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Two weeks in Morocco make for an unforgettable trip. And that is precisely what awaits you in this 14-day circuit, which covers the entire country and shows you all its secrets, both natural and cultural. A proposal that will meet the expectations of those who are not satisfied with visiting only the essential and want to go beyond, making the most of every minute of the trip.
On shorter tours of Morocco, the travel itinerary usually does not include destinations of great beauty on the Atlantic coast and in the north of the country. But in this case, these destinations are the differential element with other proposals in our catalog. As for the Atlantic coast, in addition to the first stages through Casablanca and Rabat, the tour also stops in the beautiful Essaouira and the picturesque Asilah, in the north of the country. But this is not the only destination of interest in the northernmost part of Morocco: Tetouan will become a beautiful surprise and Chaouen, a dream village hard to forget.
When Morocco makes itself known to foreign travelers, it uses the destinations covered by this program as a tourist attraction. Of course, the imperial cities of Fez and Marrakech, fascinating for their history, art and craftsmanship. But also the magical desert, whether its sand dunes (Erg Chebbi) or its Berber fortresses (Ait Ben Haddou). In addition, its breathtaking mountains of the High Atlas and Middle Atlas provide a counterpoint of snow at many times of the year, as well as valleys of enormous scenic richness.
In these two weeks of travel (14 days and 13 nights), the program offers great emotions and many visits of great interest. So that you can get to know the route at a glance, here is a summary of the route and, below, a detailed explanation of each stage.
With no time to lose, this 14-day tour of Morocco starts at the Mohammed V Casablanca Airport: our staff will be waiting for you at the terminal to take you to the private vehicle in which we will transfer you to the first monument of the trip: the spectacular Hassan II Mosque, the best example of modern religious architecture in the country, with a minaret that is actually a real skyscraper for its 200 meters high.
From here we will head to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. It has in common with Casablanca its location, on the shores of the Atlantic, but between the two there are also important differences: in the case of Rabat, it is a smaller city but with a more picturesque historic center that, in fact, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, with monuments such as the Hassan Tower or the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
In the evening, a riad awaits you in this city, and will serve as a preview of one of the attractions of the trip: accommodations full of charm, with maximum comfort and premium quality.
On this second day of the circuit we will have the Atlantic Ocean as our inseparable companion to the west: we will travel by road from Rabat to Asilah, also a coastal town but smaller and more peaceful. It stands out for its humble and whitewashed farmhouse, set inside a wall that reaches its most beautiful point when it meets the sea, like a maritime fortress.
In addition, Asilah exudes bohemian and artistic atmosphere, since it hosts an important cultural festival held in summer but that goes beyond those dates and permeates everything during the rest of the year. In order to savor every corner of the historic center, you will have the day at your disposal, which you can organize with our advice. And in the evening, another charming riad will welcome you to this inspiring destination.
On this third day we reach the northernmost point of the entire circuit: from the Atlantic coast (Asilah) we will travel just 10 km from the Mediterranean Sea, where Tetouan is located. This city is popularly known as the White Dove because this is the predominant color of its houses, and it was also recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Strolling freely through its streets you can discover the Spanish taste of its atmosphere, as it was in fact the capital of the Spanish Protectorate in the first half of the twentieth century.
From the white of Tetouan (and Asilah, the day before) we travel to the blue of Chaouen, another northern city that leaves no one indifferent. The hamlet of the medina, dyed in this color, gives a heavenly touch to this town nestled among the Rif Mountains. That will be the impression you will get in this first contact with Chaouen, already in the afternoon and before going to the charming riad located in the medina.
The fourth day is designed for an in-depth exploration of Chaouen, in this case at your leisure. The itinerary you choose will surely take you to places full of magic, to viewpoints with panoramic views and to emblematic monuments, such as its kasbah, now the Ethnological Museum, from the 15th century. The Uta el-Hammam square is the nerve center of the historic center, with an interesting gastronomic offer.
And another remarkable activity is its craftsmanship, in this case with techniques and finishes of the most genuine, which will also serve as an interesting contrast to the refinement and even luxury that you will see in other establishments of the circuit, as in Fez and Marrakech. As a final touch, the pleasant riad in the medina will again be your charming accommodation.
From Chaouen to Fez there are only about 200 km by road. But in that stretch there are two places worth stopping at, for different reasons. The first is Volubilis and the second, Meknes.
Volubilis was probably the most important Roman city in what is now Morocco, once the province of Mauritania Tingitana. Today it represents a first class archaeological site, with mosaics preserved in situ and the remains of great monuments. The visit can be free or guided, in the latter case with an additional cost.
Meknes, on the other hand, reached its zenith much later: in the 17th century, in the time of Moulay Ismail, the sultan who enlarged it and designated it the capital. His mausoleum is located here and can be visited, and in the medina are preserved charming corners, such as the Bab el Mansur gate, the most famous of the city.
Both Volubilis and the medina of Meknes are protected as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, as is the historic city of Fez. We will ‘get lost’ in it the next day, leaving for this fifth day a first ‘bite’ to savor its atmosphere before going to the peaceful riad where you will rest for the night.
The city of Fez has so many attractions that it is worth exploring it in a full day, and part of it in the form of a guided tour with an official Moroccan guide. So that’s what we’ll be doing on this sixth day of the circuit.
Its medina is so large that, in fact, it is divided into two, according to its period of construction: Fez el-Bali or old medina and Fez el-Jedid or new medina which, despite that name, is really old, built from the thirteenth century. In addition, there is the mellah or Jewish quarter, which still exudes a traditional and lively atmosphere, very close to the Royal Palace.
In these areas we will discover medersas or Koranic schools (Attarine, Bou Inania), mosques (visible only on the outside) such as that of the Andalusians or Karaouine and also areas still divided by guilds, among which the tanneries for leather tanners.
Before the end of the day and rest in the riad, you can visit a museum freely (Dar Batha Museum, Museum of Arts and Crafts, etc.) or let yourself be carried away by the lively atmosphere of its souks, where you will find the best handmade items.
So far, this 14-day circuit had taken us through the sights located north of the Atlas, of which there are many. But on this seventh day we cross this mountain range through the Middle Atlas and enter the always fascinating south of the country.
But before that, it is time to get to know the greenest and wettest Morocco: the one around Ifrane. This town is known as the Moroccan Switzerland for its urban landscape dominated by gable roofs, given the abundant precipitation in the form of snow during the winter (it is at about 1,700 meters above sea level).
This humidity makes it possible that very close to Ifrane and Azrou is the cedar forest that forms a National Park admired by ecology-loving travelers… and by Barbary monkeys, which have here the largest population in the country.
After seeing both places and perhaps some specimens of these macaques, we will cross the mountains to cross the Ziz valley, which will take us directly to the deepest desert. Its preludes are Erfoud, famous for its fossils, and Merzouga, where we will climb on the back of camels to cross the majestic dunes of Erg Chebbi.
The end of this journey and of the day is in the Berber tents camp that will welcome us for the night, after the preceptive welcome tea. In these traditional tents, with all the comforts, we will sleep while we will be accompanied from the sky by a firmament of stars to be thrilled.
On a two-week circuit like this, it is worth stretching our stay in the desert a little longer. Therefore, the second day in these latitudes will take us to other corners of the most unique. So we will leave the tented camp, return to Merzouga for a shower and depart by jeep on off-road tracks, formerly used in the Paris-Dakar rally.
One of the stops will be Khamlia, a town known for its large community of citizens of sub-Saharan origin, whose ancestors were brought here as slaves. They all have music in their blood, especially the more tribal percussion rhythms, which they will unfold for us in an exciting concert.
The other major stop of the day will be to visit a village of nomadic families in the process of sedentarization. Despite this, they maintain customs anchored in their pastoralist past. One of these customs is hospitality, which they will show us in order to welcome us in a convivial activity, with our mediation.
Panoramic views from the dunes and remains of villages from the French Protectorate period are other attractions of this day, which mixes the adrenaline of 4×4 driving with the local folkloric culture. And in the evening, we will rest in a magnificent hotel in the desert of Merzouga.
On the ninth day of the circuit, we leave the desert to enter the surrounding valleys, which are nevertheless characterized by their aridity and the emergence of green spots in the form of oases. Towards them we will go through Rissani, a small town with a beautiful medina and a popular market.
The Todra Gorges will be one of the main attractions of this day: it is a very steep canyon, with walls over 100 meters high at some points, like something out of fairy tales. The Dades Valley, dotted with ancient kasbahs and charming villages, will lead us to Ouarzazate, a city famous for its film studios.
We will spend the night in a hotel in Ouarzazate, putting an end to a road trip of more than 300 km and many experiences to live.
Ouarzazate is very close to the mythical fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, about 20 km away. But before leaving this city, we will visit another historical kasbah located in the city center: Taourirt, which was the residence and stronghold of the El Glaoui family, one of the most powerful in Morocco until the mid-twentieth century.
A more humble character has the population of Ait Ben Haddou, who built this adobe fortified village and became an essential stop for the caravan routes connecting Marrakech with the south of the Sahara. Its silhouette from the outside and the panoramic views from the inside are spectacular, which is why it was chosen as the setting for scenes in Game of Thrones. In addition, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is considered the best example of Berber defensive architecture.
After this visit, we will cross the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka pass and leave behind the highest peaks of this mountain range, giving way to green valleys descending towards Marrakech. We will arrive there in the afternoon, which will be free until the night’s rest in the riad.
Marrakech is known as the ‘red city’ because of the color of the bricks of its buildings. It is also the tourist capital of the country, being the most visited. But above all, it is a unique destination for its culture, its beauty and the premium services it has developed for the most demanding tourists.
In the first part of the day we will take a guided tour with a certified professional to discover the most emblematic places of the medina: the Jemaa el Fna square (which, by the way, is itself declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity), the exterior of the Koutoubia mosque, the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace … and so on and so forth.
The afternoon will be free, which is an ideal opportunity to visit museums (the Marrakech Museum, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, etc.), the souks of the medina or other gardens and monuments, such as the Badi Palace. In this way, when the night comes, the rest in the riad will be really comforting.
Although many of our tours end in Marrakech after visiting that city, this trip continues with one of the highlights of the program: the city of Essaouira. It is located on the Atlantic coast, just a couple of hours drive from Marrakech. And to get there you have to cross argan fields, one of the country’s national trees. This may lead us to visit a local cooperative where their oil is extracted, still in the traditional way.
Arrival in Essaouira will not be delayed for long, so you can spend the rest of the day visiting the city at your leisure. Whatever the route, the Skala or maritime fortress built by the Portuguese should not be missed. The fishing port or the medina (declared a World Heritage Site) will also be interesting attractions for your itinerary. And when the night comes, you will rest in a charming riad, located in a privileged location.
After almost two weeks of travel, a relaxing day will be appreciated. And so you can conceive this thirteenth day of circuit, since Essaouira is not only interesting from the cultural point of view but also from the natural one. It has beaches suitable for swimming or simply for strolling. In addition, wind water sports, such as kitesurfing, have a long tradition here. And thanks to its proximity to the desert, it is possible to carry out activities as particular as dromedary rides on the beach.
Gnawa folk music is another hallmark of the city, which even captivated Jimi Hendrix. And the gastronomy, with an important presence of fish, can be the perfect final epilogue to this trip, since the night in the riad of Essaouira will be the last of the program.
On the fourteenth and last day of the tour we will transfer you to Marrakech Menara International Airport, where you will take your flight back home. For a smooth arrival, we will pick you up in good time at the riad in Essaouira and drop you off at the airport terminal at the agreed time. There it will be farewell, with the hope that it will be a ‘see you next time’.”
During the two weeks of this tour, you will enjoy the fundamental and premium services included in the package. They are as follows:
The cost of the following services are not included in this tour package and must be paid separately:
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Travel agency and DMC specialized in private and tailor-made trips to Morocco.
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