Journey Across Morocco Tour
Hosting you is a delight
Spend 18 days crossing this unique and incredibly varied country. Volunteer at a village in the Rif and the high Atlas Mountains. Then, head to the Sahara Desert where you will be astonished by the beauty of the sand dunes as you ride across on the back of a camel. Visit the largest mosque in Africa in Casablanca, surf or relax on the beach in coastal town of Essaouira, and admire the colorful goods and exotic spices in the souk of Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakesh
- Day 1 : Casablanca -Tangier
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Arrival to Casablanca airport. Our driver will be waiting for you. Transfer to visit of Hassan II mosque if time allows. Hassan II Mosque visit is one of the largest mosque in the world with a gigantic glass floor for over 24000 worshippers. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 meters. Its location looking out to the Atlantic gives it an exceptional beauty. After the visit, head towards the pearl of the North of Morocco, Tangier. B&B accommodation in Tangier in a hotel.
- Day 2 : Tangier
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Breakfast at your hotel in Tangier, visit of a women and child association named Darna. The association main goal is to protect women and children in difficult situation. The students will interact with members of the association and explain the association goals. Then, participate in a cooking class at the association’s restaurants as well as have a weaving workshop. Have lunch at the association restaurant. Later, start visit of the old medina, the top attraction of Tangier. It's confined by the walls of a 15th-century Portuguese fortress. Continue with a panoramic visit of the most attractive places in Tangier, Cap Spartel where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Hercules Cave, the deepest and largest cave in north Africa. Dinner and accommodation in a Riad in Tanger.
- Day 3: Tangier- Tetouan
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After breakfast, transfer to Tetouan. Tetouan the white dove of the north is a small city in northern Morocco with a unique heritage of Andalusian and Arab cultures making this whitewashed and green tiled city is one of the gems of Morocco. Explore Tetouan old medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old medina was once a pirate hub and the capital of Spain during colonial times. It was a shelter for Jews, Moors, and Moriscos who escaped the Spanish inquisition and many people in the city still speak Spanish. After the visit, lunch at a local restaurant in the medina. B&B accommodation in Tetouan
- Day 4 : Chefchaouen waterfalls and God's Bridge in Akchour
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Have breakfast and take the road to Akchour for a hike to the waterfalls,4hr hiking, picnic lunch aside the river, enjoy swimming and after that transfer to Chefchaouen Guided visit, full board accommodation in a hotel in Chefchaouen
- Day 5 : Zawiya School Service
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Breakfast and transfer to Zawiya village in the Rif Mountains. It is where the next service is. Check in and tea and Moroccan pastry, explanations about the service projects options in the village. Later, have lunch, free time and then preparation for the service projects, visiting the local school and small hospital. Project tasks are likely to include the basic renovation of a school building, painting, fixing windows and doors, mixed with cultural exchange lessons and games with the local children! Dinner and accommodation at the guesthouse in zawiya
- Day 6 : Berber Ceramic Village Ouazzane Region
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Breakfast and drive to a village in the Rif for a cultural exchange with artisanal pottery workshop, the group is invited to take part in the workshop, lunch with the local family. After that drive to the village of Zawiya, dinner and accommodation.
- Day 7 : Chefchaouen-Volubilis - Fes
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After breakfast start your expedition from the Rif to the UENSCO World Heritage site, Fes. Head south to Volubilis, ruins of a Roman city in Morocco. Visit of the ruins city and continue to Moulay Idriss, the oldest town in Morocco, founded by Moulay Idriss I in 789, having fled Mecca because of religious and tribal conflicts. The Idrisid dynasty was founded in this town. Take your lunch in a local restaurant in Mouly Driss and end your today in Fez. Diner and overnight in a riad in Fes Medina.
- Day 8 : Fes Guided Tour visit
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Breakfast at your riad and tour the oldest medinas of the world declared by UNISCO as world heritage. In the tour you will explore the Merenid Tombs of Fes, the Musée des Armes located in an old fortress built by Moulay Hassan I. Visit the University of al-Karaouine, the university in the world that was founded by a lady Fatima Al Fihriya. Then, visit Dar el-Magana, a 14th century water clock and Zaouia el Tijaniya, the shrine and tomb of Ahmed el Tijani.
You will also visit the Najjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Craft located in a beautifully restored fundouk, an old style of hotel for traders.
Lunch will be in the medina in a restaurant that serves delicious Fessi food.
After lunch, visit the Musée Dar el-Batha to see the remarkable collections of pottery, woodwork, leather-work, and manuscripts from the nineteenth century.
Discover the royal palace and many interesting neighborhoods such as the Jewish Mellah, and the Ville Nouvelle. Explore the Medrasa Bou Inania, an Islamic school founded by Abu Inan Faris that is gorgeously ornamented .
Visit University of al-Karaouine. Founded in 859, by a lady whose name Fatima Al Fihriya. This university is one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world, and is considered the oldest university in the world. Dinner and accommodation at a Riad in Fes medina.
- Day 9 : Fes - Marrakesh
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Early morning around 7:30, have breakfast and drive to Marrakesh, stop on the way, for lunch, hotel check in in the medina of Marrakesh.
Guided visit of the Marrakesh medina. Explore this charming area on foot. In Djemaa el Fna, you will visit the famous 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. The guide will take you through the intricate streets and alleys of the Djemaa el Fna. Dinner and accommodation at your Riad in the medina
- Day 10 : Marrakesh - Imlil Service Project
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Today, after breakfast transfer to your project site at around 10am departure from Marrakech for a pleasant drive south winding your way through Tahnaoute and Moulay Brahim gorges, then Asni town where the weekly Berber market every Saturday, then you arrive to Imlil village (1750m). From Imlil you will set up a 45minutes walk up to the Berber village of Armed, which is built on the foot heal of the highest pick in north Africa Toubkal (4167m) , and the second highest pick in Africa after Kilimanjaro , your lunch will be served at the guest house in the heart of the village with an amazing view of the atlas mountain peaks , after lunch the group will going to visit the school , the project site , to have an idea about the service they will be doing the following day.
- Day 11 : Imlil School Sevice - Marrakesh
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Breakfast and get ready for the service project in the Berber village Armed in Imlil. Project tasks are likely to include the basic renovation of a school building, painting, fixing windows and doors, mixed with cultural exchange lessons and games with the local children!
Have lunch with a local family and drive back to Marrakesh to further explore Marrakesh. End the tour in your Riad, have dinner and spend the night there.
- Day 12: Marrakesh - Essaouira - Marrakesh
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Breakfast at your Riad. Drive to the former Portuguese fishing village of Essaouira passing by roadside towns and Berber village. Essaouira previously known as Mogador by European sailors and traders, is a city in the western Moroccan economic region of Marrakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast. Visit of the medieval town Essaouira with its lovely white-washed and blue houses and learn about the local tradition and enjoy the fresh seafood. After lunch, continue the visit. Return to Marrakesh in the evening. Dinner and accommodation in a Riad in Marrakesh
- Day 13: Marrakesh- Ait Ben Hadou - Ouarzazate - Kalaa M'Goun - Dades
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Breakfast at your riad and start your journey towards Boumalen Dades. you will pass the olive fields of the Oued Zat as you ascend to the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260-meter-high) that will take you through spectacular mountainous land. Along the road you will see panoramic sights of the High Atlas Mountains as well as rich valleys, colorful villages, and striking geology
Explore Ait Benhaddou kasbah which is located at 32 km from Ouarzazate. It is situated in Souss-Massa-Draâ on a hill along the Ouarzazate River. The site has been declared as a world heritage by UNESCO and many movies has been filmed there: Lawrence of Arabia, Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus of Nazareth. Ait Benhaddou was a caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Most of the town’s inhabitants immigrated to other nearby villages and only few families still live within.
Visit to Ouarzazate film studio, the Moroccan Hollywood where many famous movies were filmed. Continue to Kellaa Megoun ‘ Rose Valley’ and visit of local cooperatives of Roses local product.
Continue to Dades Gorge, Dades Gorge is carved through the walls of the High Atlas Mountains by the Dades River. It has stunning views which is best seen in the morning when the sun reaches the bottom of the canyon. Driving along you will pass fertile agricultural fields, riverbanks, and several fortified Ksours.
Full board accommodation in Boumalen at a hotel in Boumalen.
- Day 14: Dades - Tinghir - Desert Camp
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Breakfast at your riad . Take the road to Merzouga. On the way to Merzouga, visit of Todra Gorge. A stop for lunch at the desert town Rissani that dates back to the ancient Alawi Dynasty. Continue your journey to Merzouga via Erfoud to enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the Borj-Est that rises 935 m to see panoramic views over the town and its palm dunes.
Erfoud is an vigorous city with gorgeous surrounding landscapes filled with oases, dunes, and rocky mountains. Arrival to Merzouga and before sunset venture out on a 1-hour camel ride to watch the sunset in the Erg Chebbi Dunes. Your Berber guide will lead you through the golden dune where you can enjoy taking pictures the endless rolling dunes of golden. Diiner and overnight at the heart of the desert in a camp.
- Day 15: Merzouga - Ziz valley Service Project
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Breakfast and the journey to Ziz valley starts. In this oasis valley, you’ll have lunch with women cooperative producing various local product derived from dates. They will demonstrate how they originate those products. Later you will visit a local family and have tea with our local host at his family’s traditional Moroccan home. This is your chance to learn about Moroccan family life,
Later enjoy engaging work with women cooperative helping them with their dates product packaging
This valley is the biggest date-producing region in Morocco. And you will be surprised to see there are 283 recognized varieties of date grown in the country, the most delicious (and expensive) of which are known as Mejhoul. After a relaxing night in the hotel, dinner and overnight in a hotel in Ziz valley
- Day 16: Ziz Valley– Skoura
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Get up early and go for short hike in the palmary oasis where to explore the local traditions and know-how of ancestors about irrigating the palm trees, lunch with a local family host.
After that take the road to Skoura, driving along what is usually known as the Road of One Thousand Kasbahs, you’ll see a spectacular view of a vast valley scattered with small oases and hundreds of ancient fortifications. The sand-colored walls of the kasbahs hold a unique historical treasure within.
In the little village of skoura dotted with palm tree groves, you will find one kasbah that stands out from the rest. The Kasbah Amridil, originally built in the 17th century, is one of Morocco’s most iconic living museums. It has withstood the test of time, making it the ideal setting for an insight into the ancient traditions of kasbah life. Dinner and accommodation in a riad in Skoura
- Day 17: Skoura - Marrakesh
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Breakfast and take the road to Marrakesh, a journey along a former caravan route across the Atlas Mountains. The beauty of the journey lies in the scenery: natural landscape—desert, palm trees, and mountains, small villages and a smattering of sheep. Free lunch on your way back to Marrakesh. Dinner and accommodation in riad in the medina of marrakesh
- Day18 : Marrakesh – Casablanca Airport
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Transfer to Casablanca after breakfast
