Itinerary
- Day 1
Casablanca
You'll land at Casablanca International Airport where your driver and guide will be waiting to take you to your hotel. After checking in, you can either settle in and relax or take a short tour around the city to get oriented. Dinner is included at your riad.
- Start point
- Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco (HOTEL)
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at riad)
Included Activities
- Dinner at riad
Optional Activities
- Short city tour of Casablanca
- Day 2
Rabat to Chefchaouen
Following breakfast, you'll spend the full day touring Rabat. The morning takes you through the Chellah Necropolis, Kings' Mausoleum, and Hassan Tower at the Yacoub al-Mansour Esplanade. Then you'll walk through the 12th-century Kasbah des Ouadayas and have mint tea at Cafe Maure with views over the river. After lunch, you'll drive north to Chefchaouen, which takes about 4 hours, arriving in time for sunset. Dinner waits at your riad.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at riad)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Chellah Necropolis
- Visit Kings' Mausoleum and Hassan Tower
- Visit Kasbah des Ouadayas
- Dinner at riad
Optional Activities
- Mint tea at Cafe Maure
Landmarks Chellah Necropolis Yacoub al-Mansour Esplanade Hassan Tower Kasbah des Ouadayas Cafe Maure - Day 3
Chefchaouen to Fes
The morning has you walking through Chefchaouen's winding blue alleys with your guide. You'll check out the 15th-century Kasbah in town, climb the tower for panoramic views, and wander the cobblestone streets to reach the town waterfall. Coffee at a riverbank cafe comes next, followed by lunch in the medina. Then you'll drive to Fes, arriving in time for dinner and checking into your riad.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in medina), Dinner (Dinner at riad)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Walking tour of Chefchaouen
- Visit Kasbah
- Visit town waterfall
- Lunch in medina
- Dinner at riad
Optional Activities
- Coffee at riverbank cafe
Landmarks Kasbah of Chefchaouen - Day 4
Fes
After breakfast on the rooftop terrace, you'll explore Fes on a full-day tour. The itinerary includes the medina's Jewish quarter and several medeersas, then on to the legendary tanneries where you can see how leather work happens using ancient methods. You'll visit the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 AD and the world's oldest continuously operating university. Lunch happens in the medina, then you have time to rest or explore on your own. Evening options range from a quiet dinner to joining a tasting tour through three local souks, a hammam bathhouse, and tea house.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on rooftop terrace), Lunch (Lunch at restaurant in medina)
Included Activities
- Breakfast on rooftop terrace
- Visit medina's Jewish quarter
- Visit medersas
- Visit tanneries
- Visit University of Al Quaraouiyine
- Lunch at restaurant in medina
Optional Activities
- Traditional Moroccan street food tasting tour (three souks, honey tasting, hammam bathhouse, tea house)
Landmarks Medina of Fes University of Al Quaraouiyine Fes Tanneries - Day 5
Fes to Sahara Desert
You'll start your journey into the golden sands of the Sahara Desert with an 8-hour drive that includes numerous stops for photos and sweeping vistas. After leaving the pavement behind, you'll board a camel caravan for the final journey into the desert. Evening arrives at camp with dinner accompanied by traditional music, then you'll settle into your luxurious tent under the starlit skies.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at camp with traditional music)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Camel caravan trek
- Dinner at camp with traditional music
Landmarks Sahara Desert - Day 6
Sahara Desert to Dades Gorge
Rise early to watch the sunrise over the sand dunes, then have breakfast at camp. You'll spend the morning exploring the surrounding desert, with options to try sandboarding or simply enjoy the quiet. In the early afternoon, you'll drive through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs and its abandoned mud-brick fortified forts. By evening you'll reach the Dades Gorge and a small mountain village for the night, with a Moroccan dinner included.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at camp), Dinner (Moroccan dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at camp
- Desert exploration
- Drive through Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Dinner at inn
Optional Activities
- Sandboarding
Landmarks Dades Gorge Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs - Day 7
Dades Gorge to Aït Benhaddou
Starting after breakfast, you'll head to El Kelaa Mcgouna to see intensely cultivated farmland bordered by rose bushes used in cosmetics. From there, you'll continue west to Ouarzazate, known as the 'Hollywood of Morocco,' to tour local movie studios with props from Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. The Cinema Museum comes next, then you'll head to Ait Benhaddou and its famous Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing southern Moroccan architecture. An optional ATV tour offers bird's-eye views of the complex.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit El Kelaa Mcgouna
- Tour Ouarzazate movie studios
- Visit Cinema Museum
- Visit Aït Benhaddou Kasbah
Optional Activities
- ATV tour of Aït Benhaddou complex
Landmarks El Kelaa Mcgouna Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou - Day 8
Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech
The morning drive takes you back to Marrakech, traveling through the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the dry plains of western Morocco. You'll check into your riad and have downtime to recover from the drive. Later in the evening, you can unwind at a local hammam spa or explore the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive through Atlas Mountains to Marrakech
Optional Activities
- Visit local hammam spa
- Explore city
Landmarks Atlas Mountains - Day 9
Marrakech
After breakfast at your riad, you'll explore Marrakech on a full-day tour. You'll see the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, and Saadian Tombs with their traditional Moroccan architecture and tile mosaics. The Mellah, the former Jewish Quarter, comes next to learn about Morocco's Jewish heritage. Mid-day lunch happens on a terrace overlooking the spice markets with tagine and mint tea. The afternoon takes you through the souks and medina, then you'll finish at the sprawling Djema El Fna Square to watch street performers, fortune-tellers, musicians, and food vendors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on terrace overlooking spice markets with tagine and mint tea)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque
- Visit Bahia Palace
- Visit Saadian Tombs
- Visit Mellah
- Lunch on terrace overlooking spice markets
Optional Activities
- Explore souks and medina
- Visit Djema El Fna Square
Landmarks Koutoubia Mosque Bahia Palace Saadian Tombs Mellah Djema El Fna Square - Day 10
Marrakech
You'll have a late breakfast before heading out to see the lush Majorelle Gardens with their vibrant plants and the small Berber Museum. Next comes the adjacent Yves Saint-Laurent Museum honoring the fashion icon's love for Marrakech and his best-known works. You can also stop at 33 Majorelle for chic Moroccan designer clothing and art. In the afternoon, you'll attend a cooking class to learn how to prepare traditional Moroccan Tagine, Moroccan bread, fresh salad, and mint tea. You'll then enjoy a celebratory dinner with your prepared dishes and almond paste cookies for dessert.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with prepared Tagine stew, Moroccan bread, fresh salad, mint tea, and almond paste cookies)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Majorelle Gardens
- Visit Berber Museum
- Visit Yves Saint-Laurent Museum
- Cooking class with traditional Moroccan dishes
- Dinner with prepared Tagine and dessert
Optional Activities
- Visit 33 Majorelle
Landmarks Majorelle Gardens Berber Museum Yves Saint-Laurent Museum 33 Majorelle - Day 11
Marrakech to Atlas Mountains
You'll leave Marrakech at 9:00 AM for a 1.5-hour drive to the Berber village of Imlil to meet your mountain guide. The day focuses on exploring rural Atlas mountain life on foot with a moderately difficult 3-hour climb offering views of snow-capped mountains and insights into local culture (the difficulty is adjustable). Walking sticks, rental boots, and mule assistance are available if needed. You'll have home-cooked lunch on a family terrace with Mt. Toubkal views, then hike back down over 2 hours before driving to Marrakech for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked meal on family home terrace with views of Mt. Toubkal)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Guided mountain hike (3 hours, moderately difficult)
- Home-cooked lunch with mountain views
- Return hike (2 hours)
Landmarks Imlil Mt. Toubkal - Day 12
Marrakech to Essaouira
You'll start with an early morning hot air balloon ride over the palm oases and Berber villages surrounding Marrakech. Then you'll drive to the coastal city of Essaouira, stopping to visit an Argan oil cooperative showcasing traditional cosmetic and beauty products. Next is Val D'Argan vineyard for lunch and regional wine tasting. You'll arrive in Essaouira in the late afternoon and have a relaxing evening on the coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch and regional wine tasting at Val D'Argan vineyard)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Argan oil cooperative
- Lunch and wine tasting at Val D'Argan vineyard
Optional Activities
- Early morning hot air balloon ride
Landmarks Val D'Argan - Day 13
Essaouira
After breakfast, you'll take a guided tour of the city's old quarters, starting with the medina, artisan cooperatives, and Jewish heritage sites. You'll see the brilliant blue and white architecture and lovely beaches that give Essaouira its relaxed coastal vibe. Learning about the city's Carthaginian, Roman, and Portuguese history comes next, along with visits to the 18th-century sea walls, wood workshops, and artist enclaves in quiet old town alleyways. You'll walk along the harbor to watch fishermen unloading the catch, then enjoy fresh seafood lunch at a streetside cafe. The afternoon is yours to shop for wood carvings, pottery, and gifts in the medina and market, or optionally try kitesurfing or another water sport.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch at streetside cafe)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Guided tour of medina
- Visit artisan cooperatives
- Visit Jewish heritage sites
- Visit 18th-century sea walls
- Visit wood workshops
- Walk harbor
- Fresh seafood lunch at streetside cafe
Optional Activities
- Kitesurfing or water sports
- Shopping in medina and market
Landmarks Essaouira Medina Essaouira Harbor - Day 14
Essaouira to Marrakech Airport
You'll say goodbye to your driver and guide, then head to Marrakech airport for your connecting flight home.
- End point
- Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco (HOTEL)
