Itinerary
- Day 1
Casablanca to Chefchaouen
You'll arrive in Casablanca and have the freedom to explore however you'd like. Wander through the Art Deco architecture in Hobous, relax on the sand at Boulevard de la Corniche beach, or sit and watch people at Mohamed V Square. By late afternoon, a private vehicle will take you to Chefchaouen, the blue-washed mountain town in the Rif Mountains. Once there, walk through the medina's narrow lanes, check out the Grand Mosque and Kasbah, then finish at Ras el Ma Spring as the light fades.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private transfer to Chefchaouen
- Explore Chefchaouen medina
- Visit Grand Mosque
- Visit Kasbah
- Visit Ras el Ma Spring
Optional Activities
- Explore Hobous (new medina) with Art Deco architecture
- Visit Boulevard de la Corniche beach
- Explore Mohamed V Square and gardens
- Shop in Chefchaouen souks (markets)
Landmarks Hobous Boulevard de la Corniche Mohamed V Square Chefchaouen Medina Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen Kasbah of Chefchaouen Plaza Uta el-Hammam Ras el Ma Spring - Day 2
Chefchaouen to Fes
Leave the Rif Mountains and head to Volubilis, where you'll see some of Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through merchant homes and temples, looking at the colorful mosaics. After that, continue to Meknes, the imperial city built by Moulay Ismail. You'll wander the compact medina and visit the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania and Dar Jamaf palace. Later explore the Ville Impériale with its gardens, palaces, and gates. By evening, you'll arrive in Fes and climb to the Marinid Tombs for views over the city before settling into your riad.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Volubilis Roman ruins
- Explore Meknes medina
- Visit Medersa Bou Inania
- Visit Dar Jamaï palace
- Explore Ville Impériale including Bab al-Mansour gate
- Visit Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
- Visit Royal Stables
- Visit Marinid Tombs
- Explore Fes medina
Optional Activities
- Shop in Meknes souks
Landmarks Volubilis Meknes Medina Medersa Bou Inania Dar Jamaï Palace Bab al-Mansour Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail Royal Stables of Meknes Marinid Tombs Fes Medina - Day 3
Fes
A local guide will take you through Fes's vibrant medina, navigating the twisting souks and medieval Marinid architecture. You'll pass through the iconic Blue Gate and shop for rugs, jewelry, leather goods, spices, and dried fruits. The Chouara Tannery visit shows you traditional leather-dyeing techniques still in use. Next you'll see the 9th-century Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, then visit either Bou Inania or Al Attarine Madrasa. If you're interested, there's time to check out the Mellah or Royal Palace. The day ends with local food recommendations and free time to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Fes medina with local guide
- Pass through Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud)
- Visit Chouara Tannery
- Visit Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University
- Visit Bou Inania Madrasa or Al Attarine Madrasa
Optional Activities
- Shop for hand-crafted goods (rugs, jewelry, leather goods, spices, dried fruits)
- Gain rooftop view at local tannery (small tip required)
- Explore Mellah (Jewish district and cemetery)
- Visit Royal Palace of Fes (Dar el Makhzen)
- Taste local dishes including couscous, shakshuka, makouda, and slow-roasted mechoui lamb
Landmarks Fes Medina Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) Chouara Tannery Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque Al-Qarawiyyin University Bou Inania Madrasa Al Attarine Madrasa Mellah Royal Palace of Fes (Dar el Makhzen) - Day 4
Fes to Merzouga
You've got an eight-hour journey ahead through Morocco's dramatic landscapes to the Sahara. The route takes you over the Col du Zad Pass through cedar forests where you might spot Barbary macaque monkeys. After grabbing lunch in Midelt, you'll cross the Tizi n'Talrhemt Pass into the Ziz Valley's hidden oases. As you approach Erfoud, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi come into view. Then you'll trade your vehicle for a camel and ride through the towering dunes to your luxury desert camp. You'll climb a dune to catch the sunset, then return for dinner beneath the stars with traditional Berber music playing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Merzouga desert
- Camel ride through Erg Chebbi dunes
- Sunset viewing from dune
- Dinner at desert camp
- Traditional Berber music and campfire evening
Optional Activities
- Visit nomadic Berber family for tea
Landmarks Col du Zad Pass Midelt Tizi n'Talrhemt Pass Ziz Valley Erfoud Erg Chebbi Merzouga - Day 5
Merzouga
Start this morning with a Jeep adventure exploring Erg Chebbi's secrets, meeting nomads, and sharing tea with a local family. Later you'll visit Gnawa House in Khemliya village to experience the spiritual healing music tradition. In the afternoon, head back to the dunes for sandboarding or join a quad bike tour if that appeals to you more. Watch the sunset shift across the sand one more time, then enjoy an evening of traditional Berber music and starry skies at the camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jeep exploration of Erg Chebbi dunes
- Meet nomads and tea with local family
- Visit Gnawa House in Khemliya village
- Sunset viewing
- Dinner at desert camp
- Traditional Berber music and campfire evening
Optional Activities
- Sandboard rental for dune surfing
- Quad bike tour
Landmarks Erg Chebbi Khemliya Gnawa House - Day 6
Merzouga to Boumalne Dades
Rise early to catch the desert sunrise, then head to Khamleya village to see traditional music, drumming, and dancing before exploring unique farming plots. After that, you'll drive 4.5 hours to Boumalne Dades with a stop in Rissani to walk through the town's market. Next comes Tinghir, where you'll see the ancient Jewish quarter and the 30-mile river oasis full of palm trees. Then you'll explore the Todra Gorge, which rises 984 feet high. As you drive through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs and into Dades Valley, you'll see fragrant rose fields. Stop at a women-run rose cooperative to learn how petals turn into rose water and oil.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Desert sunrise viewing
- Visit Khamleya village
- Experience traditional music, drumming, and dancing in Khamleya
- Explore farming plots in Khamleya
- Visit Rissani market
- Visit Tinghir and ancient Jewish quarter (Ali Ait el Haj)
- Explore Todra Gorge
- Walk or relax in Todra Gorge
- Drive through Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Visit Dades Valley
- Visit women-run rose cooperative
Landmarks Khamleya Rissani Tinghir Ali Ait el Haj (Jewish Quarter) Ziz Valley Oasis Todra Gorge Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs Dades Valley - Day 7
Boumalne Dades
This morning you'll do an easy half-day walking tour through Dades Valley, checking out Berber villages nestled at the mountain foothills. Visit local villages to see traditional architecture and learn about Berber farming techniques while connecting with local culture. Around midday, have lunch with a local Berber family in their traditional house, trying authentic Berber and Moroccan cuisine followed by a traditional tea ceremony. You'll head back to your accommodation by early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Berber and Moroccan cuisine with local family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Half-day guided walking tour of Dades Valley
- Visit Berber villages
- Lunch with local Berber family
- Traditional tea ceremony
- Learn about Berber farming techniques and culture
Landmarks Dades Valley - Day 8
Boumalne Dades to Marrakech
You'll travel 5.5 hours to Marrakech with several stops along the way to explore Moroccan culture. First visit a local film studio in Ouarzazate to see props and sets from productions. Then explore the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, an 11th-century fortress that appeared in films like Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. The drive takes you through the High Atlas mountains, and if conditions are right you might spot Mount Toubkal. You'll see panoramic views from Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Later stop in Taddert at an oil cooperative to learn how olive processing works. By evening you'll arrive in vibrant Marrakech.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ouarzazate film studio
- Explore Ait Benhaddou kasbah
- Drive over High Atlas mountains
- Visit Tizi n'Tichka Pass
- Visit Taddert oil cooperative
- Observe Mount Toubkal (weather permitting)
Landmarks Ouarzazate Ait Benhaddou High Atlas Mountains Mount Toubkal Tizi n'Tichka Pass Taddert - Day 9
Marrakech
Take a relaxed pace through Marrakech, Morocco's second-largest city. Start with a calm walk through the 19th-century Bahia Palace and its ornate courtyards and gardens. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, where you can admire the distinctive minaret from outside. Head to the bustling Jemaa el-Fna Square, where markets and juice stalls run during the day and entertainers perform by night. Wander into the best souks, checking out spice towers at Souk el Attarine, traditional slippers at Souk Smata, and cloth dyeing at Souk des Teinturiers. Spend the afternoon in the Majorelle Gardens with its bright blue buildings and over 300 plant species. Return to Jemaa el-Fna at sunset to grab street food or watch from a café above the square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bahia Palace
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens
- Explore Jemaa el-Fna Square
- Explore Souk el Attarine
- Explore Souk Smata
- Explore Souk des Teinturiers
- Visit Majorelle Gardens
Optional Activities
- Enjoy street food at Jemaa el-Fna Square
- People-watch from café above Jemaa el-Fna Square
- Shop for souvenirs in souks
Landmarks Bahia Palace Koutoubia Mosque Koutoubia Gardens Jemaa el-Fna Square Souk el Attarine Souk Smata Souk des Teinturiers Majorelle Gardens - Day 10
Marrakech
Your final hours in Marrakech come before heading to the airport. The drive to Marrakech Menara Airport takes only about 25 minutes from the city center, so you'll have time to relax and get ready to leave. You'll get a fast transfer to the airport for your flight home or onward to your next destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport
Landmarks Marrakech Menara Airport
