10 Days Grand Tour of Morocco from Marrakech: Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen
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Duration
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Description :
Ten days around Morocco from Marrakech: the Sahara at Merzouga, imperial Fes, the blue streets of Chefchaouen and the Atlantic coast, returning to Marrakech.
The full circuit, and the one most people have in mind when they picture Morocco. Ten days is enough to cross the Atlas, sleep in the dunes, spend a proper day in Fes and still reach Chefchaouen without rushing.
Day 1: Marrakech
Pick up from the airport or your riad and a guided afternoon in the medina: the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the souks and Jemaa el Fna as the food stalls are setting up. Night in Marrakech.
Day 2: Marrakech – Tizi n Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
Over the High Atlas at 2260 metres, then Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO listed earth village, climbing through its houses to the granary at the top. Night in Ouarzazate.
Day 3: Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades
The road of a thousand kasbahs: the Taourirt kasbah, the palm grove of Skoura and the rose valley at Kelaat M Gouna, then up into the Dades Valley for the night.
Day 4: Dades – Todgha Gorges – Merzouga
The Monkey Fingers rocks and the upper Dades, the Todgha Gorges at Tinghir between three hundred metre walls, then on to Merzouga for a camel trek into Erg Chebbi at sunset, dinner and a night in the desert camp.
Day 5: Sunrise – Khamlia – Rissani – Midelt
Sunrise over the sand sea, then Khamlia for Gnaoua music and Rissani for the souk and the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, before heading north up the Ziz Valley to Midelt.
Day 6: Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes
Across the Middle Atlas through the cedar forest at Azrou, where Barbary macaques live wild among the trees, and the alpine looking town of Ifrane, then down into Fes.
Day 7: Fes, guided day
A full day in Fes el Bali with a local guide: the Al Quaraouiyine university, the Bou Inania and Attarine medersas, the tanneries seen from the leather terraces and the artisan quarters.
Day 8: Fes – Chefchaouen
North through the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, the town painted in every shade of blue. Afternoon walking the old medina and climbing to the Spanish mosque for sunset over the valley.
Day 9: Chefchaouen – Rabat – Casablanca
Down to the Atlantic: Rabat, the capital, with the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river, then on to Casablanca for the night.
Day 10: Casablanca – Marrakech
Morning visit of the Hassan II mosque, built out over the ocean and open to visitors, then the motorway south to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon.
Included/Exclude
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own experienced driver
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel, riad or the airport
- Accommodation in riads and hotels along the route, in double or twin rooms
- One night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, in a private tent
- Camel trek at sunset and again at sunrise in Merzouga
- Breakfast every day, and dinner on the nights in the desert camp
- Fuel, road taxes and all transport costs
- English, French or Spanish speaking driver
- Bottled water during the drives
- International flights and airport taxes
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and kasbahs
- Local city guides in Fes, Marrakech and Ait Ben Haddou (available on site, not mandatory)
- Tips for the driver and the camp staff
- Travel insurance and personal expenses