10 Day Grand Tour from Marrakech to Desert and Blue City

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    Tour Details

    Overview

    Explore the very best of Morocco on this grand 10 day journey starting in Marrakech and ending in Tangier. Your adventure begins with the coastal charm of Essaouira and a deep dive into the historic palaces and vibrant souks of Marrakech with a local guide. You will then cross the High Atlas Mountains to visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and the stunning Dades Valley. The highlight of the trip is an authentic Sahara experience in Merzouga, featuring a sunset camel trek and a night in a luxury desert camp under the stars. After exploring the desert dunes and meeting local nomads, the tour continues north through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to the spiritual heart of Fes. You will enjoy a guided walking tour of the ancient Fes Medina before visiting the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes. Finally, immerse yourself in the famous blue painted streets of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains before concluding your trip with a convenient transfer to Tangier.

    Customizable Tours:

    Our tours are carefully designed by us to provide an authentic and memorable Morocco experience. Every itinerary can be fully customized to suit your interests, schedule, and travel style. Whether you want to add extra destinations, adjust the pace, or focus on specific activities, we can modify the tour to meet your personal needs, ensuring a unique journey tailored just for you.

    Highlights

    • Scenic trip to the coastal town of Essaouira to explore its historic fishing port and ancient ramparts.
    • Guided tour of Marrakech highlights including the Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and Koutoubia Mosque.
    • Breathtaking drive across the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi-N-Tichka pass.
    • Exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage site Ait Ben Haddou, featured in Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
    • Walk through the spectacular towering red cliffs of Todra Gorges and the lush Dades Valley.
    • Peaceful camel trek across the Merzouga dunes to witness a magical Sahara sunset.
    • Overnight stay in a luxury desert camp with authentic Berber hospitality and campfire music.
    • Off-road desert adventure to visit nomad families and enjoy Gnaoua music in Khamlia village.
    • Stops at the scenic Ziz Valley and the cedar forest to see wild Barbary Macaque monkeys.
    • Full guided tour of Fes, including the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, and the ancient Medina.
    • Visit to the oldest university in the world and the iconic Chouara Tanneries in Fes.
    • Discovery of the well preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes.
    • Exploration of the famous blue painted alleyways and unique atmosphere of Chefchaouen.
    • Beautiful drive through the Rif Mountains ending with a convenient transfer to Tangier.

    Price Includes

    • Minibus or 4WD with air conditioning
    • Transportation to and from the hotel
    • An Expert or Qualified Driver (Multilingual)
    • Scholarly Reference for Art Historians
    • It's quite OK to pull over for picture ops at any time.
    • Traveling by Camel
    • Typically, you eat two meals a day, lunch and dinner.

    Price Excludes

    • Expenses incurred for tips and gratuities
    • Discretionary pursuits.
    • Any Private Expenses
    • Tips
    Itinerary

    Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

    Your 10 day Morocco adventure starts with a pickup from the Marrakech airport. We take a short drive through the city to reach your accommodation, where you will spend your first night in a traditional Moroccan riad.

    Day 2:Marrakech - Essaouira

    After breakfast, we travel west to the Atlantic coast and the town of Essaouira. On the way, we visit an Argan oil cooperative where you can see how this famous oil is produced and often spot goats climbing the local trees. Once in Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, you have free time to explore the historic fishing port, the old medina, and the ancient sea walls lined with cannons.

    Day 3:Essaouira - Marrakech Guided Tour

    e return to Marrakech for a guided tour of the city’s most famous landmarks. You will explore the 19th century Bahia Palace and the stunning Ben Youssef Madrasa, known for its incredible Islamic architecture. The walk continues through the lively souks of the Medina, ending at the vibrant Jamaa El Fna Square and the landmark Koutoubia Mosque.

    Day 4: Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Valley

    We depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n Tichka pass, stopping for photos of the Berber villages and mountain peaks. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, a famous fortified village used in movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. After lunch in Ouarzazate, we drive through the Skoura palm groves and the Rose Valley to reach our hotel in Boumalne Dades.

    Day 5: Dades Valley - Todra Gorges - Merzouga Sahara - Luxury Camp

    Our journey continues toward the Sahara. We stop at the Todra Gorges, a massive canyon with high red cliffs, where you can walk along the river. After passing through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad, we arrive at the Merzouga dunes. From here, you will ride camels across the sand to watch a beautiful desert sunset. The night is spent at a luxury desert camp with dinner and traditional Berber music around a campfire.

    Day 6: Merzouga Region - Nomads - Khamlia - Merzouga Lake

    Waking up early to see the desert sunrise is a highlight of the trip. After breakfast, we explore the Merzouga region by 4×4. We visit an ancient mine and meet local nomads in their traditional tents to learn about their lifestyle over tea. We also stop at Khamlia village to experience live Gnaoua music performed by locals with sub Saharan roots. Later, we visit the Merzouga lake and a local palm grove before checking into a riad near the dunes.

    Day 7: Merzouga - Erfoud - Midelt - Cedar Forest - Fes

    We leave the desert and stop in Rissani to visit its traditional market. In Erfoud, we visit a fossil workshop to see how ancient marble is crafted. We then drive through the Ziz Valley and stop for lunch in Midelt. The route continues through the cedar forest where you can meet wild Barbary Macaques. After a stop in Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco, we arrive in Fes for the night.

    Day 8: Fes Guided Sightseeing Tour

    Today is dedicated to exploring Fes, the cultural capital of Morocco. The tour starts with a drive to the Royal Palace Gate and the Mellah, or Jewish Quarter. We visit a local ceramic school and take in the panoramic views from the Borj Sud fortress. Afterward, we walk through the medieval Medina, a UNESCO site, to see the Al Quaraouiyine University, the oldest in the world, and the famous Chouara Tanneries.

    Day 9: Fes - Meknes - Volubilis Ruins - Chefchaouen

    We travel to the imperial city of Meknes to see the Bab Al Mansour gate and the Royal stables. Next, we visit the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis, home to well preserved mosaics and ancient arches. The drive then takes us north through the mountains to Chefchaouen, the famous Blue City. You will have the evening to wander its blue painted streets and relax in a local riad.

    Day 10: Chefchaouen - Tangier Airport Transfer

    On the final day, we drive through the scenic Rif Mountains toward Tangier. Depending on your flight schedule, you can spend more time in the blue alleys of Chefchaouen or take a quick tour of Tangier before we drop you off at the airport for your departure.

    Photos