Grand Tour from Fez, Desert Tours

Upon arrival at Fez Saïss International Airport, you will be greeted by your Stylia Tours English-speaking guide and driver. They will be waiting for you with a warm welcome and will take care of all your transportation needs throughout your stay in Fez. After a brief introduction, you will head straight to the old medina of Fez to begin your exploration of the city.

On the second day of the tour, your expert Stylia Tours local guide will lead you on a full day Heritage guided tour of Fez. You’ll visit the 12th century “Bab Boujloud” “blue gate” with its stunning blue and green ceramics, the largest royal palace in Morocco, Dar el Makhzen, which exhibits its seven golden doors and wonderful golden gate made of marble, copper, and glorious mosaics. You’ll also explore the Mellah or Jewish quarter of old Moroccan Jewish heritage, built near the Royal residence for protection in 1438. You’ll experience the panoramic view of the city from Borj Sud, an ancient fortress on a hill, from where you can view the UNESCO listed ancient Medina of Fez. Finally, you’ll visit the 14th century Madrasa Bou Inania religious school and be delighted by the Marinid architecture.

On the way to Meknes, we will go back on time to 3 Th century by visiting the most important archaeological site in Morocco Volubilis, which are features the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of northern Africa. So it is not by chance this roman ruins in 1997 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 45 minutes guided tour is scheduled here. From Volubilis we go on our way to Meknes that was is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa in the medieval North African sources. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727). He built in the ingeniously designed granaries. A really fascinating architecture of tiny windows, massive walls where he used to store grain and hay to feed his 15.000. He didn’t store food for humans, but we will stop as well to get pictures of the Bab AL Mansour the Great gate built in the 11th century by the King AL Mansour Eddahbi.
Overnight in Meknes.

This is a long driving day, where we will meet different colors of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Meknes. In the way, we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifrane. Lunch will be scheduled in a berber village called Midelt which is situated n the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau, we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Merzouga via Rissani.
Overnight in Merzouga berber camp.

Throughout the sand dunes, we go for a drive on these fabulous landscapes on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand dunes in Morocco. We will see plenty of nomadic black tents in the middle of nowhere. We shall stop by a nomadic family to have tea and see what a nomadic life looks like. We go on our drive and let’s discover the nomadic life of Tuareg people by visiting Alkhamliya, a village where nothing has been changed through centuries. Either we lunch here in Alkhamliya village or we go back to our hotel and lunch there. After a nap, we go on a camel ride to meet one of the most fascinating sights that we will ever see, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga.
Overnight in berber camp.

Visiting Errisani and the mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays , and Sundays. It was noted for its leather and goatskin trading in ancient ages. 127 km from Errisani the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central High Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the Colorado, with its high plateaux, its gorges, and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons.
Overnight in Todgha Gorges.

From the great canyons of Todgha, we go along the road of 1000 kasbahs, since there are enormous kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately a lot of them are ruins. A visit to one of those kasbahs is scheduled by seeing Amridil Kasbah. We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades Valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley another valley called the Valley of Roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olives trees, fig trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes, and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival each end of April.Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessness town,The door of the desert), is a city is situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs and building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17Th century.
Overnight in Ouarzazate.

35 km from Ouarzazate there is the fortified kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, built in the 11th century. Once upon a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. From the beautiful Ait Benhaddou, we head southwest to the town of Taroudant. It is called the “Little Marrakesh” because it resembles Marrakesh with its surrounding ramparts. The ramparts of the town are nearly 6 kilometers long.
Overnight in Taroudant.

Almost 70 km from Taroudant, there is Agadir city. The capital of Berbers since it is the biggest berber city all over the Kingdom. Agadir is also a very modern city that is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains.
Along the ocean, we drive for almost 200 km towards Essaouira, Essaouira has also been known by its Portuguese name of Mogador. The Berber name means the wall, a reference to the fortress walls that originally enclosed the city.
Overnight in Essaouira.

A one day on your pace will be for sure wonderful since there is no way to get bored. Due to the plenty activities, you will be able to enjoy amazingly as Essaouira is well renowned for its kitesurfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind. Horse riding, camel riding along the beach. It is known for the delicious seafood and where there are several small art galleries are found all over the town. Since 1998 Essaouira getting known by its Gnaoua Festival of World Music, normally it is scheduled in the last week of June. It brings artists from all over the world. Although focussed on gnaoua music, it includes rock, jazz and reggae. In early 1952 the film director and actor Orson Welles made his movie Othello. Now there is a square named Orson Welles.
Overnight in Essaouira.

Wake up and enjoy a lovely breakfast at your hotel before heading to Marrakesh. Once in Marrakesh, you will be joined with your local guide for a visit to Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace and the famous El Fna Square where storytellers and snakes charmers demonstrates their abilities in playing with snakes, also other famous historical sites are to be visited along the visit.
Overnight in Marrakesh.

A transfer to the airport according to your flight time will take place.