Fossil Tour

Fossil Tour and Mineral Expedition from Casablanca

10 Days    Depending on your time of arrival, you will either transfer from the airport to the hotel or we will start the program.

Day 1: Casablanca – Midelt 

Following breakfast at the hotel we will head towards Azrou in the heart of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Weather permitting you will stop for a picnic in the cedar forest with the monkeys then head to the famous Michlifen extinct volcano, rich in olivine and magna. When lunch is complete you will travel to the Jurassic site in the town of Timahdite which is rich in brachiopods bivalves and speriferes. Should you have any time left you can visit the cretaceous site rich in black shark teeth, in Bakrit. You will spend the evening in your Hotel/Riad in Midelt.

Day 2: Midelt

We will depart after breakfast to visit the Mibladen mines rich in barite, cerussite, and vanadinites however it’s not easy to find. Onward to Ahouli where we will visit the old mines and see the vintage mining equipment. We will stop for a picnic in the valley and then onward to Sidi Ayad to collect azurite malachite and fluorite. Spend the evening at your hotel in Midelt.

Day 3: Midelt – Erg Chebbi

After breakfast head down to the Ziz gorges where we will collect brachiopods and bivalves from pre-historic time. Then onward to the Ziz valley to collect echinoderms, cidaris, and micrasterias from cretaceous Cenomanian. We will then picnic in the valley and head to Erfoud. Spend the evening in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes under the Moroccan diamond sky.

Day 4: Erg Chebbi - Merzouga

After breakfast we head south of Merzouga towards the Mifis mine rich in Manganese. Then off to the Kemkem Paleo River beds rich in fish, crocodile and dinosaur bones. Picnic here and then go to the old mine of Filon 12, rich in vanadinite, quartz, citrine and more. Then off to the Devonian bed also rich in rolled phacops. After a day of fossil digging you will return to your hotel in the dunes.

Day 5: Merzouga 

After breakfast head north of Merzouga collect goniatites made of goethite, pyritised due to the big explosion in Devonian. From here you will collect rolled Devonian trilobite, and sand roses. After your search you will picnic in an oasis full of palm trees. This afternoon you will collect sand roses, fish, crocodile, and dinosaur bones in the cretaceous site of Safsaf. This evening you will return to the hotel in the dunes.

Day 6: Merzouga - Alnif

Visit the famous quarry in Erfoud, Ten Crinoids’ Mine to see fossil extraction and collect few Devonian trilobites at Boutchrafine mount. We will have a picnic lunch under the shade of the palm trees. In the afternoon you visit the factory where tables, dishes, book ends, and decorations are manufactured using big blocks of fossils. Then head to Alnif. Spend the evening at a small hotel. In the morning breakfast will be served before we start our day’s adventure.

Day 7: Alnif

 Good Morning! Today you will visit the Cambrian mine where the big trilobites came from, such as Cambropalace sp. and Paradoxides. Following theis exploration, you will relax with a picnic in the desert. This afternoon you will visit the Ordovician mine of Calymes and Flexicalymenes located in de jbel Tiskaouine. This evening you will rest in your hotel in Alnif.

Day 8: Alnif - Midelt 

Rise and Shine! Today you will visit Todgha gorges. After your visit at the gorges you will head back to your hotel in Midelt. Breakfast will be served before heading out on the days adventure. 

Day 9: Mildelt – Casablanca

Drive through the High Atlas Mountains and visit the Oued Zem phosphate area famous for its shark teeth. Spend the evening in your hotel in Casablanca located close to the airport.

Day 10: Casablanca Departure 

Transfer to the airport. Depending on your departure time.