Private 12 Days to Explore Highlights of Exotic Morocco

Welcome to Morocco! Your tour will officially start today with a warm greeting at the airport when your flight arrives. You can get a free Moroccan sim card at the airport if you need, and recharge it to make calls and surf the Internet. Your driver-guide will assist you with the sim card application.

The first stop will be the Jardin Majorelle Garden, aka YSL Garden, where you can encounter towering cactus clusters, romantic blue-painted villas, flourishing flowers and other colorful decorations.

Then, we’ll visit the nearby Yves Saint Laurent Museum.

Thereafter, we’re to visit the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, where its minaret is 70 meters (230 feet) high, making it the tallest building in Marrakech and a landmark of the city.

After about a 15-minute walk, we’ll arrive at Saadian Tombs in Old Medina, a must-see if you love architecture, history, and arts.

Next, we’ll visit the El Badi Palace.

Then, head to the Bahia Palace. The guide will explain the similarities and differences between the two palaces in terms of their history, scales, and highlights.

Finally, we will step into Ben Yousself Medersa, the largest Koran school in Morocco. Built in the 14th century, it is fully decorated by Islamic carved patterns and exquisite walls.

Today we're leaving Marrakech for the peaceful village Imlil, at the foot of Mountain Toubkal, the highest peak of Altlas Mountain. This is completely a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and get in touch with nature. After about 2 hours of driving, we will arrive in Imlil. If it's a Saturday, we'll also stop over at Market Weekly Saturday Asni, a local vegetable market where villagers living nearby gather here once a week.

There are some trekking routes to choose, 3 km (1.9 mi), 5 km (3.1 mi) or longer; you are free to choose whichever route suits you. Berber mud huts dot the hillsides along the trekking trails, and you may come across children herding sheep and donkeys carrying heavy supplies. Their traditional and simple way of life will make you feel calm and relaxed. Reaching Cascade Imlil, you can relax your legs and enjoy a glass of cool juice or mint tea. Lunch will be served in a Berber guesthouse with traditional Moroccan home-made dishes. During the rest of time today, you can have a rest at the hotel, where offers a great terrace to overlook Mountain Toubkal.

nd pass by the High Atlas Mountains, where you can enjoy the dramatic scenes.

After about 4.5 hours’ drive, we will arrive at Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its fascinating clay architecture. Moreover, many films have been shot here, such as the Mummy, the Gladiator, and the TV series Game of Thrones, making it a hot filming site.

We’ll visit the Atlas Corporation Studio, where you'll feel like entering the dream factory of movies as you walk inside. Through the lights, cameras, settings, and the cast and crew coming and going, you could learn more about the stories behind film-making. After the visit, we’ll check into the hotel for a rest.

After a big breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head to Merzouga about 370 km (230 miles) away, which would take 5.5 hours or so by car. Although this is a long journey, you will never be boring today. Driving along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, we’ll first get to Skoura. The ancient oasis is well-known for the large palm grove, and you’ll be escorted to visit Kasbahs Amridil and Skoura palmeraie. ★ Privilege of Our Guests: We've included a one-hour walking or biking tour in Skoura palmeraie for you. It is definitely a pleasant thing to walk through the 4,000 hectares (9,884.2 acres) of lush palm forest, while birds chirping and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains behind you would make you feel relaxed. In addition to walking and biking, donkey riding and horseback riding are also funny. Extra charge should be paid on site if you’re going to try.

In about 1.5-hour drive from Skoura, we will reach the Dades Gorge, which is renowned for its red rocks, sheer cliffs and lush valley. Don't forget to record the thrilling winding road, and your driver-guide will show you the best places for photographing.

After lunch, we’ll continue our trip to the Sahara Desert, passing Berber villages, olive plantations, palm groves, ochre Kasbahs, and Todra Gorge. Late in the afternoon, we will arrive in Merzouga.

★ Have Fun in Sahara Desert Camp: We will take a one-hour camel trek in the endless sand-sea to the famous sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Along the way, it's highly recommended to take some pictures of the spectacular desert scenes and enjoy the stunning view of sunset over the Sahara. When night comes, a desert camp is specially arranged for you to enjoy the starry night in the Sahara Desert. What's more, a campfire with Berber music performance and a delicious local dinner tonight will bring your Morocco tours to a climax.

You will be amazed at the beauty of nature as the golden sun rises above the rolling sand dunes. After returning to the camp for breakfast, the rest of the day will be mastered up to you.

Erfoud, about an hour's drive from Merzouga, is known as the Gate to Sahara. Driving through Erfoud, we’ll really say goodbye to the desert. We will then continue driving to Midelt via the spectacular Ziz Valley with fascinating volcanic rocks on either side of the gorge. Lunch will be arranged in a Berber village, situated on the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

There will be a 3.5-hour drive from Midelt to Fez. As entering the Middle of Atlas Mountains, the landscape would change. The green hills, wild flowers, and flocks of white sheep will come into your sight, and the mountains are dotted with Berber villages along the way. We will have a stop in Ifrane for some photos. This small city is dubbed the Switzerland of Morocco for its chalets in Swiss style. You will also have a chance to encounter barbarian apes in the beautiful Cedar forest.

First, your culinary guide will take you to the local market for the ingredients, and to the colorful spice market to learn the passcode of Moroccan cuisine. The Cooking Class will be arranged in a local family, as the hostess will teach you from scratch. You won’t miss any step from cleaning the ingredients, preparing, to cooking. While enjoying the self-made meal, don't forget a cup of mint tea!

A professional local guide will show you around Fez Medina, the largest and oldest Medina in the world. We’ll pay a visit to Bab Boujloud, Bou Inania Madrasa, Dar Batha Museum, Fontaine Najjarine, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, Attarine Madrasa, Mosque and University Kairaouine, and Chouara Tannery. Bab Boujloud is the most beautiful and famous city gate in Fez, and visitors are all fascinated by its fine blue mosaics. Therefore, it is called the Blue Gate.

After about 1-hour drive, we will arrive at the first stop today, Meknes, one of Morocco’s four royal cities. We’ll visit the Bab Mansour and El Hedim Square.

Then, we will explore Dar Jamai Museum.

Next, head to Bou Inania Medersa.

After that, we will pay a visit to Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.

Finally, we will explore Royal Stables, and your guide will show you the story of Sultan Moulay Ismail, one of Morocco's greatest kings in history.

After lunch, we will head to Volubilis, passing a town named Moulay Idriss Downtown on the way. Considered a sacred place by the locals because Moulay Idriss died and was buried there, it is also known as Morocco's "Little Mecca".

At the end of the day, we’ll drive to Chefchaouen to round off today's trip. ★ Privilege of Our Guests: 1. Going cross narrow alleys, we will get to the Grande Terrasse, the highest position in Moulay Idriss. This is the best site to see the holy town. 2. At the ruins, we will arrange a professional English guide for you to explain during the whole course (2 hours), thus you can have a better understanding of Volubilis.

After breakfast, let's explore this blue fairytale town Chefchaouen. The route will be: Bab EL Ain → Callejon El Asri → Place Outa el Hammam & Kasbah → Kasbah Museum → Grand Mosque → Ras El Maa Waterfall → Spanish Mosque. We’re about to spend 2 to 3 hours in the town. The afternoon is at your disposal.

Leaving the blue town, we will go to Rabat, the capital of Morocco and one of the four royal cities. The drive will take about 4 hours to reach the destination today. When you see 5-km (3.1-mi) red walls and blue coastline, we are just arriving in Rabat. Check into the hotel.

Our first stop in this imperial city is the Royal Palace of Rabat from outside. Near the palace, there is a large circle fountain as well as forts around the square.

Next, we’ll visit the Hassan Tower with hundreds of surrounded columns.

Then, move southward to the nearby Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where you may not only glance at its luxurious interior but also encounter valiant royal soldiers at the entrance.

Thereafter, you’ll be guided to meander through the Jewish Mella, and head to the historical Kasbah of Chellah, a vast remnant of ancient Rome.

It is home to charming Andalusian gardens, a museum, cafes, quiet alleys, and an old castle, inscribed on the list of World Cultural Heritages in 2006.

The final destination will be Casablanca, about 1 hour's drive from Rabat. After reaching Casablanca, we’ll pay a visit to the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only Jewish museum around the Arab world. (Close on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday; if it’s closed, you can admire the exterior and take photos.)

Later, we’ll head to the wonderful Hassan II Mosque, situated right by the Atlantic Ocean. This iconic mosque, the only one that allows non-Muslims to visit, is full of intricate decorative patterns, colorful mosaics, and imposing designs, making it a must-see spot for visitors.