Gran Tour – Desert tour and imperial cities

When your flight gets in, your driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to your riad in the medina of Marrakech.
You will spend the first day visiting Marrakech, either on your own or accompanied by a guide that will take you around the many colourful alleyways of the old town.
We will arrange a visit to Majorelle Garden, designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace.
After lunch, your guide will take you to the souk and show you the local food specialities you can purchase there.​
You will then spend the first night in the riad with breakfast included.
Don’t miss the opportunity to wander the alleyways of the medina, among street vendors, prayer calls and snake charmers. You will be enchanted by the colours of the city, the kindness of its people and the breathtaking beauty of the fiery sunset views from the many terrace restaurants as you enjoy the local mint tea.

– 6 hours

You will begin your journey leaving the bustling city of Marrakesh behind you and heading towards the highest pass in the Atlas Mountains: Tizi N’Tichka.
At an impressive altitude of 2,260 metres, this pass offers a stunning vantage point to admire the surrounding landscape made of green forests, towering peaks and endless horizons. You will also be able to see a number of small, traditional Berber villages along the way.
As you make your way back down from the mountains, your second stop will be the enchanting Ait Ben Haddou kasbah. This fortified village was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it looks as thought it has risen out of the desert.
This location featured in a number of films including The Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. It is located in the valley of the Ouarzazate river and its fortress provides breathtaking views of the rocky desert that lies at its feet.
Your journey will then continue toward Ouarzazate, the largest Berber city in southern Morocco. It is also known as Africa’s Hollywood due to the many film studios that are based there.
You will spend the first night in Dades Gorges.

– 4 hours

The following morning, after breakfast, you will leave the red Dades Gorges valley and head for the Todra canyon. This striking, saffron-coloured split in the rocks extends for hundreds of metres.
You can visit the canyon by car or on foot, taking a leisurely walk along the river it crosses.
You will then continue the journey towards the city of Merzouga. Along this stretch of the road you will see an ever-changing landscape, from the red rocks of the Gorges mountains, to the lush palm forests and the rocky expanse of desert that gradually gives way to rolling hills of sand. Here you will reach the border of the immense Sahara desert.
You will then pass through Erfoud (capital of fossils) and Rissani (famous for its market, which is the largest in southern Morocco).
Once you arrive in Merzouga, you will leave the car and climb onto camels for the last stretch.
After watching the sun set among the dunes, you will be able to enjoy the starry desert sky and a traditional dinner accompanied by Berber music.

– 7 hours

After a hearty breakfast we will head towards Fes, driving through the palm forests of the Ziz Valley and Errachidia, a modern military city.
The journey will then continue among Midelt’s cedar groves, through the Atlas Mountains and on to Ifrane, known as the Switzerland of Morocco.
This charming town with its red roofs and countless little lakes is one of the most popular winter holiday destinations for Moroccans.
After visiting Ifrane you will get back on the road and reach Fes in the late afternoon.

Today is entirely dedicated to the city of Fes.
Here you also have the option of visiting it on your own or with a guide who speaks your language.
The medina in Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is the largest and most ancient in northern Africa. It is Morocco’s cultural, religious and artisanal centre.
Its pottery and leather products are famous all over the world.
You can visit the tanneries and discover the secrets of this ancient practice, seeing how the leather is still dyed and handcrafted like in the old days.

– 4 hours

After breakfast we will pick you up at your hotel and start the journey toward Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue City, which is located in the foothills of the towering peaks of Rif.
Our first stop will be in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis. Here you can visit Morocco’s best preserved Roman archaeological site. These Roman ruins rise at the centre of a fertile plain about an hour from Fes.
We are scheduled to arrive in Chefchaouen early in the afternoon.
With its light blue houses and an artsy vibe, it feels like the charming mountain village of Chefchaouen is frozen in time.
You will want to get lost among its delightful alleys, lined with little markets and local artists’ studios.
This place is ideal for getting perfect alleyway shots against a backdrop of the Rif mountains.
You will be spending the night here.

– 6 hours

On the way to the Atlantic Coast, we will first stop in Rabat, Morocco’s political and administrative capital.
You will visit the 44-metre Tower of Hassan, Rabat’s most important monument.
Surrounded by manicured gardens, this tower was designed to be part of Sultano Yacoub Al-Mansour’s larger construction plan. The Sultan however passed away before completing his project.
You will have the chance to visit the Oudaias kasbah, in the ancient, fortified medina of the capital.
After lunch you will continue onward to Casablanca, where you will be spending the night. You will be able to visit the city the following day.
​

– 4 hours

In the morning you will visit the majestic Hassan II Mosque, the third largest in the world and the only one that can be visited inside.
The mosque has a 210-metre minaret and two-thirds of it is facing the ocean so the faithful can pray with a view of the waves crashing on the rocks and with the warmth of the sun that shines through the retractable roof.
Your journey then continues to Essaouira, once Mogadur, a charming coastal city about two hours from Marrakech.
Its fortified medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here you can leisurely wander through the alleyways, souq, street vendors, tree-lined squares, and whitewashed houses with decorated doors.
The city of wind, with its vast beaches and generous waves, attracts surfers from around the globe. If you are not looking for thrills, it is also an ideal place to kick back and enjoy the sea breeze as you take a stroll through the dunes.

– 3 hours

On our way back to Marrakech, you will see the coastal landscape slowly transform against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Along this stretch you can take pictures of the local goat as they climb trees to find fruit.
Morocco is the only exporter of Argan in the world.
A rich oil, well known for its cosmetic uses and health benefits, is extracted from its seeds.
Your arrival in Marrakech is scheduled for the afternoon.