Imperial cities & Great south from Casablanca XM25-20

Day 1: Casablanca

Welcome at Mohammed V airport by Atlas Voyages staff. Brief review of the tour during your transfer to the hotel. Check-in, dinner and accommodation. (PS: The hotel’s restaurant closes at 10:30 PM. No possibility of dinner served in the room)

Day 2: Casablanca Rabat

Soft awakening before heading up to the monuments of Morocco’s economic capital city, Casablanca: The Mohamed V square, the exterior of the impressive Hassan II Mosque, the residential area of Anfa, the unique Habous district and the exterior of the Royal Palace. Optional (FB Basis): lunch in local restaurant. Continuation to Rabat the Administrative capital of the country for a City tour: the Royal Palace, (Mechouar), the Oudaya Kasbah, the Mohamed V mausoleum, the Hassan Tower. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3: Rabat Meknes Fez

Departure to Meknes and visit of the Ismalian capital, famous for its 40 km long walls, visit of Bab Mansour, and the Jewish quarter. Optional (FB Basis): Lunch at a typical Moroccan Restaurant. Continuation to visit the impressive ruins of the Roman city Volubilis with photo stop in the holy city of Moulay Idriss. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Fez.

Day 4: Fez

The whole day is devoted to the city-sightseeing of Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco: the medieval Medina and the Bou Anania Medersa, the Nejjarine fountain, the Foundouq Nejjarine : Museum of woods, Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the outside of Karaouine mosque. Optional (FB Basis): Moroccan lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Medina. Afternoon: visit of the esplanade of the Royal Palace with its sumptuous golden door and then sightseeing of Fez Jdid. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 5: Fez – Beni Mellal – Marrakech

Departure to Marrakesh passing by the Berber village of Immouzer Kandar and Ifrane (In case of bad weather, the itinerary can be modified via Khenifra). Optional (FB Basis): Lunch and a moment of relaxation in Beni Mellal, one of the agricultural centres of Morocco. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 6: Marrakesh

Visit of historical Marrakesh famous by its beautiful palaces and monuments: the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Minaret and Menara Gardens. Lunch in an old palace in the medina (FB basis). Afternoon: Explore Secret Garden; Rebuilt in the mid-19th century by an influential Caïd of Atlas. Complete our sightseeing with a stop at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square with its surrounding souks and handicraft quarters. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 7: Marrakech

Enjoy a full day at leisure or shopping at the souks for some optional excursions. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. ** The today’s lunch in not included in the FB supplement. **

Day 8: Marrakech

Enjoy a second full day at leisure or some optional excursions. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. ** The today’s lunch in not included in the FB supplement. **

Day 9: Marrakesh Kasbah Telouet Ounila Valley Ksar Ait Benhaddou Ouarzazate

Breakfast and early departure by 4WD to Ouarzazate by the main road that crosses the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260 m of high altitude) with a parade of varied and enchanting landscapes and small villages. Visit the sublime Kasbah of Telouet which is one of the oldest caravan routes to the Sahara, between Ait Benhaddou and Marrakesh. Optional lunch on site (FB Basis). Departure to Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, considered one of the best preserved Ksars of all of Southern Morocco. Arrival in Ouarzazate, panoramic visit of the city with stop in front of the Kasbah of Taourirt. Dinner and overnight at the host.

Day 10: Ouarzazate Tinghir Erfoud Merzouga

After Breakfast, road to Boumalne and EL Kelâa via the road of the thousand Kasbahs through Skoura. visit of Dades valley then continuation to Tinghir. Tinghir is famous for its magnificent Todra canyons whose rocks reach an altitude of 250 meters. After an optional Lunch (FB Basis) continuation to the track road till Merzouga. Dinner and accommodation at Berber tents right under a sky full of bright stars.

Day 11: Merzouga Khamlia Village Zagora

Early morning, enjoy a short walk to witness the sunrise over the sand dunes of Merzouga. After the unforgettable sunrise we return to the tent for breakfast and then we start an adventure in the desert to experience life in the region. We'll start with the trip around the dunes of Erg Chebbi sometimes pursue the tracks of the Paris-Dakar. We cross small villages and oases till the village of Khamlia known for their spiritual music of the Gnawa, old mines Mifis, local nomadic tent with tea hospitality and small fossils sites. After an optional lunch (FB basis), departure to Zagora. On the way, enjoy a tour in the great palm groves of Ziz visiting the Moulay Ali Cherfi Mausoleum. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 12: Zagora – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

After Breakfast, we head to Marrakech, from Agdz, leading through numerous villages and palm groves along the Drâa river before reaching Ouarzazate. Optional Lunch (FB Basis). Continuation via the Tizin ’tichka pass, to Marrakech. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 13: Marrakech

Transfer to the Airport, assistance with departure formalities.