Itinerary
In the morning, we will meet the driver who will accompany us during the tour. We will go to Cabo Espartel, where the waters of the Mediterranean Sea converge with the Atlantic Ocean. Then we will visit the Grottoes of Hercules, 5 km away. We will continue toward Chefchaouen, a city located on the slopes of the Tissouka (2,050m) and Me Go (1,616m) mountains, whose name in Berber means “Look at the Horns” referring to the two ridges that dominate it. Once in “the blue town” we will visit the medina to learn about its historical-cultural heritage, and we will enjoy its light, its streets, its picturesque Uta el-Hammam square, the Ras-el Maa Waterfall and of course, the color of its shops full of crafts. Chefchaouen is populated by wise, kind and respectful people.
This morning we will leave early in the direction of Fez. Along the way we will visit the Roman Ruins of Volubilis, the largest Roman archaeological site in Morocco: Triumphal Arch, Capitol, House of Bacchus form this open-air treasure. In the afternoon we will visit Fez-el Bali, the old Medina of Fez, one of the most authentic and best preserved in the entire Arab world. We will walk through its labyrinthine medieval streets where they hide, among the bustle of its people, craft centers, mosques and palaces. Fez is undoubtedly the holiest of the Imperial Cities of Morocco as well as the most cultural. Strolling through the old city is like going back to medieval times. We will do it accompanied by a local guide on foot. In the afternoon we will continue the visit seeing how the different neighborhoods are distributed, always around everyday scenes such as the Mosque, the Fountain, the Furnace, the Baths and the Koranic School. We will have the opportunity to see the famous tanneries, where they tan skins, and go up to a viewpoint where before sunset we can hear the last call to prayer.
We will leave early heading south to cross the Middle Atlas until we reach Ifrane, a town known as "little Moroccan Switzerland" for its great resemblance to that country. One of the animals that formerly inhabited here was the atlas lion, which is why it has become the symbol of the city and to which a stone statue has been dedicated in the center of it. We will cross the famous Giant Cedar Forests and if we are lucky we will be able to feed a colony of wild monkeys that are on top of the mountain. We will have lunch in Midelt or Er-Rich and from here the land becomes arid and full of spectacular geological formations and deep green valleys, such as the Ziz Valley. We will begin to see the typical adobe architecture, palm trees, some distant kasbahs, etc.
It is advisable to get up before dawn to walk to the highest dune that is around the camp to enjoy the sunrise and the relaxing landscape that nature offers us. After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the desert and leave for Rissani, where we will visit its market in which a large number of desert nomads do their shopping. As soon as we finish our visit, we will continue with our route to Tinghir, a small and prosperous town that offers a beautiful panoramic view of contrasts with its pink houses and palm groves, an ideal starting point to enter the famous Todra Gorges, where we can walk a little following the course of the river. Later we will continue to Boumalne Dades, located in the Valley of the birds at 1,612m altitude in the High Atlas mountain range. In the afternoon we will visit the Dades Valley, also known as the Fig Valley, to see its gorges. On the way down we will stop at the "Monkey Fingers".
“The Monkey Fingers hike is located in the Dades Valley, near the city of Tamellalt, Morocco. It is about 5 hours from Marrakech and just a short cut-off from the road from Marrakech to Merzouga, where you can stay in the dunes of the Sahara.”
In this stage we have quite a few kilometers ahead (Approx 310 km) although they will be rewarded by the spectacular nature of its landscapes. After breakfast, we can enjoy one of the best views of the Dades Valley. We will do it from one of the most strategic places that the mountains offer us. From there we will be able to observe the quantity of kasbahs that there are and the picturesque quality of each one, then depart toward a road dotted with diverse Kasbahs of great interest. After several stops to enjoy the route of the thousand kasbahs, the Valley of the Roses, and the great palm grove of Skoura, we will arrive in Ouarzazate and visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, former residence of the Glaoui or pasha of Marrakech, that now houses film studios and a museum of Cinema if you are interested. Along the way we will also visit the Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the setting for various film productions. Later we will leave toward Marrakech, crossing the entire Tizi-n’Tichka or mountain pass of the Tichka, the highest road pass in the country. Here we will leave behind the lunar landscape that will give way to the predominant colors of green, ocher, etc. We will arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon. It is recommended to make the first contact by visiting the “unique” Djemaa el-Fna Square, because around this time the square fills with reciters, fortune tellers, jugglers, tooth pullers, dancers, snake charmers and much more… At dusk they begin to set up small illuminated food stalls in the open air where you can taste their typical dishes. Accommodation will be in a Riad, well located in the heart of the medina.
Breakfast in the Riad and (weather permitting) a free morning to put into practice the art of haggling or discover the most remote places of the medina on our own. At the necessary time(remember that it is advisable to be 2 hours in advance), we will transfer to the Marrakech airport where we will accompany you to check your bags, and with this we end our service, wishing you have enjoyed it to the fullest.