Itinerary
- Day 1
Rabat
You'll arrive in Casablanca and head straight to the Hassan II Mosque, where you can see the 210-meter minaret rising above the city. From there, travel north to Rabat where you'll walk through several key sites including the Chellah Necropolis ruins, the Kasbah des Oudaias with its whitewashed buildings, and the Andalusian Gardens. The Hassan Tower rounds out your afternoon, where you'll find rows of columns that are worth studying up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning guided tour of Hassan II Mosque
- Explore Chellah Necropolis with Roman and Islamic ruins
- Visit Kasbah des Oudaias
- Visit Andalusian Gardens
- View Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V
Landmarks/POIs Hassan II Mosque Chellah Necropolis Kasbah des Oudaias Andalusian Gardens Hassan Tower Mausoleum of Mohamed V - Day 2
Chefchaouen
Head north toward Chefchaouen, the blue city tucked into the Rif Mountains. If you're up for it, there's an optional 2 to 3 hour hike to Cascades d'Akchour waterfalls through vegetation. You'll spend the rest of your day walking the blue-painted medina streets, checking out Plaza Outa el-Hammam and the Grand Mosque. Before sunset, climb up to the white Spanish Mosque for views across the city and surrounding hills.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Chefchaouen medina and blue-washed streets
- Visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam
- Visit Grand Mosque and kasbah
- Tour kasbah garden and museum
Optional Activities
- Hike to Cascades d'Akchour (2-3 hours)
- Ascend to white Spanish Mosque for sunset view (20-30 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Cascades d'Akchour Plaza Outa el-Hammam Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen Kasbah of Chefchaouen Spanish Mosque - Day 3
Meknes - Fes
Wake early in Chefchaouen to get some clear morning photos before traffic picks up. Then drive toward Fes with a stop at Volubilis, the UNESCO-protected Roman ruins where you'll see merchant homes, temples, and colorful mosaics scattered across the site. Next, stop in Meknes to explore the medina and Imperial City at a slower pace than Fes. By evening you'll reach Fes, climb up to the Merenid Tombs for city views, then settle into a traditional riad inside the medina.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore UNESCO-protected Roman ruins of Volubilis
- Visit Meknes Imperial City
- Visit Meknes medina
- View Merenid Tombs and Fes panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Volubilis Meknes Medina Ville Impériale - Meknes Merenid Tombs - Day 4
Fes
You'll spend about half the day with a certified guide through Fes's UNESCO medina. Start at Bab Boujeloud gate and navigate through Tâlaa Kebira, moving past souks where artisans work leather and metal. The Chouara Tannery shows you traditional dyeing in action with its distinctive stone vats. Later you'll see the 14th-century Al Attarine Madrasa and visit the Al-Qarawiyyin complex, one of the world's oldest universities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided half-day medina exploration
- Visit Bab Boujeloud gate and Tâlaa Kebira
- Visit Chouara Tannery and leather shops
- Visit Al Attarine Madrasa
- Visit Al-Qarawiyyin University and Mosque
Optional Activities
- Traditional Moroccan cooking class
Landmarks/POIs Bab Boujeloud Chouara Tannery Al Attarine Madrasa Al-Qarawiyyin University Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque - Day 5
Merzouga
Start early traveling south toward Merzouga, climbing through the Col du Zad pass at 7,146 feet where cedar forests sometimes host Barbary macaques. Stop in Midelt for lunch, then continue through Tizi n'Talremt pass into the Ziz Valley's hidden oases. You'll visit Erfoud to see the date festival area and fossil mining collective. By evening you'll reach Erg Chebbi's vast dunes and take a camel trek to your desert camp for sunset and dinner around the campfire.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Midelt), Dinner (Desert camp dinner)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Col du Zad pass and Middle Atlas cedar forests
- Travel through Ziz Valley oases
- Visit Erfoud fossil mining collective
- Camel trek through Erg Chebbi dunes
- Sunset camel ride
- Desert camp dinner by campfire
Landmarks/POIs Col du Zad Middle Atlas Mountains Ziz Valley Erfoud Erg Chebbi - Day 6
Ouarzazate
Catch sunrise and then visit Khemliya, a traditional Saharan village. Continue to Rissani market town and watch the livestock auction with its busy donkey parking area. The Todra Gorge awaits with its 300-meter depth and shallow river where you can swim. After that you'll drive through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, stop at Kelaât M'Gouna for rose cultivation views, and end the day in Ouarzazate with a film studio tour showing actual movie locations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit traditional Saharan village of Khemliya
- Experience Rissani market town
- Explore Todra Gorge
- Travel through Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Visit Keláat M'Gouna rose cultivation area
- Ouarzazate film studio tour
Landmarks/POIs Khemliya Rissani Todra Gorge Todra River Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs Keláat M'Gouna - Day 7
Marrakech
Travel to Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO site believed to be from the 11th century along the old trans-Saharan trade route. Walk through narrow streets up to the Granary for views across the landscape. Then head into the High Atlas mountains with Mount Toubkal at 13,671 feet visible in the distance. Stop at Tizi n'Tichka pass at 7,415 feet for mountain views before descending into Marrakech. By evening you're at your hotel exploring Jemaa el-Fna square with its musicians, performers, and food vendors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou
- Ascend High Atlas mountains
- Stop at Tizi n'Tichka pass with mountain views
Optional Activities
- Enjoy mint tea and meal at café overlooking Jemaa el-Fna square
Landmarks/POIs Aït Benhaddou Mount Toubkal Tizi n'Tichka Jemaa el-Fna - Day 8
Marrakech
Start exploring Marrakech's medina from the Koutoubia Mosque and its attached gardens. You'll navigate through the souk district including Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, Souk Smata, and the dyers' souk where you'll watch traditional dyeing happen. The Ben Youssef Madrasa rounds out your walking with its 16th-century carved cedar ceilings, sculpted plaster, and intricate zellij tilework that decorates the walls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens
- Explore souks: Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, Souk Smata
- Visit Souk des Teinturiers (dyers' souk)
- Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa
Landmarks/POIs Koutoubia Mosque Koutoubia Gardens Souk el Attarin Souk Chouari Souk Smata Souk des Teinturiers Ben Youssef Madrasa - Day 9
Marrakech
Take care of any final shopping in the medina if you want, or head to Majorelle Gardens for some quiet time away from the crowds and heat. Later, you'll transfer back to Casablanca for about 3 hours by car before your return flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping in medina
- Visit Majorelle Gardens
Landmarks/POIs Majorelle Gardens
