Chefchaouen 10 days - Sahara - Marrakech
Tour Details
Good Days Tour
Description
Take a 10-day journey from Chefchaouen to Marrakech via the Sahara Desert with this private chauffeured tour. You’ll visit Fez, Casablanca and Merzouga en route, with an overnight camel safari with camping at a traditional Bedouin camp en route. Best of all, your breakfasts, lunches, and accommodations are included in the tour price.
Included
- 9 nights accommodation
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
- All taxes, and all activities
Excluded
- Drinks
- Tips
Good Days Tour
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains with its pass of Tizi Ntichka
- Visit the legendary world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
- Visit Todra gorges and Tinghir oasis
- Ride a camel in Erg Chebbi to watch the colour changing sunset & sunrise
- Spend the night at a Berber desert camp
- Sandbording
Good Days Tour
Itenerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 1
Day 1 – CASABLANCA, RABAT
Day 2
Day 2 – CHEFCHAOUEN
Travel north to Chefchaouen, nestled in the lush Rif Mountains. (4.5 to 5 hours drive) Spend the afternoon exploring the charming blue-colored medina.
Day 3
Day 3 – CHEFCHAOUEN IN FES
Spend the morning in Chefchaouen before heading back down the mountains to Fez. OPTIONAL: Start early to have time to stop at Volubilis and/or the Imperial City of Meknes (entrance fees may be required).
Day 4
Day 4 – FES DAY TOUR
Visit to Fez with a private guide. (Walking tour with some transportation between sites.) Start at the royal palace, with its seven golden gates, and discover the significance of the intricate decor. Stroll through the Mellah, or Jewish quarter, which was built next to the palace to provide protection. Admire views of the city from Borj Sud, an ancient fortress and one of the hilltop lookouts where you can see all of Fez landscaped, allowing you to spot landmarks otherwise hidden by the buildings obscuring the rooftops. Visit a pottery cooperative to see how they make Fez’s unique pottery, as well as handcraft the intricate mosaics adorning half of Morocco. Enter the ancient medina and enter a sort of living museum. The Medina of Fez is truly a local community that lives and works and goes about their daily lives in the Medina, so make sure you keep moving and watch out for the donkeys! Stop at Al-Quaraouiyine University, the oldest continuously operating graduate university, founded in 859 CE by a woman. Visit craft workshops, where you will see why Fez is considered the craft capital of Morocco. This may include, among others, silk weavers, where beautifully colored fabrics are woven from silk fibers of the agave plant; and the famous tannery of Fez, where they process all kinds of animal skins by hand, as they have done for almost 1000 years.
Day 5
Day 5 – ATLAS MOUNTAINS, MERZOUGA
Depart Fez after breakfast and begin your journey south. Take a coffee break in Ifrane, a small ski resort also known as the Swiss Village due to its Alpine-style architecture. Visit the wild monkeys in the cedar forests outside Azrou, where they are happy to be fed, but surprisingly well behaved. Stop at Zayda for lunch and enjoy a barbecue at one of the many streetside restaurants. Admire the scenery as you pass through the Atlas Mountains. Admire the verdant and almond trees that fill the Errachidia gorges. Arrival in Merzouga in the evening and check-in at your riad by dinner time
Day 6
Day 6 – SAHARA DESERT
Start the day with a 4×4 excursion in the Sahara Desert. Stop for tea with a nomadic family in their winter home. Nomads herd sheep and goats from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, depending on the weather conditions. Visit the Gnawa village to listen to their captivating music. Rhythmic, hypnotic music has long been a part of their ceremonies, dating back to when their ancestors were brought to the region as slaves. The music has influenced an entire genre played throughout Morocco and has even inspired several music festivals. Hunting for fossils of aquatic creatures in the desert. The Sahara was once an ocean 7 million years ago and countless fossils remain. In the late afternoon, meet your camels for your trek to your desert camp. You will travel through the dunes and your camel guide will be able to get great photos for you too! Arrive at your camp and enjoy a welcome glass of Moroccan mint tea and Moroccan cookies. Take some time to relax before dinner. After dinner, listen to live music around the bonfire.
Day 7
Day 7 – BOUMALNE DADES, OUARZAZATE
OPTIONAL: Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes. Remember that it gets cold in the desert at night, so don’t forget your jacket! Enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast at the camp. Departure from the camp by camel (or SUV if a camel was enough for you!). Meet your driver once again and begin your journey west. Stop at Boumalne Dades to see the magnificent Todra gorges, carved into the red rocks of the landscape by a river. Complete your trip to Ouarzazate, with an optional stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, famous for its rose water production.
Day 8
Day 8 – PASS TICHKA, MARRAKECH
The 8th day of your adventure unfolds as you travel from Ouarzazate to Marrakech, crossing the majestic Tichka Pass.
Scenic Drive through Tichka Pass:
- Embark on a scenic drive through the Tichka Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in North Africa. Marvel at the breathtaking landscapes and panoramic views as you traverse this mountainous terrain.
Arrival in Marrakech:
- Arrive in Marrakech, a city pulsating with vibrant colors, bustling souks, and historical landmarks. Check into your accommodation and immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of this iconic Moroccan city.
Free Time in Marrakech:
- Spend the rest of the day exploring Marrakech at your own pace. Visit the bustling Jemaa el-Fna square, wander through the intricate maze of the Medina, and discover the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Day 9
Day 9 – DAY TOUR OF MARRAKECH
Visit to Marrakech with a private guide. Visit the Koutoubia minaret, the tallest in Marrakech. Within the city walls, no building is allowed to be taller than the Koutoubia. The minaret is part of the largest mosque in Marrakech, completed in 1199. Stop at a Berber apothecary shop to learn about the medicinal uses of many spices and herbs commonly used in Morocco to treat common illnesses. Although it’s not as picturesque as the piles of spices you find in the market, it’s much more informative! Visit the Bahia Palace, a late 19th-century palace built for the grand vizier and named for his favorite wife. The rooms, set in a 2-hectare garden, include the rooms that housed his harem, an often political position. Explore Jemaa el Fna, the main square of the medina and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although filled with street performers, snake charmers, merchants and orange juice stands, it was established when he was executed in 1050 and may have given it its name. Head to the souks surrounding Jemaa el-Fna and head to several workshops, including shoemakers and bakers.
Day 10
Day 10 – DEPARTURE CASABLANCA
After breakfast, return to Casablance for your departure flight Within breakfast included in Hotel.