Morocco with all Sences
Round trip from/to Essaouira
Date: März 2026 – Exact date to be agreed upon in consultation with possible flight dates
Description of my travel proposal:
We will either travel in my old Berlingo (maximum two guests) or with one of my official drivers. You can see the corresponding price differences below. Traveling with me may be more familiar, but it is also purely private.
4-day overland trip from Essaouira to Merzouga, where we will stay for 4 days. There, you will get to know the desert and the fascinating culture of the Berbers who live there with additional bookable programs and day trips.
Then we continue on a long journey: 6 days from Merzouga via Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Asilah back to Essaouira.
Along the way, I will entertain you with exciting stories at selected locations (see the respective stage).
1. Day Ghazoua >> Imlil
In the heart of the Atlas Mountains
Relax and enjoy dinner in a small riad
2. Day Imlil >> Telouet
In the morning after breakfast, we drive to Telouet, about 190 km away (approx. 3-4 hours), and spend the night there in simple accommodation.
3. Day Telouet “ Kasbah Ait Benhaddou “ Boumalne Dades [197 km]
After a delicious Moroccan breakfast under the trees, we visit the Kasbah of Taoulet. It is almost a ruin, but still worth a visit. (I tell the exciting story of the El Glaoui, a clan that owned this Kasbah in the 20th century and fell into disgrace through their cooperation with the French occupation, which continues to this day).
On the way to Boumalne Dades, we take another break at the famous “Ksar Aît Benhaddou” (Ksar = settlement). This charming, unspoiled place, built in the old mudbrick style, has served as the backdrop for many famous films (“The Mummy” and “Game of Thrones”).
A visit to the simple museum is a must – if we are lucky, we might even find Aladdin’s magic lamp there 😉
We continue to Ouarzazate, the Moroccan film metropolis, which fits in well with the ancient settlement you have just visited.
The next stop is in the Valley of Roses. Here, the local products will make the hearts of herb lovers beat faster. Rose perfume. Soap. Body cream. Even the precious essential oil can be purchased here at a relatively low price.
Now we are already on the Road of 1000 Kasbahs – a region that gives an idea of how important and sometimes hotly contested the former trade route along the river oases was. After a few more individual stops along the way – whenever we feel like it – we arrive in Boulmadne Dades in the evening.
Overnight stay in a typical hotel or riad with dinner.
4. Day Dades-Tal “ Todgha-Gorge“ Desert Sahara [250 km]
After breakfast, we set off early so as not to miss the Dades Gorge (and because it’s not so crowded then). It’s impressive how the rock walls in this narrow gorge tower high above the sparkling, crystal-clear waters of the Dades! And right after that, there’s a second stop that’s just as impressive: the Todgha Gorge – at 1,550 meters above sea level. It’s located at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains and begins in the Berber town of Tinghir.
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Possible stopover in Alnif:
Bookable tour with Mohammad Bouyiri
Hiking excursion with an experienced geological guide in Alnif to the time 570 million years ago
The 350-million-year-old trilobites are particularly common in this area. Searching for them yourself is part of the program.
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On the way to Merzouga, there are many bizarre rock formations to see, as well as wide oasis valleys and, of course, ancient kasbahs.
Arrival in Merzouga at my Berber family’s home, where they are already waiting for us with dinner in a cozy atmosphere.
5. – 8. Day – Around Merzouga
Bookable day tour 1 with Hassan:
Visit to a workshop in Erfoud (approx. 60 km away) that produces everyday objects and jewelry from regional fossil finds. – Definitely worth seeing.
Visit the local market in Rissani (which has a very medieval feel) and try your first Berber pizza (medfouna) there (followed by a green Berber tea, of course).
We drive through the dunes with Hassan in an off-road vehicle. He shows us the old eyeliner coal mines and the vast plains famous for their fossil finds. We visit the Gnawa musicians in their village, where drum rhythms from ancient times are still played, and gain an insight into their history.
This day trip ends with tea with nomads under their traditional tent made of hand-woven dark wool or with “our” family.
Bookable day tour 2 with Hassan:
The imposing monuments created by German artist Hannsjörg Voth, which were built over a period of twenty years at the end of the last century on an indescribably vast plain, are truly impressive. He built three huge works of art in the Marha Plain: the Ladder to Heaven, the City of Orion, and the Golden Spiral. For 150 dirhams, you can also visit these structures from the inside.https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannsj%C3%B6rg_Voth#Projekte
Summary 1. Stage
2. Stage:
Merzouga >> Ifrane >> Volubilis >> Chefchaouen >>Asilah
9. Day Merzouga >> Ifrane
Depending on weather conditions, we may have to change the itinerary. In February/March, there may be snow, but this is not guaranteed.
400 km – approx. 6 hours of pure driving time
Once again, we cross the Atlas Mountains – the Middle Atlas. The highlight is the drive through Ifrane National Park, home to one of Morocco’s largest cedar forests.
With a bit of luck, we might encounter the famous Barbary macaques that have migrated as far as Gibraltar. Feeding them is permitted here, but caution is advised. (I was once bitten by a monkey 😉)
The trail continues through Moroccan Switzerland. It is green (or white in winter). The houses, built in a modified Alpine style, seem out of place here. Even cows are not uncommon here (but camels are). Tip: You can get fresh raib with fruit here. Delicious!
We are staying in a cozy vacation apartment.
10. Day Volubilis-ruins>> Chefchaouen (258 km)
On the way to Chefchaouen, the blue city in the Rif Mountains, we visit nearby Volubilis, a Roman settlement from the 3rd century, with very well-preserved arches, basins, and ancient water channels, wall remains, and mosaics.
Once again, this is evidence of how cultured the Romans were.
We arrive in Chefchaouen in the afternoon.
Time to relax!
The evening sun bathes the town in a blaze of blue colors. The whole town seems to glow—like a mystical underwater world. But these are only brief moments in the bustling alleys, which are winding, narrow, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending, leading visitors from square to square and shop to shop. Here you can find handicrafts, leather goods, handmade carpets, or the warm hooded djellabas that are famous in this area. Not everything that glitters is gold, but if you don’t let yourself be persuaded to buy the first thing you see, you can still find little treasures here.
11. Day: Chefchaouen
Today in Chefchaouen is ideal for further exploring the medina and the surrounding area. How about a visit to the local hammam? Or a visit to the old kasbah (castle) from the 15th century? In the narrow streets that wind their way up the Rif Mountains, you will find small shops selling local goods, where you can pick up a few “treasures.” Or you can simply stop for a friendly chat with one of the friendly Rif Berbers.
Just outside the Bab Mukaddam gate, you can follow a narrow path to discover wild waterways and fountains.
And at sunset, take the path to the hilltop mosque. Here you can enjoy a magnificent view over Chefchaouen and the mountains.
In the evening, I will tell you the story of Abd el-Krim al Khattabi (c. 1882-1963), the Lion of the Rif, who proclaimed the first republic in North Africa here in Chefchaouen.
12. Day Chefchaouen >> Asilah
The small picturesque village of Asilah, located directly on the Atlantic coast, invites visitors to stroll around. It is a small artists‘ town where some of the walls of the houses in the medina are painted.
13. Day Asilah >> Rabat (210 km)
After breakfast, we continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and most modern city. As the king himself resides here, it is a showcase city: clean and equipped with everything a big city needs. It even has a metro system. And a huge tower is under construction – a new flagship for the king.
We visit the Kasbah of Oudaya and I tell you a little story about the pirates who once roamed the coast here.
The historic Kasbah of Oudaya, complemented by a small medieval-style village in Andalusian style, is well worth seeing.
From up here, you have a wonderful view of the mouth of the Bou Regreg, the longest river in Morocco.
And this historic mountain with its “robber” kasbah also invites you to linger.
Individual overnight stay on the way back to Essaouira.
14. Day >> Essaouira Airport
Return to Essaouira
Summary 2. Stage
Prices
1. Stage:
- 3 nights in mid-range* hotels, including breakfast
- 4 day packages, including driver, gas, etc.
- 4 nights in the desert in a vacation apartment – meals (breakfast and dinner) in the vacation apartment provided by me or my Berber family.
Total: €950 with your own driver from Merzouga or with me: €870, plus dinner/individual costs
For two people: €650 or €610 per person. If a room can be shared, the price will be reduced accordingly. This can be calculated after the exact booking has been made.
Direct return journey: plus €350/€310 including bed and breakfast, if the second stage is not booked:
Total 10 days as a standalone trip: €1,300/€1,180 for one person or €850/€810 per person for two guests.
2. Stage:
- 6-day package: €900
- 5 nights in mid-range* hotels including breakfast: €250
Total: €1,150 with your own driver or with me: €1,030, plus dinner depending on costs incurred
For two people: €620 or €580 per person
Not included: Meals (except breakfast and some half-board in Merzouga and Ifrane), day trips, entrance fees, taxi, tips
TOTAL for both stages (14 days): EUR 2,100/EUR 1,900 or, for two people, EUR 1,270/EUR 1,190 per person
A deposit of 20% is due upon booking and must be paid within 10 days. The remaining balance is due 15 days prior to departure.
Can also be booked in advance
*Upgrade: plus €35 per night
(pls indicate on booking)
Booking
Individual inquiries via email: wiborada-monika@elsen.ch, or the chat button. The booking is binding after confirmation of a specific order.
