13 Days Tour from Casablanca

Morocco's Imperial Cities & the Sahara Desert - 13 Days

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13 days tour from Casablanca

Overview:

Our 13 days tour from Casablanca takes you to several locations around Morocco, providing you with an in-depth look at the country. You’ll begin with the Imperial Cities before traveling over the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert to the kingdom’s west coast. You’ll go through the Saffron region and along the coast to Essaouira, known for its art and artisan handicrafts.

Enjoy an epic journey filled with unique activities like as walking tours, camel trekking, meeting locals, entertainment, and much more.

Highlights of the 13 days tour from Casablanca

Itinerary for a 13-day trip starting in Casablanca

Day 1: Welcome to Morocco - Arrive in Casablanaca

At Casablanca International Airport, our local agent will be waiting for you. Please keep an eye out for him in the arrivals area. He’ll be carrying a sign with your name written on it. He will drive you to your own vehicle. Then begin your exploration of Casablanca, Morocco’s capital and economic hub, which serves as the greatest portrayal of the country today. A quick highlight tour will include those at Pl Mohammed V, as well as new public structures such as Casablanca’s Grand Theatre. The attractive Mauresque architecture of the city may be found in the Quartier Habous and the beach district of Ain Diab, as well as the magnificent Hassan II Mosque.

Then we’ll leave Casablanca and travel down the coast to Rabat, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 2: Rabat - Tangiers

After breakfast, tour the political and administrative capital of Morocco. A beautiful walled medina, a clean central beach, a well-preserved and evocative Kasbah, and a medieval medina that is far less touristic than those seen in other large towns. Our journey begins with the Mohammed V and Hassan II Mausoleums, as well as Hassan Tower, Rabat’s most iconic monument and one of the country’s oldest mosques. Rabat’s old castle, the Kasbah des Oudaya, stands on the site of the previous Ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name.

We’re driving to Tangiers this afternoon along the Atlantic Coast. On the way, the town of Moulay Bousselham is a great place to stop for lunch (at your own expense). If time permits, we may stop in Asilah (a Roman-era little town) to see the majestic walls and Portuguese defenses that surround the historic town of white and blue washed homes. After another hour of driving along the Atlantic coast, we arrive in Tangier’s metropolitan center. We make our way through Tangier’s labyrinthine medina to our accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 3: Discover Tangiers

Today, we’ll visit Tangier, an exceptionally distinctive city with numerous landmarks, Morocco’s principal gateway to Europe, and the home of many international artists. On weekends, young couples and local families go to Mendoubia Gardens, which is surrounded by a row of French colonial-era buildings. An engraved stone monument on the center hill, encircled by ancient cannons, shows King Mohammed V’s speech to the French in 1947, begging for Moroccan independence.

Old Marshan region and its Roman tombs, as well as the Moresque interiors of St Andrews Church, are visible. The Lord’s Prayer is etched in exquisite Arabic calligraphy, and many Andalusian-Moroccan characteristics can be seen throughout the structure, attesting to the compatibility of Christianity and Islam. On our route to the Jewish cemetery, which dominates the beachfront, we walk through the fish market, where fresh fish is auctioned off. Visit the American Legation, the first American property to open outside of the United States.

Descend to Petit Socco and stop at Cafe Tingis for a mint tea, a Beat Generation favorite. Cap Spartel and Hercules’ legendary cave, where he rested after obtaining the “golden apple,” are about a 15-minute drive from Tangier, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It’s incredible how the cave, shaped like Africa, opens out and looks out over the Atlantic. Return to your hotel for the night after some free time at the beach.

Day 4:Tangiers - Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is a must-see. As we approach the Rif Mountains, the roadways curve around the valley rims. Tetouan, one of Morocco’s two main Mediterranean Sea ports, is known for its exquisite Moresque patios and palaces. Tetouan was built on an ancient Roman site before being destroyed in the 15th century by the Portuguese. Tetouan’s revival was indicated by the collapse of the kingdom of Granada in southern Spain in 1492. Andalusian influences can also be found in food, music, jewelry, and needlework, in addition to architecture. Consider visiting the Ethnographical Museum to discover more about the region’s Moresque legacy.

Then, continue our 13-day tour from Casablanca to Chefchaouen via the Oued Laou gorges, which connect Mediterranean beaches to the world-renowned blue metropolis.

On arrival, we explore Chefchaouen, Morocco’s most picturesque town, which includes the Medina, Bab el Ansar, and the legendary Ras el Maa, from which we take a short walk to Rif Sebbanine, the laundry area, and its 15th-century mosque. Chefchaouen is all about getting lost in its streets. It’s worth the journey to visit their 15th-century kasbah. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5:Chefchaouen - Volubilis and Meknes - Fes

Journey to Ouazzane, the holiest city of Moroccan Jews, where people still visit the tombs of many marabouts (Moroccan saints), most notably Moul Anrhaz, the local name for Rabbi Amram ben Diwan, an 18th-century rabbi who lived in the city and whose burial place has been linked to multiple miracles. Many Sufi stalwarts make this their home

Volubilis, an old Roman city with stunning ruins, is our goal. Against the glorious blue sky, impressive stone arches and columns, some cracked and others still standing tall, invite us to travel back in time. Nearly half of the Volubilis UNESCO World Heritage Site is yet unexplored.

Decorative tile mosaics depicting mythological creatures such as Orpheus serenading animals with his lyre and Hercules performing his iconic 12 labors still adorn the floors of former family homes. After decades of exposure to the elements, it’s astonishing how many of these tiles are still standing and exhibiting their colors.

And then on to Meknes, Morocco’s imperial capital, with its meandering, narrow medina alleyways and soaring grandeur befitting its imperial rank. Three defenses have been skillfully interwoven into the city’s route networks, showcasing the city’s historical grandeur and majesty. The majestic Bab el-Mansour, a huge royal granary, surrounds the king’s tomb in the center of the old imperial city. Return to Fes for the night. Return to Fes for the night.

Day 6: Explore Old Medina of Fes

Visit Fez El Bali (Old Fez), Morocco’s cultural capital, to go back in time to the Middle Ages. It is one of the world’s most imperial, timeless, and pure capitals. In the old area, you’ll be taken on a tour of some of the city’s 9000 small streets, tunnels, and souks (open-air marketplaces). The Karaouine served as the Imperial capital’s hub of medieval study, and is one of the world’s oldest and still-operating institutions.

Next door is the Attarine Mederasa (Koranic College), a masterpiece of Hispano-Moorish architecture built in the 14th century. With its gorgeous fountain and delicate tile-work mosaics, the Fondouq (Caravanserai) has been turned into a museum of carpentry antiquities. In the 13th century, the Merinide Dynasty built Fez El Jdid (New Fez), with its Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas (Koranic schools), souks, and city wall.

Fez El Jedid’s mellah (Jewish quarter) is particularly interesting since it provides an intriguing glimpse into Jewish architecture. The wrought iron-decorated windows and exquisite carved wood balconies of the old homes are particularly outstanding. The Medina is a Middle Ages UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 7: Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Erfoud

Farewell, fes. Pass through a variety of charming cities and villages, the first of which is Ifrane, dubbed “Morocco’s Switzerland” for its beautiful ski resort with European-style chalets.

Keep going on to Midelt, the agricultural hinterland’s economic center. It is also a major Moroccan mining town. You will have some free time in Midelt before continuing on to Merzouga desert via the spectacular Ziz Gorge. We’ll have supper and spend the night at the hotel. Dinner and the night were spent at the hotel.

Day 8: Explore Merzouga, Erg Chabbi Sand Dunes

Make your way to the Erg Chebbi dunes after breakfast, which are possibly the largest in the Moroccan Sahara desert. Before travelling to Rissani to experience one of the greatest traditional marketplaces in the Sahara, “a area where they simply sell donkeys and other markets for ships, goats, and cows,” visit communities in the surrounding region for a closer glimpse into Berber culture, as well as a camel milk cooperative.

Find your way to “Gnawa village,” an African settlement. Then proceed to Erg Chabbi. The sand dunes of Erg Chebbi are a rare natural phenomenon. From the flattest location conceivable, a large sand dune forms. Because it is surrounded on all sides by flat, lifeless ground, it is difficult to believe this mountain is real. This is the true, despite the fact that its existence has generated local mythology and legends.

Later evening, hop on the back of a camel and ride into the desert for one of the most magnificent sunsets you’ll ever see. Explore the golden dunes of the Sahara until you locate a good vantage position for one of nature’s most stunning shows. As another day draws to a close, watch the sky come to life with a brilliant glow as the rays playfully alter the colours of the vast dunes surrounding you. After dinner, spend the night beneath the tent.

Day 9: Merzouga - Dades - Skoura - Ouarzazate

Explore the Todra Gorge, one of the world’s most beautiful gorges, located on the east side of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains. Both the Todra and Dades Rivers carved out cliff-sided gorges on their last 25-mile journey through the mountains, leaving behind this sequence of exemptions and etches in the rock. The Todra refers to the final 600 meters of the canyon (just under 2,000 feet). Although the valley is barely 33 feet wide in some places, the rocks on either side are almost 500 feet tall.

Travel through the Dades Valley, which is known for its beautiful sand castles and spectacular “monkey toe” rock formations. The trip over Dades Valley is also known as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. You will be greeted by a stunning view of a large valley dotted with little oases and hundreds of antique walls. Then it’s on to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight.

Day 10:Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech

Discover the Taourir Kasbah, one of Morocco’s most stunning kasbahs. Ouarzazate’s film industry flourished after the French left in 1953. A visit of the movie studios, which create some of the world’s most iconic desert landscapes, is available as an alternative. When visiting the towering stronghold of Ait Ben Haddou, which has been featured in films like as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Alexander, you might notice the sand-colored cottages of this peculiar Ksar (Arabic for “fortified city”). Six kasbahs make up Ait Ben Haddou’s stronghold, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Wander the maze of twisting corridors until you reach a fortified granary at the peak, which provides a breathtaking view of the valley. We leave Ait Ben Haddou and travel over the High Atlas Mountains, crossing via the picturesque Tiz In Tichka pass on our way to Marrakech on our 13 days tour from Casablanca. 

Day 11: Explore Marrakech - Red City - Old Medina

Experience the wonders of Marrakech by starting in the medina, the old walled part of town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 2,000-year-old metropolis has long served as a political, economic, and cultural hub. The tall Koutoubia minaret is one of the city’s architectural highlights. Continue to the Bahia Palace, a fine example of 19th-century affluence.

Afterward, in Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, you’ll find orange juice vendors and dealers, as well as fire-eaters, mime artists, snake-charmers, and street musicians performing at every turn. You may also go shopping in the city’s famous labyrinthine souks, which include crowded passageways crammed with all kinds of merchandise. In the motel for the night.

Day 12: Excursion to Essaouira

We’ll go to Essaouira today, where you’ll have the entire day to yourself. Since it is tiny and simple to traverse, this beach city is ideal for a free day. Essaouira has a distinct cosmopolitan flavor due to the large Portuguese, French, and Jewish groups that have long called the city home. Due to its mild temperature and long stretches of ocean sand, it is also one of Morocco’s top beach towns.

Unesco designated Essaouira’s walled medina as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Its defensive arrangement from the late eighteenth century is an excellent example of European military architecture in North Africa. Tourists will enjoy strolling through the quiet ambience, which is punctuated by colorful stores, whitewashed residences, and massive antique wooden doors. You will be taken back to Marrakech later in the afternoon.

Day 13: Casablanca Airport

As we transport you to the airport for your flight home, we bid you farewell to Morocco.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

WHAT IS EXCLUDED?

More information about our Casablanca-based 13-day tour

Travel Insurance:

At the risk of sounding like your parents, buy travel insurance before you leave. It’s one of those items you don’t want to leave the house without. Depending on your travel style, we recommend either World Nomads or Safety Wing.

Before departing on a tour, the client should get personal insurance from a reliable insurer to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation fees, luggage loss, and tour cancellation penalties.

NOTES:

If you wish to change something about this trip, just let us know your ideas and travel plans, and we’ll come up with a comparable or alternative schedule that meets your needs. For further information, please contact us.

DEPOSIT & PAYMENT

To reserve your 13 days tour from Casablanca, we require a deposit via PayPal or bank transfer, with the remainder paid in cash upon your arrival. We are entirely flexible in arranging your customised trip based on your travel preferences and budget.

Cash or credit cards:

For the 13 days tour from Casablanca, we take payment in Euros (€), Pounds (£), Dollars ($), or Moroccan Dirhams (MAD). On the first day of the tour, we recommend paying your guide in cash. We recommend paying with credit or mastercard if you don’t want to bring a lot of cash, although there is a 6% fee.

Cancellation Policy

Once you give us one week’s notice, we can cancel your 13-day tour from Casablanca for free. Simply send us an email informing us of your cancellation, and we will offer a full refund.

Plan your trip to Morocco

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The 13-day Casablanca trip FAQ

Morocco Ultra Tours uses a comfortable automobile. As a result, for parties of less than six people, we use a Toyota Prado Land Cruiser. We used an 8-seater van and a 17-seater minibus for groups larger than 8 people.

Yes, for travelers who choose not to ride camels, we employ a 4×4 vehicle to transport you to the camp at no additional cost. Optionally, ATV Quads / Buggy Dune can be rented for an additional fee. You only need to notify us at the time of booking.

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