12D/11N Lawrence of Arabia Tour
Tour overview
This 12 days tour from Casablanca takes you from the bustling city of Marrakech with its magic atmosphere to the serene desert landscapes of Merzouga, and finally to the coastal city of Tangier. Along the way, you’ll visit the historic cities of Ouarzazate, Fez, and Meknes, each offering a unique glimpse into Morocco’s rich cultural heritage. The tour includes visits to colorful Souks, majestic kasbahs, and breathtaking natural wonders like the Todgha Gorges and the Erg Chebbi desert. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the vibrant streets of Marrakech, take a camel trek through the desert, and enjoy the scenic views of the Atlas Mountains. The tour starts in Casablanca and ends in Tangier, covering a range of landscapes and experiences that showcase the diversity of Morocco. Either you can fly out from Tangier or take a ferry and cross the strait of Gibraltar to Spain, otherwise, you may wish to end the tour in Casablanca instead!
What's Included
- 12 days private transportation in well maintained Tourism car according to your group
- English speaking driver, or other languages upon request
- 10 nights at the hotels with breakfasts
- 1 overnight stay at a luxury desert camp with breakfast
- 7 dinners: 1 in Ouarzazate, 1 in Dades valley, 2 in Merzouga, 1 in Midelt and 2 in Fes.
- local guides in the cities of Marrakech, Meknes & Fes.
What's Not Included
- Lunches & drinks
- Rest of dinners
- Tickets to visit places if interested
- Anything else not included such travel insurance and personal expenses
Itinerary
Day 1: Casablanca Airport - Marrakech
Upon your arrival, meet your guide at Casablanca Airport and transfer to Marrakech (3hours). Check into the hotel. Free evening to walk around.
Day 2: Marrakech guided Tour
Today will be dedicated to explore Marrakech. Historical visit of Marrakech will include Menara garden, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowers and other impressive sights such as the koutoubia Mosque (the twin tower of Giralda in Seville, Spain). The Saadian tombs demonstrate the Moorish architecture with its perfection, The Bahia palace and Madrassa Ben Youssef Madrasa. The guide takes you to the restaurant for lunch, or walk you back to your hotel.
Possible visit to Majorelle gardens, or the secret gardens of Marrakech. Alternative sights will be the Badi palace or the Saadian tombs.
Evening drums will draw you to the Djemaa El Fna (main city square). It’s a festival atmosphere, with snake charmers, Berber and Gnoua musicians and storytellers. The Square is illuminated by lamplight and wreathed in smoke. Food stalls on the square sell fresh salads, soups, fried fish and chips, chicken and beef kebabs and even boiled snails or sheep’s head. Finish it off with a glass of sweet cinnamon tea.
Day 3: Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate
After Breakfast, departure from Marrakech hotel. Head South East of Morocco & drive via the high Atlas Mountains where the road is traced upon 2000 m altitude. you’ll travel through scenic road of Tichka pass (7 217,85 ft altitude) which links Marrakech to the south of Morocco. The road used to be the gateway to the sub-Saharan countries, especially Timbuctou as an imortant Caravan route.
Stop for lovely pictures, and Berber villages sightseeing. Move forwards on the way of caravans to reach Ait Ben haddou and take a break for lunch on a rooftop restaurant giving out to the impressive Kasbah. Ksar Ait Ben haddou is an eleven century citadel which is declared on the 80s as a protected UNESCO site. The kasbah is regarded asan impressive sight for film directors. Numerous films have been shouted such as “Jesus of Nazareth”, the “man who would be a King”, Lawrence of Arabia and so on. After lunch, we continue to Ouarzazate, etymologically refers to the noiseless town, and it’s known under the name of “Hollywood of Africa”. Visit of Atlas Studio for cinema. Later on, transfer to the hotel. Check in & overight with dinner at the hotel.
Day 4: Ouarzazat - Skoura - Kelaa Mgouna - Boumalne Dades
After breakfast, we drive to Boumalne Dades on the way of thousand Kasbah. We cross the calm village of Skoura where we visit the Amridil Kasbah. We reach El Kelaa M’Gouna, the village of roses where people celebrate the festival of roses late April or the start of May each year
Stop to see a cooperative of roses products, managed entirely by women from the nearby town.
Continue along the beautiful valley of Dades with its nice rock formation. Walk in the Dades gorges and transfer to your hotel nearby for the overnight. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 5: Boumalne Dades - Todra canyons - Merzouga Desert
Departure to Erg Chebbi desert is after breakfast. Morning drive will take you to Tinghir city where we visit the Todra Gorges. They are canyons that rise up to more than 200 m altitude with a fresh river water in between. After a refreshing stop and some hike, you’ll be transferred to Erfoud, known for the preparation of fossils (sculpture) with a possible stop to see the cooperative of fossils from the area.
Move on to Rissani, the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty which is ruling Morocco nowadays, and famous for the palm trees and its authentic market. We will stop for a while in the authentic market of Rissani, and stroll for some minutes before leaving to Merzouga. There you’ll change the vehicle with friendly camels to take you to the heart of the desert through the sand dunes. Glittering stars and silence will enthrall you. Arrive to the camp and check in. Dinner & night party at the camp.
Day 6: Merzouga
Wake up for sunrise pictures. Camel trekking back to the hotel where we shower and take breakfast. we take the off road with desert scenic landscapes, called the circle of dunes where you enjoy the calm atmosphere of the Sahara. This wilderness gives you the chance to live the best time away from the busy life of urban areas. visit a small village of black people who are originated from the sub-Saharan countries.
You’ll spend the journey to target desert landscapes, and visiting a nomad family who still graze their sheep’s at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Visit some abandoned mines of Mifis and experience the old system of irrigation called the khettara. Beyond, you’ll see the oasis of palm groves. Later on, we transfer you back to the camp or stay at the hotel in Merzouga.
Day 7: Merzouga - Midelt
Breakfast at the hotel and start the journey to Midelt. On the way, Travel along the beautiful Ziz valley with its million palm trees. The palm trees from Morocco mainly in the South produces many kind of dates from Mejhoul (the best known) to other kind of dates.
Pass Errachidia, and travel over the Occidental High Atlas Mountains ( from the Jurassic era) to arrive to Midelt in the evening. Check into the hotel. Free evening.
Day 8: Midelt - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes
After breakfast, we will drive through the Cedar forest of Azrou where we feed the monkeys: the rest of Barbary ape specy in the North of Africa. Transfer to Meknes and start a guided visit of this Moroccan imperial city. Take a short walk in the medina and admire the huge 17 century walls that surround the royal city.
Meknes is another Moroccan imperial city like Rabat. It holds the ville nouvelle (new town) and the Medina. It was the capital of the Sultan Moulay Ismail during the 17 century, and it was besieged by huge walls for protection. Sightseeing includes Moulay Ismail mausoleum, the basin Swani, Museum Ain Smen and the old cereal storage rooms.
After lunch, travel to Fes with a stop in the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Overnight at the hotel in Fes.
Day 9: Fes city tour
Fez or Fes is the first Moroccan imperial city. It holds a wealth of attractions and described as the spiritual centre of Morocco. The Karaouiyin University of Fez is considered among the oldest in the world. Hiring a local guide in Fez is essential to have a complete visit. You start the journey with a visit of royal palace main gates, and travel by car to see the ceramics neibrhoud where to experience the best pottery looking at hand made artefacts.
You move on with your guide to explore the tanneries where they treat leather in Fes medina. And then continue by feet amid the vibrant alleys of the old quarter. You will admire the bustling streets of the Medina where merchants open their shops, and sell all kind of material from rugs, cloths, electronics to animals such as roosters!
Day 10: Fez -Chefchaouen
After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the blue city of Morocco: Chefchaouen.
You’ll admire the lush valleys of Rif Mountains and see authentic farming areas in Morocco where farmers cultivated the best olive oil on the country.
Arrive to Chefchaouen and check in the hotel.
Free afternoon to wander in the blue alleys of old town where locals compete each other to embellish their streets with indigo. This is an unmissable spot if you are looking for great pictures.
Walk in Utta Hamam main square and enjoy people move around, see the Kasbah and take a light hike into Ras el Ma spring. If you are energetic, you may wish to hike to the Spanish mosque and get the best view of Chefchaouen with a potential stunning sunset. Night in Chefchaouen.
Day 11: Chefchaouen - Tangier
After breakfast, travel to Tangier at the extreme North of Morocco. Start with a visit to Hercules cave, and then a stop at Cap Spartel.
The driver will take down to the old section of the city: Medina.
After hotel check in, take an easy evening to see Bab El bahr, the gate into the ocean inside the Kasbah quarter. In the Kasbah reside the tomb of the famous Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta.
Explore the squares and Souk Dakhel, see the American legation of Tangier and have a drink overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from Cafe El Hafa. Over night at the hotel.
Day 12: Tangier Hotel - Tangier port/ Airport
After Breakfast and at the appropriate time we transfer you to the port or airport of Tangier. Far well!