Casablanca to Essaouira - 13 Days
PRIVATE TOUR: Combining the best of culture and coastal bliss, this two week tour of Morocco ensures you won't miss out on any of the key sights - the Imperial Cities of Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Meknes, the dunes of the Sahara, ancient ruins and more, and then rewards you with a few days of rest and relaxation the Atlantic Coast in Essaouira.
Tour Highlights
Casablanca - Begin your trip in the beautiful city of Casablanca, and return later to visit the iconic Hassan II Mosque
Marrakech - Explore sensual Djemaa el Fna, Koutoubia Mosque and the charming rose coloured medina
Ait Benhaddou - Stroll through the narrow streets of this UNESCO-listed kasbah, which has starred in many iconic movies
Todra Gorge - Admire the towering 1,000-foot cliffs of this beautiful gorge, which changes colour as the sun moves across the sky
Sahara Desert - Ride a camel or jeep into the Erg Chebbi sand dunes and star gaze the Sahara skies
Fes - Delve into the world's oldest medieval city, home to a network of winding alleys, dye pits, tanneries and stunning city walls
Meknes - Visit this former imperial city, now known by many as the 'Versailles of Morocco'
Rabat - Tour the highlights of the Moroccan capital, including Chellah necropolis and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Volubilis - Marvel at these well-preserved Roman ruins, which date all the way back to the year AD40
Essaouira - Spend three nights relaxing in this coastal city, home to a pretty medina, whitewashed houses, and great shopping
Day 1 - Welcome to Casablanca
Upon arrival at the airport in Casablanca, you’ll be met and transferred to our hotel in the city. The remainder of the day is free for you enjoy at your own leisure. Why not find a restaurant in town to try the local cuisine?
Overnight - Casablanca
Day 2 - Marrakech
Casablanca - Marrakech. This morning after breakfast we head to Marrakech. On arrival you will embark on a guided city tour of Marrakech. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the city.
Overnight - Marrakech
Meals - Breakfast
Day 3 - Ait Benhaddou
Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate. Departing the city this morning we travel across the plains of haouz and reach the great High Atlas mountains. Climbing over the pass of Tizi n Tichka, we stop for lunch and then continue onwards with great views over the Mountains and valleys to Ait Benhaddou. This incredible ancient fortified Kasbah was built for defence purposes high on a hill and is a stunningly well preserved medieval city which has famously featured in many blockbuster movies, including Gladiator and Laurence of Arabia as its beauty is unequal to any other fortified kasbah in south Morocco. Carrying on we continue south to the Hollywood of North Africa – Ouarzazate (pronounced war-zazat). Ouarzazate is famous for being the filming location for many other Hollywood blockbusters and famous TV shows including James Bond – The Living Daylights, The Mummy and more recently Game of Thrones.
Overnight - Ouarzazate
Meals - Breakfast
Day 4 - Sahara
Ouarzazate - Todra Gorge - Merzouga (Sahara). This morning we begin our journey into the Sahara with a medley of palm trees, rose fields and magnificent gorges. Travelling from Ouarzazate, there is a possibility of visiting the kasbah Amherdhil in Skoura before seeing the rose fields and reaching scenic Todra Gorge. Surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs reaching heights of 1000ft, it is known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. After time to wander through Todra we hit the road again for Merzhouga – our base before we head into the Sahara. We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night camping in the Sahara. If you would prefer to take a Jeep to the Berber camp, this can be arranged locally through your guide at no additional cost.
Overnight - Berber Camp
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Merzouga
Merzouga (Sahara) - Fes. Departing early, we climb back on our camels disembarking for a truly stunning sunrise. After freshening up and breakfast in Merzouga we’re back on the road heading for Fes. It’s a long drive today however there is a lot to see on the way. We’ll pass through cedar forests full of Barbary Macaque monkeys on our way through the Moyen Atlas mountains. Just before Fes we stop at Ifrane – a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort. Along the way we also start to see our first glimpse of Morocco’s nomadic Berbers – travelling across the mountains and often staying in make shift tents as they head to their next destination. We arrive into Fes in the early evening.
Overnight - Fes
Meals - Breakfast
Day 6 - Fes
Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world and its medina is a cacophony of aromas, sights and sounds. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el Bali - the old walled city. This fascinating medina is a veritable rabbit warren of 9400 alleys that often finish with dead ends – so be sure to stay close to the guide. We also visit the dye-pits and tanneries before lunch in the medina. The remainder of the day is at leisure – why not take part in an optional Tagine Making Class or a night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town (both payable locally).
Overnight - Fes
Meals - Breakfast
Day 7 - Volubilis & Meknes
Fes - Volubilis - Meknes - Rabat. Departing Fes this morning we visit the fascinating UNESCO listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, which date back to AD40. Continuing on we stop at the Imperial City of Meknes, which became known as the Versailles of Morocco due to its impressive buildings and elaborate monuments. After lunch and some free time our final stop of the day is Rabat – Morocco’s capital where we overnight.
Overnight - Rabat
Meals - Breakfast
Day 8 - Rabat & Casablanca
Rabat - Casablanca - Marrakech. This morning we take a guided tour of Rabat and visit some of the capital’s highlights, including the impressive Chellah - a necropolis and complex of ancient, medieval ruins, the Royal Palace and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After lunch we continue to Casablanca where we visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and is the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. After our visit to the mosque we drive on to Marrakech for the night.
Overnight - Marrakech
Meals - Breakfast
Day 9 - Essaouira
Marrakech - Essaouira. Today we have a leisurely morning before starting our journey to Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic Coast via private transfer, and upon arrival enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Why not find a restaurant in the charming old town and try the local cuisine.
Overnight - Essaouira
Meals - Breakfast
Day 10-12 - Free time in Essaouira
Essaouira - Casablanca. Spend the next three days exploring the sights and delights of Essaouira at your own pace. Set on the rugged shores of the breezy Atlantic Coast, this charming seaside city offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. While away the days here exploring its winding streets lined with whitewashed houses, picking your way through the shops in its ancient medina, or sitting at an ocean-facing restaurant sipping on a cup of coffee. During the warmer months why not try some water sports too, as the windy shores here offer ideal conditions for wind and kite surfing. On the evening of day 12 a private transfer will take you back to Casablanca for the night.
Overnight - Essaouira (2) & Casablanca (1)
Meals - Breakfast x 3
Day 13 - Casablanca
Our amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. An included onward departure transfer to Casablanca airport will be provided.
Meals - Breakfast
Included:
Breakfast daily
12 nights accommodation
Guided sightseeing - Casablanca, Rabat, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech
Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 13
All transportation and transfers in private air-conditioned tourism vehicles
Not Included:
International or domestic flights and visas
Personal travel insurance Personal expenses
Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow Euro 4-5 per day or part thereof, per traveler for your guide and Euro 3-4 per day, per traveler for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture.
Entrance Fees: Euro 55-75pp, paid in local currency
Please Note:
The price may vary depending on the level of accommodation you choose & season of travel. If you prefer to arrange your own accommodation, we will happily provide you with a quote for transportation only.
