MOROCCO NORTH TO SOUTH EXPLORER TOUR

MOROCCO NORTH TO SOUTH EXPLORER TOUR

About This Trip

 

Discover Morocco’s captivating landscapes and rich history in this 10-day journey. Start in Tangier and Chefchaouen, explore the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and immerse yourself in Fes’s ancient medinas. Experience the Sahara in Merzouga with a camel trek and stargazing, then venture through the dramatic Dades Valley and iconic Aït Benhaddou. Conclude with the vibrant souks of Marrakech and the coastal charm of Essaouira before returning to Marrakech for departure.

 Welcome to Tangier—the gateway between Europe and Africa! Located close to the south of Spain, visit the old quarter, a café in the square,visite the kasbah museum ,see the king palace and the caves of Hercules, and take a drive along the scenic Corniche., then drive straight to the blue city of Chefchaouen passing by the Rif Mountains. Enjoy the scenic route, stopping along the way to hike to the Waterfalls of Akchour . Chefchaoen offers endless winding narrow streets and picturesque buildings. Stop in square Outa Hammam for a restaurant or café and enjoy a meal as you people watch.
 Though non-muslims are not permitted to enter, the Grand Mosque is still worth a visit. From there, explore the nearby kasbah (old fortification) and tour the garden, museum, and some of the old prison cells. Follow a path outside of the city walls to Hotel Atlas and climb to the rooftop to enjoy a panoramic view of the Blue City. For the slightly more athletic, follow the street east to pass over the Ras el Ma Spring and ascend the path (20-30 minutes) until you reach the abandoned white Spanish Mosque. Enjoy one last view over Chefchaouen as the sun sets behind the mountains.

 

  Ancient Roman ruins hold their charm in Volubilis Rise early to snap photos of the people-less streets before leaving for Fes. Stop along the way at the UNESCO-protected Volubilis ruins the Roman’s farthest reach in Africa. Wander the complex, exploring merchant homes with still-intact heating systems, temples, and many mosaics in situ. Continue on to the smaller, less busy version of Fes, Meknes, for an introduction to a historic imperial city. The two main points of interest are the Imperial City and the medina. visit Bab Mansour gate, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables.
Continue on to Fes. over night in a old guest house (Riad).

 

  11th-century stone pots filled with dye, Chouara Tannery Fes is the oldest of the imperial cities in Morocco (Meknes, Marrakech, and Rabat are the others) and perhaps the most interesting to explore. A UNESCO-protected site, the city hasn’t undergone much colonial development, leaving you to experience its medieval charm. Fes consists of two old medina quarters, Fes El Bali (where you will spend most of your time) and Fes El Jedid (a slightly newer part of the city), and the early 20th-century French designed Ville Nouvelle. Meet your guide to help you navigate the narrow and maze-like ancient streets of the medinas, starting in Fes El Bali (789 CE).
  Note the Spanish and Tunisian influenced architecture as you pass the variety of souks (markets) offering spices, leather goods, and pewter. Known for its tanneries and the acrid smell associated with them, visit the popular Chouara Tannery and climb to the roof of a nearby shop for a better view of the goings-on. Visit the 14th-century Al Attarine Madrasa and admire the Zellij tilework before checking out one of the oldest, still operating universities in the world, Al-Karaouine University (859 CE). Find the Mellah (old Jewish quarter) in Fes El Jedid for another encompassing view of the city.

 

Tourists ride camels in the Sahara, Merzouga, Morocco A camel caravan treks through the Moroccan Sahara Continue your journey south, over the Col du Zad pass (7,146 feet or 2,178 m) and through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas mountains. You will see families of Barbary macaque monkeys in the trees and by the side of the road as you head to Midelt (the “apple city”) for lunch. Appreciate the scenery: the Moulouya River and the apple orchards. Next, travel over the Tizi n’Talremt pass and into the Ziz Valley dotted with oases and palm tree clusters. Notice the many ksars, fortified houses merchants built to protect their wares (gold, salt, and spices).
  Nearing Erfoud, you will start to see the early signs of the Sahara sand dunes. Never stationary, the dunes travel as the winds shift. If you’re lucky, you may come across a nomadic Berber family and have the chance to drink tea together. Visit Erfoud and discover how the fossil-rich rock of its mines is transformed into decorative and practical objects. Continue on to the extensive sea of sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Covering 13.5 square miles (35 square km), some dunes rise to over 656.2 feet (200 m), their color changing with the moving sun.
  Outside of Merzouga, change the pace and prepare for a camel ride through the dunes, arriving at camp just before sunset. Climb up the nearest sand dune to watch the colorful display as the sun sets behind the colossal dunes. Return to camp for dinner in the open air and an evening by the campfire enjoying traditional Berber music from the locals under a blanket of stars. Spend the night in a Bedouin-style tent.

Wake early to catch a desert sunrise, before trying your skill at sandboarding. You will also have the option of joining either an Erg Chebbi (sand dune) tour or an ATV tour. Visit nearby Khemliya, a traditional Saharan village, and experience traditional drumming music and dancing before taking a short walk around the village. Leave the dunes behind and stop in the market town of Rissani, entering through its impressive gate. Known for its livestock auction it’s worth your time finding the ‘donkey parking lot’ to delight your senses.
  Continue on to Tinghir . This desert town offers awesome views of neighboring towns hugging the length of the extensive river oasis (30 miles or 48 km of palm trees). Stop at today’s final destination, the Toudgha Gorge. 984 feet (300 m) high and carved by the Toudgha River through red limestone, here you can enjoy a leisurely walk in and around the gorge and relax in the cool waters of the shallow river below.

  It is finally time to the discovery of Moroccan Sahara, Today we’ll go to the dunes of Erg Chebbi and enjoy the Sahara Desert. We’ll explore Arfoud and Rissani before preparing for a beautiful night under the stars. and prepare for a camel ride through the dunes, arriving at camp just before sunset. Climb up the nearest sand dune to watch the colorful display as the sun sets behind the colossal dunes to camp for dinner in the open air and an evening by the campfire enjoying traditional Berber music from the locals under a blanket of stars. Spend the night in a luxury camp 

Travel along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Morocco’s most famous kasbah, Aït Benhaddou. Pass through the Dades Valley and Boumalne Dades. Stop in Kelâat M’Gouna to admire the rose bushes bordering plots of farmland. Visit a rose collective to see the process of converting rose petals into rose water and oil. Continue west to stop in Ouarzazate and discover how its nearby regions have been featured in movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. Join a movie studio tour and visit the Museum of Cinema to learn more about the film making process and history of the area.
  Travel to nearby Aït Benhaddou. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the old Kssar dates from the 11th century when it held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route. Settle into your accommodation in the old town, before wandering the near-empty alleys and passageways in the late afternoon. Climb up to an excellent vantage point to see the kasbah and surrounding area. Game of Thrones fans may want to trek down to the river to see the gates featured in the popular HBO series. Long after the day crowds have left, enjoy a quiet dinner overlooking the valley.

 

Leave Aït Benhaddou behind to begin the ascent over the High Atlas mountains. Spot Mount Toubkal, the mountain range’s highest peak, at 13,671 feet (4,167 m). Near the top, stretch your legs for a great panoramic view of the mountains. Stop in Taddart to visit an Argan Oil Cooperative and learn, as well as sample, how olives are processed for various uses. As you descend the High Atlas, you will notice a dramatic change in the climate and landscape. Soon you will be a part of the noise and clamor of Marrakech.
   After a long day on the road, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you like. In the early evening, the main square and busiest square in all of Africa! Jamaa el-Fna, comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games, and food stalls, a catch-all of entertainment! If you want to enjoy the spectacle from a distance, choose one of the many cafés surrounding the square and enjoy a cup of mint tea and a meal.

 

Sunset over Jamaa El-Fna Square Marrakech
The “Red City” for its 1000-year-old red sandstone city walls and buildings, Marrakech has always been a thriving city dating back to the Berber Empire (1062 ACE). Meet your guide for a half-day tour, starting with browsing the stalls of Souk El Attarin (spices), Souk Haddadine (blacksmiths), and Souk Smata (slippers). Visit Souk the dyers’ souk ,and visit the Koutoubia Mosque, along the way note the open spaces that extend off of some alleys. These Fondouks were once medieval inns that provided travelers and merchants with shelter for themselves and their animals.
  The hard-to-miss Mosque’s 253 feet (77 m) minaret is the tallest tower built in Marrakech. Relax in the adjoining gardens, before carrying on to Ben Youssef Madrasa. Built in the 16th century, this madrasa once housed students of the nearby mosque. Admire the Moroccan artisanship carved cedar, stucco plaster. Visit the Marrakech Museum of Moroccan Arts for more examples of traditional art and woodwork. South of Jamaa El-Fna is the Kasbah area with several worthwhile sights: the Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, and the Jewish quarter and cemetery.

 

Say goodbye to the Red City, and travel to Morocco’s west coast following a route that takes you over vast rolling plains. Along the way, pass through an argan tree forest, endemic to this part of the world. You may even see goats dining on the argan fruit, up in the tree branches. Visit an argan cooperative to learn how argan oil is extracted from the tree and what it’s used for in the food and cosmetic industries.
  Arrive in the port city of laid-back Essaouira, a nice contrast to frenetic Marrakech, and spend the rest of the day as you choose. Walk the Skala de la Kasbah (the 18th-century seafront ramparts) along the coast. Designed by European engineers, old brass cannons line the walls and offer viewing access over the Atlantic. Explore the UNESCO-protected medina before making your way to the windswept beach. Jimi Hendrix fans may want to take a short taxi ride to Diyabat at the end of Essaouira’s beach where he reportedly spent some time. Walk back to Essaouira and enjoy a meal of freshly caught seafood.

 

Stroll along the beach or pick up any last-minute curios before heading back to Marrakech. If time allows, visit the Majorelle Gardens. Not far from the bustle of the medina, wandering the gardens filled with sub-tropical plants, bamboo, lilies, and palms, is a perfect place to escape the afternoon heat and noise before you catch your return flight home .

  • Transportation: Private vehicle with a professional driver throughout the tour
  • Accommodation: Hotel, Riad, or Desert Camp stays as specified in the itinerary
  • Meals: Daily breakfast and any specified meals (such as dinners in desert camps)
  • Guided Tours: Local guides for city tours and cultural site visits
  • Activities: Camel trekking, guided medina tours, and other activities as listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance Fees: Admission to specified sites and monuments
  • Airport Transfers: Pickup and drop-off at the airport on arrival and departure days
  • International Flights: Travel costs to and from Morocco
  • Travel Insurance: Personal travel insurance is recommended
  • Meals: Lunches, dinners, and snacks unless specified
  • Personal Expenses: Shopping, souvenirs, and additional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and Gratuities: For drivers, guides, and other service providers