day1: Flight to Casablanca

HB. Arrival at the airportand private transfer to the hotel. Depending on the time available, quick tour of the city and in particular of the Hassan II Monumental Mosque, the second largest religious building in the world, with an area of 9 hectars, 2 of which facing the Atlantic Ocean. Its 200m high minaret at night illuminates the Mosque and the whole surrounding square. Dinner and overnight at selected hotel.

day2: Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes (230 km)

HB. We leave in direction of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we visit the most interesting areas: Kasbah Oudaia, Mohamed V with its modern businness area and elegant neighborood and tour Hassan and the Mausoleum. Final indipendent walk around the city and luch break. Departure for Meknes, a small imperiel city that welcome visitors through its elegant Bab LMansour, the most notable of Meknes' Gates. This little town is divided in 3 distinct neighborhoods (Medina - Imperial City and Kasbah - New City) and boasts a very busy commercial centre due to local production of quality olives, wine and mint. Dinner and overnight in selected riad of the Medina.

day3: Menknes – Volubilis – Fez (80km)

HB. Only 1 hour's drive separates Meknes from Fes; along the way we stop to pay visit to the historical site of Volubilis, an ancient Roman capital and small archeological centre famous for its beautiful mosaics.The site was occupied by the Romans and begun to flourish around the III Century BC up to the year 40 AC. Dinner and overnight in riad in the Medina of Fes.

day4: Fez guided walking tour

HB. Day dedicated to discover the city and its ancient Medina. Observing Fes from the top of the nearby hill (home of the Merenides Tombs) Medina El Balii appears like a compact and instricated sea of minarets and rooftops embraced by the historical defensive walls.The river Fes divides the town in 2 essential parts, the Andalusian quarter (east side) and the Karaouiyine district (west side); amongst its most notable features we mention the Royal Palace and the Jewish quarter. Dinner and overnight in selected riad in the Medina.

 

day5: Fez - Ifrane - Azrou - Errachidia – Erfoud, (421km)

HB. Long transfer. Early departure for a very scenic road across the Middle Atlas Mountains, featuring plateaus and valleys surrounded by oak and cedar forests and lakes born by craters of extinct volcanoes. Ifrane and Azrou are most populated centres, the first famous for its European feel, given by the sloping roofs of the houses and by the university opened by the previous king, the second for being a renown Spa centre under the French Protectorate. The journey resumes towards the region of Tafilalt with its several palm groves once fed by the "khettara", underground water supply channels whose structures are still visible nowdays. We finaly reach Erfoud, an oasis that used to be a popular destinations for caravans stops but also for the superior quality of the dates produced in the local palm groves. Dinner and overnight at a local kasbah.

day6: Erfoud – Orion & Voth’s site – Merzouga (90km)

HB. Departure for a non touristy tour. Stop in the plain of Marha to visit the 3 gigantic architectural sculptures built by the german architect Voth in 1987. The monuments were built together with local craftsmen using ancestral techniques: stone and mud walls for a height of 16m. The rectangular mud tower represent the 7 main stars of Orion. A staircase cimbs to the top of the tallest tower. One of them hides a well accessible through some central steps. Afterthe visit we leave in direction of Merzouga to spend the night in Erg Chebbi desert. Dinner and overnight stay at a BASIC camp in a typical khaima tent (shared toilets & showers).

Possibility to upgrade the stay to a SUPERIOR or LUXURY camp (finely decorated tents with ensuite toilets and showers). 

 

day7: Merzouga – Dèsert experience – Merzuoga (60km)

HB. After breakfast we take off for an excursion into the desert towards Dayet Srji, a small dry lake west of the destination for hundreds of pink flamingos and storks. If you’re lucky and it’s been raining during winter you might as well find water in the lake. Dinner and overnight at selected kasbah in Merzuoga.

 

day8: Merzuoga – Tinejdad - Todgha Valley (200km)

HB. Short drive into the desert to before reaching the Todra Gorges and the village of Tinghir, built on a rock spur. Several silver mines present in this area turned the village into a wealthy place reknown for the production of jewels. Not far the opening of the Todra gorges and a 12km palm grove provide an amazing view. Dinner and overnight in a typical traditional maison d’hote.

day9: TodraValley - Dades Valley - Roses Valley - 1000Kasbahs Road - Skoura (190km)

HB. Departure for the 100 Kasbahs Road and Dades Valley, a terrutory rich in history and breathtaking natural landscapes. ItFirst we encounter the palm grove of Skoura, a Berber village marking the beginning of the famous Road of the 1000 Kasbahs, ancient buildings scattered throughout the route up to reach the mountains. This is also a place where caravans loaded with gold and spices stopped exhausted by the journey in the Sahara. The famous Palm Grove is protected by Unesco. The journey continues along the Dades River towards the valley of damask roses where every year in May these flowers are picked to produce essences, rose water and perfumed oils.Dinner and overnight in selected riad in Ouarzazate.

day10: Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Ounila Valley & Telouet Kasbah – Tizi’n’Tickha – Marrakech (200km)

HB. Morning brief individual walk around Ouarzazate and its national monument the Kasbah Taourit of Pacha Glaoui. Many families still inhabit parts of this very atypical Kasbah. The journey prceeds with visits to 2 other notable Kasbahs situated along the road to Marrakech: the first is the very touristy Ait Ben Haddou (Unesco World Heritage), that has been location for several international movie productions such as the Gladiator, Game of thrones and Lawrence d’Arabia. A drive across the “salt track” of  the beautiful Ounila Valley leads us to Kasbah Telouet, main residence of Pasha Glaoui. This building by the decadent exteriors, hides interesting treasures made of Italian marbles and natural frescoes. Arrival in Marrakech in thelate afternon through the highest pass in Morocco, the Tizi n Tichka (2260m), also the only road onnecting Marrakech to Ouarzazate. Free dinner and night stay in a riad in the heart of the Medina.

 

day11: Marrakech

B&B. Day dedicated to the discovery of the red city and its Medina with an official guide. You’ll get to walk around the old Medina derbs stopping at the main attractions for a visit at Bahia Palace, or “the beautiful'', the rich residence of Visir Ba Ahmed, Dar Si-Said Palace, El-Mansour Mosque, also known as the Kasbah Mosque, Saadian tombs and finally Jameel el Fna and the Koutoubia, symbol of the city. Free meals and overnight stay in selected riad.

 

day12: Marrakech Flight

After breakfast, private transfer to Menara Airport 3 our prior departure. End of services.