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9-Day Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert Tour

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Overview

This nine-day Morocco Sahara Desert tour will introduce you to all that Morocco has to offer from its bustling kasbahs to wonderful desert sunsets and marvellous mountainous scenery!

Over these nine days, you'll visit most of Morocco's historic imperial cities as well as the mountains and desert all accompanied by delicious traditional food and warm hospitality.

Among many others, the highlights of the trip will be trekking into the desert on the back of a camel and sleeping under the stars in a traditional Berber camp in the middle of the desert!
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Casablanca

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Arrive in Casablanca

On your arrival at Casablanca airport (CMN), your driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of the city. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, relax after your flight and have a first look around the city. You may want to head out into the city and get a taste of what the rest of your 9-day Morocco Sahara Desert tour will be like.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Ibis Casablanca City Centre3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Casablanca City TourOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport to Casablanca

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Casablanca

Day 2

Casablanca to Rabat

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Casablanca to Rabat

You'll start your day early today with a visit to the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Habous district. You'll then head to Morocco's nearby capital, Rabat. Also strategically located on the Atlantic coastline, Rabat began as a settlement in the third century BC. You'll enjoy a tour of the old city including visits to the Royal Palace, Ouadaya Garden and Kasbah and the Hassan Tower Mosque.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ibis Rabat Agdal3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Rabat City Tour

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Casablanca to Rabat

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Casablanca

    Rabat

Day 3

Rabat to Fes via Meknes & Volubilis

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Rabat to Fes via Meknes & Volubilis

After breakfast, you'll head to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dating back as far as AD40, Volubilis is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa. You'll then visit the Berber town of Meknes. Formerly the capital of Morocco during the reign of Moulay Ismail, he transformed the town, constructing intricate gateways and beautiful gardens. Your day ends with the short drive to Fes where you'll spend the night.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel ibis Fes3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Meknes and Volubils City Tour

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Rabat to Volubilis

    Private Driver from Meknes to Fes

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rabat

    Meknes

    Fes

Day 4

Fes City Tour

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Fes City Tour

After breakfast, you will begin your guided tour of the Fes Medina, one of the world’s largest walled cities. You will explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other art objects of Morocco. A visit to the King’s Palace, the tanneries and potters are just a few places you will experience. For lunch, you may choose to eat in a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel ibis Fes3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Fes City Tour

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Fes

Day 5

Across the Mountains to the Berber Desert Camp

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Across the Mountains to the Berber Desert Camp

You'll start to discover some of Morocco's beautiful mountainous landscape today as you leave Fes and follow ancient caravan routes up into the hills. En route, you'll stop at Ifrane, known as the ''Switzerland of Morocco''. You'll continue through the Ziz Valley as you descend to Merzouga. Here, you'll transfer to camels and take a sunset ride through the sand dunes to a traditional Berber camp. Enjoy a hearty Bedouin meal and a campfire this evening, often accompanied by local musicians.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chegaga5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ifrane

    Ziz Valley

    Camel Ride in the Merzouga Desert

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Fes to Ifran

    Private Driver from Ifran to Merzouga

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Fes

    Ifran

    Errachidia

    Hassilabied

    Mhamid

Day 6

Travel to Ouarzazate via Dades Valley

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Travel to Ouarzazate via Dades Valley

You'll leave the desert reluctantly this morning and finish your safari before driving to the oasis town of Tinghir which boasts one of the largest palm groves in the country. A beautiful walk follows through the valley and the Todra Gorge, a 300-metre wall, carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains, making a narrow canyon beneath huge rock walls. You'll drive through the Dades Canyon with its steep winding access road with numerous switchbacks providing great views of the steep cliffs.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Ibis Ouarzazate Centre3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tinghir

    Todras Gorge

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Merzouga to Tinghir

    Private Driver from Todra River to Ouarzazate

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mhamid

    Tinghir

    Ouarzazate

Day 7

Back to Marrakesh via Ouarzazate and the Kasbahs

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Back to Marrakesh via Ouarzazate and the Kasbahs

You'll start this morning with the short drive to Ouarzazate where, for centuries, people from the Atlas, Draa and Dades Valleys have converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling kasbah. Today's main highlight is a tour of Morocco's most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou. Finally, you'll head up into and across the Atlas Mountains for a scenic drive to Marrakech, crossing Tizi N'tichka which at 2260 metres is the highest pass in Northern Africa.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel ibis Marrakesh Centre Gare3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ouarzazate and Kasbah Tour

    Ouarzazate

    Ait Ben Haddou‌

    Tizi n'Tichka

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Aït Benhaddou to Marrakesh

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ouarzazate

    Aït Benhaddou

    Tizi N'Tichka

    Marrakesh

Day 8

Marrakesh City Tour and Free Time to Explore

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Marrakesh City Tour and Free Time to Explore

Today, you'll begin unearthing the secrets of Marrakesh, starting in the medina, the old walled section of town and a UNESCO site. You'll marvel at the city's architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia Minaret, Bahia Palace and Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh’s main square, which is filled with orange juice stalls, street food stalls, fire-eaters, mime artists, snake charmers and street musicians performing at every turn. The afternoon will then be free to explore as you wish.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel ibis Marrakesh Centre Gare3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Medina of Marrakesh

    Koutoubia Mosque

    Bahia Palace

    Jemaa el-Fna

    Marrakesh

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

Day 9

End of Your 9-Day Morocco Sahara Desert Tour

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End of Your 9-Day Morocco Sahara Desert Tour

Your day is free today to explore Marrakesh further, and perhaps do some final souvenir shopping and sightseeing before you are transferred to Marrakesh airport for your departure flight.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Marrakesh to Marrakesh Menara Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

Included in Price

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 15 activities
  • 8 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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