Best Morocco Holiday: 8 Days Tour from Casablanca

DAY 1: CASABLANCA / MARRAKECH FAMILY ARRIVAL – FAMILY-FRIENDLY GUIDED TOUR

Visit the Hassan II Mosque. Visit the Mosque of Hassan II.  Casablanca is home to the Hassan II Mosque, designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau. It is situated on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. The Mosque of Hassan II’s promontory offers lovely views overlooking Casa in the residential Afna quarter. Take a private guided tour of the Great White Mosque. Attend a traditional Fantasia Horseshow in the Marrakech palmeraie. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

DAY 2: MARRAKECH FAMILY TOUR – A GUIDED VISIT OF THE GARDENS, MEDINA & PALMERAIE Visit the Majorelle Gardens

The Majorelle Garden, previously the Jardin Bou Saf, bears its name from its original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy France in 1886. Jacques Majorelle was the son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. In 1947 he opened his gardens to the public and during this time also painted a magnificent ceiling space at La Mamounia, a five-star hotel with gardens and the place where Alfred Hitchcock wrote, “The Birds.” Jacques Majorelle studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy in 1901 and later in 1919 he went to Marrakech, Morocco to recover from heart problems. He built the garden during those years using special color of blue, which he used extensively in the garden that is named after him, Majorelle Blue. Jacques Majorelle returned to France in 1962 after a car incident and died later that year of complications from his injuries. As a collector of unique plants from five continents Jacque Majorelle left to Saint Laurent one of the more unique collections of flore and fauna of this era as well as a place of inspiration and contemplation. Enjoy a late morning Kalech Ride from the Majorelle Gardens to Marrakech Medina. Visit the following sites in Marrakech: The Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens El Bahia Palace The old Spice Market Ben Youssef Medrassa Explore the Marrakech souks and meet craft makers and weavers. Taste Moroccan sweets and sip mint tea with the locals. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech

DAY 3: MARRAKECH HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT OVER THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Early morning departure. (6:30 am – 12:30 pm) Marrakech by Air across the magnificent Atlas Mountains. Enjoy a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Excursion. One-hour flight in front of the High Atlas. Souvenir flight certificate
. Traditional breakfast served in a Berber tent. Visit to a local Berber house
. Landover excursion
. Camel ride in the Palmerie of Marrakech. Afternoon Excursion to the Ourika Valley for lunch. Family picnic by the river or Horseback riding in the Marrakech palmerie. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

DAY 4: MARRAKECH – ZIPLINE ACROSS THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Take the road to Terres D’Amanar in the High Atlas. Zip Line Across the Atlas with Wonderful Cliff Views: The Aerial Park is built at an altitude of 120 meters. It is composed of a footbridge and four zip lines, known as the longest zip line in Africa. Acro Park For Family Fun: Volleyball, Berber Bowling, Djellaba Racing, Donkey Pollo, Archery Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

DAY 5: MARRAKECH – TELOUET – KASBAH TELOUET – TIZI-N-TICHKA – OUARZAZATE

Take the road to Ouarzazate. During your journey to Ouarzazate, you will also pass the olive groves of the Oued Zat, as you ascend onto the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass Road. Built by the French in the 1920s, the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass can be described as having mountainous barriers, Mediterranean and oceanic influences, and desert borders. long the route you will see panoramic views of the High Atlas Mountains as well as sights of fertile valleys, blue and red colored pise villages, and other striking mineral environments. Visit Kasbah Telout, one of Morocco’s hidden jewels and a famous Kasbah that is the origin of the Pacha Glaoui Family. Kasbah Telout is hidden along a tiny road in a small village that is 20 minutes outside Tichka. Its history stands alone with its original zellij tile, authentic, preserved silks, and grand remnants of the Glaou family. This Kasbahs has yet to be coined a UNESCO World Heritage site and while it appears in parts to be in ruins on the exterior, its interior is one of true splendor. Visit an Argan Cooperative where Argan Oil, Butter, and Cosmetics are made with the Argan nut by hand as Berber women crack the nuts and grind them one by one. Have a complimentary tasting. This cooperative is run entirely by women. Visit Ait Benhaddou. Located 32 km from Ouarzazate lies the picturesque village. Aït Benhaddou of Aït Benhaddou is situated in Souss Massa Draa on a hill along the Ouarzazate River. Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here and Orson Welles used it as a location for Sodome and Gomorrah, and for Jesus of Nazareth, the whole lower part of the village was rebuilt. In recent years more controlled restoration has been carried out under UNESCO auspices. Aït Benhaddou is one of many locations in this region used for shooting Hollywood films. Aït Benhaddou which once served as the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in present-day Morocco. Your guide will lead you on a private tour through this Berber village of towered and crenulated Kasbahs that once guarded the lucrative caravan route through the Atlas Mountains. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Ouarzazate.

Day 6: OUARZAZATE – SKOURA – VALLEY OF ONE THOUSAND KASBAHS – TODRA GORGE – MERZOUGA

Take the road to Skoura. Visit Skoura and its “Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs.”Skoura is a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves that provide great views of the Atlas Mountains alongside deserted landscapes. It is renowned for the cultivation of roses. The palm groves were laid out in the 12th century by the Almohad sultan Yacoub el-Mansour and named after its original inhabitants, the Berbers of the Haskourene tribe. The most beautiful kasbahs in southern Morocco can be found here. Continue onward to the perfumed Valley of Roses. Your driver will stop for you to view the Capp et Florale distillation factories laid out in the small Kasbah town that manufactures the entire nation’s products of eau de rose. The rose water and other products such as hand and body soaps, oil, crème perfume, and dried flowers are for sale and also popular among Moroccans. The factories produce 3000-4000 petals a year. Lunch at the foot of the Todra Gorge. The Todra Gorge is a spectacle with its gigantic rock walls changing color to create magical effects with the sunlight. In the morning, when the sun permeates through the bottom of the gorge, the rock changes from pink rose to deep ochre gradually throughout the rest of the day. Visit Khemlia – Berber – Sudanese Gnaoua Trance Music: The last stop is Khemlia where you will visit a Sudanese-Berber, Moroccan village. The Musicians of Khemlia have been living in this remote village for a century and perform 100-year-old Gnaoua Trance music songs. Spend an hour listening to Gnaoua Trance music using old-world instruments by these Sudanese Berber Musicians. Tea is served and then there is an option to explore their village. Arrive in Merzouga’s Erg Chebbi Dunes before sunset, then go by dromedary camel for one hour, at sunset into the Erg Chebbi Dunes to a bivouac camp. Your Berber guide will share some of the Sahara Desert’s secrets. As you glide across humpback on these silent, mystical dunes there will be countless opportunities to photograph the endless rolling dunes. Arabian Nights Dinner & Overnight at a Family Friendly Luxury Desert Camp in the Erg Chebbi Dunes.

Day 7: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – ALNIF – AIT OUZZINE – BERBER VILLAGES – OUARZAZATE

Sunrise camel trek and breakfast in the Great Sahara Desert. Quad Biking in the Desert Dunes for one hour. Take your quad and cross the Merzouga’s Erg Chebbi Dunes. Enjoy the dense dunes and wild desert experience as you bike across the Erg Chebbi Dunes. Continue to Erfoud. Visit this town known for fossils. See how fossils are hand-crafted and preserved at a local fossil cooperative. Continue via Rissani and Alnif to the Village of Ait Ouzzine. Aït Ouzzine is a Berber village inhabited by over 300 families who live in beautifully painted crenulated kasbahs, with their henna fields, water wells, livestock, and gardens. This peaceful village is tucked away along an impressive desert route connecting the Draa Valley (Tansikht) and Rissani. Meet a local Berber family, and partake in a cooking lesson on how to make traditional bread and a tajine. Then explore and tour the village by foot. Walk in the green fields and see how the traditional Berbers live with their gardens of herbs, livestock, and henna plants. Lunch will be served to you in Aït Ouzzine by a traditional Berber family. The menu will include a traditional meal of fresh baked bread with spices a chicken and vegetable tajine and fresh local fruits for dessert. After lunch, have your hands and feet painted with henna or your hair adorned with saffron by a local village artist and relax. Experience the tradition of Berber perfume made from musk and amber along with the village’s own spices. End the afternoon in Ait Ouzzine with mint tea and almonds. Take the through the Draa Valley back to Ouarzazate before sunset. The Draa Valley is the road of the old caravans that were once traveled to transport dates and other goods from the Draa Region to Marrakech. Arrive and have dinner at your Riad. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Nkob

Day 8: NKOB – KASBAH TAMNAOGALT – DRAA VALLEY – AGDZ ATLAS STUDIOS – OUARZAZATE

Visit Kasbah Tamnagoult, a village in the Draa River valley 95 kilometers south of Ouarzazate. The village is close to Agdz. It is the former capital of the Mezguita region and residence of former caïds. Its name means ‘meeting point’ in Tachelhit (Berber). Option to have lunch in Kasbah Tamnaoualt or continue the road to Agdz. En route pass the Sahara Desert town of Agdz and the heart of the Draa Valley known for its 45 qualities of dates. Stop for a picturesque view in Agdz and its stunning palmery along with local trade routes famous for bringing dates, spices, and other goods from the South to Marrakech. Visit the market of dates in Agdz. Try various dates in the region and see how the local souk works. Panoramic view of Agdz Palmeraie from a garrison atop Agdz. Continue the road passing Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou. Visit the Atlas Film Studios. The studios are flanked by Holly-wood style Egyptian figures and cover 30,000 square meters of desert. David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia at The Atlas Film Studios in the early 1960’s. Since then many famous directors have followed in his footsteps to exploit the magnificent scenery. International blockbusters shot here in recent years include the French version of Cleopatra, Bertolucci’s Sheltering Sky, Scorsese’s Kundun, Gillies MacKannon’s Hideous Kinky, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, Black Hawke Down, Oliver Stone’s Alexander The Great, Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven, and Penelope Cruz’s Sahara. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 9: OUARZAZATE – OASIS OF FINT – MARRAKECH

Visit the Oasis of Fint. Take the pise (windy road) towards the Oasis of Fint passing the “Plateau de pierres”. On this road, you will find a shining Oasis of palms. Take a light trek around the Oasis Palmerie region that hovers under the Atlas Mountains. Journey on a one-hour walk inside the Oasis. Take the road back to Marrakech via the Tizzin Tichka Pass. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

Day 10: MARRAKECH – CASABLANCA DEPARTURE

Travel to Casablanca. Our driver will drop you off at the airport to leave. End of our service and the end of your Morocco Holiday.

Morocco Holidays via Trips from Casablanca