11 days: desert trip from tanger to Marrakech

Day 1: Tanger – Chefchoun

Meet our driver and drive for 2 hours to arrive chefchaouen in the Rif mountains, 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 Andalusian 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,Spend the rest of the day exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of the medina, the shops in the square (Outa hmam)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. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax or explore more of the town. Within the plaza is the walled fortress of the Kasbah – you can wander through the tranquil gardens inside, visit the ethnographic museum, and soak in wonderful views from the rooftop. Alternatively, you might prefer to get out of town and enjoy a short hike in the surrounding hills,overnight at chefchoun.

Day2: chefchoun –volubilis –meknas –fes

after breakfast, Descend from the hills and travel south through the centre of the peninsula towards the sacred pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss, From here it’s a short journey out to 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 Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact The reward for walking in the sun lies in an incredibly memorable lunch of traditional Roman recipes in the shadow of the ancient ruins. Recline on Moroccan Kilims and dine on local ingredients, much like the Romans did a thousand years ago. Once forbidden to non-Muslims,your next stop at Meknes cityvisit the massive ramparts and king mouly ismael mosque and stables built to accomlmodate 12 000 horses and bab mansour (very old gate ) , continue to fes for overnight .

Day 3: Fes city tour

With our profesional guide you’ll have a wonderful day , he will take you to the most tourist placesin Fes city , there is many historical citses to explore ; such as “Karaouine university” (the acient one in the wolrd) and “Medrassa bouanania”, souk , panoramic view on “ Idriss 2 corner” , bab boujloud ; the UNESCO site of world culture , acient Fes fences ,Attarin school , Norte tower ,Annajarin, dar bathaa, leather tanners , and ceramic factory, in addition to visit the royal palace ,and the Jeuisch 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.

Day 4 :  fes – ifran – midelt – ziz valley- erfoud – merzouga

This day we will meet different colors 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 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 colored 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 desert camp .

Day 5: merzouga –errissani-todgha gorges-dades valley

After a local breakfast we will pass through Errissani 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 center. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. It was noted for its leather and goat skin trading in ancient ages.

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 among those fabulous canyons. We then continue to Dades valley.

Day 6: dades valley-ouarzazat-ait ben haddou-Marrakech

Our first  visit for today to one of those kasbahs is scheduled by seeing Amridil Kasbah. We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley another valley called valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival eachend of April. Getting to 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).

We start our day visiting the fortified city 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 a hill 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). Drive to Marrakech in the afternoon across the Atlas mountains

Day 7 : Marrakech city tour

At 10 am in your hotel/riad the local guid  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. Then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore further or shop in the bazaar. Perhaps visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, once one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, perhaps head back into the medina, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift to buy. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practice your haggling skills or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine, filled with the pure scent of Morocco.in the evening you have option to back to your hotel or enjoying your time in jemaa el fna squire.

Day8: excursion to atlas mountains (ourika valley)

Ourika is an berber erea ; the original name is « Iwrikne », after the constraction of departement and opening of tourism bcome « Ourika », it’s a natural park in outskirts of Marrakech, it caracterized by wonderful waterfalls and attractive tourism, penatrates it a small river it source from the high atlas.

Begins from hotel to the famous place in ourika; “Setti Fadma region”,  via many small villages ,on your way you’ll have some time to take pictures for memories, camels is available, the Argan Coperative stops us on the way; where you can descover the method of producing the Argan oil and it’s extracts, Berber house is waiting for you to spend some beautiful time with an traditional berber family to learn about the ancient Morocco family stylife, then continue the path to high atlas where can you enjoy the amazing waterfalls view.

Day9: excursion to Essaouira city:

Essaouira  is one of the berber moroccan citys,, since there is no way to get bored. Due to the plenty activities you will be able to enjoy amazingly as Essaouira is well renowned for its kite surfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind. Horse riding, camel riding along the beach, quad biking are activities that one can enjoy while staying in Essaouira. It is known by the delicious seafood too.

In Essaouira, several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira is getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in the last week of June. It brings artists from all over the world. Although focused on Gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz and reggae. In the early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.

Along the half way between Essaouira and Marrakesh you will see enormous Argan tree on both sides of the road. These Argan trees are frequently climbed by goats. Argan oil is produced by several women’s cooperatives and it is used to prepare couscous, salads. Moreover it was traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases before being founded as good enough for cosmetics by Europeans manufacturers. Still stop by one of these cooperatives is worthy to see how Berber women squeezed the Argan fruits between hands to extract this precious oil. We arrive to our hotel in Marrakesh .

Day 10: weekly souk tour and cooking class

The workshops ,led by a (traditional Moroccan cook), is provided within the confines of home in small groups”maximum 10 peaple ) around a user-friendly material that can be found in the most simple kitchens , a tronslator (Arabic / english , arabic /french ) allows to all the details of the preparation and coocking . at the end of each workshop , participants enjoy the dishes  they haveprepared. A workshop of a half-day program to learn how to prepare starter and main course an dessert , depending on the choice of participants. Details  on request .

The telat ait ourir’s souk is the biggest weekly market in the region of marrakech – tensift – El haouz .each Tuesday; the villagers from the surounding “ DOUARS “ , go to the souk to shop for their households needs for the whole week . vegetabels , spices , animals, clothes , plants , construction materials … ,

The souk is divided into sections or rahbah’s where a specific product is sold or a service is provided .

Day 11: AIRPORT TRANSFER(Marrakech or casablanca)

today after breakfast, we have arranged a private airport transfer ,you will be advised of the pick-up time and you are free to leave at any time.