12 Days Imperial Cities and Desert Tour

this day will be devoted to visiting the largest and most important city in Morocco and Africa, economically and demographically. Where we will visit one of the largest mosques in the world called the Hassan II Mosque, which is 200 meters high, and it is the only mosque in the country that a non-Muslim tourist can visit. After visiting the mosque, we will head to Rabat, the official capital of Morocco and the second largest city.

It serves as the country’s capital and hosts all foreign embassies. Located at the mouth of the Bouregreg River on the Atlantic Ocean, Rabat has merged with the neighboring cities of Temara and Salé to form a metropolitan area with a population of more than 1.8 million people.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the brand offers an exciting mix of old and new in glass, and visitors will find a modern metropolis captured by Paris’s many cultural-historical landmarks to explore such as the Kasbah of Audi, the mausoleums of Mohammed V and Hassan II.

After spending the night in Rabat, we will continue on to Meknes, an important historical city and a popular tourist destination listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meknes is famous for its close relations with Sultan Moulay Ismail, who was responsible for building the city walls.

The impressive gates as well as other attractions such as El Hedim Square, Hiri Souani, Meknes Royal Golf Course, Dar Jama’i (the palace now used as a museum of Moroccan art), Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, and Habas Qara (underground). Prison), Meknes City Mosque, and others. We will continue driving to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage complex. By then we head to spend the night in Fez, dinner and overnight on the road.

We will visit Fes the oldest imperial city in Morocco, the city that was the capital of Morocco until 1925. The modern Turkish name for Morocco, Fez, originally referred only to the capital.

The city has two ancient cities, the largest of which is Fes el-Bali. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is believed to be one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. The Al-Qarawiyyin School, founded in 859 AD, is considered the oldest continuous school in the world.

The city has been called the “Mecca of the West” and the “Athens of Africa.” The Marinid Tombs located on the edge of the valley will give you a stunning overview of the city. The Boujloud Gardens are a real haven, with an outdoor café and plenty of picnic spots.

we will continue on to Ifrane Malkaba (Switzerland, Morocco), a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region as well as the animals that can be found in the vicinity including the endangered Barbary macaque.

Among the native tree species are the native Atlas cedar, scrub oak, and the introduced London plane. We will cross the Ziz Valley and its necks, passing through some cities such as Midelt, the city known for its delicious apples, and we will pass through Erfoud, the city of Hafriat, before arriving in Merzouga, where we will stay in a hotel close to the valley.

After breakfast we will drive our 4×4 vehicle to tour around the sand dunes and explore the area. First, we will visit the village of Tissardmin and see some fossils in the rocks, after that we will continue to visit a Bedouin family and drink tea with them, after that we will pass through Khamliya, a village originally from Mali who earn their living through local handicrafts; The best gift for them is a concert of Gnawa music performed by them.

After a 10-minute drive, we will check into our hotel in Merzouga, and ride a caravan of camels to the foot of the great sand dunes where you can watch a beautiful desert sunset, local music and dancing and after that, a stunning blanket of stars.

After seeing the sunrise, we will return to civilization and drive our 4×4 jeep to continue our tour. We will pass through Rissani, which is the first imperial city in Morocco and the origin of the Alaouite dynasty. It was also one of the king’s family, whose name is Moulay Ali Sharif.

The residents of the city of Rissani speak the Arabic language, and they have a popular market to which all the villages surrounding the city come to buy their needs there of vegetables, clothes… and spices, which are also specific to this city. Head to the other town called Erfoud where fossils are transformed into beautiful furniture, home decor and personal items like bracelets, key chains and necklaces.

We continue driving until we reach Tinerhir, the place where the Todra Gorge is located, and we will visit the mountains there, which are the main place for climbers and bikers. We will continue until we reach Boumaline Dades. After one hour, we will settle in the hotel and spend the night in Kasbah.

After visiting the Dades Gorge, we will head towards the Valley of Roses in Kelaat M’Gouna, where we will have the opportunity to explore the homeland of roses, whose petals are used in perfumes, lotions and oils. By then, we will head to Ouarzazate where a solar project will provide up to 1.1 million Moroccans with a source of clean renewable energy by 2018.

Before we return to Marrakech via the High Atlas Mountains, we will stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou where the population still lives Within these walls as well as in the surrounding Berber villages. In this palace. They have filmed a lot of movies like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Prince of Arabia…. After that, we will head to Marrakech, giving you free time to enjoy the city and its beauty, dinner and overnight on the road.

This day will be devoted to visiting the Red City, the most attractive city for tourists in Morocco with all its scents and colors. The tour will start early in the morning; You will visit gardens, mosques and castles such as Bahia Castle. You will also visit the madrasa, an ancient Quranic school and cemeteries. Finally, you will find yourself in the famous Jemaa El Fna Square, have dinner and overnight on the road.

After breakfast and after 3 hours of driving, we will arrive in the city of Essaouira in the Souss Valley, where only the argan tree grows, from which argan oil is extracted. In the city, the women’s cooperatives that manage this sector market this famous oil. Skin moisturizing and anti-aging: Its properties have been proven. To learn about another side of local crafts, visit Chabanel Street, accessible from the Bab Marrakech stronghold, and its weaving workshops that produce wool blankets that can be either light brown or brightly colored.

Then I also noticed the scaffold of the Kasbah, the ancient artillery platform of the city’s sea walls, and the view of the scaffold of the port, the ocean coast and the city, which is a World Heritage Site listed for construction. At street level, in the crystal clear view of the clock tower, some of Morocco’s finest parquet craftsmen handcraft sandalwood with ancestral precision. After dinner and city visit we will return to your hotel, radio and overnight in Riyadh.

After breakfast, head to El Jadida near the coastal road. We will pass through the city of Oualidia and Safi, famous for its beautiful pottery, until we reach El Jadida, where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the Old Town, an ancient Portuguese fortress declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and known for its great castle and fortresses. After that, we will continue our trip to Casablanca, the economic capital of our country Morocco, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

we will head to Mohammed V Airport (depending on your flight time).

It’s advisable to drink bottled water, avoid consuming unpeeled fruits or raw vegetables from street vendors, and ensure up-to-date routine vaccinations. Consult with a healthcare professional regarding specific travel health recommendations.

The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is the official currency. While credit cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants, and shops, it’s advisable to carry cash, especially in more remote areas and markets where card acceptance may be limited.

Desert tours often include camel rides in the Sahara, overnight stays in desert camps, visits to traditional Berber villages, stops at iconic landmarks like Ait Benhaddou, and opportunities to witness stunning sunsets and sunrises amidst the dunes.

Imperial cities tours typically include visits to Marrakech, Fes, Rabat, and Meknes, each offering unique historical sites such as the Jardin Majorelle, the Medina of Fes, the Hassan Tower, and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.