8 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Desert

Just after finishing breakfast First stop on day three is Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the location of the largest Roman remains in North Africa. Notwithstanding the devastating earthquake that hit Volubilis in 1755, the city’s elaborate and beautiful mosaics have survived to the present day.
Despite wars and earthquakes, the Roman city always looked beautiful. But Meknes is our next stop, and it was from here that the Roman Empire spread throughout the known world. Since it was the tenth Berber village, it was also known as Miknasa. Soon after, it was annexed by the Empire and named an Imperial City.
On this enchanted excursion, we will explore the original, historic district of old Meknes. It is a fascinating narrative about the past and its majesty and charm. In the aftermath, we’ll relocate to Rabat, the current capital of Morocco. Hassan Tower, Mohammed V Mausoleum, and Kasbah of Oudaias are just a few of the Rabat attractions we plan to see.

The next stop on our adventure will be the Hassan II Mosque in the morning. This is the biggest mosque in Morocco, the second-largest in Africa, and the fifth-largest in the world. The mosque’s interior and exterior decorations are exemplary of the skills of Moroccan artisans and the beauty of Islamic design.
When we’re done checking out the mosque, we’ll go to Marrakech for the day. We’re getting closer to Marrakech and our own opportunities to explore Moroccan culture on our own as the train draws near. As soon as we arrive, we want to stretch our legs by touring Jemaa el Fna, a plaza and bazaar in the heart of Marrakesh’s historic medina.
In some accounts, Jemaa el Fna is said to have been the site of public executions carried out by Sultans, but in others, the name is said to have a religious meaning since it may be translated as “The Mosque at the End of the World.” Entertainment options and a concentration of various Moroccan cultural manifestations draw in many visitors and locals alike to the area now.

After leaving the red city of Marrakech, we’ll go to the High Atlas Mountains and ascend to a height of 2,260 meters on the Tizi n’Tichka pass.
We’ll take a back route that leads to Kasbah Telouet on the way down the other side, passing via a number of authentic Berber communities that dot the riverbanks. This edifice, formerly the palace of the governor or “Pacha” of Marrakech, features highly beautiful and detailed craftsmanship in its tiles, plaster, and cedarwood, although from the outside it seems to be nothing more than a wreck.
From Fes, we go down the valley to another Kasbah that has been on UNESCO’s world heritage list since 1987 due to its prominence as a filming site. Ait Benhaddou, a fortified ksar on the river’s edge, is on the traditional path used by camel caravans carrying salt to the Sahara and Timbuktu.
Our day will begin with lunch at a local eatery before we travel to Ouarzazate and then on to the beautiful palm grove of Skoura, home to a number of well-hidden kasbahs. On the route to Dades, where we’ll spend the night, we’ll go through the beautiful Valley of Roses, which you’re sure to appreciate.

After eating, we’ll hit the road towards Dades valley, where we’ll view some incredible rock formations and stop for a picnic lunch in a scenic ravine. After we leave the Dades valley and go toward Tinrghir and the Todra valley, we’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas of traditional Berber settlements built of mud and surrounded by palm trees.
In the Todgha Gorge’s narrowest point, you’ll pass under a towering red cliff 300 meters high. After lunch, we’ll go to Erfoud and Rissani, formerly known as Sijilmassa (the origin of the Alaouit dynasty, the present ruling family).
Following that, we’ll go to Merzouga, where you’ll be greeted with a cup of tea and taken to a hotel or riad for the night.

Seeing the seasonal lake of Merzouga (Lake Sirji) will be our first stop today. From there, we’ll go to the settlement of dark-skinned people (Khamlia), who are from Mali and whose music and culture we’ll get to experience firsthand.
Afterwards, we’ll take a trip to the nearby Meffes Mines to see how things are done there, and then we’ll go back beyond the dunes into the middle of the desert, where we’ll have tea with some nomadic Berbers and learn about their culture and way of life.
Your local guides will show you the ropes before you go out to discover the Erg-enigmatic Chebbi’s sand sea, so be sure you’re well-versed in mounting and dismounting your camel and other camel-related safety procedures before you leave (1h -1h:30m). You should spend the night in a Berber tent.

When we return from the desert on the camels and freshen up with a shower, we’ll set out for Rissani, the first imperial city in Morocco.
After that, we’ll go via Erfoud, a hamlet associated with fossils, and the Ziz valley, famous for its breathtaking vistas of palm groves and canyons, before arriving at the port of Tizi-n-Talghomt. When we get to Midelt, it’ll be time for lunch.
We’re going to take the highway to the cedar forest, but not before stopping to observe the wild monkeys. Afterwards we go via Ifrane, sometimes known as the Switzerland of Morocco, on our way to Fez, the cultural heart of Morocco. We stayed in for a hotel night.

The morning meal is served first. The Tizi n Talghmt, also known as the “pass of she-camel,” comes into view as we go on. Azro, a human made of stone, who has stopped to observe apes, is the next destination.
Cedar woodlands are home to the latter. Before heading to Fes, we stop here for lunch. After 10 days exploring Fes, Imperial towns, and the Merzouga Desert, we’ll transport you back to your hotel or the airport.