcome to Morocco Upon arrival to Casablanca airport our staff will meet you transfer you to your hotel in Casablanca for the start of your trip Overnight Casablanca 4* Star Imperial Casablanca Hotel & Spa
Day 2 – Casablanca, Rabat, Volubolis & Meknes
Early Departure in the morning drive to Rabat by passing true the impressive mosque of Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. We’ll explore the the highlights of Rabat such as Royal Palace, Ouadaya Garden & Kasbah and the Hassan Tower. Than Proceed to ancient Roman city of Volubilis archaeological site. We Explore the Berber town of Meknes. The central square in Meknes is a great place for orientation Overnight in Fez 4 Star Across Hotel Breakfast
Day 3 – Fes Medina Tour
After breakfast in your Riad, you will start exploring the oldest city in Morocco, walking in its alleys and small streets. Our visit starts by visiting the Royal Palace gate, the Jewish headquarters, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century. We will ensure that you visit all sites with a cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the oldest in the region, the Tanneries, the Attarine museum and Mulay Idriss mausoleum, you will visit the tiles cooperative and then experience a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina Overnight Fez 4 star Across Hotel Breakfast
Day 4 – Fez to Midelt Via Ifrane
We start to discover some of Morocco’s beautiful mountainous landscape today as we leave Fez and follow ancient caravan routes up into the hills, on the the way we will stop at Ifrane for a Break, known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” and a huge contrast to some of the other more Arabic feeling cities you’ll see in Morocco. Next we head on through the hills to the town of Midelt where we check into our hotel and in the afternoon enjoy a fun cooking class where we learn how to prepare and cook Morocco’s classic dish of cous cous. Overnight Midelt 4 star Tadart Hotel (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner)
Day 5 – Ziz Valley, Erg Chebbi Desert, camel ride & Berber camp
We’ll continue through the scenic Ziz Valley this morning as we descend to Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We’ll make the short trip to Rissani and the birthplace of the Alaouite Dynasty – Morocco’s current royal family before driving in 4WD vehicles through the desert to Merzouga and the famous Erg Chebbi sand desert. Here we transfer to camels and take a sunset camel ride through the sand dunes to a traditional Berber camp nestled right on the edge of the dunes. You can enjoy a hearty Bedouin meal and a campfire this evening, often with local musicians helping enhance the atmosphere. You spend the night sleeping in comfortable Berber camel-hair tents. Overnight Merzouga Berber Tent Kasbah Leila Breakfast Dinner
Day 6 – Ouarzazate via Tinghir & the Todra Gorge
We leave the desert reluctantly this morning and finish our safari before driving to the oasis town of Tinghir. The nearby Todra Gorge is our next stop where we walk through its narrow canyon beneath huge rock walls that change in colour as the light moves during the day. We’ll also drive through the Dades Canyon with its steep winding access road with numerous switchbacks providing great views of the steep cliffs and the river below which rushes dramatically through the gorge. Finally we continue along the ‘Road of a Thousand Kasbahs’ through the scenic Draa Valley to Ouarzazate, or ‘place of no noise’. Overnight Ouarzazate 4 star Kenzi Azghor Hotel Breakfast
Day 7 Ait Benhaddou, Atlas Mountains & Ourika Valley
While in Ouarzazate we include a tour of the movie studios that have taken advantage of the amazing scenery in the area. Today’s main highlight though is a tour of Morocco’s most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. Finally we head up into the Atlas Mountains again to cross the Tizi N’tichka pass which at 2260m is the highest pass in Northern Africa. As we descend to Marrakech we’ll make a stop in the beautiful Ourika Valley with its beautiful river, pools and waterfalls. Overnight Marrakech 4 star Atlas Asni Hotel Breakfast
Day 8 – Marrakech city tour
Today’s tour of Marrakech begins with a trip to the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, home to the minaret which has become a symbol of the city. We then visit the Mausoleum and Bahia Palace which both host intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship. Then we head to the lively souks and bazaars in Marrakech’s famous Medina. Home to many different types of traders these narrow and winding streets are bustling with activity and full of sights sounds and smells uniquely Moroccan. Today’s tour ends at the lively Djemaa El Fna Square, a perfect place to finish our tour of Morocco. Overnight Marrakech 4 Star Atlas Asni Hotel Breakfast
Day 9 – Marrakech
Free time and Leisure until Transfer to the airport of Marakesh Your day is free today to explore Marrakech further, and perhaps do some final souvenir shopping and sightseeing before we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. (B)
Info: (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
Please Note
1. This is a small group tour with a maximum group size of 20.
2. Single travellers are obliged to pay Single Supplement and will have the hotel room to themselves.
3. At the Berber desert camp out in the sand dunes, comfortable permanent Berber tents with mattresses and traditional local blankets are provided. You do not need to bring a sleeping bag, but we do recommend bringing a sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner for extra comfort. Shared toilet facilities are available.
4. Many of Morocco’s hotels arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but may be compulsory on New Year’s Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices, but will be added to your booking if they become required. More information is available on request.
Tour includes :
- Inbound – Casablanca – Mohammed V International Airport (CMN)
- Outbound – Marrakech – Menara Airport (RAK)
- Professional English speaking tour leader throughout the journey
- Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle
- 4WD Desert Safari
- Sunset camel ride to Berber desert camp
- Entrance fees
Value Hotels
| 1 night | 4 star | Casablanca | Imperial Casablanca and Spa |
| 2 night | 4 star | Fez | Across Hotel |
| 1 night | 4 star | Midelt | Taddart Hotel |
| 1 night | Berber Tent | Merzouga | Kasbah Leila |
| 1 night | 4 star | Ouarzazate | Kenzi Azghor Hotel |
| 2 nights | 4 star | Marrakech | Atlas Asni Hotel |
9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners
Tour does not include :
- Visas, border or port taxes
- Tips
- Suggested optional activities
2019 Tour Departure Dates and Prices / Currency USD
| DEPARTURE DATES | PER PERSON | Single Supplement |
| 19.Jan 2019 | ||
| 23.Feb 2019 | ||
| 9.Mar 2019 | ||
| 30.Mar 2019 | ||
| 13 April 2019 | ||
| 11.May 2019 | ||
| 8 June 2019 | ||
| 6.Jul 2019 | ||
| 3.Aug 2019 | ||
| 7.Sep 2019 | ||
| 21.Sep 2019 | ||
| 5.Oct 2019 | ||
| 19.Oct 2019 | ||
| 2.Nov 2019 | ||
| 16.Nov 2019 | ||
| 7.Dec 2019 | ||
| 21.Dec 2019 | ||
| 28.Dec 2019 |
