9-Day Tour of Imperial Cities and Desert (one-way)

Day 1: City tour of Fes

Our visit starts by at the Royal Palace gate, next to the Jewish headquarters of the 16th century Mellah, the first ever built in Morocco. We will show you as many sites of cultural and historical interest as possible, including the famous Al Karaouine University, the oldest in the region, the much-photographed Tanneries, the Attarine museum and the Mulay Idriss mausoleum.

After lunch, you will visit Fes Tile and Mosaic Cooperative and then enjoy the wonderful panoramic view over the whole medina of Fes before visiting the new city “La ville nouvelle” for a drink.

Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Fes – Volubilis – Meknes

After a leisurely breakfast in your hotel we will head to Volubilis where we will visit Roman ruins dating from 25BC; some of the mosaics are still in very good condition. The ruins remained substantially intact until they were devastated by an earthquake in the mid-18th century and by Moroccan rulers subsequently looting the site for stone to reuse in building Meknes. We will have plenty of time to explore this interesting site before continuing our route to Meknes.

In Meknes, also known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will have the opportunity of seeing the famous gate dedicated to Bab Mansour, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Mulay Ismail Mausoleum.

Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Meknes.

Day 3: Meknes – Rabat

We will leave the hotel after breakfast and set off for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Our first stop will be a visit to the Mausoleum, a famous building constructed in memory of His Majesty King Mohamed V, built of white marble, cedar wood and adorned with bronze decorations.

We will also visit the mosque and tower of Hassan, with its 200 columns and minaret constructed of beautiful rose stone as well as the environs of the Royal Palace.

Dinner and overnight stay in your hotel.

Day 4: Rabat – Casablanca

Today we leave Rabat and travel to the world-famous city of Casablanca. Old Casablanca was known as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, however modern Casablanca is the vibrant, industrial capital of Morocco.

We will visit the exterior of the Royal Palace with its immense entrance doors, walk around the elegant Anfa district and take a stroll along the Corniche - the boulevard which runs alongside the sea.

You will have the option of seeing inside the Hassan II Mosque, if time permits (it closes sharp at 14:00).

Dinner and overnight stay in your hotel.

Day 5: Casablanca – Marrakech

After breakfast in your hotel we will head towards magical Marrakech. Our journey will take approximately 5 hours, including stops for refreshments and lunch, so we will arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon.

After checking-in at your hotel, you will have a few hours to either relax or have alook around the area.

At 20:00 we will meet at your hotel and go together to the world famous Jemaa El Fna to absorb the incredible atmosphere created by drummers, street vendors, story-tellers and the food stalls where you will have dinner.

Hotel overnight.

Day 6: Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Zagora

Our day begins with a drive across the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi N’Tichka, which is at 2,260m above sea level. Then we will continue to the old Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.

This is the largest kasbah in Morocco, built by T-hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains during the beginning of the 20th century. It used to be one of his stops during his long travels from the Sahara to Marrakech. It is now one of UNESCO’s heritage sites.

Next we go south until we reach the Anti Atlas, following the Draa Valley to Zagora. There we will mount our camels for our onward journey into the desert.

We will watch the sunset and spend an unforgettable evening in the company of the kind and hospitable nomadic people of the desert. We will take a dinner of Moroccan food and sleep in traditional tents. An evening of memories which will last a lifetime.

Day 7: Zagora – Ramlia - Ouzina

You will be woken very early so that you can mount your camels in time to cross the dunes to watch the spectacular sunrise.

Once back at the hotel and after a refreshing shower, we will resume our journey towards Ouzina, along the route of the Paris-Dakar rally. En route we will pass through various Berber towns and villages, such as Ramlia.

In the afternoon we will arrive at your accommodation in Ouzina and, in the evening, you will enjoy a traditional Berber dinner.

Day 8: Ouzina – Merzouga – Rissani – Dades Gorge

After breakfast we travel towards Erg Chebbi as far as Merzouga where we will drive across some of the highest dunes in all Morocco. Next we will visit Rissani where the Berbers hold a large market three times a week, selling all manner of things; clothing, household wares, farm produce and live animals.

Leaving Rissani we drive to Todra Gorges where the sides of the gorge are up to 160m high and, in places, the gorge is only 10 metres wide. Here we'll take a stroll along the floor of the gorge before continuing to Dades Gorge.

Dinner and overnight stay in your hotel in Dades Gorge.

Day 9: Dades Gorge - Kasbah Taourirte - Marrakech

Our day begins with a visit to Kasbah Taourirte which is an impressive structure in the centre of Ouarzazate. After leaving Ouarzazate we will drive across the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’ Tichka, which is at 2,260m above sea level.

Finally we continue our journey until we arrive in Marrakech in the early evening.