Colorful, intens Morocco

Where: Marrakesch

Who: All ages

When: All seasons

What: Roundtrip

Included: Car 4x4, driver, guide, Riads, half board

Not included: Flight, lunch, drinks, admissions, insurance, tip

Bring: Comfortable shoes, warm- and rain clothes, camera, sun cream, sun glasses, hat, day bag, personal pharmacy

This is Morocco with all its facets. On the most beautiful routes through oases, villages, fields, in the golden desert, to the Atlantic coast and in the High Atlas. Here, landscapes merge with each other, but also the cultures of the Amazigh / Berbers and the Arabs

Marrakesch - Ifran - Fès - Mèknes - Midelt - Merzouga Desert - Tinghir/Todgha Gorges - Dades - Ouarzazate - Taroudannt - Agadir - Essaouira - Setti Fadma - Marrakesch

14 days / 13 nights

Day 1: 86km, 1.25h Casablanca - Rabat (depending on your arraving) we pick you up at the Airport of Casablanca and drive you to Rabat which is the capital and cultural capital of Morocco and one of the four royal cities. During the city tour we will visit the Royal Palace (exterior tour) and the government quarter. On the way to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, we can visit the burial place of the Merinid Sultans.

Day 2 330km, 6h Rabat – Meknès – Fès After breakfast we drive direction east to to Meknès it is located on a fertile plateau and is known for its 40 km long city wall with the magnificent city gates, as well as for the beautiful, authentic souks. Here we visit the probably most beautiful city gate of Morocco, the "Bab El Mansour". Towards late afternoon we will reach one of the king cities. Fèz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We get to your beautiful Riad and have a rest till dinner time.

Day 3: Fès - City Tour - Souke Your breakfast is waiting you before you go on a city tour with a guide to visit the "Castle of the South", for an unforgettable panoramic view of the old town. Through the wonderfully decorated gate "Bab Boujelou" you enter the old town district and can visit the Koranic school "Bou Inania", the tomb of Moulay Idriss and the Kairouine mosque, as well as the oldest university in the world. Through the colorful souks, where are the merchants and craftsmen alleys of coppersmiths, tanners, tailors, chasers and potters. After this busy day, perhaps you feel like going for a hamam, or rest a littel on the terrace till dinner time.

Day 4: 260km, 5h Fès - Ifran - Midelt After breakfast we drive direction north. to Ifran, known as the Switzerland of Morocco for its architecture and climate. You will be enchanted by the cedar forests and its friendly monkeys. A short walk in the surroundings will be possible. With a little luck you will meet some Berber macaques in their mustard yellow fur, not at all shyly begging for some peanuts. After this visit we drive through a varied landscape with magnificent views of the mountains and small villages, olive groves and lush green fields till the city of Midelt. In a good Riad you will stay over night.

Day 5: 260km, 5h Midelt - Errachidia - Merzouga - Sahara desert After breakfast we continue through the Middle Atlas Mountains and past the nomads that live there. The views are both spectacular and varied; high cliffs and deep valleys, thick forests, volcanic rock, soaring cliffs and valleys of palm trees. we drive you to Errachidia where we visit an amazing fossil factory and learn how to excavate, polish fossils into beautiful objects. Then we continue to Merzouga and get on the camels to ride into a Berber Camp at the foot of the dunes in the Sahara Desert. Later on you have some times to explore the dunes on foot till dinner. After a nice Tajine we enjoy the music of the berber under the starry night sky and sleep in peace after all.

Day 6: 120km, 4h Sahara desert – Nomads village In the morning after breakfast, your excursion will start from the tents, taking you through the sand-sea dunes near the Algerian border where you see the black volcanic rocks and have the opportunity to meet a nomad family and learn about their nomadic lifestyle. We will pass close to tiny Berber villages, before we reach Khamlia. In the tiny desert village we experience a performance of Gnawa music, a spiritual and hypnotic form of music that has been played for centuries by Sub-Saharan people who lived here. Along our drive you will be enchanted with the view of the lake at Ait Sareji, especially In springtime, when it attracts pink flamingos and many other birds. We will return to the Camp for lunch and a rest to get ready for a camel trekking! You ride these Ships of the Desert into the heart of the Sahara, witnessing a spectacular sunset. Back at the Camp you will enjoy another night of Berber food and countless stars.

Day 7: 260km, 3.5h Merzouga - Todgha Gorges - Dades - Ouarzazat Today we will drive along the river to Todgha Gorges, where we will hike through the incredibly high rock walls (up to 300 meters). After this impressing natural monument we drive to the Dades valley on the road of 1000 Kasbahs. From there we pass by the valley of roses and then through the palm grove of Skoura. In the afternoon we will get to Ouarzazate where we stay in a beautiful Kasbah.

Day 8: 250km, 4,5h Ouarzazate - Taroudannt This morning we leave towards Taroudant passing through the Anti Atlas mountains, where the landscape is not very desert and the mountains have different shapes. We cross the mountains of Sirwa and the village of Taznakhte, a well-known Berber town with its handmade Berber carpets. We continue to Taliouine who is famous for its production of saffron and is one of the main exporters of this spice worldwide. And finally we will arrive after all in Taroudannt where we stay in a Kasbah/Riad.

Day 9: 240km, 3.5h Taroudannt - Agadir - Essaouira After breakfast, you will drive in the direction of Agadir. There we follow the Atlantic coast. You will cross the high Atlas Mountains and many genuine Berber villages that were built by mud and rocks, and see many Argan trees along your way; you will have several stops at your request. You stay overnight in a nice Hotel.

Day 10: explore the city Essaouira This morning, you will begin to explore the exciting coastal city. Essaouira has experienced the influence of many civilizations, including a Portuguese occupation which shaped much of its architecture. It remains, however, a small village with a great history. Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic” is also a center of argan oil production. It has become a tourist attraction due to the tree-climbing goats who are unique to the region, as argan trees are the only type the goats climb. With its animated port, colorful marketplace and history of artists seeking inspiration, Essaouira is full of life, light, and magic! After visiting the Fortress, you will have a chance to wander the alleys and view the hundreds of handicrafts. You will spend the night at an authentic Moroccan riad, with Bed and breakfast included.

Day 11: 360km, 6h Essaouira – Chichaoua – Setti Fadma We will drive you to the Atlas mountain. Along the way, we will stop to see Argan trees where you enjoy to see the goats climbing on this trees. We will take a pause to visit a cooperative where local women produce Argan oil with traditional equipment. Then we will drive into the Ourika vally, ore also called the green vally, almost to the village of Setti Fadma. 4km before we get to Setti Fadma, we cross the river of Ourika to bring you to our family guest house Amlougui, where we stay for two nigths.

Day 12: 1.5h walk ore 3h hike Amlougui - Setti Fadma In the morning you can decide for a visit to the waterfall of Setti Fadma and have lunch by the river. Ore hike up to Agouns where we see the shepherds with there goats. We have a pick nick and enjoy the pure nature. In the late afternoon you have the chance to visit our village, learn how to make berber bread ore cook a Tajine for dinner.

Day 13: 64km, 1,5h Amlougui - Marrakech Your breakfast will be a little earlier because we bring you to Marrakesch where you have a city tour. We will bring your luggage to you Riad in the meantime, your guide will take you to the most beautiful palaces and monuments of Marrakech. Like the 19th century Bahia Palace, the 16th century Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia Mosque. If you need some silence, go to the secret garden and enjoy the green. In the Souks, they will sell everything from leather and carpets to spices and jewelry. Jemaa el-Fnaa is perhaps the most famous town square on earth. Today it will be our last dinner and we will share it in a typical moroccan restaurant.

Day 14: Marrakech - Airport Today is your last day. We bring you to the airport and hope we could make you happy and you had a unforgettable time with us here in morocco and you will come again.