Exploring Morocco: A Comprehensive 17 Days Journey from West to South, Casablanca,Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Enchanting Desert, the Majestic Atlas Mountains, and Marrakech

After breakfast, in Casablanca this City located in the Morocco's west coast, and is the largest city in Morocco, is a modern city with major French influence. An architectural treat, visit the popular Hassan II Mosque and admire its exquisite craftsmanship. Sitting pretty on an outcrop over the Atlantic Ocean, the Hassan II Mosque is estimated to house 25,000 worshippers inside with additional room for 80,000 in its courtyard. Unique to Morocco, Hassan II is one of few mosques where non-Muslims are permitted to enter. Feast your eyes on the intricate marble work, wood and stone carving, and gilded cedar ceilings ,the ain diab Corniche for a walk along the coast, Mohammed V square in the city centre. Then drive to Rabat for a brief tour that covers the entrance to the royal palace; visit the picturesque Kasbah des Oudayas overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Hassan tower, and enjoy the charming garden of Challa, surrounded by walls and beautiful defensive gates, built between 1310 and 1330, overnight at Rabat.

After breakfast in Rabat we will travel to Tangier. for the rest of the day to visit The Kasbah Museum, stop at the Caves of Hercules, where the mythological hero rested before performing his 11th labour, Cap Spartel and walk at Tangier Medina and beach

In the morning we leave Tangier to see a very different part of Morocco for few hours is the top north of Morocco (Fnidek – M’adiaq ) and is very similar to south Spain, then head to Tetouen.is a very nice City with  Islamic Andalusia architecture, where you will have a local guide to have chance to see almost all attractions in the city like  (Fadden square, Jewish neighbourhood mellah,have a walk in the old city with its 16th century walls and 7 gates , we can also see the Kasbah from the outside which was first built in 1286 and rebuilt again by sidi mindri in the 15th century). Afterward we will drive to reach Chefchaouen (the blue town); Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, the isolated town of Chefchaouen is a surprising delight. Much of Chefchaouen was recreated by Andalusia refugees escaping the Reconquistia, so its striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways give it the feel of the Spanish hills, Visit the famous Outa el Hammam square, Spend the rest of the day exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of the medina, the shops in the square selling woven goods and small sweets, and, most importantly, tasting the town’s famous goat’s cheese. Herds of goats wander the sparse hillsides that surround Chefchaouen, and their cheese is sold in great fresh rounds in the street markets. Within the plaza is the walled fortress of the Kasbah, visits the ethnographic museum, and soaks in wonderful views from the rooftop. All yourself because is a small and very save city, also the square at the heart of the town is really an ideal place to relax. Overnight at Chefchaouen  

After a relaxing breakfast we have 40 min driving to reach Akchour waterfalls (full of nature) and is a great site to walk and hike and enjoy a very traditional lunch beside the river,then back to the blue City again  free afternoon, half hour before the sunset you meet the driver again to take you to the highest point of the city to enjoy a coffee and sunset ,then overnight at Chefchaouen

after breakfast, Descend from the hills and travel south through the centre of the peninsula , stopping in Ouazzane, passing by spectacular scenery with cedar, oak and almond trees, towards the World Heritage site of Volubilis. The remains of this Roman city make an undeniably impressive sight as they come into view on the edge of a long, high plateau. Take a tour around the arches, basilicas, and superb mosaics along the Documents Maximums, many of which remain intact The reward for walking in the sun lies .your next stop at Meknes city visit the massive ramparts and king mouly ismael mosque and stables built to accommodate 12 000 horses and bab mansour (very old gate) , continue to fes for overnight .

With our professional guide you’ll have a wonderful day , he will take you to the most tourist places in Fes city , there is many historical sites to explore ; such as “Karaouine university” (the ancient one in the world) and “Medrassa bouanania”, souk , panoramic view on “ Idriss 2 corner” , bab boujloud ; the UNESCO site of world culture , ancient Fes fences ,Attiring school , Norte tower ,Annajarin, dar bathaa, leather tanners , and ceramic factory, in addition to visit the royal palace ,and the Jewish quarter (el mellah) , during the visit of the city you’ll have a lunch time in local restaurant , with our guide you’ll never  forget this tour , then after you finish your tour, return to the hotel /Riad. Overnight at Fes .

This day we will meet different colours of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Fes.  We will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran. This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by the king of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university. Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Zaida, then to Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red coloured sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi , From a vast plateau you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. Night and dinner at Hotel / Riad.

Our first Visit today is Errisani town; where the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan centre. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial centre in the region, 127 km from Errisani the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike or a walk among those fabulous canyons,then From the great canyons of Todgha we go to reach Dades Valley with the green colours of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes. Also visit Dades Girges and enjoy Tisdrin road .(a very nice night at Dades Valley) .

In this amazing journey we go south through the Saghro Maintains range to the village of N’koub  .the road crosses over the Tizi N’tazzazetre pass ,which has recently been asphalted to make this drive a unique experience .it is an area where far fewer tourists get chance to travel at . At N’koub we turn west to cross the Draa river at Tansikht here we turn south passing Oasis and Kasbahs beside the river then we continue driving through the largest valley in Morocco (draa valley) direction to Zagora ,the beginning of desert where you sleep in a very nice Riad and enjoy the aspect of a desert town (overnight at Zagora)

After breakfast, we take the road to reach Tamgrout, then we visit the original town of the 16th century dynasty (Saadian), Tamgroute, to visit the old Koran library and to see the ceramics the area is famous for. We arrive to the Saharan village of Mhamid before taking the off-road track to Erg Chegaga to ride the camels into the desert to see the sunset on top of the dunes. We will have a traditional tagine dinner, drink delicious mint tea, and listen to traditional Berber nomad music while watching the stars and the rising moon in the amazing Sahara desert. We will spend the night in a traditional nomad tent.

You will have an amazing and very different day in the desert ,after breakfast you will enjoy a 2 hours walk in the desert with one or 2 camels carrying water and things you need for lunch ,then you have lunch in side nowhere in the desert (pick nick lunch ) and then have a break tea in a Nomad family tent ,relax and walk again back to the camp ,if not you have also option to relax and have lunch at the camp and do just a little walk around or snadboarding .

In the morning wake up for a beautiful sunrise and panoramic desert horizon in the top of the dunes, before starting the journey back to M’hamid through the off-road. We will then follow the road trough Zagora, then take a nice drive through Draa Valley to reach Agdez and Tamnougaly Village where you will have chance for a nice lunch in a local family house and a 2 hours walk along the palmerie and visit the village, then spend night in the middle of the palm trees.

After breakfastm we drive crossing the Rocky Mountains of Ait Saouen and Tizi N’tnifift pass our destination is a City called Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century. Why this town is nicknamed as Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005) Afterward we reach the fortified town of Aït Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once up on a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on ahill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah. Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004). From this beautiful fortified house, then we head to a beautiful village of Tislday where you will have lunch in a local family house, then after lunch you go for a 2 hours walk in the mountains to visit an exceptional village called Ait IOuasis in the mountinas where people still very traditional and just typical, you go for tea in another local family house, then back to sleep in a guest house in Tislday village.

Q late start in the morning (maybe after your exercise) we start again to crosse the mountains of the High Atlas by the Tizin-Tichka (2260 m) which we offer extraordinary landscapes, and Berber villages, for sure with stops for pictures and coffee break, before you arrive to your accommodation in Marrakech; Overnight in Marrakech.

At 10 am in your hotel/riad the local guide set off on a morning tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace; This splendid mansion was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. Continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture. Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; its famous minaret is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. Also visit Majorel garden and Dar Bacha Misaim Then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore, or to relax at the hotel. In the evening you have option to stay at your hotel or enjoying your time in jemaa el fna squire. Or go for a special dinner.(night in Marrakech)

Drop off at Marrakech Menara Airport or Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca