10 Days Imperial city
Explore Tours
Explore the beautiful Imperial Cities of Morocco
This trip is an excellent introduction to Morocco’s centuries-old culture in a remarkably short space of time. You’ll visit the country’s three most beautiful imperial cities, ancient strongholds with maze-like streets surrounded by towering walls.
You will see colourful markets, grand mosques, Koranic schools and ancient palaces. You’ll visit splendid Roman ruins, Morocco’s most important pilgrim city, its capital city and the snow-capped mountains of the High Atlas. And you’ll return home feeling that you’ve not only observed all of this Eastern culture at arm’s length but that you’ve been immersed up to your neck in it!
Included
- Escorted by English speaking driver and local guides for the city tours
- Meals: breakfast
- Accommodation: 9 nights hotel/riad/guesthouse
- Transport: minibus or 4x4 car
- Price Excludes
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Meals not mentioned
- Entrance Fees
- Tips
- Soft drinks
Tour Plan
Flight to Casablanca - transfer to Marrakesh.
On arrival at Casablanca airport, you will be met by your tour guide and driver and will be transferred via taxi to Marrakesh. On arrival in Marrakesh check-in at your hotel, with free time to relax before your evening meal and over night stay.
Marrakesh
Today your tour guide will take you around the stunning city of Marrakesh, the tourist capital of Morocco. Your guide, with his wealth of local knowledge, will explain the history of the city, show you historical monuments, secret gardens, the bustling souks within the “medina” - the walled city. You will then lunch at a typically authentic Moroccan restaurant. The rest of the day you will have free time to spend at your leisure. Dinner provided at your hotel and overnight stay .
Marrakech-Ouarzazate
After your breakfast, you travel south, crossing the Tichka pass (2260m), before reach the village of Telouat, famous for its Kasbah which is the first thing you will see on arrival, located on a promontory and dominating the village, comprising of a set of buildings dating back successively to the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and made up of successive additions. Telouat was the obligatory place of passage for caravans travelling from Marrakech to Ouarzazate before the construction of the road which passes through the Tizi n-Tichka pass. Because of its strategic position, it has survived for a hundred years, one of the strongholds of the Glaoua lords, a tribe of the Grand Atlas region which acquired a certain notoriety thanks to a controversial figure from the time of the French protectorate, Thami El Glaoui, pasha of Marrakech and last lord of the Atlas. Here you will have time to look around before stopping for lunch after which you will descend the splendid valley of Ounila, to arrive at the village of Ait Ben Haddou, a site classified as world heritage of humanity by UNESCO. This is a place where many Hollywood movies have have been filmed. You will have time here to stop for the walking tour, then continue onto Ouarzazate in the afternoon to arrive at your hotel early evening. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Ourzazate-Merzougua
After breakfast you will leave Ouarzazate heading east, crossing the anazing valleys (Valley of the Roses-Valley and Dadès-Valley of Todghra). Here you can enjoy the diversity of the sublime landscapes, stopping en route for lunch. You will continue your journey in the afternoon towards the Erg Chebbi, arriving at the end of the day at this magical site. You will then climb the highest dune for those who wish to watch the sunset. Dinner and overnight stay.
Merzougua
Today you will trek across the desert by camel then stop for lunch. In the afternoon you can explore the area on quad bikes. A meditation site not to be missed. Evening dinner and overnight stay.
Merzougua-Fez
Today you will leave the desert and travel towards the Middle Atlas, crossing the superb Ziz Valley, famous for its date palm groves and gorge. In arrival in Midelt you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon you will continue walking and cross cedar forests, arriving at the end of the day in the spiritual capital of Morocco. Evening meal at your hotel and overnight stay.
Fes
Today is devoted to a guided tour of the spiritual capital of Morocco, Fez was founded in 788 by Idriss ben Abdellah, the founder of the first Muslim dynasty in the Maghreb: The Idrissids, your guide will accompany you to discover the district of tanners, the ancient medrassa, the medina, and see craftsmen at work making wood, copper, silver and embroidered goods. After lunch you will have the afternoon free to spend at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Fez-Chefchaouen
After breakfast you will travel towards the North of Morocco to arrive at the city of Chefchaouen, founded in 876 of the Hegira, 1471 of the Christian era in order to protect the population against the Portuguese and Spanish conquest. From the end of the 15th century, the Andalusians and Moriscos who settled there made it a prosperous city. In 1920, the Spaniards seized Chefchaouen. The shade of Chefchaouen shares historical origins with Jodhpur indigo. Not only does it reflect sunlight, keeping home interiors cool, but it also repels mosquitos and termites, kept away by copper sulphate, which, mixed with lime, produces the color blue. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Chefchaouen-Casablanca
After breakfast we leave this beautiful city and travel to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, founded in the 12th century by the Almohads, who built a citadel there (which became the Kasbah of the Oudayas), a mosque and a residence. It was then what is called a ribat (“fortress”). The current name comes from Ribat Al Fath, "the Victory Camp", then visit the Hassan Tower and the mausoleum of Kings Mohamed V and Hassan II. After lunch we continue on to Casablanca for dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Return flight
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
