10 days tour from Casablanca to Marrakech visit Rabat and Chefchaouen via Mknes, Merzouga. Fes and Marrakech
◙ 10 days imperial cities from Casablanca
day 1: Casablanca – Rabat
We start our 10 days imperial Cities from Casablanca, Welcome to the west coast of Morocco, to Casablanca! Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and has a modern feel with French influences. One of the main attractions is the famous Hassan II Mosque, known for its stunning design. The mosque sits right on the Atlantic Ocean and can hold 25,000 people inside and 80,000 in its courtyard. It’s one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Here, you can admire beautiful marble, wood, and stone carvings, along with a golden cedar roof.
Day 2: Rabat – Chefchaouen
The next day, we head to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, full of history. Visit the Chella fortress with Roman and Islamic ruins, explore the Kasbah of the Oudayas with its blue-and-white streets, and relax in the Andalusian gardens. See the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, an unfinished 12th-century project. Next, we continue our 10-day Imperial Cities from Casablanca through Morocco’s Imperial Cities, traveling from Casablanca to Chefchaouen, the Blue city. Walk through its narrow streets, visit the kasbah, have lunch in Outa el Hammam square, and enjoy the sunset from the abandoned Spanish mosque.
day 3: Volubilis- Meknes
Wake up early for some pictures before heading to the Roman town of Volubilis. This UNESCO site has some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, including columns, temples, and colorful mosaics. Next, travel south to Meknes, the second imperial city. Explore the city and its medina, and don’t miss the Bab al-Mansur Gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Then, drive to Fez. Before entering the medina, climb to the Mausoleum of Merenide for a great view of the city, especially at sunset. End the day with a traditional hot meal.
day 4: Exploring Fes
Fez, Morocco’s oldest imperial city, is full of charm and history. Unlike other cities, it has kept its medieval feel with little colonial influence. The medina of Fez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is divided into three parts: Fes El Bali (the old medina), Fes El Jdid, and the Ville Nouvelle with French influences. A local guide will show you the city’s rich history and culture as you explore. Begin your visit at the Bab Bouzeloud gate, then wander the streets with Spanish and Tunisian architecture. Visit the souk (market) and its shops, and don’t miss the tanneries, like the famous Choara tannery. For a better view, head to the roof of a leather shop to see the colorful 11th-century stone urns and workers in action. Finally, walk to the al-Qarawiyyin library and mosque, where you might even catch a glimpse of the library.
day 5: Into sahara desert via Erfoud – Rissani
Today, you’ll head south to Merzouga, passing through beautiful landscapes. Travel through the Atlas Mountains, passing fragrant cedar forests and climbing the Jardine Mountains. Stop in Midelt, the ‘apple village,’ for lunch by the Murua River. Cross the Tizi and Talemti straits and enter the palm groves of the Tizi Valley, where you’ll see old fortified kasa built by traders to protect their goods. Next, stop in Erfoud, famous for its dates and fossils, and learn about the local fossils. Continue to the Ergg Cheb sand dunes, some over 600 meters high. At Merzouga, ride camels to your Bedouin tent, watch the sunset from a dune, and enjoy dinner and a campfire under the stars.
day 6: Around Merzouga
Wake up early for some sandboarding and watch the sunrise. If you like, you can join a quad bike tour in the Erg Chebbi dunes, or just relax by the pool in Merzouga.
Next, leave the dunes and visit the Saharan village of Khemliya to meet the Gnawa people. Enjoy their traditional music, drums, and dances, then take a walk through the village . After that, head to the market town of Rissani to see the live animal auction and the nearby ‘donkey park and Visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif. Continue our 10-day Imperial Cities from Casablanca, traveling west to Tinghir to admire the large oasis and buildings surrounded by greenery. Stop at the Todra Gorge and enjoy a peaceful break by the refreshing waters of the Todra River.
day 7: Dades Valley – Ouarzazat
Arrive at the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou and take a guided tour of the village. This historic adobe kasbah sits in a valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Ait Benhaddou is Morocco’s most famous kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It once played an important role on the trade route between the southern desert, Marrakech, and Ouarzazate. Hike up to the old granary for stunning views of the surrounding kasbahs and the Ouarzazate valley. Walk through the narrow streets, and if you’d like, pay a small fee to visit a few of the ancient kasbahs.
day 8: Ouarzazat – Marrakech
The 10 days Imperial Cities from Casablanca continues to the north-west, ascending through the high Atlas Mountains and crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Strait. Stop at the top to admire the panorama and the highest peak, the Toubkali (4,167 m). From there, head to Tadderth to visit an argan oil cooperative and discover how the nuts are processed into the precious oil used in the health and beauty industries. As you descend the northern slopes of the mountain range, you will notice the drastic changes in climate and landscape: from arid and dry to wet and green.
day 9: explore the red city
Marrakech, unlike Fes, has Amazigh roots and is an important economic hub. Known as the ‘red city’ for its red-colored walls, it was built in the 11th century. Explore the medina with a guide and visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest minaret in Marrakech. Next, visit the Ben Youssef Madrassa, a 16th-century Islamic school, and admire Moroccan crafts like arabesques, calligraphy, and geometric tiles.
Visit the Majorelle Gardens, then visit the Saadian Tombs, discovered in the 1930s. Continue to the Palais Bahia, a 19th-century palace known for its woodwork and painted ceilings. If time allows, visit El Badi Palace and its gardens, and head to Mellah. Finish at Jemaa el-Fna, a historic area that once housed travelers and merchants.
day 10: Marrakech – Casablanca
Wake up early to do some final shopping for gifts and souvenirs before heading to the Kouba Almoravide. Built in the 12th century, it’s the only remaining Almoravid monument, discovered in 1948. The Kouba is located inside the 19th-century Moorish palace of Dar Mnebbi, which also features a museum with both modern and traditional art, including items from Berber, Moroccan-Jewish, and Islamic cultures. If you have time, visit the Moroccan Art Museum (Dar Si Said Museum), known for its large collection of wood carvings. End of our top 10 days Imperial Cities from Casablanca, check our tours from casablanca
◙ Include:
- Transport en S/V vehicule, fuel.
- Driver/guide.
- Nights in Hotel.
- Camel ride in the dunes.
◙ Not include:
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Tips.
