World Heritage Cities and Desert

Day 1
City of Origin – Casablanca – Essaouira

Reception at the airport in Casablanca and then we will visit the Hassan II Mosque. Built in 1993. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and the third-largest mosque in the world.

We leave Casablanca and take the route to Essaouira, “the city of light and wind”.

Essaouira, in Berber Amogdul means “the well-kept”. Known as Mogador. Essaouira has the one of the best medieval Medina in Morocco, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2001. Its port and its streets are full of life, giving the city a bohemian atmosphere: artisans, merchants, fishermen … A city of artists, masters in goldsmithing and marquetry. A place to enjoy it without haste.

“A walk through the medina and eating good fish, one of the pleasures of Essaouira”.

Day 2
Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast, we leave for Marrakech. Along the route, we will visit the Assafar women’s cooperative, where they make argan oil.

Argan “The true gold of Morocco” has valuable nutritional and dermatological properties. Its production is artisanal, and the goats are in charge of starting the process.

Marrakech is one of the most important cities in Morocco. After breakfast, we will start the visit in the square of the Koutoubia mosque. Then, we go to the Jamaa El Fna square, from here we enter the Medina, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We visit the souk and the main places of historical interest. The Saadiane Tombs, the Medersa Ben Youssef, the El Badi Palace. At the exit of the Medina, we will have a mint tea in some terraces of the Jamaa el Fna square. Everything in Marrakech revolves around the Jamaa el Fna square, declared by UNESCO as Oral Heritage of Humanity. In this public space gather: musicians, storytellers, snake charmers, dancers, dentists, fruit juice vendors, acrobats , writers, water carriers, sellers of medicinal herbs …

Free times at sunset. A good option is  going to Jamaa el Fna Square at sunset to watch from a café terrace. You will observe how little by little the square is filling up. With food stalls and illuminated by hundreds of lights. Then, people gather to dinner Night at the hotel.

Day 3
Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou- Ouarzazate

After breakfast, we leave Marrakech for Ouarzazate. We will cross the High Atlas mountain range with incredible landscapes. The highest point of Tizi-N-Tichka, 2,260 meters high. From here we will descend until we reach Ouarzazate. Before arriving in this city, we will visit the ksar Ait Ben Haddou. A fortified city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

In the afternoon, free time in Ouarzazate.

We recommend visiting. The Taourirt Kasbah, declared a World Heritage Site. Which, was the house of one of the most powerful governors in the region. Currently, it is the headquarters for the conservation of the architectural heritage of southern Morocco.

The “Atlas Studios” film museum, the most important film studios in North Africa. Ouarzazate is the “Hollywood of Africa.”

We will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 4
Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Desert

After breakfast, we will take the route that takes us through the palm grove of Skoura at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It is the largest oasis in the Dades Valley. Located in the middle of the Route of the Thousand Kasbashs. Beautiful adobe fortresses scattered throughout the valley. From Skoura, we continue to Kelaat M’Gouna, in the valley of the roses.

After a stop, we headed north towards the town of Boulmane. There, the Dades Gorges rives begin. Upon entering we find kasbhas located on the walls of the gorge, and it seems that these adobe constructions are born from the same rock. Too, we will observe that the rocks have curious shapes, caused by wind erosion, some known as “monkey fingers”. At the exit of the gorges, we will follow the route towards the Todra river valley. A lush palm grove that connects the Atlas to the Sahara. The gorges of the Todra River, located at the northern end of the palm grove of the city of Tinerhir. Little by little, this palm grove narrows, and the limestone walls that delimit it rises up to three hundred meters high. After the visit, we will continue our route, arriving in the afternoon / night at the hotel located in the middle of the desert. We will have a traditional dinner and enjoying the after-dinner to the sounds of the drums.

Night in hotel.

Day 5
Desert – Oasis of Ramlia – Merzouga

We will get up early to see the sunrise in the dunes, and after a good breakfast we will go to the oasis of Ramlia. An oasis of palm trees in the Tafilalt region, located southeast of Erg Chebbi (Sahara). We will visit the palm grove and the canal that the first inhabitants of Ramlia built. “Without water, there is no life in the desert.” There, we can appreciate the hospitality that characterizes its people. The inhabitants of the Ramlia oasis are ancient nomads. All belonging to the Aït Khebbach tribe of the Sahara Desert.

We leave for Merzouga. On the way through the desert, we will see some nomadic communities with their herds. Merzouga is a small village located in the Sahara Desert. Once settled, we will go on an excursion with the camels to the great dunes of the desert. We will enjoy a wonderful sunset.

Night in a hotel located in the desert (possibility of sleeping in Haima).

Day 6
Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Atlas Medium – Fez

After breakfast, we will take the road to Fez through the impressive valley of the Ziz river. We will cross it’s majestic gorges with amazing landscapes of mountains lined with a green oasis.

We will cross the High Atlas pass of Tzi n’Talrhmeht, known as “the camel pass” that, will take us to the city of Midelt. From here we go to the city of Ifran. Where, we will make a brief stop in the famous cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. In this place lives one of the last Barbary monkey communities that we can only see here and in Gibraltar. After we will leave for Fez. Night in riad.

Day 7
Fez

A full day dedicated to the discovery of the city of Fez, In the afternoon we will return to the riad to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Fez is the religious and cultural center of Morocco. The city has three areas: Fez el Bali, (the old area within the walls). Fez-Jdid, (the Jewish quarter, Mellah) and the Ville Nouvelle (northwest of the city).

The Medina of Fez el Bali is one of the largest medieval cities in the world. The entire Medina is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its souk and alleys have not changed since the Middle Ages.

-Medina of Fez el Bali: From the Bab Boujloud gate, we enter the souk and walk through its narrow and labyrinthine streets. Inside the medina we will see:

• The Bou Inania Madrasa, with its precious cedar wood works, stuccoes and decorations in marble and onyx.
• The zaouïa of Moulay Idriss, founder of the city.
• The Es-Sahrij madrasa.
• The old Dar Batha building, dedicated to the arts and traditions of Fez.
• Al-Karaouine University: one of the oldest in the world. Founded in 859 by Fatima Al-Fihri, daughter of Mohammed Al-Fhri, a wealthy merchant of those times.
• The Chouwara Tannery, a spectacle of natural dyes that fill countless pits. Little has changed the dyeing system of camel, lamb, and ox leather since the Middle Ages.

Day 8
Fez – Chefchaouen – Fez

From Fez, we will leave early in the morning towards the city of Chauen located at the foot of the Rif mountain range. Sacred city, famous for its steep blue and white corridors.

We will enter the Medina of Chefchaouen through one of its five doors to the Great Mosque. We will walk through the winding alleys of dazzling blue-white houses . After the walk, we will sit down to have a mint tea on the terrace of a café in the Uta el-Hammam square. The most beautiful square in the Medina.

We will arrive at the riad in Fez at night.

Day 9
Fez – Casablanca – Destination

We will leave Fez early in the morning towards Casablanca airport and end of our services.