Itinerary
- Day 1
Tangier to Chefchaouen
You'll arrive in Tangier and get driven through small towns and green hills into the Rif Mountains, which takes about 2.5 hours to reach Chefchaouen. Once you settle in, there's plenty to see in the blue-washed medina and you can wander through Quartier Al-Andalus. Stop by Ras el Ma Spring for traditional tea, and if you want views of the town, head up to Hotel Atlas or the Spanish Mosque for a nice vantage point.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Plaza Uta el-Hammam and restored kasbah
- Explore nearby souks (markets)
- Tour Grand Mosque gardens and museums
- Wander through Quartier Al-Andalus
- Visit Ras el Ma Spring
- Take tea at riverside cafés
- Visit Hotel Atlas for city views
- Hike 30 minutes to Spanish Mosque for sunset views
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Uta el-Hammam Kasbah of Chefchaouen Grand Mosque Quartier Al-Andalus Ras el Ma Spring Spanish Mosque - Day 2
Chefchaouen to Rabat
A 4-hour drive takes you through coastal and mountain views heading to Rabat, Morocco's administrative capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll get to walk through the Royal Palace grounds, check out the medieval Chellah Necropolis with Roman and Islamic ruins, and explore the medina with Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V. The Andalusian Gardens offer a nice break, and the Kasbah des Oudaifs has a historic mosque plus a handicrafts museum worth seeing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Royal Palace of Rabat
- Explore Chellah Necropolis and Roman ruins
- Stroll through the medina (old town)
- Visit Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V
- Browse souks for crafts, rugs, spices, slippers, jewelry, and leather
- Visit 20th-century Andalusian Gardens
- Explore Kasbah des Oudaïs and its architecture
- Visit Musée des Oudaïs handicrafts museum
- View oldest mosque in Kasbah des Oudaïs
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace of Rabat Chellah Necropolis Hassan Tower Mausoleum of Mohamed V Andalusian Gardens Kasbah des Oudaïs Musée des Oudaïs - Day 3
Rabat to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
A private transfer just over 2 hours from Rabat brings you to Fes, but you'll stop at Volubilis first to see Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins and mosaics. Then it's on to Meknes where you can see imperial Marinid architecture like Medersa Bou Inania and Dar Jamae palace. The Ville Imperiale area has gardens and palaces, plus you'll see Bab al-Mansour gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Before heading to your accommodation, you'll drive up to the Marinid Tombs for panoramic views of Fes spread out below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tour Volubilis Roman ruins complex
- View merchant homes with heating systems and colorful mosaics at Volubilis
- Stroll Meknes medina
- Visit 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania
- Tour 19th-century palace of Dar Jamaï
- Explore Ville Impériale gardens and palaces
- Visit Bab al-Mansour gate
- Visit Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
- Explore Royal Stables
- Visit Marinid Tombs for panoramic city views
Landmarks/POIs Volubilis Medersa Bou Inania Dar Jamaï Bab al-Mansour Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail Marinid Tombs - Day 4
Fes
With a private guide, you'll head through Fes's vibrant medina along cobbled streets past markets, shops, and mosques. Going through the Blue Gate gets you into the bustling souks where you can find rugs, jewelry, leather, and spices. The Chouara Tannery shows leather work with traditional dyes and ancient techniques, and you'll see the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University. Choose between visiting Bou Inania or Al Attarine Madrassa, and take time for the Mellah Jewish district and Royal Palace. Museums like Borj Nord are also options, or you could join a family meal in the medina or try a henna workshop to learn traditional mehndi designs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private guide tour through medina
Optional Activities
- Pass through Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud)
- Browse souks for hand-crafted goods
- Visit Chouara Tannery
- Visit Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University
- Visit Bou Inania Madrassa or Al Attarine Madrassa
- Explore Jewish district of Mellah
- Visit Royal Palace of Fes
- Visit Borj Nord museum
- Family meal in medina with cuisine history
- Henna workshop with mehndi design techniques
Landmarks/POIs Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud) Chouara Tannery Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University Bou Inania Madrassa Al Attarine Madrassa Mellah (Jewish quarter) Royal Palace of Fes Borj Nord - Day 5
Fes to Merzouga
An early departure means an 8-hour drive from Fes to the Sahara desert camp in Merzouga. You'll travel over Col du Zad Pass through cedar forests of the Atlas Mountains (watch for monkeys and macaws), stop for lunch in Midelt called the 'Apple City', then continue over Tizi n'Talrhemt Pass into the Ziz Valley. Stop in Erfoud to check out fossil mines and artisan collectives. By evening you'll reach Merzouga and Erg Chebbi dunes, take a camel ride to your luxury camp, climb a dune to catch the sunset, and enjoy traditional Berber music around the campfire.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Camel ride to luxury camp
Optional Activities
- Stop at Midelt market town
- Visit artisan fossil collective in Erfoud
- View Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- Climb dune for sunset views
- Watch sunset display across sands
- Join evening campfire with Berber music
Landmarks/POIs Col du Zad Pass Midelt Tizi n'Talrhemt Pass Ziz Valley Erfoud Erg Chebbi - Day 6
Merzouga
You'll explore Erg Chebbi desert further with a 4WD tour to Khamleya village and the Gnawa House to experience their spiritual healing music. Have tea with locals before returning to camp. If you want more activity, there's an ATV or quad adventure through sandy peaks with panoramic views, plus options for sandboarding and dune climbing. Sunset views and dinner by the campfire with traditional Berber music wrap up the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- 4WD desert tour
- Visit Gnawa House in Khamleya village
- Have tea with locals
- ATV/quad adventure through dunes
- Sandboarding on dunes
- Climb dunes for sunset views
- Dinner and campfire with Berber music
Landmarks/POIs Gnawa House Khamleya Erg Chebbi - Day 7
Merzouga to Skoura
From Merzouga, it's a 4.5-hour drive to Skoura in the Dades Valley with several stops along the way. You'll see the donkey 'parking lot' and market in Rissani, browse Maison Tuareg for traditional arts and crafts, and visit Tinghir for views of neighboring villages along a river oasis with 30 miles of palm trees. Explore the Jewish quarter of Ali Ait el Haj, and check out the 300-meter-high Todra Gorge where you can take easy walks or cool off in shallow water. Later you'll pass through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs before settling into Skoura's peaceful palm grove.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Observe donkey 'parking lot' in Rissani
- Browse Rissani market
- Visit Maison Tuareg for traditional crafts
- Visit Tinghir market town
- Explore Jewish quarter of Ali Ait el Haj
- Walk through Todra Gorge
- Relax in cool shallow water of Todra Gorge
- View Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Spot nomads in valley
Landmarks/POIs Rissani Maison Tuareg Tinghir Ali Ait el Haj (Jewish quarter) Todra Gorge Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs Dades Valley - Day 8
Skoura
An easy one-hour guided walk through Skoura's vast palm grove is the main focus today, and you'll meet locals in nearby villages. You'll see unique architecture and learn regional history and traditions, observe traditional farming techniques, and sometimes there's live entertainment. Stop by a traditional pottery factory and old kasbahs, then join a local family for lunch where they'll teach you about regional cuisine and the tea ceremony. Optionally, take a horseback riding tour through the palm grove and Atlas Mountain plateaus, visiting the Valley of the Roses and M'Goun River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Meal with a local family in their home), Dinner
Optional Activities
- Easy one-hour guided palm grove walk
- Meet locals in villages
- Admire local architecture
- Visit traditional pottery factory
- Explore old kasbahs
- Family meal in medina with cuisine history and tea ceremony
- Horseback riding tour of Skoura palm grove and plateaus
- Ride through Valley of the Roses
Landmarks/POIs Skoura Palm Grove Valley of the Roses M'Goun River - Day 9
Skoura to Marrakesh
Leaving Skoura for a 5-hour drive to Marrakesh takes you through desert plains, mountain ranges, and plateaus. You'll cross the Dades River toward El Kelaat M'Gouna in the 'Valley of the Roses' to visit a rose collective and learn about rose water and oil production. Break in Ouarzazate where you can optionally visit the film studio or cinema museum, explore the Jewish quarter and Taourirt Kasbah. Then it's to the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, an 11th-century trans-Saharan trade route landmark where you can climb to the old granary for views, before arriving in Marrakesh and checking out Jemaa el-Fna main square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit rose collective in El Kelâat M'Gouna
- Learn about rose water and oil production
- Tour movie studio in Ouarzazate
- Visit Musée du Cinema in Ouarzazate
- Explore Mellah (Jewish quarter) in Ouarzazate
- Visit Taourirt Kasbah citadel
- Explore Aït Benhaddou Kasbah
- Climb to old granary for views
- Explore Jemaa el-Fna square
- Dine at Jemaa el-Fna stalls
Landmarks/POIs El Kelâat M'Gouna Ouarzazate Musée du Cinema Taourirt Kasbah Aït Benhaddou Kasbah Jemaa el-Fna - Day 10
Marrakesh
Exploring Marrakesh, the 'Red City', includes visits to Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. You'll find souks like Souk el Attarine with spice towers, Souk Smata with traditional slippers, and Souk des Teinturiers showing cloth dyeing. If you're interested in food, there's a private food tour through the medina tasting traditional sweets and authentic tajines. For escaping afternoon heat, Majorelle Gardens has over 300 plant species from five continents, the famous blue and yellow house museum, and the Berber and Yves Saint Laurent museums.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Bahia Palace gardens
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque
- Explore medina alleyways
- Browse souks (markets)
- Visit Souk el Attarine (spice market)
- Visit Souk Smata (traditional slippers)
- Visit Souk des Teinturiers (cloth dyeing)
- Explore hidden fondouks (historic inns)
- Private food tour through medina
- Taste traditional Moroccan sweets and tajine
- Visit Majorelle Gardens
- Visit blue and yellow house museum
- Visit Berber Museum
- Visit Yves Saint Laurent Museum
- Enjoy refreshments at coffee shop in gardens
Landmarks/POIs Bahia Palace Koutoubia Mosque Souk el Attarine Souk Smata Souk des Teinturiers Majorelle Gardens Berber Museum Yves Saint Laurent Museum - Day 11
Marrakesh to Essaouira
From Marrakesh, it's 2.5 hours to coastal Essaouira over rolling plains and through the unique argan tree forest. You'll stop at a women's cooperative to learn about argan oil production and see goats in trees eating argan fruit. Once you arrive in laid-back Essaouira, quite different from frenetic Marrakesh, spend the rest of the day exploring the beaches, traditional souks like the Spice Souk, and the 16th-century Castelo Real of Mogador with defensive towers. Check out Mulay El-Hassan Square and Essaouira Beach where you can watch surfers riding the wind.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit women's argan oil cooperative
- Learn about argan oil production
- Explore Plage Tagharte beach
- Explore Cap Sim beach
- Browse traditional souks
- Visit Spice Souk
- Visit 16th-century Castelo Real of Mogador
- Explore Borj El Barmil tower
- Explore Skala de la Kasbah defensive structure
- Visit Mulay El-Hassan Square
- Dine at restaurants in central square
- Stroll Essaouira Beach
Landmarks/POIs Argan tree forest Plage Tagharte Cap Sim Spice Souk Castelo Real of Mogador Borj El Barmil Skala de la Kasbah Mulay El-Hassan Square Essaouira Beach - Day 12
Essaouira
Today in Essaouira is at your leisure. Walk along the 18th-century Skala de la Kasbah seafront ramparts with old brass cannons and panoramic Atlantic views, explore the UNESCO-listed medina, and head to the windswept beach. Optionally take a private kitesurfing lesson at Sidi Kaouki Beach to learn basic techniques with an instructor. Or take a guided horseback ride along Essaouira's long stretch of sand, learning basic techniques through quiet areas away from tourists while enjoying ocean breezes and possibly galloping on the sand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walk along Skala de la Kasbah ramparts
- View old brass cannons
- Enjoy panoramic Atlantic views
- Explore UNESCO-listed medina
- Visit windswept beach
- Private kitesurfing lesson at Sidi Kaouki Beach
- Learn kitesurfing equipment and basic techniques
- Guided horseback ride on beach
- Trot or gallop on sand
Landmarks/POIs Skala de la Kasbah Sidi Kaouki Beach Essaouira Beach - Day 13
Essaouira to Marrakesh
Your Moroccan adventure ends with a 3-hour drive from Essaouira back to Marrakesh to catch your departing flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
