Ann Ann’s EPIC Moroccan Gems Tour – 14 Days/13 Nights

Airport pick-up in Casablanca. Casablanca is the business and commercial hub of Morocco. One of the landmarks that is a must visit is the Hassan II Mosque. The Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world (largest in Africa) – and a reflection of impeccable modern day Moroccan craftsmanship. Most mosques in Morocco are closed to non-Muslims and this is one of the very few in the country that is open to tourists. Transfer to Rabat after visiting the Hassan II and a delicious seafood lunch. 

Continue transfer to Rabat. Arrive in Rabat in time for dinner. Spend the night in a well appointed riad in Rabat.

After breakfast begin the day tour of Rabat.  This Imperial city is also the present day political and administrative capital of Morocco. Your knowledgeable guide/driver will take you to all the sights worth visiting (ruins of the Citadel of Challah, Hassan Mosque, Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Kasbah des Oudayas). 

Next – hop, skip and jump (or boat) across the Bou Regreg river to Rabat. Though this is not a major tourist attraction, it has a very unique history. Sale has a salacious history related to piracy – all the juicy details will be revealed during the tour! After a eventful day of sightseeing, continue our drive to Chefchaouen via the Rif Mountain. The Rif Mountain is located in the Northern part of Morocco thus not part of the Atlas Mountain system. However, it is just as beautiful and scenic. Spend the night at a well appointed riad in Chefchaouen. 

After breakfast spend the day enjoying the sights. This is a small village that is full of blue streets that criss-cross the medina. You will find that there is a great photo opportunity at every turn! Continue transfer to Fez. Arrive in time for dinner. Spend the next 3 nights in one of our favorite riads in Fez. 

Take the entire day to fully enjoy all that Fez has to offer. Fez has long been considered the spiritual home of the country and the capital of Morocco until 1925. The Fez medina is one of the largest car-free zones in the world – and a living museum of Moroccan culture. The medina is not easy to navigate so it may be wise to arrange a tour with one of our trusted guides. Not only are they knowledgeable but they can customize the tour to your liking, whether it be learning about the rich history of the city or shopping for the exquisite craftsmanship from the local craftsman – the sky is the limit when it comes to what to do in Fez. After a day of sightseeing, spend the night in Fez.

After enjoying breakfast at your riad in Fez, we will transfer you to the World Heritage cities of Meknes and Volubilis. Meknes was founded in the 11th century as the capital of the Alaouite dynasty. Some sights that are worth visiting are Bab El Mansour (the most ornate gate in all of Morocco), Place El Hedim (a bustling grand square), Bab El Khemis (the beautiful door that is the gateway into the Medina of Meknes), the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (resting place for the founder of Meknes), Palais El Mansour (summer residence of the Moulay Ismail) and Heri Es-Sousani (the awe-inspiring horse stables and granaries that once housed more than 12,000 royal horses).

The second World Heritage site is the important ancient Roman outpost of Volubilis. It was founded in the 3rd century BC as the capital of Mauretania in the Roman Empire, later becoming the capital of the Idrisid dynasty. Even if you only have a few hours, Volubilis is worth a visit. This ancient Roman ruin is astonishingly beautiful. The bold mosiac tiles are still vibrantly intact in most of the structures and it will most certainly take your breath away! After savoring your day in Morocco’s history, begin your short journey to the city of Fez. Spend your last night in Fez. 

After having spent a restful night in Fez, travel along the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” to the Tinghir Oasis and Todgha Gorge. The gorge is about 15 km long and the drive is breathtaking. The deep red cliffs beside the Todgha River have an average height of 400 meters which makes it one of the most spectacular canyons in the world. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent enjoying the lush greenery and enchanting water canals in the Tinghir Oasis. Spend the night in the beautiful town of Tinghir. 

After enjoying breakfast at your guesthouse in Tinghir – you will begin the scenic drive to Erg Chigaga via Tamagroute (famous for its green-glazed pottery and 700 year old Koranic library) and M’hamid (the last outpost of civilization before entering the Sahara Desert). The off-road (and off-grid) drive to the camp will be approximately 1.5 hours but it will be an exhilarating ride, passing through various terrains and wildlife. Definitely a road trip to remember for a lifetime! 

Arrive at Erg Chigaga Luxury Camp to relish the sunset amid the magnificent sand dunes of Erg Chigaga. Spend the night at the luxuriously appointed tents after enjoying a delicious traditional Moroccan meal.

After enjoying breakfast at camp you can take this time to truly revel in the tranquility of the desert. Take a camel ride along the magnificent sand dunes. You will be surprised at how fun (and comfortable) it can be to enjoy the sights on top of your camel friend. Our 4X4 will then transfer you to Arixma (the desert oasis) for lunch. 
Fun fact: Arixma is actually next door to the birthplace of Bobo. This is where he spent the first 20 years of his life helping his family heard goats, camels, etc. Life was hard but simple – and who can deny the happiness of being surrounded by loving family members without the stresses and pressures of the modern world. 

Return to the camp via 4X4 and chillax and enjoy the sunset. Cheers to Day 1 in the Sahara Desert – Bisaha! Enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal followed by our nightly campfire and Berber music. Spend the night at the camp.

Chill in the early part of the day. Breakfast at whatever time you wish (or not at all)! Lunch will be served at the camp. 4×4 will transfer you to our nomadic friends. Spend time visiting them and understanding their life in the desert – perhaps some lessons in making Moroccan whiskey (Moroccan mint tea) and traditional sand bread (bread that is baked underneath the hot desert sand).

For those that wish to partake, quad-biking in the desert dunes can be arranged for the late afternoon. Afterwards, sandboarding and sundowners at the big dunes – time to Bisaha again! Enjoy the sunset while having some drinks on the dunes which will be followed by a homemade authentic Moroccan meal. Cap off the night around the campfire by listening to traditional Berber music while surrounded by the millions of stars in the night sky. What a sight to behold! Enjoy your last night in Erg Chigaga! 

Wake up in your cozy bathrobe to witness sunrise in the great expanse of the Erg Chigaga dunes. Take your time to enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast at the camp before departing for Ait Ben Haddou. On route via Lake Iriqui (huge expanse of land that used to be a lake), you will enjoy a traditional Berber lunch at Taznechkt. During this time, you will also have the opportunity to look at local Moroccan handicrafts (Moroccan carpets). 

Given the time of departure from the camp, you may have time to visit Ait Ben Haddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site was made famous by the movie “Gladiator” and TV show “Game of Thrones”. Spend the night at a well-appointed guesthouse in Ait Ben Haddou.

As the journey back to Marrakesh is relatively short (3 – 4 hours), take your time to enjoy a lovely breakfast at the guesthouse. If you did not have time to visit Ait Ben Haddou yesterday, this is the perfect time to pay this UNESCO World Heritage Site a visit.

The scenic drive to Marrakesh will be via the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi n’Tichka pass (altitude 2260 meters). There will also be time to visit local Berber villages such as Ljoukak and Ourigane. Spend the night at a well-appointed riad in Marrakesh.

After breakfast at the riad start exploring the city of Marrakesh. There is so much to do in the Red City – the myriad of sightseeing spots are too many to count! One can wander around the medina, visit Jamaa El Fnaa at the heart of the medina, explore the souks that are just off the main square of the medina, visit Jardin Marjorelle (and the neighboring YSL museum), the Ben Youssef Madrassa (which has recently re-opened to the public after a 3.5 year extensive renovation), Bahia Palace, etc. 

If traditional sightseeing is not for you, then savor every moment at one of Marrakesh’s world famous hammams. It will not be difficult to spend a whole afternoon there! Not only are there countless sightseeing spots and hammams, one should not forget that Marrakesh is also home to a vast array of both traditional and fusion restaurants. Not only is the food delicious but the decor at many of these restaurants is stunning! 

As the day winds down, it is time to prepare for a night out in the town. Marrakesh has a lot to offer in the nightlife department – from live music, bars, lounges, clubs, you name it Marrakesh probably has it! 

After a vibrant and eventful full day in Marrakesh, enjoy the last few hours in Marrakesh before the transfer to Agafay. The Agafay Desert (stone desert) is 40 km southwest of Marrakesh and a short drive from the hustle and bustle of the Red City. While you won’t find the towering dunes in Erg Chigaga – you will definitely capture a touch of the secluded desert experience while savoring the stunning view of the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop.  

The sleeping tents at White Camel Agafay Desert Lodge are not much different than what you would find at a luxury hotel. You will sleep in comfort on a king-size bed with an en-suite shower and toilet. There is also a restaurant, outdoor space for relaxation and enjoyment of the campfire and a infinity pool with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. Evening entertainment is around the campfire / after dinner (singing and playing of drums). This is a great place to chill and end your epic Moroccan adventure! 

After enjoying the night in the stone desert, enjoy a delicious breakfast while overlooking the Atlas Mountains. Take this time to savor the last bit of Morocco and start your short journey to Casablanca for your flight back home. Bon Voyage!