The Essential Guide to Your First Visit to Morocco: Culture, Desert & Atlas Wonders

On your arrival, Morocco Desert Trips driver will meet you at the airport and you will bedriven straight to the hotel in Fes, which is where your the 12 days in Morocco begins. The following timeline of events is well orchestrated to ensure that visitors get a dose of culture, heritage, fun and some sightseeing, adventure and relaxation. Ranging from the labyrinthine and historically evocative medina of Fes .overnight in Fes

Explore a culturally significant and historically insightful guided tour of the Fes, a famous World Heritage Site. Here we logically walk through the endless narrow alleys of the medina to see architectural masterpieces such as the Kairouine University and tile decorated Bouanania Madrasa. ambling through souks and overcrowded markets with spices, fabrics and various handicrafts, watch craftsmen masterfully demonstrating their skills. Tackle Bab Boujloud, the much-photographed Blue Gate, then get a sense of medina’s past at the Dar Batha Museum.

This marked and interactive journey in Fes is guaranteed to offer a snap shot of Morocco’s history with our expert guides leading; here are the places and their historical perspectives of the Berber, Arabic and Andalusian cultures that are so diverse that you will be surprised they are all Moroccan.

In our 12 days in Morocco on day 03, we leave Fes for a fun filled trip across Morocco’s geography and ethnicity. This course passes through Ifrane, the Moroccan Switzerland that has European design and is characterized by green countryside. Further down the road we have Midelt that is situated at the foothills of the eastern High Atlas where you get to savor proper vistas of the fantastic peaks.

We then take a drive through the fantastic Ziz Valley that has greenery and palm trees and old fashioned Berber villages and then move into the pre-Saharan region. Moving forward, Erfoud is included due to its well-known fossil and Date Festival that give us glimpses of the area’s traditions. Last but not the least is Merzouga, which is the starting point to the Sahara desert; miles of towering dunes and golden sand. It is in this part of the tour that we get to see more of the natural side of Morocco and get to feel the dramatic change of the landscape from mountainous terrains to desert stunning ; this is why this part of the tour is a highlight of our 12-day exploration of Morocco.upon your arrival at Merzouga you will have chance to have a nice walk from the hotel /riad to the sand dunes for a nice sunset or a snadboring ,then dinner and night at the Riad.

In this special day in our 12 Days in Morocco we will be continuing the exploration of the captivating Merzouga area with its desert and culture. Waking up early to be able to witness the enchanting sunrise over the Sahara Desert, we take a rather breathtaking 4 wheel drive vehicle into the heart of Merzouga and beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. On this we familiarize ourselves with the diverse culture of the ethnic Berber people and their techniques in the art of living in the desert areas.

In the afternoon you will have time to relax or take a quad bike ,then 1 hour and half before the sunset we will leave the Riad to reach the camp by a camel riding across the dunes that is considered to be the most exciting experience in the territory of the desert. In the early  evening, we get back to the desert camp in the middle of the sand dunes for a Moroccan dinner a before the night falls. It will be action and search on this day in Merzouga, but it will also contain pleasant moments of solitude with the amazing nature of the Saharawith clean stars or moon, enjoy a nice Berber nomad music and be disconnected from civilization .

On Day 05  of this Morocco tour, what we have in store for you is an exciting tour beginning at Merzouga, passing through Tinjdad, Tinghir onto the much celebrated Todra Gorges. It incorporated a series of spectacular deep canyons having vertical cliffs varying from 100 to 300 feet above the water level. Moving along, our road leads us to the beautiful Dades Valley with spectacular red cliffs and the green palm ornament.

Following that, we stroll leisurely in Valley of Roses that allows the Damask rose to blossom and pickers to collect petals to be used for making Rose water and cosmetics. The trip then leads us to Kalaa Megouna which is associated with the annual Rose Festival that is associated with harvest. Last but not least, the Skoura oasis, in which numerous palm trees and traditional kasbahs frame the peace of this oasis town nestled in the Moroccan desert. It is a full day crammed with variety of scenary, ethnicity and botany and it is reviewed as the most interesting part of the Moroccan tour.

For this day of our 12 Days Morocco private tour , we have a pick up from Skoura Palm Oasis, and drive to Ouarzazate City well known as the Hollywood of Africa because of featuring many movies shootings and old Kasbahs. Our next stop is Ait Benhaddou which is also a UNESCO sight, a beautiful collection of ancient kasbahs right on the ancient trading caravan route from the Sahara to Marrakech. We observe the constructing interweaving mud-brick work and listen the interesting back up story.

Subsequently, we move across the High Atlas Mountains while moving from one pass to the other with scenic views. The trekking thing lets you have a perception of the simple Berber homes built on the rocky surfaces of the mountain as a timeless counterpoint to the Morroccan desert. Lastly, the tour takes you to Marrakech described as the “Red City” due to the colour of its buildings – it is characterized by active souks, palaces and squares. Day 06 collectively includes the cultural tour and has the picturesque of Morocco in it along with architectural brilliance.

On day 7 of out Morocco Itinerary 12 days, we start our guided tour of Marrakech where we take deep dart into the glorious past of Marrakech history culture and lively of the City. Picking up from where we are situated, we head out to the old medina, marked by alleys that are laden with the atmosphere of operational souks. This leads us through a maze-like market where one can meet locals making and selling leather products, clothes, and beautifully designed metals.

Subsequently, we also have a look at famous sightseeing attractions like Koutoubia Mosque famous for its towering structure of minaret. We also go on a guided tour of the old Bahia Palace a landmark of Moroccan architecture which features beautifully carved tiles and calm courtyard. Carrying on our tour, we take a leisurely walk in the tropical garden secret garden As we roam around the city our knowledgeable guide provides us with information of the past histories of Marrakech and its importance especially in the trade and culture of North Africa. Next, we disperse to the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square with snake charmers, singers, and merchants adding drama and color to the setting of the reddish brown mountains of the Atlas range. Here we get ourselves engaged with the Moroccan cuisine and taste tagines as well as Moroccan mint tea.

The day is done with an afternoon to freely perhaps to continue the shopping at the souks with more bargaining skills; searching for the unique item. What’s more, day 07 in Marrakech is a combination of historical learning, cultural experience together with culinary desire, as Marrakech offers a sneak peek to the Morocco’s metropolitan lifestyle.

Thus, on the eighth day of our 12 Days in Morocco, we go from Marrakech to Essaouira – a beautiful coastal town on the shore with a rather theatrical artistic atmosphere and beautiful sandy beaches. Leaving early, we drive further west passing through picturesque landscapes, including the specific Acacia recognize called Argan tree where goats climb the trees at look for fruit.

Our first stop on arrival in Essaouira is the fish market, to witness activity of fishermen at the harbor, and the auctions of the caught fish. Visiting the fully preserved by the UNESCO medina situated behind the ancient walls, we stroll along the ду crafted souks. Some of them are Skala de la Ville that gives stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the city. After that you can enjoy free time in Essaouira either stroll on the beach or have fresh sea food before driving back to Marrakech in the evening with the fresh air and cultural heritage of the coastal town of Essaouira.

Again on Day 09 of our Morocco Itinerary 12 days, we goto Casablanca which is famous for its energetic feeling and superior architecture. The first we visit is the tastefully constructed Hassan II Mosque, one of the most beautiful structures that depict the blend of Islamic art with the Atlantic Ocean as its background. We lose ourselves in the beautiful carvings and the spacious interior courtyards and then get a feel of the giant minaret to the roofs eye.

Picking up from where we left off, let us proceed northwards, till we come to Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. Here we go beginning the city of Morocco history with the Royal Palace, which is still depicted as the symbol of Moroccan monarchy with doorways intricate designs. Not far from the pray, the remains of the beautiful white washed Kasbah of the Udayas with stunning views over the Bou Regreg river. We also come across Hassan Tower which is seated in the remains of a medieval mosque and Andalusian like Gardens.

In Rabat, we go for promenade around the medina displaying small twisting streets with various souks selling spices, crafts, and other items. It is quite obvious that this view of Moroccan life showcases the progressive complexity of the city.

And in the evening we are tired so we spend a nice relaxing time in Rabat with it’s international membership and delicious Moroccan food. More adventures are found in this fascinating capital city.night in Rabat.

And having left Rabat, the tourist will be able to drive through the wonderful landscapes to get to the amazing city of Chefchaouen located in the Rif mountains. Famous for its blue-washed architectures and Aleppine-like confined alleys, the city has the Moorish charm and the influence of Andalusian Spain.

Upon arrival, our guided will take us to the chefchaouen’s medina, starting point of our tour, the outa el hamman square. Here, one can feel the atmosphere of an oriental bazaar – artisans demonstrate their work, fragrant Moroccan dishes are being prepared. Finally walking through the winding blue and white streets, we visit the Kasbah Museum located in a 15th-century fortress. This center provides cultural items and relics that document the history of the city and the people living in it.

Leading on from here, we climb to the elevation of the site called Spanish Mosque with spectacular views of the city and mountains all around. The blue tones of Chefchaouen standing in contrast to the Rif Mountains are rather inspiring for photography and introspection.

Before the night falls, one has the chance to relax in the quiet atmosphere of Chefchaouen, may be having some Moroccan cuisine or wandering around the town’s bazaars. Further explorations of this gem that is the Rif Mountains will be made tomorrow.

Check out our 10 Days Tour from Casablanca.

Our Morocco trip continues by moving from the enchanting blue painted buildings of Chefchaouen, to the heritage of Volubilis and Meknes before heading back to Fes. The day first takes us to the ancient city of Volubilis which is now listed by UNESCO for its Roman ruins that are remarkably well preserved. Here, we take leisurely walks along late Roman streets adorned by gateways, floors decorated by mosaics and examples of the rich’s villa.

In our journey, we proceed to the royal city of Meknes which is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco distinguished by its majestic doors special palaces and grand mosques. This history is detailed in various places of interest such as Bab Mansour-inscribed with artistic tile work and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail-establishing Meknes as a royal city.

We then return back to this amazingly rich lined cultural city of Fes which is the spiritual and cultural capital city of Morocco. Here, we relax among the narrow winding alleys of the old city enjoying the colors of the souks, the centuries old mosques, and the vivid life of the open air markets. The day is again closed on a climactic note having richfully explored the culture and history from Volubilis the remnants of the Roman Empire to the imperial city of Meknes and finally we touch the historic city of Fes.

On Day 12, our 12 days in Morocco draws to a close as we bid farewell to the enchanting city of Fes and head to the airport for departure.

As we reach the airport, we carry with us memories of bustling souks, intricate tile work, flavourful tagines, and the warm hospitality of the Moroccan people. Departing from Fes, we leave behind a country that has left an indelible mark on our hearts, promising to cherish the moments and experiences gathered during this unforgettable journey through Morocco.