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8 days: Tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco and the desert. Monuments and unique landscapes
The driver will greet you at the airport or wherever you specify in Marrakech
We will transfer you to the location you specify in Marrakech
8 days and 7 nights
The tour vacation starts at 8:00 a.m.
The Moroccan Imperial Cities constitute a magnificent monumental 8 days Itinerary. Marrakech, Meknes, Fes, and Rabat will awe you with the overwhelming majesty of their illustrious past, as well as the popularity and customs of today. To whet your appetite, this excursion will also travel to the country’s south, where you will see distinctive landscapes such as palm groves, hamadas, steep canyons, and, most notably, beautiful sand dunes in Merzouga’s desert. In total, 8 days will be spent discovering why Morocco is such a unique country in every way.
This 8 days itinerary through the Imperial Cities of Morocco will allow you to visit the four destinations that have this suggestive cataloging: Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, and Rabat. They receive this name because at some point in the past they were the capital of the kingdom, and in the case of Rabat, it still is in the present. This capital favored its aggrandizement in all senses, based on spectacular monuments that travelers can see today. Mosques, royal palaces, historic medinas, sacred mausoleums, and many other constructions arouse fascination among those who come to visit them. In addition, in this circuit through the Imperial Cities of Morocco, Casablanca is added, although it does not have this consideration, it does have great tourist attractions, because after all, it is the largest city in the country.
Although the Imperial Cities of Morocco are the main attraction of this 8-day itinerary, the truth is that the trip offers much more. For instance, to travel to the heart of the Sahara desert in the most unique way possible: just on the backs of camels, who will transport us from Merzouga to the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes. The brightness of the starry sky over the tents camp, where you will spend the night, is only similar to the hues of the sunset and sunrise in this region.
The Thousand Kasbahs Route, which we found in the early days, is a remarkable journey. It will take us to legendary adobe strongholds built centuries ago by the Berber population. The ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands out among them all. It won’t, however, be the only stronghold we encounter and photograph. Another evident draw is the contrast of natural landscapes that will unfold in front of your eyes. We will see valleys full of palm groves, arid hamadas, spectacular rocky canyons in the Todra Gorges, and great mountains in the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas, in addition to the aforementioned dunes around Merzouga.
You can discover the High Atlas Mountains on this 8-day itinerary from Marrakech to Fes through Merzouga (Erg Chebbi). Ait Ben Haddou and Telouat Kasbah are worth a visit. Take shots near the “Atlas studio,” Roses Valley, and the Dades Gorges in Ouarzazate. In the Sahara desert, take a camel ride and spend the night. Overnight in Berber tents in the middle of the dunes, then retrace our steps back to Fes. Rissani’s traditional market, Erfoud, Errachidia, Midelt, and Azrou will all be visited. Before arriving in Marrakech, we’ll visit Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Rabat, and Casablanca.
You will be able to discover the stunning marvels of Morocco on an 8-day itinerary desert trip and imperial cities. In this private tour, we will travel through Marrakech to learn about Moroccan culture, spend time with people, and experience authentic Moroccan cuisine. We will explore the medieval city of Fes and visit the important sights and monuments of the first imperial towns in Morocco, then go to Meknes to explore its old gates and discover the relics of the old empires in Morocco.
This 8-day itinerary starts and ends in Marrakech, one of the four Imperial Cities on the route. In this great circular tour, the first half of the route takes place south of the Atlas, while the second half focuses on cultural visits to Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, and the aforementioned Marrakech. This is the development of the circuit, day by day.
The first day of the program starts with the arrival in Marrakech and aims at getting acquainted with the country. Our staff will pick you up at the airport of the city with a private vehicle to transfer you to your accommodation. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, you will enjoy free time or a guided tour with a local guide. In the evening you will rest in a charming riad, located in the medina.
The start of the road trip comes on the second day of the tour of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. We get into our private vehicle for the driver to proceed south after a lovely breakfast at a riad in Marrakech. We’ll traverse the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which is 2,260 meters above sea level and offers amazing panoramic views.
We shall continue to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou after overcoming this massive natural obstacle. We’ll spend some time touring this legendary Berber fortress, which has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. We’ll explore its historical and aesthetic secrets, as well as recall sequences from major film projects like Game of Thrones, which were shot here. We’ll also visit the kasbah of Taourirt, which is only a few kilometers distant from the edges of Ouarzazate.
Both fortresses are a good preview of what awaits us in the rest of the day and the beginning of the next: the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, which in turn runs through the palm grove of Skoura, the Valley of the Roses, and the Dades Valley, all of the great scenic beauty. In the latter environment is located our riad, where you will have dinner and sleep.
After charging the batteries with a good breakfast at the riad, we will continue the route through the Dades Valley to the Todra Gorges. Here we will discover one of the most spectacular rocky canyons in the country, with natural walls of about 200 meters. Later, our route will pass through beautiful palm groves: those of Tinghir (or Tinerhir), Tinjdad (or Tinejdad), and Touroug, which provide an explosion of greenery in an increasingly arid landscape.
Thus we arrive at Erfoud, famous for its countless fossils discovered and for its tradition in the production of marble, as we will know in one of its workshops.
And in the last part of the day, we will reach the southernmost point of this circuit through the Imperial Cities of Morocco and the desert: Merzouga. Here we will change ‘vehicle’, leaving the 4×4 for the 8×8, that is, the dromedaries that will take us into the desert to the breathtaking dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the middle of this sea of fine golden sand, we will witness the spectacle of the sunset. And in a tent camp, we will enjoy dinner and a night’s rest under a shining starry sky.
It’s time to get up and enjoy an equally magnificent morning, with the sunset and the brilliance of the stars remaining in the retina. Breakfast and a camel ride back to Merzouga are also on the agenda. There will be time for a relaxing shower in the morning as well (at the camp or in a hotel, depending on the package contracted).
Ahead lies a new route by road in our private vehicle. We will leave behind the small town of Rissani, drive through the Ziz Valley, cross the Middle Atlas, and drive through the beautiful Cedar National Park, also called the Monkey National Park because of the large population of Barbary monkeys that inhabit it.
Ifrane, known as the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for its unique gabled buildings, will be our prelude to Fez, a key stop on this tour of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Upon arrival, a charming riad in the historic center will be waiting for you to spend the night.
For its enormous attraction, Fes is worth a full day’s visit. Specifically, the fifth of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. After a good breakfast at the riad, we will meet with an official guide to discover the monumental sites of its historic center.
The main landmarks of this guided tour are concentrated in the medina, such as the medersa of Bou Anania, the fountain of Nejjarine, the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, and the Karaouine mosque. The latter is one of the great cultural centers of Islam, home to the University of Fez, one of the oldest in the world. The artisan quarters of the medina, organized by guilds, will also be visited, especially that of the tanners. There will also be time to visit the Royal Palace and its gilded bronze doors.
At the end of the day, the accommodation will be again the charming riad of the previous night, located in the medina.
After a new breakfast at the riad in Fes, we will head to the second historic capital of this tour of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. We are talking about Meknes, located just 60 km away by road, a distance that we will travel mainly between olive trees and fertile fields. In Meknes, we will find a small but surprising city, with a rich monumental heritage. This is, to a large extent, a legacy dating back to the time of Mulay Ismail, the Sultan who made Meknes his capital and his eternal resting place: his mausoleum still fascinates today for its rich materials, such as fine porcelain, the stone of different colors and the most detailed stucco. Our visit will not miss the gates of the wall, such as Bab Mansur, or the Aghal pond.
Some of these attractions are the medersa of Bou Anania, the Nejjarine fountain, the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss or the Karaouine mosque. In addition to its religious importance, this temple stands out for its cultural relevance, as it is one of the great references of knowledge in Islam, also housing the headquarters of the University of Fes.
Back in the van, we’ll proceed west to Rabat, the third historical capital (and current capital, since 1912) on our tour of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. We’ll spend the entire afternoon there because it’s home to important structures like the Dar el Makhzen Royal Palace, the Kasbah of the Oudaias, and Mohammed V’s mausoleum, among others. And at the end of the day, you’ll retire to a fresh and delightful riad.
Following the included breakfast at the riad in Rabat, travel for 80 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean to Casablanca. It is the country’s largest city and is most known for the film of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Our trip will take us along the Boulevard de la Corniche, a lovely boulevard that leads to Hassan II’s majestic mosque, one of the country’s few open to the public.
After touring (optionally) this twentieth-century Moroccan icon, we will travel to Marrakech, where we will spend the night in a new lovely riad.
After breakfast at the riad and check-out, the following hours will be organized according to the flight schedule. It could be used to make the last purchases in the center, to visit monuments that were left pending, or even to take a guided tour with a local guide, if there was no time to do so on the first day. The Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian tombs, or the medersa of Ben Youssef are places worth visiting during your stay in the city.
At the agreed time, our driver will pick you up to transfer you to the airport of Marrakech. Here our services will end, but the farewell will have a desire to meet again in the future.
Vacations In Morocco arranges several vacation itineraries starting in Marrakech. So, if you’re in Marrakech and ready to visit somewhere in Morocco, let us help you create a customized itinerary.
Fill out the form on the side to receive a free, no-obligation estimate from a Moroccan agency. We specialize in completely customized excursions, including service customization, language, transportation, and any other aspect of the location.
You will receive an email answer with the budget for your idea within 48/72 hours at the most. When planning a vacation to Morocco, consider not only the cost but also the quality of the services and the proximity of the treatment. And it is precisely what defines us!
Would you like 8 days itinerary from Marrakech to Fes at a reasonable price but without giving up quality services and personalized treatment? Then contact Vacations In Morocco: we are an agency specialized in this incredible country, adapting to all kinds of clients and needs. Therefore, we will prepare a budget tailored to you and without obligation so that you can get the most out of your money.
We provide a 8 days itinerary from Marrakech to Fes so you can experience a country free of cliches, crowds, and restricted itineraries.
This 8 days itinerary tour from Marrakech can be scheduled at any time, and we'll show you every turn and reveal its mysteries.
When canceling a reservation at least 4 days before check-in, visitors are entitled to a full refund under the Flexible Cancellation Policy. The first night of the stay will not be returned if a reservation is canceled less than 24 hours before check-in.
Our experts will inform you of everything you need to know about the areas you'll be seeing on your 8 days itinerary from Marrakech to Fes, including what to avoid and what to do.
When you travel with a group, you'll bond through newfound mutual interests, share hearty laughs, and create lasting memories.
8 days desert Itinerary from Marrakech to Fes will take you to beautiful places along the way to photograph. Whether you just bought your first camera or you are already a keen photographer, our 8 days itinerary from Marrakech to Fes offer great opportunities to find them out with us
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Here you can find a list of frequently asked questions and answers concerning the 8 Days Itinerary From Marrakech
Yes, we do all of our journeys in a private vehicle with a driver that speaks your language.
All of our tours are in a private vehicle with a driver that is fluent in your local language. In the major cities, we’ll also offer a private guided walking tour of the medina with an official guide from the Tourism Ministry so you can learn everything about the city’s secrets.
Yes, a baby seat is included in our outings. Just remember to mention it while making your reservation.
You can make a reservation by filling out the contact form below, and we will take care of all the specifics of the reservation and expedition.
Morocco is a diverse country that serves as a gateway to Africa. Epic mountain ranges, ancient ruins, vast deserts, and kind people can all be found here.
