Casablanca Tours Souks & Camels 8 days

DAY 1: WELCOME FROM CASABLANCA – RABAT

Morocco is welcoming you to these Casablanca tours; you will be met by our top local Morocco voyage on your arrival at Casablanca airport. You will be grateful when falling into Mohammad V airport, the first in Morocco and the fourth in Africa, his name is related to the mover king Mohammad V you may arrive at any time so you should be aware that hotels room are obtainable only after midday.

We will start from Casablanca as one of the royal and biggest cities in Morocco and the largest one of the Maghreb situated in the mid-western for more than 90km via the south of the administrative capital of Morocco. We will start first by walking around Casablanca discovering it’s amazing places tasting the fruitful beauty of its traditional architecture beginning by the Old City; an old neighborhood built as the way which the Old Moroccan cities was, surrounded by many walls, and it includes several doors to enter; we mention the most famous one Bab Marrakech which is one of the most important monuments in the city, the only one that still exists after the earthquake that hit the city. We can also have a look to the White Mosque; one of the most touristic attractions in Morocco because it is the largest one in Morocco pulling touristic by its beautiful white color that send a kind of serenity in the soul, and its proximity to the ocean. We can also visit Abdel Rahman Salawi Museum that shows the history of earliest and modern Morocco established in 1940 which is attributed to Abderrahmane Slaoui, a very known Moroccan traveler and explorer, and we can also discover the Hassan 2 mosque that is located directly on the coast nearly to the lighthouse of the neck it was built in 1993, it is considered as the largest spiritual and religious landmark in Morocco, it is shining with its decoration and construction.

From the capital economy, we will move towards the administrative capital of Morocco: Rabat that embraces many monuments worth seeing, as an example the Royal Gates which built in 1864, moving to have an exciting look to the garden of Challa that built between 1310-1330 enjoying its delightful beauty that made up by walls that surround this historical garden with defensive gates. Afterward, we will hold at Mohamed V Museum built in 1972 continuing our way to look around the tombs of Moroccan kings Mohammed V who died in 1962 and Hassan II who died in 1999 taking a view also to the grave of Moulay Abdullah the uncle of Mohammed VI finishing our day by visiting Tower Hassan which was built in 12th-century in the time of JACOB the MANSUR period of the ALMOHADS, where this historical parameter was added in the initial list of World Heritage, it is a minaret of an incomplete mosque.

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DAY 2: RABAT – MEKNES – VOLUBILIS – FES

On the second day of the Casablanca tours, we must be in our way to Fez passing through Meknes and Volubilis we still in Rabat, completing our investigations. We will start the day by exploring the Kasbah of Oudaya, built in the 12th-cent12th centuries ads. This fortress was built with an ANDALUSIAN-STYLE, and what makes the KASBAH a place worth visiting are the monuments that make it up such us JAMAA AL ATIQ mosque, the military work of BORJ SQALA that served as a military base for the Almorabits army in their defense against the Spanish army, the royal residence of the ALAWIT DYNASTY and the PRINCELY HOUSE erected to the west. The top of the Kasbah offer to you best opportunities to enjoy a striking view of the surrounding area. You will also get to see the 240 km long Abi-Regragriver located in western Morocco between Rabat and Salé. In this way, we will find ourselves finishing Rabat Calls to walk away towards Chefchaouen via the cities of Knetra, and SidiKasem having a break in Ouazaane passing by spectacular scenery with cedar, oak, and almond trees.

After finishing breakfast, we will slide down from the hill voyaging across the south passing the center of the neck of land for about three hours towards the sacred pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss after reaching Volubilies; one of the World Heritage site. Honestly speaking many attractive things pull visitors as the great wall with its eight doors and some watchtowers that built with a ROMAN touch and the high plateau where you can take a walk and a tour around arches, basilicas, and excellent mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact. The reward for walking in the sun lies in an unbelievably memorable lunch of traditional Roman recipes in the shadow of the ancient ruins. Recline on Moroccan Kilims and have dinner on local ingredients, much as the Romans did a thousand years ago. It is the history starts for Morocco; Volubilis. Afterward lunch you next stop will be a city located in northern Morocco was built upon the rocky hills at the base of Mount Zerhoun. It took his name from the founder of the IDRISSID state Moulay Idriss 1, it was a forbidden to non-Muslims, (IF TIME PERMITS). The city of Molay Driss Zerhoun tenders to you a large insight toward traditional Moroccan life. At a religion place where the great-grandson of Mohammed and the man who brought Islam to Morocco, the faithful gather to pay homage at the tomb here searching the delightful streets, perhaps sampling the famous nougat candy sold at street-side stalls. Before moving to Fez, the spiritual heart of Morocco for night for more than an hour of driving.

DAY 3: EXPLORE FES

Following breakfast in the scientific capital and the spiritual city of  Fes, the second largest city of Morocco that was a center of the Jewish community during the past historical times, explained by the old city of Fez el Bali that is possibly may be defined as the greatest of all Medinas and by its situation and pictured alleyways modifying by the move of donkeys piled high with goods that shows the exists and the stills of traditionally life that is hugged between Fez’s people, also the air perfumed by spices; it kicks us back through times to the Middle Ages. In addition, due to the guide that our premium local tour offered to you, you will decorate your eyes by the artisans’ creation that adorned the narrow streets, to rich your knowledge about tanneries and how Morrocan makes leathers, visiting mosques and colorful local authentic Moroccan architectural characters. Going and investigating the dissimilar specialty places of the Center of the city enjoying typically food made up from naturally butters and fats, take pleasure in tasty pastries, to crepes and soups to dried and fresh produce.Fez was established by Idris 1 in the twelfth century and was for a known for a long time to be the social capital and local point of the Almohad it is currently a World Heritage site according to UNESCO classification because it embrace many monument places worth seeing as the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, it’s an attractive charming place, a place that is debatably one of the world’s most captivating old city. Fez was being for a long time as an educational center for people that have diverse nationality, it was the point where many cultural were intermixed specially at the University of AL –Karaouine the oldest in the region and in the world according to the UNESCO where we find mosques of great renown that was a place for pray and also as a library and religious institutions. Walking around the specialty zone that divides the souk, filled with historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, stalls overloaded by fruits, herbs and soups, and where the squawk of chickens, smell of spice and sound of hammering of copper fills the air, by seeing and living that; it is easy to dream yourself head back to the Middle Ages. Spend the day exploring the old city by visiting the best school ever of studying Islam, the BOUANANIA SCHOOL built during the reign of the MARINIDS, a witness of the MARINIEN architecture in Morocco moving towards the TANNERY as well, so FEZ is famous on producing leathers, we find that the TANNERIES of SHWARARA is one of the famous ones in FEZ before going to the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy an unforgettable dinner of one of the city’s signature dishes, the salty and sweet pastille.

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DAY 4: FES – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA

When finishing our Fez investigation we will take a long way driving via the Atlas Mountains towards the most modern and clean city in Morocco named Ifran. It attracts many visitors with its waterfalls, green nature, and European character they may come skiing because of its high altitude at 1665 meters or they may come to sniping. Our exciting trip continues, but this time across the Cedar forest, the largest woods in Morocco at the Middle Atlas, for about 89km south of the city of Fez driving towards Midelt where we are going to have a Berber lunch at this Berber village that is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From the vast plateau, we start passing those tough mountains which are still established by a big Berber community. The landscapes here include palm tree oases at JbelAyachi (at 3747 m) continuing our Casablanca tours to visit the monstrous Tiz Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge, amused by the view of the High Atlas Mountains viewing Tafilalt Oasis until we reach the city of Errachidia where you will watch colossal palm trees and a location perfect for building up an extensive variety of natural item trees and vegetables with a one of a kind microclimate. Moreover, we will pass through the rich Ziz Valley, stopping at various stations to relish the view and take pictures en route to Erfoud and Rissani; ERFOUD the capital city of fossils that organize the DATES SEASON yearly and were a sea before hundreds of years. Heading up to the red-colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga via, RISSANI, Sijilmassa once upon a time the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, before continuing the way to Merzouga that his huge sand dunes appearing from the horizon. By arriving, we will be welcomed by a glass of mint tea followed by one hour and a half of riding on a camel guided by a specialist camels man in the desert to spend a wonderful night enjoying these dramatic dunes, wonderful skies, and stars at night, you may want to experience Berber Gnawa music playing drums with them while rounding campfire at that night dinner will be served in the campsite.

DAY 5: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – TODGHA GORGES – DADES

On the fifth day of the Casablanca tours, wake up early eating breakfast by the time when the sun colored Merzouga with its gold color making it a garden of golden sand followed by a drive towards heading up to the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Charif the founder of the Alawite Dynasty of Morocco during the 17^th century. This fantastic town was the capital of Tafilalt as the center point between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. To the present time, Errisani stays as a main commercial center in the region, with a big souk where you can find everything you want, especially on Sunday; however, having two other days Tuesday and Thursday. Errisani is famous for selling dates, ships, and goats in particular ancient times.

Driving away from Errisani customary Moroccan town with the mainstream of the women disguised and men hooded towards the immense canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges for about 127km. Todgha Gorges are situated ahead of the central high Atlas Mountains where you will see the contrasting landscapes take you back to Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges, and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes fractured by erosion. Todgha Gorges are natural monuments in the southeastern that were crafted by Todgha Valley and Dades Valley over thousands of years. It attracts lovers of Mountain tourism where they can climb several peaks as Jbel Saghro with 2500m and several peaks exceed 4000m as JbelMgouna with more than 4000m being the highest in this part of the High Atlas.

DAY 6: DADES VALLEY – OUARZAZATE – MARRAKECH

Driving away from Todgha Gorges towards Dades Gorges via the road of 1000 Kasbahs. However, of the excising of enormous ones of both sides of the route we find that many old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately, a lot of them are ruins. Now we reach Dades Gorges or Valley observing the natural creativity of the rock development and formations called “the monkey toes” and we head to the Berber family for Lunch, cooking course, a walk to discover the valley and spend some time with the Berbers before we head to our hotel near the valley. From the charming Dades Valley driving via the high Atlas Mountains through Boumalen, that alive with big Berber community and its agriculture; continuing our way along Roses Valley that is partly appearing from the horizon with its green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes enjoying the charming beauty of the nature, towards KALAA MGOUNA that is famous on producing flower and rose water, arriving to Ouarzazate the gateway to the desert, a city that established in 1920, situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains that is populated by Berbers who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known as the Kasbah of Taourirt diverted in 17th century. The door to the desert is known as Hollywood Africa where many famous movies filmed there in one of Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005). From the Hollywood of Africa to the fortified city of AïtBenhaddou, built in the 11th century it is classified as a World Heritage site since 1987 and several movies have been filmed there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004). A collection of several traditional building and fortified house side by side is located on a hill along Ounila River that it was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh for several past times. However, a jewel hidden between the paradises of high Atlas Mountains is unfortunately sustained damage during each rainstorm and windstorm. In addition, that what explain the moving of people towards more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah. Finaly we will go towards the High Atlas Mountains enjoying its panoramic views, and the invention of the green nature seeing Berber towns along the way about few hours’ drive until we reach Marrakech; it is called the “Homeland of God in Berber” where we will spend the night in a traditional riad close to the medina.

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DAY 07: MARRAKECH EXPLORATION

Following breakfast at the Red city of Morocco then continuing your Casablanca tours, you will meet your local guide having an exploring morning of the old medina passing via the souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city. Marrakesh has the largest captivating traditional souks( native markets ) it is the town’s star attraction you mustn’t miss the Babouche (shoes) Souk, Chouari (carpenter’s) open-air market, El-Attarine (perfume and spice) souk and the Cherratine (leather) souk following that by an explore of tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that makeup Bahia Palace. This splendid mansion was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. Continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture. Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century in the period of influence of the Almoravid Dynasty; its famous minaret is an example for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville before heading up to the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square is full of storytellers, water sellers, dancers, snakes charmers, and musicians. During the night, the square turns into a huge open-air restaurant and you may want to get around the back streets of the old town enjoying talking with MARRAKECH people; they are too funny and humble. We pass by “seven saints” during the reign of Moulay Ismail, the festival of the seven saints was founded at the request of the Sultan. The tombs of several renowned figures were moved to Marrakesh to attract pilgrims. In addition, you may want to visit the Majorelle Garden which contains a blue villa with flowers of different types; the French painter Jacques Majorelle gave it as a gift to Marrakech that was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by T’hami El Glaoui, “Lord of the Atlas”, and Pasha of Marrakesh. Still, there is a house called Dar Pacha El Glaoui from where he used to rule the completely southern part of Morocco. Otherwise, perhaps turning back to the medina, making every step alive is bringing a new smell, a new sight, or a new gift to buy. You may want to practice your haggling skills when seeing skilled artisans perfect their craft or you may go to have a break of teak or share a tajine. For your final evening, why not feast with new friends in one of the many great restaurants lining the square?

DAY 8: CASABLANCA AIRPORT TRANSFER

It is the last day of the Casablanca tour after breakfast. You may have some free time to explore by yourselves before the time of the private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up come. We can add more accommodation if you wish to spend more time exploring here. Transfer to Casablanca airport according to your flight details.

For further details on the Casablanca tours, don’t hesitate to contact us.