12 days casablanca desert tours
- 12 days/ 11 Night
- Min Age: 1 Years
Descriptions
This 12 days tour from Casablanca itinerary will take you on a comprehensive tour of Morocco, including the four imperial cities and a journey through the Sahara desert. Beginning in northern Morocco, you’ll start your journey in Casablanca, then visit Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and the charming blue city of Chefchaouen. You’ll also explore ancient Roman ruins at Volubilis, the Ismaili capital of Meknes, and the cultural city of Fes. Continuing south, you’ll experience the stunning beauty of Ifrane, the cedars forest, Midelt, the Ziz valley, Rissani’s traditional market, and Erfoud, a town famous for its fossils.
One of the highlights of this trip is the opportunity to visit the Sahara desert in Merzouga. Here, you’ll ride camels, spend a night in a desert camp, and witness the breathtaking beauty of a Saharan sunset and sunrise. You’ll also explore the stunning Todra and Dades gorges, visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, cross the High Atlas mountains and the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, and end your journey with guided tours of the vibrant cities of Marrakech and Essaouira. Your tour will conclude back in Casablanca.
What's included and excluded in 12 days tour from Casablanca :
Included
- Private 4×4 vehicle or minibus with A/C.
- Fuel.
- English / Spanish speaking driver.
- Accommodations.
- Camel ride.
- Breakfast.
- Dinner.
- Local guide to visit Fes
- Local guide to visit Marrakech
Excluded
- Lunches & Drinks.
- Monuments fees/ Entrance fees.
Itinerary for 12 days tour from Casablanca :
On the first day of your 12 days Morocco tour, we will arrange for your pickup from the airport, port, or your accommodation in Casablanca. As the economic center and largest city in Morocco, we will begin by visiting the stunning Hassan II Mosque, which is situated on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and is the largest mosque in the country. Following this, we will have some free time for lunch and continue to explore the city, including a visit to the impressive Corniche of Casablanca. Your overnight stay will be in a comfortable hotel.
Following breakfast, we will begin our journey along the scenic coastline towards Rabat, the current capital and one of the imperial cities of Morocco, situated in the northwest region of the country. During the visit to Rabat, you will get to see the prominent landmarks of the Moroccan capital, such as the majestic Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the beautiful Kasbah of Oudaya. Later, you will have some free time for lunch before continuing your journey. In the afternoon, we will head northwards through Ouazzane and onwards to the charming Blue City of Chefchaouen, nestled in the Rif Mountains. Your overnight stay will be in a comfortable hotel.
After having breakfast, we will spend time exploring the captivating Blue City of Chefchaouen, also known as Achaoun, which means 'horns' in Berber. Nestled in the scenic Rif Mountains of northwest Morocco, this city is famous for its picturesque buildings and alleyways painted in white and blue. Our first stop will be the charming old Medina, where you can take a stroll and admire the authentic blue doors and whitewashed walls. You will have some free time for lunch before proceeding to the afternoon's activity, where you can choose to hike to the Spanish mosque located on a high ground. This hike will provide you with a spectacular view of the entire blue city. Afterward, we will return to the same hotel where you spent the previous night, and you can enjoy a relaxing overnight stay.
After your breakfast, you are free to explore the beautiful alleyways of the charming Blue City of Chefchaouen at your own pace. Later, we will embark on a drive to visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ruins are remarkably well-preserved, with beautiful mosaics scattered throughout, along with ancient pillars and archways. Once we have strolled through the ruins, we will drive for around 30 kilometers to Meknes, which is one of the imperial cities and the Ismaili capital. Here, we will visit several prominent sites, including Bab Al-Mansour, Sahrij Souani basin, the Royal stables, the granary, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Finally, we will head to Fes and you will be staying overnight in a charming Riad.
On this day, we will dedicate our time to exploring the Highlights of Fes alongside a knowledgeable local guide. Fes is considered to be one of the imperial cities and the cultural and religious center of Morocco.
We will begin the day by visiting the Royal Palace gate, followed by the medieval Medina, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Blue gate or Bab Boujloud, the entrance to the old Medina, will be the first stop. The Medina appears to be a labyrinth of alleyways and streets, but with our guide, we will explore it with ease. You will visit several notable sites, including the Medrasa Bouanania, the Najjarine fountain, and the Tanneries. Finally, we will visit the Quaraouin mosque and university, which is the oldest university in the world. Once we have left the Medina, we will visit the Jewish quarter, also known as “the Mellah”. In the afternoon, we will drive to an ancient fortress for a panoramic view of the Medina and the city of Fes. Finally, we will return to your Riad.
After breakfast, we will start our journey by heading south through Imouzzer to visit the charming city of Ifrane. This city is known for its alpine-style architecture, as well as its low temperatures and snow. Due to its picturesque landscapes, Ifrane has been dubbed the "Switzerland of Morocco." We will then proceed to the cedars forest, home to the Barbary macaques. While strolling through the forest, you will have the opportunity to feed the monkeys. Later on, we will continue our journey to Midelt, where you will have some free time for lunch.
After lunch, we will drive to Merzouga, crossing the Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass and passing through the Ziz valley, with stops for panoramic views along the way. Upon arrival in Merzouga, you will switch to camels for a ride across the sandy desert. You will make a stop on top of a high dune to witness a breathtaking sunset. Finally, we will reach the camp, which combines traditional nomadic tents with hotel-style luxury. Here, you will enjoy the rhythmic beats of Berber drums while dancing around the campfire under the vast, starry sky. Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.
We will begin our journey by driving off-road to visit an ancient eyeliner mine. Then, we will visit nomads in their handmade woven tents and experience their traditional way of life while enjoying a cup of Berber tea. Our next stop is the Khamlia village, where you can enjoy the lively Gnaoua music and dancing performances by the locals, who originally come from sub-Saharan countries such as Mali, Sudan, and Niger. You will have free time to enjoy lunch at a restaurant before we take a stroll through a palm tree grove. Next, we will drive a few kilometers to witness the beautiful wild lake of Merzouga, also known as the flamingos lake. Finally, we will return to Merzouga for dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.
After having breakfast, we depart from the desert and make our way to Rissani, which was once the capital of Tafilalet and remains an important trading hub in the area. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, the souk (marketplace) in Rissani is bustling with activity.
After exploring the souk in Rissani, we proceed to Erfoud, where we will visit a workshop that specializes in creating beautiful objects from fossilized marble. We then continue our journey through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges. The Todra River has carved out an impressive canyon through the mountains, creating high, red cliffs. The gorges are a popular destination for rock climbers, and we will have time to appreciate the beauty of the landscape. We will stop for lunch at a restaurant before continuing our journey through Boumalne Dades and on to the Dades Valley. Along the way, we will make stops to see the "monkey fingers" rock formation and to enjoy a panoramic view of the Dades Valley from a mountaintop. Finally, we will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
After having breakfast, we proceed with our "12 days tour from Casablanca" towards Kalaa Magouna, where we will visit the Rose valley, famous for its annual Rose Festival in May. The locals showcase their rose products like perfumes, rose water, oil, and cosmetics. Later, we drive through the palm groves of Skoura before arriving at Ouarzazate, where we will visit the studios that were used to shoot famous movies.
Our next stop is the renowned Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Kasbah has been featured in numerous movies such as Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, as well as TV series like Game of Thrones. We then continue our journey to Marrakech, driving through the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi-N-Tichka pass, with stops for lunch and photo opportunities. We will spend the night in a Riad in Marrakech.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we will embark on a tour of Marrakech's must-see attractions, led by a knowledgeable local guide. As one of Morocco's four imperial cities, Marrakech boasts an array of fascinating landmarks, including the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, and the Ben Youssef Quranic mosque. We will also take a leisurely stroll through the largest traditional souk in Morocco, where you can shop for local crafts and souvenirs.
We will break for lunch in a nearby restaurant close to the Jemaa El-Fna square, after which we will visit the Koutoubia mosque, the largest in Marrakech, as well as the stunning Majorelle garden. Finally, we will transfer you to your accommodation, leaving you with ample free time to explore the bustling Jemaa El-Fna square at your leisure.
Following breakfast, we head west towards Essaouira city, taking breaks to see the Argan trees goats and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views. We arrive in Essaouira, once known as Mogador, an essential coastal city in Morocco. We will visit the historic ramparts with cannons, the fishing port, and the old Medina. Afterwards, we will transfer you to your hotel for your overnight stay in Essaouira.
On the final day of your 12 days tour from Casablanca, we will depart from Essaouira and follow the coastal road. We'll make several stops to enjoy panoramic views along the way. The timing of our departure will depend on your flight schedule. Finally, we'll arrive at Casablanca airport, marking the end of the 12 days tour from Casablanca.
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FAQs:
We offer two different tour options to choose from (Private and Shared). And the client can choose from either options.
The tour starts from Casablanca at your hotel and ends at Casablanca.
Yes, you can do sandboarding in Merzouga desert
The camel trek ride lasts for about 1 hour and half.
Wear long pants and long sleeves.
The tents are always private, but the main difference is that in a standard camp you share a bathroom with others, while in a luxury camp, each tent has its own private bathroom.
Yes you can, a 4x4 will take you there instead.
Yes, there is electricity in the camp, since the camp runs on solar panels, and sure there are power sockets in the rooms.
Here is a list of what to pack for this trip:
- Sunglasses.
- Long pants ( for the camel ride).
- Sun screen.
- Hat or scarf.
- Shorts
- Sandals, shoes or flip flops.
- Charger.
- Long sleeves.
- A small carry on bag.
It's cold during winter, but it's warm in the summer.
