8 Days Morocco Private Tour: Imperial Cities and the Desert

We will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your accommodation in Casablanca. Day 1: Casablanca Mohammed V airport- Casablanca city. Night at the hotel Total Duration: It is approximately 40 minutes from the airport to your hotel.

Completed in 1993, its minaret is the world's tallest at 210 meters (689 ft), can hold up to 105,000 worshipers including 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque's outside grounds. The tour also includes a pause for pictures at Rick's Cafe; reminiscent of the bar made famous by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the movie classic "Casablanca."

From Casablanca we will make the journey along the highway to explore Meknes which is one of the imperial cities and once the capital of Morocco under the rule of Moulay Ismail. The old city of Meknes is surrounded by thick ramparts.

After visiting Meknes and eating lunch we will depart to visit the Roman ruins at Volubilis. Day 2: Casablanca - Meknes - Volubilis- Fes. Night at the Riad. Total Duration: 4-5 hours drive plus 2-3 hours for lunch and stops when needed.

After breakfast in your Riad, you will start exploring the oldest city in Morocco, walking in its alleys and small streets. Our time here starts by visiting the Royal Palace gate, the Jewish headquarter, the first Mellah ever built in Morocco, built during the 16th century. We will ensure that you visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Karaouine University, the oldest in the region, the Tanneries, the Attarine museum and Mulay Idriss mausoleum. After lunch, you will visit the tiles cooperative and then experience a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes. There is no fee to enter the medina itself, but historic sites require entrance fees to be paid.

First we take in the beauty of the cedar forests in the Middle Atlas and enter the world of the Berber people, as we pass many of the mountain villages. We pass by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou, an important handicraft center specialising in cedar woodwork. There are many opportunities to stop for refreshment and comfort breaks and photography.

In Midelt, we stop for lunch and enjoy the unique backdrop of this town that is nestled in between the Middle and High Atlas Mountains.

We continue our drive towards the desert via the Ziz valley (one of the largest Oasis in Africa), through the town of Erfoud and a stop to enjoy the fossils and towards Merzouga.

Here we reach one of the highlights of your trip; the camel trek into the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes and arrive at Moonlight Desert Camp for the evening of luxury camping. Your luggage will be transferred to the camp via 4x4 so you are left to relax and enjoy your camel ride!

After dinner, depending on the weather, we build a campfire where you will enjoy the authentic drum playing and sing the songs of the Berber, Toureg and southern Moroccans. You can climb to the top of the dunes, gaze up at the stars and even go sand boarding. Day 4: Fes - Ziz Valley -Midelt - Erfoud - Merzouga - Erg Chebbi desert. Camel ride and night in the desert camp in the dunes. Total Duration: 6-7 hours drive plus 2-3 hours for lunch and stops when needed

It is a unique and unforgettable event. Our camels await you for the trek back to Merzouga. Your luggage will be transferred by 4x4.

Rissani Market is a Berber trading market that, on certain days, swells to become large and busy. You can visit the spice, vegetable, fabric and handcrafted wooden and metalwork stalls to browse or pick up some souvenirs and gifts. We will attend the market with you.

As we make our way through the palm tree groves we stop to visit an ancient underground system of irrigation called Kheterra. It was used many years ago to provide the local farmers with fresh water. Whilst the water has dried up long ago, it is still possible to visit the tunnel systems. We continue our journey to stop for lunch at a restaurant in one of the Berber towns along the way.

There will be time for a walk on the canyon floor with the spectacular cliffs surrounding you on either side. Day 5: Dades valley - Ait ben haddou kasbah - Marrakech. Night at the hotel Total Duration: 4-6 hours drive plus 2-3 hours for lunch and stops when needed.

After breakfast at the hotel we depart for Marrakech. There are still many sites and things to explore on your final day before arriving in Marrakech. We will leave the Dades Valley for the Valley of the Roses. From there we follow the road of a thousand Kasbahs, which cuts through the oasis of Skoura.

We will stop in Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco, where you can visit a film studio.

From the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs we carry on to Ait Benhadou Kasbah, the highlight of the day. The Kasbah is now a protected UNESCO world heritage site and famous for being the location of film sets like Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and many more. You can climb through the village to the top of the hill where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views. It is in this ancient desert village that we will eat lunch.

We will drive via Tichka Pass to explore the stunning High Atlas Mountains. This pass is the highest passing point through the Mountains. Many Berber villages can be found along this route. Day 6: Dades Gorges- Rose Valley - Skoura - Ouarzazate - Kasbah Ait Benhadou - Marrakech. Total Duration: 5-6 hours drive plus 2-3 hours for lunch and stops when needed

Today we’ll explore Marrakech on foot - “the red city of Morocco”. We will ensure you see the most important historical and cultural sites, including the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian tombs, and the Bahia Palace. After lunch at a restaurant near the square (not included) we’ll take a walk through the souks and the rest of the day will be at your leisure. There is no fee to enter the medina itself, but historic sites require entrance fees to be paid.

Jardin Majorelle, Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech 40090 Morocco Jardin Majorelle -Yves Saint Laurent Mansion is a peaceful and tranquil 2.5 acre botanical and artist's landscape garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent. It is the perfect escape from the bustling city.

After breakfast we leave to transfer you to the airport (depending upon flight times.) If you depart from an alternative airport we adjust the order of your days to suit your requirements and travel times. Day 8: Transfer to Mohammed V Casablanca airport Total Duration: 2 hours drive