Highlights Of Morocco; Imperial Cities And Sahara Desert - Fes

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Duration: 8 Days
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    12:00 AM
  • Departure Details :
    Traveler pickup is offered
    Airports
    Mohamed V Airport, Casablanca Morocco
    Ports
    ميناء طنجة المتوسط, VFHP+RGG, N16, Morocco
    .. read more
  • Cancellation Policy :
    This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

Experience culture and history of Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech as you navigate narrow and winding streets in ancient medinas, shop artisanal wares in animated souks, and admire the intricate tile work of historic and stunning mosques. Explore the desert as you ride a camel over shifting sands in the Sahara, delve into mud-brick fortressed cities, and cross the high rocky peaks of the Atlas mountains.

Know More about this tour

Itinerary
Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat
Stop At: Hassan II Mosque, Blvd Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Casablanca 20450 Morocco
The Hassan II Mosque, sitting in a picturesque location on the sea. Inaugurated in 1993, its 656-foot (200 m) minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world. It is estimated that the courtyard can hold 80,000 worshipers, with room for another 25,000 inside While the exterior and surrounding area are impressive the lavish interior is festooned with wood, marble, carved stone, and gilded ceilings what makes this mosque even more unique is that it is of the few in the country open to non-Muslim visitors. One-hour guided tours run in the mornings between 9 am and 2 pm, and include a tour of the Hammam in the basement.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Notre Dame de Lourdes, Rond-Point d'Europe, Casablanca 20500 Morocco
The imposing Notre Dame de Lourdes Church has very obvious European influences and is a striking contrast to many of the more traditional attractions that can be found in the city of Casablanca. In fact, youll see this massive edifice quite easily from a distance as it towers above many of the smaller, locally funded structures that surround it.
At first glance, you may wonder why there is a Catholic church in Morocco. The fact is that there are approximately 20,000 Catholics living in the country and that this religious denomination has long been accepted in Morocco. The Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Morocco is clear evidence of the strong Roman Catholic presence in Casablanca and, while this may not be the major religion in the country, it certainly isnt only practiced by a small minority.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Rabat, Rabat, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer Region
Moroccos capital doesn't have the wow-factor of Marrakech; Nor does it have the hordes of tourists. Rabat is sedate but has a star attraction the old Kasbah des Oudaas, perched high above the Atlantic rollers.
Rabat has a long and chequered history. Along with its twin city Sal, it was once the haven of the Barbary pirates, the notorious Sallee Rovers who preyed upon European merchant ships and kidnapped Cornish villagers. Nowadays Rabat is a quiet, impeccably clean city with palm-lined boulevards and none of the traffic problems that bedevil Casablanca, making it an increasingly popular destination for tourists. When considering where to take a short break in Morocco, a holiday in Rabat certainly shouldn't be counted out.
Overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg river is the fortress of the Kasbah des Oudaas. You can spend a pleasant hour or two strolling down the streets of blue and white houses, admiring the 12th century fortifications and exploring the Andalusian-style garden. Next door, the Caf Maure is a great place to sip a mint tea and admire the view over the Atlantic. With a wide array of accommodation options, you can choose to stay in a simple hotel in Rabat or an elaborate riad packed with Moroccan charm.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN RABAT
Parliament of Morocco
Royal Palace
Saint Pierre Cathedral
Mohammed V Mosque
Medina of Rabat
Hassan Tower
Kasbah of the Udayas
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
City Centre
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Riad Dar ELkebira, Located a few meters from the Consuls street and the Kasbah des Oudayas.
Day 2: Rabat to Chefchaoeun
Stop At: Chefchaouen, Chefchaouen, Tangier-Tetouan Region
This charming Berber city painted in shades of blue set in the Rif mountains is a must if you are visiting or passing through northern Morocco.
Founded in 1471 this beautiful and highly atmospheric little city has much to offer in the way of insights into Rif mountain life. Painted in shades of blue, the small streets are like no other place in the country. Small hotels and restaurants are the way to experience this authentic and interesting place.
Duration: 5 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at riad Linas & Spa located at the heart of the Medina at few steps from the main attractions.
Day 3: Chefchaoeun to Fes via Vollubilis and Meknes
Stop At: Volubilis, Morocco
The largest Roman archeological site in Morocco lies at Volubilis. Moscais, triumphal arch, capitol building, house of Bacchus everything testifies to the city's splendor and its economical and political weight.

Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Meknes, Meknes, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
Meknes is an Imperial capital founded in the 17th century by the Alaouite sultan MoulayIsmal who decided to make it one of the most beautiful and powerful Imperial cities in Morocco, protected by 40km of walls. The medina and the remains of the royal palace has earned Mekns a place on UNESCO's world heritage list.
Gates and palaces: Considered to be one of the most beautiful gates in the world, Bab Mansour was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century. It is the entrance to the Imperial city proper, where a visit to the sultan's mausoleum is still of interest.
Markets and lively squares: Meknes has one of the busiest medinas in Morocco. The Place El-Hedime, located exactly between the old town and the Imperial part of the city, houses the covered market and becomes busy at dusk: fire-swallowers, storytellers, animal trainers and jugglers .
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Riad Ghita Palace in the Medina, a great location and easy access to the main historical sites of Fes.
Day 4: Full day sightseeing in Fes
Stop At: Fes el-Bali, Fes 30110 Morocco
Fez is an Imperial City that has stood in the north of Morocco for a thousand years. Within its sturdy walls youll find the place where old Morocco still exists in the elaborate architecture, the historic medina and the throngs of people that make their home here.
Walk through high walled streets, watch the daily procession of mourners entering the tomb of Fezs founder Moulay Idriss II, and see the ornate carvings and mosaics on every surface; its easy to understand why Fez is called the spiritual heart of Morocco. Time seems to have stopped in large parts of this city, nowhere else can you find such a strong link to the kingdom's past.
With our local guide, we will visit the Medina: Souks, Tanneries, Madersas, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University.
Duration: 5 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Riad Ghita Palace
Day 5: Over the Atlas mountains to the desert
Stop At: Merzouga, Merzouga, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
Leave Fes towards Merzouga desert through the Atlas mountains, you will notice the landscape change as you approach Merzouga, the town closest to the Sahara dunes.
As you approach you will get your first glimpse of the massive sand sea of Erg Chebbi, looming on the forward horizon. Here the sand dunes rise to over (200m).
Here we start our adventure on camel back into the desert, time to enjoy the sunset as you sit atop a large dune. Have a meal and spend the night in a desert tent. At night, join the local guides for a campfire complete with traditional music and star gazing.
If you are an early riser, then a Saharan sunrise can be just as thrilling as a Saharan sunset.
Duration: 6 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Tiziri luxury camp; Simple understated luxury with natural fabrics and a tangible essence of tranquillity.
Day 6: Merzouga to Todra gorges and Boumalen Dades
Stop At: Tinerhir, Tinerhir, Souss-Massa-Draa Region
The Dades valley is a stunning area of Morocco covered with two tone kasbah's and earth palaces from where comes its nickname "The valley of a thousand kasbahs". Much of the valley is visible only if you leave your vehicles and venture on by foot but just driving through is a stunning and unforgettably beautiful experience.
Sometimes known as the Country of Figs (not to be confused with the drier Draa valley located to the north of Zagora known as the Country of the Dates).
A wilderness like area with its unearthly silence surrounded by snow-capped mountains on one side and on the other, the desert. The river Dades flows through the valley, watering a magnificent trail of wheat, fruit, walnut, almond and silver birch trees along its way, nestled amongst a back drop of spectacular, rocky land formations.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at Xaluca Dades hotel
Day 7: to Ait Benhaddou & Marrakech
Stop At: Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draa Region
If the rocky terrain around Ouarzazate seems familiar, thats because the area has been used as the backdrop for many Hollywood film productions. Ouarzazate has doubled up as Tibet, Egypt and every country of the Middle East in films like Jewel of the Nile, The Sheltering Sky, Kundun, Gladiator, The Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia. You can see some of the props at the Atlas Film Studios just outside town.
Ouarzazate itself is a largely modern town, built as a garrison for the French Foreign Legion in the 1920s. The only historic building is the Taourirt Kasbah, home of the infamous Glaoui family, the Lords of the Atlas, who controlled access to the southern trade routes in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Taourirt Kasbah also has a Hollywood connection - it made a cameo appearance in Star Wars. Opposite is a small crafts area where you can buy carpets, carved implements and earthenware at keener prices than in Marrakech.
If you prefer to stay somewhere more atmospheric, Skoura, a small town 35 kms east of Ouarzazate with a lovely palmeraie and kasbah, makes a good alternative for exploring the pre-Sahara.
Duration: 6 minutes
Stop At: Marrakech, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region
Marrakech has always been a bustling city, filled with foreign sights, sounds, and smells. For some, it can be a bit of a shock to the senses. The red city, is named for the natural red ochre pigment in the walls, and is Moroccos second largest city.
Duration: 2 days
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Stay at Riad Pachavana at the heart of Marrakech Medina
Day 8: Sightseeing in Marrakech
Stop At: Marrakech, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region
Marrakech; One of the most evocative places in the world, just the name conjures up images of this cultural melting pot sandstone buildings, dusty streets and towering minarets against deep blue skies immediately spring to mind. Known as The Red City thanks to the hue of the thick walls surrounding the old city, Marrakech has been a popular tourist destination in Morocco since the 1960s, attracting everyone from the Beatles to Sienna Miller. Its a place to engage the senses, nowhere more so than in the famous souks. These vibrant markets are a whirlwind of colour and noise, where throngs of people weave between tightly packed stalls exhibiting pyramids of brightly coloured spices, richly woven rugs and a thousand other exotic goods. Enticing smells waft through the souks, and the clamour of voices haggling and the cries of vendors competing for customers provides a constant backing track to the city.
Our guided sightseeing includes the Koutoubia mosque, the Bahia palace, Saadian tombs, Menara gardens, the Souks and the famous Jemaa Elfna square. Free evening in one of the local restaurants surrounding the square.
Duration: 6 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Inclusions

Accommodation included: 7 nights

Air-conditioned vehicle

English speaking driver

Camel riding in the desert

Accommodation in charming riads with breakfast

DIner and music performance at the desert camp

Exclusions

Entry/Admission - Hassan II Mosque

Entry/Admission - Notre Dame de Lourdes

Entry/Admission - Volubilis

Entry/Admission - Fes el-Bali

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Not wheelchair accessible

Infant seats available

Most travelers can participate

This experience requires good weather. If its canceled due to poor weather, youll be offered a different date or a full refund

This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund

This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Traveler Reviews

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  • 15-Jan-2023

    Muy buena organización y servicio, permanentemente acompañados y supervisados. Buenos hoteles y actividades. Elegimos ir con conductor privado que se los recomiendo: Abdellah. Una persona grata, amigable, servicial y muy buen conductor.

  • 09-Nov-2022

    We had the most amazing experience during our 8 days trip in Morocco. The trip was well organized. Our driver Ilyas was absolutely great - always on time, answering all our questions, very flexible and helpful throughout the entire trip. Having local driver and local guides is absolutely essential when traveling in Morocco - it saved us a lot of time and brought us to most beautiful places and experiences. The contrast between old and new, modern and traditional, authentic but still very open to foreigners is absolutely beautiful in Morocco. Beautiful nature. Sahara desert was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. We stayed in nice riads most of the nights with authentic wonderful breakfast. Overall the trip was an unforgettable adventure.

  • 05-Nov-2022

    Our trip was well organised, and Abdel flexed the itinerary to fit in a couple of things we particularly wanted to do. Our driver, Samir, was excellent - calm, flexible and really helpful. We particularly loved the desert trip (albeit there was an issue with an optional extra trip we had confirmed in advance - but the central office sorted it out for us without fuss). Why not 5 stars? We had fixed the itinerary & after our friends were already in transit, we were advised of 2 “free upgrades”. We weren’t consulted first & the upgrades were to hotels that didn’t appeal to us. We managed to reverse one of them, but had to change rooms mid stay. Our driver was also changed without communication - this concerned us as we were due to pay the driver. The driver allocated to us, Samir, was fabulous though. Last but not least, the hotels were all great quality, except for the Moevenpick in Casablanca, which was distinctly sub-par, with the outside being painted & smelling awful when we arrived. I’d use Original Travels again, but would make it 100% clear that what we agreed on deposit payment would be what we’d expect to get!

  • 05-Oct-2022

    Our group of 6 retired souls (4 siblings+2 spouses) enjoyed all aspects of our 8 day tour of Morocco. Our driver, Tarik was a pleasure to speak with and also to ask questions of with regards to the Moroccan way of life. And of course, was a very careful and considerate driver. Our tour was delayed a day as we had flight issues from Madrid (our issue not tour company). Said, (tour coordinator) in consultation with Tarik made sure we got our Day 1 and Day 2 stops completed in one day - we really appreciated their efforts as it was a long day for all. We enjoyed a couple of hours in Chefchaoun and also the final stop that day in Volubilis - our group collectively felt the ruins were a highlight. We made many informative stops along the way, always in consult with Tarik. We certainly enjoyed the care provided to our group and would recommend this company for anyone looking for a Moroccan visit. The Canadian 6 pack ~

  • 07-Sep-2022

    My daughter and I spend 6 wonderful days crossing Morocco and could not have been more pleased with our driver Nouri and our local guides. From private cooking classes and sunrise balloon rides to market tours and our beautiful accommodations, we were given the red carpet treatment everywhere we went. They were even able to handle some last minute itinerary changes as well as minor medical issues in stride. Original Travels provided exceptional service and value for our great adventure, and I would not hesitate to use them again or recommend them to other enthusiastic travelers.

  • 06-Sep-2022

    Congratulations to all the team for coordinating a fabulous adventure for our family. Everything was outstanding from the moment we arrived into Tangier MED until our departure. From our driver, to the Ryads, and tour guides everything moved perfectly. Super impressed and strongly recommended.

  • 31-Aug-2022

    Hi - I totally recommend Original Travels in Morocco (whom we found through KimKim.com) for organizing your next trip. Our experience has been fantastic! The planning process - ahead of the trip - was a smooth ride. I continued to make quite a lot of changes to the itinerary, but Abdel and Said (with whom I communicated online via the kimkim website) remained calm and patient and provided speedy and thoughtful answers to all my requests and questions. Then, during the trip itself, we remained in touch with Said (via Whatsapp) to make small tweaks along the way. And also during that time Said was amazingly responsive and action-oriented. The trip itself was glorious, because Morocco has a lot to offer. We are a family with 4 teenage kids (i.e.: sometimes hard to please!), and they all loved the surprising activities, beautiful hotels, impressive landscapes, the mix of cultures, and the great Moroccon food. Also, the Kimkim/Original Travels team and I ensured we had sufficient variety in the program, and that we also had some downtime - during which we couldn't still anyway and organized a few optional activities ourselves (e.g. hammams, cooking class). :-) Also a shoutout to Samir, our driver from Original Travels.! In conclusion: What an amazing trip it was! Will definitely use KimKim for a possible following trip in another country.

  • 28-Aug-2022

    We travelled through Morocco for three weeks in July-August 2022, as a family of three. The entire trip was organized by Abdel of Original Travels and his team. Based on information we provided regarding our interests and places we wanted to visit, Abdel proposed a fantastic and comprehensive 21-day agenda for us, which we were able to fine-tune and refine until we were fully satisfied with all aspects of it. Abdel then organized all practicalities of our trip, including booking all hotels/riads, local guides, and a private car with driver. The planning of our trip prior to our departure was therefore extremely easy and smooth. Once we arrived in Morocco, our entire journey unfolded exactly as stated in our programme, down to all the lovely details. The hotels/riads and guides that Abdel had chosen for us were all wonderful in their own unique way. Everything was ready for us when we arrived at each new destination, smoothly executed, and superbly organized. A special highlight of our trip was our driver-guide, Karim, who quickly became a friend of our family. We travelled three weeks with Karim. He was a wonderful holiday companion! Karim is an extremely friendly person, always with a joyful smile. He is also highly flexible, very easy-going, always punctual, and absolutely professional in all ways. Karim comes from an Amazigh (Berber) family, which makes travel with him in the mountains and desert especially insightful and exciting. Karim is fluent in English, French, Arabic and Tamazight. He is an experienced driver and guide for all of Morocco and personally knows many of the local contacts and hotel/riad staff, which makes travel especially smooth and safe. Karim is also an excellent driver, who carefully and safely navigates Moroccan highways, mountain roads and the small alleys of the medinas. We would highly recommend Karim as your driver if you are planning a holiday with Original Travels. We have experienced first-hand how he can add immeasurably to the holiday experience. In terms of hotels, we stayed in riads within the medinas of Rabat, Tangier, Fes, Chefchaouen, Marrakech and Essaouira that Abdel of Original Travels had suggested, and we highly enjoyed each one. There was something to love about each riad, whether it was the ambience, the location, the friendliness of the staff, the comfort level, or the delicious breakfasts. We have written reviews for all riads that we stayed in on TripAdvisor. We chose to explore all cities that we visited on our own, except for Fes and Marrakesh, where we had local guides suggested by Abdel. All guides provided by Abdul were fantastic and added a lot to our experience and understanding of the respective cities and sites. In terms of practicalities, we transferred the entire payment (for hotels, local guides, car, driver, etc.) in advance to Original Travels. Everything worked out exactly as promised and planned, and we did not experience any problems throughout our trip. In short, we highly recommend Original Travels and Abdel and Said without any reservation, with special mention of Karim as our excellent driver-guide. We did extensive research before we decided to plan our holiday with Abdel and his team, and the various arrangements and services by Original Travels exceeded our high expectations.

  • 15-Aug-2022

    I recommend it, a very interesting trip organized in a professional manner. very nice service. the whole group is satisfied. we highly recommend it

  • 07-Aug-2022

    Wonderful 12 day trip in Morocco planned by Original Travels. It was a trip of a lifetime. Our driver, Tarik took really good care of us, and our booking manager Said was always very responsive. I recommend using their agency so we can see the entire country from a locals perspective.

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