15 days from Casablanca Morocco Private tour -

Casablanca

15 Days

15 days Casablanca Morocco Private tour

Highlights

Day 1: Greetings from Morocco — After reaching Casablanca, head to your accommodation to start your Moroccan journey.
Explore Rabat & Casablanca - See the Oudaya Kasbah, Hassan Tower, and Mohamed V Mausoleum in Rabat after touring Casablanca's main attractions.
Explore Fes
Meknes & Volubilis Visit the ancient city of Meknes and the Roman remains at Volubilis to step back in time.
Travel to Merzouga: Travel to the breathtaking sand dunes of Erg Chebbi by car via Ifrane, Midelt, and the Ziz Valley.
Visit nomadic communities, see desert life, and take in a breathtaking sunset over the dunes on Day 6: Camel Trekking & Sunset in the Sahara.
Rissani & Tafraout Sidi Ali: Explore the golden sand that contrasts with the dark mountains after seeing historic souks and palm oasis.
Hollywood of Africa - Explore the famous filming sites of several Hollywood movies, Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate.
Essaouira's Coastal Feelings See the gorgeous beaches and quaint medinas of Agadir and Essaouira.
Sightseeing in Essaouira Take a camel ride along the beach, stroll through the art galleries, or just unwind.
Visit marrakech
Goodbye Morocco Return to Casablanca

Itinerary:

Day 1 : Casablanca Med V airport – Transfer to (Hotel)

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the biggest city in the country; you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (It depends on your arrival time.

Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Fes

Leaving Casablanca the economic capital of Morocco, we then travel to Rabat, where we will see the Oudaya Kasbah and its beautiful gardens, This Kasbah of Oudaya is located at Abou Regreg river. It was built during the reign of the Almohad dynasty in 1150 AD. The Mausoleum of Mohamed V and Hassan II, and Hassan Tower which is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat was constructed in 1195 AD. The tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world with the mosque. After we finish our sightseeing tour in Rabat,. we head to Fez on the express road. On the road you will be fascinated by thousands of olive trees and farmlands on the two side of the road . On arrival to Fes, we check into the hotel for the night.

Day 3 : Fes (Sightseeing Tour with your tour guide, Fes Medina)

You will start an amazing day of exploring Fes, the cultural and spiritual center of Morocco, with your guide at your hotel or riad after breakfast. Explore the lively and intricate Fes El Bali, the city’s old medina and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where more than 9,000 winding lanes meander past busy marketplaces, traditional workshops, and important historical sites. See the famous Al-Karaouine University, the world’s oldest continuously running university, and take in the breathtaking architecture of Bou Inania Madrasa. Admire the artistry of the city’s craftspeople as you go through the tanneries and metalworking souks in the Mellah, the former Jewish Quarter. Your guide will provide intriguing insights into the rich history and customs of Fes along the journey. Around 5:30 PM, the day of exploration comes to an end, leaving you with priceless memories of this fascinating city.

Day 4: Fes – Moulay Driss- Volubilis – Meknes

On the way to Meknes we will go back in time to the 3rd century by visiting the most important archaeological site in Morocco .
Volubilis, has the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa. This roman ruins were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. A 45 minutes guided tour is scheduled here.
From Volubilis we go on our way to Meknes that was named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa in the medieval North African sources. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672,1727). He built it in the ingeniously designed granaries, really fascinating architecture of tiny windows, massive walls where he used to store grain and hay to feed his 15.000 horses not food for humans. We will stop as well to get pictures of the Bab AL Mansour, the Great gate built in the 11th century by the King AL Mansour Adahbi..

Day 5: Meknes – Midelt – Ziz valley – Erfoud – Merzouga

This is a long driving day, where we will meet different colors of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Meknes. On the way we will pass through the most modern city in the country, Ifrane. This Berber name of Ifrane means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifrane is known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The king of Morocco Hassan II, and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. All classes are taught in English and it is an international university. Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From this plateau we start crossing up tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here include the palm trees oasis at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) .
We then drive down the curves to join the pre-Saharan zone, passing by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossils quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag at the beginning of the 17th century. From a vast plateau you will be impressed by the huge sand dunes of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. Dinner and night at our hotel.

Day 6: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi (Desert Exploration – Camel Trekking for sunset)

In the morning we drive through the sand dunes passing fabulous landscapes on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand dunes in Morocco. We will see plenty of nomadic black tents in the middle of nowhere. We shall stop by a nomadic family to have tea and see what a nonadic life looks like. We go on our drive and discover the nomadic life of Touareg people by visiting Khamlia, a village where nothing has been changed through centuries. Either we lunch here in Khamlia village or we go back to our hotel and have lunch there. After a short break we go on a camel ride to meet one of the most fascinating sights you will ever see, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga. Tonight we will stay in a Berber tented desert camp and enjoy a wonderful view of the stars.Gran Tour Marocco 15 Giorni
On the afternoon you will mount your camel, guided by our experienced camelman to explore the golden sea sand of Merzouga .Returning for dinner in front of the tent, where you will spend the night. (the camp is equipped with flush toilets)

Day 7: Merzouga – Rissani – Tafraout Sidi Ali

In the morning we will Visit Rissani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location is at a crossroads between north and south which brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. It was noted for its leather and goat skin trading in ancient times.
After our tour in Rissani area we will drive to visit a village far from Rissani a 180 km. Tafraout Sidi Ali that’s found near on the border of Algeria From which the Algerian border is only 70 km away. After lunch we will visit the black Mountains,the valley of palms that giving life to the amazigh peoples community by its agriculture, and the golden view of the sand above the black Mountains. after our visit we will go to had the dinner at the hotel to spend a fun night with beautiful view to be ready for tomorrow’s trip

Day 8 : Tafraout Sidi Ali -Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

The journey begins with a 150km drive to the Morocco Todra Gorges, a region with contrasting landscapes reminiscent of the Colorado. The area is populated by Berbers and offers a hike and dinner. From there, we travel a 1000-kilometer road to visit kasbahs, including Amridil Kasbah. We pass Boumalne, a town with a rich Berber community and a valley of roses, where locals produce cosmetic products. We then reach Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa, a city mainly inhabited by Berbers. The town is known for its film-making industry, hosting international film companies like Lawrence of Arabia, The Living Daylights, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Babel. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Ait Benahddou – Taroudant

35 km from Ouarzazate there is the fortified Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, which was built in the 11th century. Once up on a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorm. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah..
After Ait Benhaddou Kasbah’s visit , we will drive via Taroudant city for the accommodation in a hotel.

Day 10: Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira

About 70 kms from Taroudant, is the city of Agadir . The capital of Berbers since it is the biggest Berber city of the kingdom. Agadir is also a very modern city that is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It has the most important fishing and commercial port of Morocco, it is the first sardine port in the world, (exporting cobalt, manganese, zinc and citrus). It is also a seaside resort with long sandy beaches. Because of its large buildings, wide roads, modern hotels, and European-style cafes, Agadir is not a typical city of traditional Morocco, but it is a modern, busy and dynamic town and very famous for its sea food.
Along the ocean we drive for almost 200 kms towards Essaouira. On the Atlantic ocean this town has white painted houses with blue windows and doors, a well-designed picture. Since the 16th century, Essaouira has also been known by its Portuguese name of Mogador. The Berber name means the wall, a reference to the fortress walls that originally enclosed the city. Dinner and night in a hotel in Essaouira.

Day 11: Essaouira (Explore Essaouira at your own pace)

A day of your own leisure . You can explore and enjoy Essaouira is it is well renowned for its kite surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind. Horse riding, camel riding along the beach, quad biking are activities that you can enjoy while staying in Essaouira. It is known by the delicious seafood too.
In Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira is getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in the last week of June. It brings artists from all over the world. Although focused on Gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz and reggae. In early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.
Or you could just spend the rest of the day relaxing in your hotel.

Day 12: Essaouira – Marrakech

About half way between Essaouira and Marrakesh you will see enormous Argan trees on both sides of the road. These Argan trees are frequently climbed by goats. Argan oil is produced by several women’s cooperatives and it is used to prepare couscous, salads, and is traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases before being founded as good enough for cosmetics by European manufacturers. A stop at one of these cooperatives is worthy to see how Berber women squeezed the Argan fruits between hands to extract this precious oil. We arrive to our hotel in Marrakesh and if time permits we will go out for a walk.

Day 13: Marrakesh

In the morning a full guided tour will be scheduled to discover Marrakesh which is known as the “Red City”. Marrakesh is the most important former imperial city in Morocco’s history. It is situated near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountain. Like all the old cities, Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city, The Medina, and a very modern city called Gueliz, built during the French occupation. Marrakesh has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Jamaa el Fna. The square is full of story-tellers, water sellers, dancers, snakes charmers and musicians. During the night the square turns into a huge open-air restaurant.
During our visit we will see The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century in the reign of Almoravid Dynasty. We will go through narrow streets and allies in the ancient city. We will pass by “seven saints” which during the reign of Moulay Ismail, the festival of the seven saints was founded by the request of the Sultan. The tombs of several renowned figures were moved to Marrakesh to attract pilgrims. Walk back to the hotel for dinner and night …

Day 14: Marrakesh (Explore Marrakesh Markets at your own pace)

After the full guided tour, you will be able to discover more of this Red City of Marrakesh on your own and become familiarized with the alleyways of the medina. You may go on a shopping tour on your own in a local market and the scattered shops by the Square or spend your last night enjoying the traditional moroccan facilities of your hotel.