El Dorado Tour

14D/13N El Dorado Tour

Departure: Casablanca
Duration: 14D/13N
Arrival: Casablanca

Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat:
Airport pick-up: Casablanca Mohamed V airport.
In Casablanca we will visit the Hassan II mosque, the largest mosque in North Africa and the third-largest in the world. It is situated on a headland on the Atlantic Ocean. The minaret is 210 meters. This makes the mosque visible from the outskirts of Casablanca. Another amazing place to visit is the Old Medina where you will enjoy everything traditional. On the other hand, there is the New Medina which is a wonderful mix of French and Moroccan inspired architecture.
We leave then to Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco and the modern, spacious and wonderful city. In this imperial city, we will visit the Hassan Tower, Chellah, the Oudaya Kasbah and the art galleries.
We eat lunch in Rabat then later in the afternoon we drive to Meknes. We spend the night in a riad.

Day 2: Rabat – Meknes:
Meknes is another Moroccan imperial city with a mix of a new and an old Medina. It was the capital of the Idrisid dynasty from 788 to 974. Sightseeing includes Moulay Ismail mausoleum, the basin Swani, the Jewish cemetery and the old cereal stores.
We drive to Fez past the ruins of Volubilis. We spend the night in a riad.

Day 3: Meknes – Fez:
Fez is the first Moroccan imperial city. It holds a wealth of attractions and is described as the spiritual city of Morocco. Our visit includes the Karaouiyin University which is one of the oldest universities in the world. The other attractive places include the tanneries, Jardin Jnan Sbil and the lively old Medina where you will admire gardens, fountains, walkways  and the crowded streets that are full of shops and bazaars,
After an active day, we take you back to your hotel.

Day 4: Fez – Merzouga:
After breakfast, we depart to Merzouga. On the road we cross several Berber towns such as Imouzzer Kandar (a small town in Sefrou Province), then Ifrane (a summer resort town in the Middle Atlas Mountains). We move on to Azrou cedar forest to watch monkeys and take pictures. Then we head to Midelt where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we carry on to Merzouga through Errachidia, Erfoud and Rissani. We spend the night in the hotel.

Day 5: Merzouga:
Here, time will be devoted to explore Merzouga and its suburbs. We tour the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi which stretches on an area of 50 kilometers from north to south and up to 5–10 kilometers from east to west lining the Algerian border. This natural gift inspires locals and guests with its 150 meters high dunes. You will enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
In the same day, we meet nomad families who take care of their sheep and camels. They live in tents and they depend on grazing to win a living. We head, then, to Rissani to visit the local market and to explore the ancient villages. Nearby Merzouga, we listen to Gnawa music. We drive back to the hotel to start the camel trekking. You ride your camel to the bivouac where you will have a chicken Tajine and you sleep under wool tents. Meanwhile, you will enjoy the Berber music with our team and a superb view of the starry sky. Sleep well!

Day 6: Merzouga – Ramlia:
Today, we will visit Ramlia, a remote village in the middle of desert and a place where you will meet the nomad people and experience the real rural Morocco and enjoy a very small oasis. We will also go through some Berber villages and visit places where stones and fossils are dug out. You will enjoy endless silence, except the birds that sing. You will discover the fauna and flora of the Sahara desert. We spend the night in a local guest house.

Day 7: Ramlia- Kelaa Mgouna:
We leave to Kelaa Mgouna. We stop in Tinjdad for lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to Tinghir and in our way we take a look at the amazing Todgha Gorge, a popular destination for rock climbers. They are cliffs that rise up to 300 meters among which a crystal-clear river flows. The palm groves stretch along the river giving a unique view.

Day 8: Kelaa Mgouna – Ouarzazate:
Kelaa Mgouna is a city in the Dades Valley and it is famous for one thing: roses. If you visit it during late April or the first week in May, you can observe the annual rose festival. There are many opportunities around Kalaat Mgouna to simply enjoy nature. It is possible to go for a short walk or a much longer hike in the mountainous terrain.
Night will be spent in a hotel in Kelaa Mgouna.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Marrakech:
Today, after breakfast, we drive to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco. We visit the Taourirt Kasbah and, then, we drive to Ait Ben Haddou village which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and which holds the most impressive Kasbah in Morocco. Filmmakers have flocked here in recent years to film blockbusters such as Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and many other movies. After lunch, we drive to Marrakech through the high Atlas Mountains. We spend the night in a riad.

Day 10: Marrakech sightseeing:
Today is devoted to explore the red city of Marrakech. We will visit the Souks and Markets which can be the best experience you could ever have in the city. Djemaa el Fna is the popular city square in Marrakech, often known as the heart of Marrakech. It attracts tourists from all over the world. The Saadian Tombs are grandly decorated with vibrant tiles, intricate carvings and Arabic scripts. They have been restored and designed lavishly. You’ll be amazed at the beauty of these tombs, the magnificent arched ceilings, marble and mosaics carvings.  On our tour, we will also visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, and the busiest streets of the Medina. In the afternoon, you might go for a walk and enjoy the open spectacles of the Djemaa el Fna where you attend nonstop performances of musicians, acrobats, story tellers, snake charmers and more. We spend the night in a riad.

Day 11: Marrakech – Imlil:
After breakfast, we head to the small mountainous village of Imlil. It is the center of mountain tourism in Morocco due to its unique position. From here, tourists head up to Toubkal, the highest mountain in Morocco. We take the time to enjoy the enchanting views of the enclosed valley. We meet local people and see discover some of their rituals and traditions. We have lunch at a local restaurant. We spend the night in a guest house.

Day 12: Imlil – Essaouira:
After breakfast we depart to Essaouira which is less than 3 hours from Marrakech. Essaouira is a charming and vibrant port and resort town on the Atlantic Ocean. It is known as the Wind City of Africa. It attracts plenty of windsurfers between April and November. Today, you will enjoy your time walking in the Medina. The visit includes also the beautiful beach and the port where you will taste appetizing fish dishes. We spend the night in a hotel.

Day 13: Essaouira – Marrakech:

Day 14: Essaouira – Casablanca:
After Breakfast, and at the appropriate time, we transfer you to the airport. Farewell!