Day 1: ARRIVAL IN CASABLANCA
Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport when you will arrive. After settling in at your hotel you might like to see some of the sights of Casablanca, including Rick’s Cafe where Casablanca was filmed and the Corniche (AKA the Miami Beach of Casablanca) — a promenade that runs along the coast. Your guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about Casablanca throughout the tour. Overnight in a hotel in Casablanca. Meals not included on this day

After breakfast, we will hit the road in a new 4×4, the most efficient mode of transport for our tour. After a 1 hour and 15 minute drive, we will arrive in the modern and laid-back city of Rabat, the capital of Morocco. With your guide you will see the ancient Hassan Tower, then we will wander around the Oudayas Kasbah inside the fortress citadel, taking in the stunning Andalusian gardens and acropolis with an amazing ocean view. You will then enjoy a delicious lunch before continuing our drive on to Chefchaouen, the stronghold of the Rif Mountains and one the most beautiful towns in Morocco. Stay overnight in an hotel or a riad. Meals included: breakfast and dinner

This beautiful blue town will give you all the fairytale vibes. You will have a full day to explore this delightful place with its steep and narrow streets and white, lime-washed buildings. You will walk around visit the spring of Ras El Maa, the square at the heart of the old town and the Medina, with its maze of alleyways containing more than 100 weavers’ workshops – Chefchaouen is famous for the woolen jellabas that are hand-woven here. In the evening for a different view of the town you will climb to the top of the Medina and watch the sun set. Stay overnight in a hotel or riad. Meals included: breakfast

On your way to Fèz you will stop in Volubilis, one of the former Empire’s most remote outposts, where you will explore the ruins of this Roman city. Then you will see Meknes, the holy pilgrimage city of Moulay Idriss, visit the beautiful Tomb of Moulay Ismail, the granary and the Sahrij Souani, the Square of Lehdim and the ancient Bab Mansour– one of the most exquisite ornamental gates in all of Morocco. And Hiri es-Souani, a stable which holds up to 12,000 horses. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch on the top of a restaurant terrace before we continue on to Fez. Accommodation at a riad. Meals included: Breakfast

Fez is a fascinating mix of past and present and a treasure chest of exotic charm on this Best of Morocco tour. To unravel the intricacies of the nine thousand streets and alleyways of the UNESCO-protected Medina would take a lifetime, but your local guide will show you the city’s most special parts, including the Fondouk Nejjarine, the tanneries, the Mellah/Jewish Quarter, the famous Al karaouine University and the various craft souks. You will feel like you have traveled back to medieval times. Stay overnight in a riad. Meals included: breakfast and lunch

Today includes a long drive but shows the visual wealth of Morocco. First we will stop in Ifrane (AKA “the Moroccan Switzerland”), developed during the French protectorate to escape from the summer heat. Then on to Azrou passing through Tizi n t’lghamt pass in the Middle Atlas Mountains. You will have plenty of stops to take pictures, and take lunch in Midelt before you continue your tour in Ziz Valley, the largest producer of dates in Morocco, where you will have the opportunity for a short stroll among the date palms. Then, it’s onward to Erfoud for the night. Stay over night in a hotel. Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Today we will head towards Merzouga, the gateway to the golden dunes of the Sahara Desert. You will have enough time to explore the old irrigation system in the desert and have the chance to pack an overnight bag before choosing your favorite camel to take you into the sandy seas. After your hour-long camel ride, you will take in the sunset over the Saharan dunes. The Sahara at night has a whole different kind of magic to offer. Here you will gather around the fire under the stars and listen to the beat of drums played by the Berbers. You will spend the night in a Nomad-style tent in a private area complete with bathroom facilities, beds, blankets and sheets, as well as lush Moroccan carpets covering the sand. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning you will get up early to enjoy the beauty of the desert sunrise. Make sure you grab some photos before get on your camel and ride back to your hotel, where you will have a hot shower and breakfast before driving towards Dades Gorge, via Rissani–a traditional town which was the old meeting place of the Caravans trading as far as Timbuctou in Mali. Here you will see a lot of veiled men and women. Continuing on to Todra gorges – the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco — where we will stop and enjoy a short walk. After lunch we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you will see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Stay overnight in a hotel. Meals included: breakfast and dinner

After leaving the gorge, you will visit semi-nomadic families in their caves before traveling on to Skoura, the valley of Kasbahs, home to one of the strongholds of the Glaoui family who once ruled the south of Morocco. It is an awesome place for a stroll around the oasis. You’ll then make your way to Ourzazat, AKA the Hollywood of Africa, and stop in the Atlas film studios. After lunch you will continue your drive to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved Kasbas in the entire Atlas region. Don’t be surprised if you feel as if you are stepping into an ancient world, as the Kasbah has been the backdrop to many historical films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Temptation of Christ, and Gladiator. Stay overnight in a hotel Meals included: breakfast and dinner

After breakfast we will retrace the ancient route of the camel trains on their arduous journey from Timbuktu to Marrakech, bearing gold, spices and slaves. Will drive through Tizi-n Tichka pass (7,350 ft) and its zigzags. You will have the opportunity to visit Telouet, a lesser-visited Kasbah and the once rich and powerful throne of the Gloaui family whose vast wealth came from the levies charged to the camel trains that passed through their territory. After lunch, we will continue our drive to the red city of Marrakech where you will have some free time to explore the magical medina at your leisure. Stay overnight in a hotel or riad. Meals included: breakfast

Your “best of Morocco” adventure continues today with a private guided tour to discover the secrets of Marrakech. Step back in time as your guide tells you about the history of the city’s glorious monuments, sharing tales of a culture whose daily rhythm has changed little over the centuries. This ancient city has a lot to reveal. You will have the unique opportunity to explore the Saadian tombs, the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia palace, the souk of the city. Then you will see the famous square of the medina, the busiest square in all of Africa, filled with vibrant sounds, colors and aromas. In the afternoon, you will have free time to walk around and discover other places of the city by yourself or just relax in your riad/hotel. Stay overnight in a hotel or riad. Meals included: breakfast

After breakfast, we will make the 3-hours drive to the port town of Essaouira. It is a beach city on the west coast and one of the calmest and most pleasant places in all Morocco. On the way you will be able to photograph goats climbing in argan trees, visit a local women’s cooperative and learn how the fine cosmetic products are locally made out of the rich argan oil. Once you arrive at the port city of Essaouira, you will explore the beautiful city and its beach with your guide. Here you will take in the charming sights of Essaouira, including its white-colored walls, the beautiful Moulay El Hassan square, the harbor with its fishing port and old Portuguese fortifications, the souks, and the beautiful small streets of the city’s ancient Medina. Stay overnight in a hotel or riad. Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Today is your free day to just relax or wander the city’s charming sandstone streets. Your guide will also offer advice on the best ways to spend the day. Sit back and watch the kite surfers ride the crashing waves or explore Essaouira’s magnificent coast on horseback. You can also discover the taste of Morocco in a cooking class or head outside the city to the beautiful surroundings on a day trip. Stay overnight hotel or riad. Meals included: breakfast

Depending on your plans, we will drive you either to Casablanca center or the airport. Here we will say farewell to this “best of Morocco” tour and we hope you enjoyed every moment of your journey with us! Meals included: breakfast