12-Days From Marrakech: Imperial Cities, Atlas & Sahara

Today, you will explore Marrakech with a local guide, and you will get the opportunity to see the Koutoubia mosque, which was erected in the 11th century, as well as the Majorelle Garden. Then we'll go to several monuments, such as the Saadian Tombs, this 16th-century graveyard is full of mosaic tiles, and you will be exploring the fascinating souks (local markets), such as the Babouche (shoes), Chouari (carpenter's) open-air market, El-Attarine (perfume and spice) souk, and the Cherratine (leather) souk, as well as the narrow alleys around the Djemâa El fnaa square. By the end of the day, you can enjoy a tea from your riad or a local restaurant with a view of the medina.

Today, we'll go east to Essaouira, a coastal city about two hours and a half drive from Marrakech. On the journey to Essaouira, you'll stop for a short break to see the famous goats, climb Argan trees, and eat Argan seeds. You'll also stop at an Argan cooperative to learn how local women create Argan oil in the traditional way and about the oil's many uses. After that, we'll arrive in Essaouira, where the driver will drop you off at the entrance to the medina (old city), and you'll have free time to wander about and discover the incredibly stunning sights, such as historic stores, narrow alleys, local markets, and craftsmen. You'll also have time to explore the Skala and take in the beauty of the sea from above. After visiting Essaouira, you'll be back at the hotel, where you can enjoy a drink and have a rest before dinner.

We'll leave Essaouira in the morning and travel north, stopping in Casablanca to see Mohammed V Square and Hassan II's magnificent mosque. We'll then visit Rabat, the Mechouar (the ramparts and walls surrounding the Royal Palace), the stately Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Hassan Tower, and the Oudaya Kasbah, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and features Moroccan artisanal galleries.

Departure in the morning for Chefchaouen, going through the Rif Mountains' lush valleys. Chefchaouen is known for its vibrant blue-rinsed houses and is a favorite tourist and Moroccan destination, especially during the hot summer months. Depending on our arrival time, we'll walk through Chefchaouen's winding lanes and narrow alleys, which are home to numerous souks selling cuisine and artisan works such as woolen items, intricate embroidery, and goats cheese, all of which are unique to the North and not found anywhere else in Morocco. Relax in the plaza, go to a nearby farm, or go for a hike in one of the nearby parks.

Our journey will begin with a lovely drive from Chefchaouen to the Roman Ruins at Volubilis, which will take us past the fertile agricultural hills. Volubilis isn't as impressive as the Roman sites along the Mediterranean coast, but it's still one of Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins. We'll continue to Meknes, the fourth Moroccan imperial city and a 17th-century cultural site, where we'll have lunch and wander around the old medina's massive walls. Following the launch, we stop by Bab el Mansour and pay a visit to Moulay Ismail's shrine. Following our excursion to Meknes, we will travel to Fes, where we will spend the night.

Today, we'll go on a walking tour of Fes with a local guide. This city is the country's former capital and one of four imperial cities. Fez is divided into three sections, the oldest of which is Fes el Bali, which is encompassed by a large wall and contains about 9000 narrow lanes and alleys. Fez-Jdid, or New Fes, is home to the Mellah, or Jewish quarter, as well as the Ville Nouvelle, which was built during the French occupation. You'll have the opportunity to visit the University of Al-Karaouine one of the world's oldest universities, the Royal Palace's carved brass gates, and meander through the medina's small crowded alleyways, stopping to watch demonstrations of weavers, carpet knotting, brass hammering, and tile and pottery production. After finishing your visit, you'll meet your driver to drive back to the hotel if it is not reachable walking.

After breakfast, we will travel south to the desert, passing through Ifrane, known as Morocco's Switzerland, and stopping in Azrou's cedar forests, where wild monkeys can be found. It'll be a fantastic opportunity to capture the Moroccan countryside. After having lunch in a Berber village in the area, we will continue over the middle Atlas Mountains, passing via Medilt and Rich, with a break in Ziz Valley to take in the beauty of a big valley filled with palm trees, before continuing to Erfoud, where we will notice the start of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet. After a few kilometers, we will start seeing the Erg Chebbi golden dunes appearing like a mirage in a rocky desert. Our first night in Merzouga will be spent in a hotel.

Today, we'll spend the entire day exploring the desert. Our first stop will be at the seasonal lake of Merzouga, and then we'll drive to Khamlia, which is known for its inhabitants who come as nomads from several African countries. We'll have the opportunity to listen to Gaoua, a type of traditional music from the region, before going off-road on the Paris Dakar rally route, the world's toughest rally. Our journey continues into the rocky desert, where we will stop for a panoramic view where you can see the Erg Chebbi dunes as a sea of sand. Following that, we'll visit the fossil mines and an old isolated settlement built by the French during their occupancy. Our next stop will be with the nomad families, where we will enjoy a mint tea and learn about their way of life and their daily routine. Before returning to Merzouga, we may stop for lunch nearby or at a local restaurant. After finishing your lunch, we will drive back to Merzouga, where we'll begin our camel ride into the dunes, where we'll watch the sunset and spend the night in a desert camp under a million stars.

You'll be woken up early in the morning to watch the sunrise in the desert before returning to Merzouga on the camels. After breakfast and shower, we will begin our journey towards Tineghir passing via various Berber villages such as Erfoud, Tinejdad, and Jorf. We may have a break for lunch in the afternoon, before traveling to the Todra Gorges and Tineghir Oasis, stopping along the way for taking some photos and to enjoy the scenery. You'll have time to walk through the Todra Gorge, one of Morocco's most magnificent and spectacular canyons while enjoying the sound of its streams before continuing to Dades, where we will spend the night.

After breakfast, we'll travel to Ouarzazate via Skoura, known for its stunning Kasbahs and rose valley. Upon our arrival in Ouarzazate, you will have the opportunity to visit an international film studio that has produced some of the most well-known Hollywood films and series, including Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia. We'll next travel to Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a historic old palace where you can discover authentic Berber architecture. We'll take a walk through its colorful Souks, its narrow mud streets, and we might stop for lunch in a typical Berber restaurant, where we'll try some of Morocco's most delicious specialties, before taking the adventures road via the high Atlas Mountains, to arrive in Marrakech by the end of the day.

Today, you'll have free time in Marrakech, before the airport transfer.