From Casablanca: imperial cities and desert in 7 days

Itinerary: From Casablanca: imperial cities and desert in 7 days

1. 1

   Day 1 · Casablanca — Rabat — Meknes — Fez

   Morning at the Hassan II Mosque, over the ocean, then Rabat with the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower. In the afternoon Meknes, with the Bab Mansour gate and el-Hedim square. Arrival in Fez in the evening.

   
2. 2

   Day 2 · Fez with a guide

   A day devoted to the oldest city of imperial Morocco, with an official guide who knows it lane by lane. You enter on foot through Bab Boujloud and walk down the Talaa Kebira among communal bakeries, date sellers and slipper shops. We see the el-Attarine madrasa, the most refined in Fez, the Karaouiyine mosque from outside, home to one of the oldest universities in the world, and the tanneries from above. In the afternoon a weaving workshop where agave silk is worked and, at sunset, the Marinid Tombs viewpoint, from where you watch the whole medina light up.

   
3. 3

   Day 3 · Fez — Ifrane — Midelt — Merzouga

   Departure around eight to cross the Middle Atlas. First stop in Ifrane, a town with pitched roofs built by the French, which is covered in snow in winter. Shortly after, the Azrou cedar forest, where the macaques come up to the cars. Lunch in Midelt, at the foot of Jebel Ayachi; then the road drops into the Ziz gorges and passes the Legionnaire's tunnel. From there the Ziz valley becomes a river of palms all the way to Erfoud. We reach the dunes in the late afternoon (about 8 hours with stops).

   Sunset camel ride and a night at camp.

   
4. 4

   Day 4 · Merzouga — Todra — Dadès

   Early wake-up to watch the sun rise behind the dunes: it is the quietest moment in the desert. After breakfast we return by camel or 4x4 and take the road west. In Tinejdad we stop at the khettaras, underground channels dug by hand to bring water to the oases. Then Tinghir, with its palm grove kilometres long, and the Todra Gorge: you walk along the bottom of the canyon between walls almost 300 metres high, with the stream beside you. In the afternoon we drive up into the Dadès valley, where the road makes spectacular hairpins among rocks that look like fingers.

   
5. 5

   Day 5 · Dadès — Skoura — Aït Ben Haddou

   We drive down from the Dadès valley and cross Kelaat M'Gouna, the town of roses: the cooperatives distil the rose water used in cooking and cosmetics, and in May the harvest festival is held. Then Skoura, a palm grove with dozens of kasbahs, including the Amridil kasbah, which appeared on the old 50-dirham banknotes. After Ouarzazate we reach Aït Ben Haddou: we walk up among the earthen houses to the granary at the top, from where you can see the whole Ounila valley. Night at Aït Ben Haddou.

   
6. 6

   Day 6 · Aït Ben Haddou — Tizi n'Tichka — Marrakech

   Before leaving, a walk through the ksar in the morning light. Then the High Atlas: the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, earthen villages and women carrying bundles of grass on their backs. We stop at an argan cooperative and at a café overlooking the valley. Arrival in Marrakech late in the morning or early afternoon. In the evening, a stroll in Jemaa el-Fna.

   
7. 7

   Day 7 · Marrakech — Casablanca

   Free morning in Marrakech for a last stroll in the souks. Then the motorway to Casablanca, about three hours. If there's time, a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean, before the transfer to the airport or hotel.