8-Day Luxury Morocco Tour via Merzouga from Casablanca

Upon your arrival at Casablanca airport, where our team will welcome you, we will head to Casablanca and the grand Hassan II Mosque, before having lunch at Rick's Café. After lunch, we'll drive to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes. In Meknes, another important imperial city of Morocco, known as the country's Ismaili capital, you will discover the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani basin, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. After lunch, your journey will continue to Volubilis, Roman ruins dating back to 25 BC. You will explore the site and discover the excellent preservation of some original mosaics. Continue to Fes passing through the foothills of the Rif. Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon before settling into your riad, lulled by the warmth of the medina. Overnight at hotel/riad. Breakfast included.

After breakfast in your riad, you will explore the cultural capital of Morocco by strolling through its alleyways and small streets. Our visit will begin with the Royal Palace, the Jewish quarter, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco. We will ensure you visit all sites of cultural and historical interest, including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the oldest in the region, and the tanneries. After lunch, you will visit the ceramic factory and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Fes medina. In the afternoon, you will visit the new city for a drink. Overnight at your riad.

After breakfast, you will leave Fes for Ifrane, nicknamed "Moroccan Switzerland," then Merzouga via Azrou and the Ziz Valley. During this journey, you will glimpse the Middle and High Atlas mountains. You will stop in Azrou, a Berber village in the heart of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you might spot Barbary macaques. You will notice the change in landscape, revealing desert touches as you approach the city of Errachidia. Your journey continues to Merzouga via the Tizi Ntalghamt pass and along the lush Ziz Valley, with stops to admire panoramic views. Upon arrival in Merzouga in the late afternoon, you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before settling into your accommodation. Overnight in our hotel/riad (DBB).

After breakfast at the hotel, you will begin exploring the region. You will meet the Gnaoua people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to discover their music and way of life. Not far away is Lake Merzouga, with its many bird species.

You can also visit the nomadic wire house, where many Berber crafts are sold at lower prices than in large cities. In the afternoon, guided by an experienced camel guide, you will explore the Merzouga sand sea on a camel trek, hoping to enjoy a magnificent sunset over the golden dunes. Overnight at the desert camp, equipped with dry toilets.

Wake up early in the morning to admire what may well be the most beautiful sunrise of your life. You will then peacefully return by camel to the village of Merzouga. Along the way, you will appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes, changing with the light. After breakfast at the riad, you will depart for Rissani, Tinghir, and the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorges, we will cross the Dades Valley, where you will admire the majestic sand castles and amazing rock formations called "monkey toes." You will spend the night in a luxury hotel overlooking the Dades Valley. Overnight in our hotel/riad (DBB).

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M'gouna and Ouarzazate. The road of a thousand kasbahs through the Dades Valley offers many opportunities to take some of your best photos of the trip. Today, you will have the opportunity to meet Berber nomads in their caves, enjoying the fertile Rose Valley and the rock formations that dot the route. We will stop at Kalaat M'gouna, "the city of roses," to buy rosewater which will pleasantly perfume your laundry long after your trip. Continue to Skoura and the Valley of Birds, where we will visit the Ameridil kasbah, a well-preserved kasbah in the region. After a hike in the valley, we will stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the gorges. Then, head to Ouarzazate, "African Hollywood," whose geography and scenic beauty have attracted many world-renowned film producers. Here you can visit the studios, housing props from films you may have already seen, such as The Mummy, Gladiator, and The Last Temptation of Christ. Our journey will continue via the majestic Tizi n'tichka pass (2,260 m), over the High Atlas mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech.

After breakfast at the riad, you can begin to explore Marrakech, the red city of Morocco. Your guide will show you the most important historical and cultural sites: the Saadian tomb, the Bahia and El Badi palaces, as well as the Ben Youssef Koranic school. You will have lunch at a restaurant near the square. In the afternoon, you will visit the Majorelle Gardens, Menara, and the Koutoubia Tower. After lunch, we will head to Essaouira where you will spend a wonderful evening soaking up the local culture. Overnight at hotel/riad. Breakfast included.

After breakfast at your riad, you will visit the medina of Essaouira, its souks, and its famous port, before returning to the airport and taking your return flight. End of the tour at the airport.