Imperial Cities, Saharan Sands - 10 days
FROM USD $1,649
A Moroccan medley, taking in the delights of Morocco's four Imperial Cities - Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Meknes, the ancient kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, Casablanca and the rolling dunes of the Sahara.
Day 1: Marrakech
Saturday. Upon arrival at Marrakech airport you’ll be met and transferred to our hotel in the centre of town. This evening there will be a welcome meeting and dinner at 18:00hrs, after which you’re free to explore the delights of Djemaa el Fna, the exuberant market place, which literally comes alive at night. Overnight - Marrakech (D)
Day 2: Casablanca & Rabat
Marrakech - Casablanca - Rabat. Today we travel to Rabat, stopping en route to visit Casablanca and the see the exterior of Hassan 2 Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and is the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. There is an optional visit inside the mosque for those who would like to explore further. Continuing on, we spend the afternoon and evening in Morocco’s capital city Rabat and visit some of the highlights of Rabat, including the impressive Chellah - a necropolis and complex of ancient, medieval ruins.
Overnight - Rabat (B)
Imperial Cities, Saharan Sands - 10 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Day 3: Meknes & Fes
Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes. Travelling on to Fes today, we stop at the Imperial City of Meknes, which became known as the Versailles of Morocco due to its impressive buildings and elaborate monuments. After free time to explore the city we continue on to tour the incredible UNESCO listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, which date back to AD40. Reaching the Imperial City of Fes late this afternoon the evening is free for you to relax or explore.
Overnight - Fes (B, L)
Day 4: Fes
Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world and its medina is a cacophony of aromas, sights and sounds. Today we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el Bali - the old walled city and visit the dye-pits, tanneries before returning to our hotel to prepare for an optional night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town. Overnight - Fes (B)
Day 5: Midelt
Fes - Midelt. This morning we journey over the Moyen Atlas to Midelt, which is a beautiful alpine area. Surrounded by huge pine trees, this tranquil mountain setting is a great spot to cool down and relax after the hustle and bustle of Fes. This afternoon we soak up the scenery on a short hike. Overnight - Midelt (B, L, D)
Day 6: Camel trek in the Sahara
Midelt - Erg Chebbi - breakfast. Today we enjoy a scenic drive, followed by a tasty Moroccan lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming. It is then time to head towards the great desert and Merzouga, where we transfer to camels for a trek into the Sahara Desert for a night at our Berber Camp. We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.
Overnight - Berber Camp (B, L, D)
Day 7: Todra Gorge
Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorge - Dades Gorge - breakfast. Leaving the desert, we travel on to Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs and is known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. There’s time to explore the gorge before we continue on to scenic Dades Gorge, where we spend the night. Overnight - Dades Gorge (B, D)
Day 8: Ait Benhaddou
Dades Gorge - Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech. En route back to Marrakech today we stop to explore Ait Benhaddou, an incredible ancient fortified kasbah which has featured in many a blockbuster movie, including Gladiator and Laurence of Arabia. Overnight - Marrakech (B)
Days 9 - 10: Marrakech
Marrakech - breakfast. On day 9 we take a guided tour and see the sights of Marrakech, Morocco's fourth Imperial City. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the city. The rest of the day is free to explore the city. On Monday (day 10) our Moroccan adventure ends after breakfast and hotel check out. (B:2)
Tour Details
- Starts in: Marrakech / Ends in: Marrakech
- Departs: Saturdays - year round
- No local payment required
- Breakfast:9, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 4
- Hotel Rating: 2-3 star
- Tour Guide: Yes
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