Morocco Luxury Tours -One Week in Morocco

Visit Batha Museum and Andalusian Garden. 

Next visit the Batha Museum and Andalusian Gardens. he Musee Dar el-Batha offers up a great collection of pottery, leatherwork, wood, books, and manuscripts from the nineteenth century centered around a green spacious courtyard. 

Visit Palais Mokri. Palais Mokri, also referred to as “El Mokri Palace”, is a landmark in Fes. Built around 1906 by If Tayeb El Mokri, son of the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the king and himself Pasha of Casablanca, this residence covers about 220 meters of Fasis architecture and a gardens.

 Visit Jnane S’bil Garden and Les Jardins De Biehn, an Andalusian Garden (if time allows)

Overnight Fes.

Day 4: Fes, Journey to the Middle Atlas Mountains en route to the Merzouga Sahara Desert (Driving Time: 8 1/2 Hours)  

A Journey through the Middle Atlas to the Sahara Desert, Passing Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland,” Midelt, Erfoud (the Capital of Fossils), and Rissani, Arriving in Merzouga for a Sunset Guided Camel Trek and Arabian Nights in the Great Sahara Desert.

Visit the Musicians of Khemlia in Merzouga, a century-old Gnaoua group that performs ancient trance music. Tea and nuts will be served (if time allows on this day or the following day). Next take the road to Merzouga. Enroute to Merzouga, we will pass Ifrane, stopping to see the cedar tree forest and the local barbary monkeys. We will also pass the American- Moroccan University which was built by the Saudis. 

Arrive in Merzouga before sunset and then go by dromedary camel 45-60 minutes, at sunset, into the Erg Chebbi Dunes to camp overnight in our luxury biouvac tent at an oasis. 

Overnight in a Luxury Desert Camp in Merzouga.

Day 5: Merzouga Desert Exploration of Flora and Fauna, then Visit Rissani, Alnif and the Berber Village of Ait Ouzzine en route to Skoura  

Sahara Desert Visit and then Departure from the Region to the Saghro Mountains for Lunch in a Berber Village Enroute to Skoura.

Walk the desert dunes and explore on your own in and around Merzouga. Take the road to se Merzouga’s Sahara by piste. Enjoy the flora and fauna that is unique to the Sahara. Then visit the Saharan Desert towns of Rissani and the capital of fossils, Erfoud.

After lunch, you can have your hands and feet painted with hennaor your hair adorned with saffron by a local village artist and relax. Experience the tradition of Berber perfume made from musk and amber along with the villages own spices. End the afternoon in Ait Ouzzine with mint tea and almonds. 

Drive through the Draa Valley back to Ouarzazate or the Skoura Palmeraie before sunset. The Draa Valley is the road of the old caravans that once traveled to transport dates and other goods from the Draa Region to Marrakech. 

Overnight at a Boutique Riad in Skoura.

Day 6: Skoura Departure to Ouarzazate, Visit Ait Benhaddou and Kasbah Telouet en route to Marrakech  

Visit the Adobe Village of Ait Benhaddou, Passing via the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech

During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town and became the administrative center of the Zagora region. Ouarzazate became famous when its nearby Kasbah,Ait Benhaddou, appeared in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. 

Visit Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.32 km from Ouarzazate lies the picturesque village of Aït Benhaddou,situated in Souss Massa Draa  on a hill along the Ouarazazate River. Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here and Orson Welles used it as a location for Sodome and Gomorrah; for Jesus of Nazareth, the whole lower part of the village was rebuilt. 

After visiting Ait Benhaddou, continue the road to Marrakech. You will pass the olive groves of the Oued Zat as you ascend onto the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass Road. Built by the French in the 1920’s, the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass can be described as having mountainous barriers, Mediterranean and oceanic influences and desert borders. 

Lunch Recommendation:Dine on local Moroccan fare made with fresh, argan oil from the local cooperative run by women. 

Visit an argan cooperative where argan oil, butter, and cosmetics are made with the argan nut by hand as Berber women crack the nuts and the grind them one by one. Enjoy a complimentary tasting. This cooperative is run entirely by women. Continue on to Marrakech.

Day 7: Marrakech Guided Historical Tour

Marrakech Historical Tour: The Moroccan Gardens of Yves Saint Laurent and Koutoubia, Historic Sites, Monuments, the Grand Medina and its Lively Souks

Visit the Majorelle Gardens. 

The Majorelle Gardens, previously the Jardin Bou Saf, bears its name from its original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy,France, in 1886. Jacques Majorelle was the son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. In 1947, the son opened his gardens to the public and, during this time, also painted a magnificent ceiling at La Mamounia, a five-star hotel with exquisite gardens and the place where Alfred Hitchcock wrote The Birds.

See the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens. 

The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. 

Experience the Jewish Mellah.

Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter in Marrakech.  Shop in the Old Spice Market.

Explore El Bahia Palace & Saadian Tombs

The El Bahia Palace in Marrakech is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19^th century and represents trends and standards of the wealthy who lived at that time. Last stop of the day is the Saadian Tombs. The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date back from the time of the Sultan Ammad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were only recently discovered (in 1917) and were restored by the Beaux-Arts service. 

Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

Day 8: Marrakech Deaprture to Casablanca (Driving Time: 3 Hours)