9 Days Tour from Marrakech to the north and Sahara Desert
We spent 9 days touring Morocco, starting in Marrakesh and ending in the country’s largest city, Casablanca. The trip consisted of guided tours and independent travel, everything from camel trekking through the Sahara to wandering around the medina in Fez. Here’s what we saw:
Highlights
The Sahara desert was our first time seeing the Sahara, and it was breathtaking!
Marrakesh – Our first impression of this historical Moroccan city was that it was like an active, bustling metropolis.
Fez – The heart of the country was next, and we visited the walled medina, the royal palace, and the old town.
Essaouira – This beautiful city in the Atlantic ocean was our next stop. We stayed in a riad, a modernized traditional dwelling, complete with a rooftop terrace for sunrise views.
Tangier – The last stop on our journey was Tangier.
Day 1: Arriving in Marrakesh
If you arrive at the airport, we will begin our 9 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert.
Day 2: Marrakesh – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
You’ll leave Marrakesh and travel through Tizi N Tichka pass on your way to Ouarzazate. We’ll take a break for photos, then we’ll take an off-road trip to Telouet to visit its beautiful kasbah (fortress), which is called Glaoui. After you visit the Kasbah you will have the opportunity to walk through the lush green countryside of the Atlas Mountains and view the stunning rural villages in Morocco. The world heritage site of the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is a remarkable example of a fortified, traditional North African kasbah. In the kasbah, we will continue our way to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s “Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscape have attracted numerous world-class movie producers The famous TV shows and movies, such as Gladiator, The Mummy, and The Last Temptation of Christ were filmed in Rome’s historic movie studios, where you can view props, costumes, and set designs. We then fly to Marrakesh and visit Kasbah Tamnout to visit the palace of Sultan Ahmed Hassan II and see how he lived his daily life.
Day 3: Ouarzazate – Skoura – Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Sahara desert
We will travel to Tundra Gorges by driving through the palm groves of Skoura. We will drive down to the Gorges du Verdon and head back across the French Riviera, and then continue on to visit the Dades Valley. Then we went via the Dades valley to Tinghir which is about an hour outside of Marrakesh. We will drive through a few towns and villages, including Tinejdad, Touroug, and Erfoud. In this section, we will learn about the town of Erfoud as well as its history, people and culture. Continue to the fascinating dunes of Erg Chebbi. We take a camel ride in the Sahara Desert to experience a unique sunset before arriving at the Berber camp. Live music show on drums. Overnight at Sahara Camp.
Day 4: Sahara desert – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifran – Fez
Travel to the local Souk, where you can buy souvenirs or explore the market on your own. From then onwards we continue through the vast Ziz valley that contains millions of palm trees all the way to Ertuna. Our car drives from Ziz to Chinguetti. We travel through the Ziz Gorges and then over the middle Atlas Mountains. In Midelt is our first stop. We’ll drive through the Cedar Forest of Azrou, which is the largest one in Morocco, and then we’ll cross the Sahara Desert After driving for four hours along winding, mountainous roads, you arrive in Fes, and it really is a small Switzerland of Morocco. It looks like a tiny European country with its stone buildings. Check-in at the riad.
Day 5: Visit Fez
On the Mooning, we visit the major monuments of the ancient city, like the Great Mosque and Medersa Bouaaniniya, the oldest and most important Islamic school in Cairo.
Day 6: Fez – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouan
Leave for Meknes. It’s a pleasant place to visit. You have a magnificent view of the Medina. The start of the tour is by the monumental gates of the palace Berdaine Bab, Bab Khemis. We continue exploring the city by the stables, attics, and the stable. It’s a very rare opportunity to step into the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. It’s the only mosque that non-Muslims can visit in Morocco. From there you turn right and follow the road around the square Hedim. We will travel to Volubilis, which is a 2000-year-old Roman ruin that we will spend a little time in, and learn more about the life of the people living in the Roman Empire We will visit the blue city, and stay overnight there.
Day 7: Chefchaouan – Tetouan – Tangier
You can visit the ruins of the old wall in the middle of the blue medina, to enjoy the view and the smell of the air of the mountain, you can then rest at the hotel, relax or just take a rest to get ready for your night tour, or visit the museum of ceramics.
Day 8: Tangier – Asilah – Rabat – Casablanca
Your day will be dedicated to visiting Tanger city. You’ll go on both a bus and a walking sightseeing tour. This is an exciting experience that will introduce you to a fascinating ancient city. You’ll learn about the culture and history of this city, and you’ll take in the scents and sights. You’ll be given some free time to walk through the bazaar and visit some of the shops and cafes. After we take you to Marrakesh, we’ll visit the Kasbah of the Udayas. It was built in the twelfth century when a terrible tribe of predators lived there. We head to Casablanca in the late afternoon and spend the evening then take an early morning flight the following day.
Day 9: Casablanca – Marrakesh
Morocco is an incredible destination that is filled with amazing sights. We’ll stop in Casablanca for a guided tour of the impressive Hassan II Mosque. the end of our 9 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert.
Good To Know
Make sure to bring a valid passport.
Pack comfortable clothes, as you will be spending a lot of time outside.
Bring mosquito spray or cream.
Bring cash. ATMs are not that common in Morocco.
Take off your shoes when entering someone’s home.
FAQS
Where can I find the list of cities that you have visited?
You can find the complete list of all the places we have visited on our website.
What should I bring with me when I travel?
So, You should bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a swimsuit, a towel, and a swimming pool.
Do I need a passport to travel between the US and Europe?
Yes, it would help if you had a passport to travel between the US and Europe.
