Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Casablanca or Marrakech
Your driver meets you at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca or Marrakech Airport and handles your luggage. The drive to your hotel in Casablanca takes a couple hours depending on which airport you land at. If you arrive early, your driver can pick you up from wherever you're coming from at a time that works for you.
- Day 2
Rabat - Meknes - Fes
After breakfast, you'll head to Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca to see the architecture and oceanfront location. From there, drive to Rabat where you'll walk through the Mechouar ramparts and see the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan II. Continue on to Meknes to check out the Medina and Jewish quarter, then stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis before heading to Fes for the night. It's a long day of driving with several stops along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Rabat)
Included Activities
- Visit Hassan II Mosque
- Visit Mechouar ramparts and walls surrounding Royal Palace
- Visit Oued Kasbah
- Visit Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan II
- Visit Medina of Meknes
- Visit Jewish quarter in Meknes
- Guided visit to Roman ruins of Volubilis
Landmarks/POIs Hassan II Mosque Mausoleum of Mohammed V Volubilis Medina of Meknes - Day 3
Fes
A local guide takes you through Fes's main sights. You'll see the Royal Palace gate, walk through the medieval UNESCO-listed Medina with its Blue gate (Bab Boujlould), visit Medrasa Bouanania and the Najjarine fountain, then head to the Tanneries where leather is dyed traditionally. Stop at the Quaraouin Mosque and University, one of the oldest in the world, and explore the Mellah (Jewish quarter). In the afternoon, climb to an ancient fortress for views over the city before returning to your riad.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Royal Palace gate
- Explore medieval Medina with local guide
- Visit Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud)
- Visit Medrasa Bouanania
- Visit Najjarine fountain
- Visit Tanneries
- Visit Quaraouin Mosque and University
- Explore Jewish quarter (Mellah)
- Visit ancient fortress for panoramic views of Fes
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace Gate, Fes Medina of Fes Bab Boujloud Quaraouin Mosque and University Tanneries of Fes - Day 4
Ifrane - Cedar Forest - Merzouga Desert
Drive south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, a town with alpine-style buildings and mountain scenery. Continue to the cedar forest to see Barbary macaques in their natural habitat, and you'll have a chance to feed them if you'd like. Grab lunch in Midelt, then the drive continues through Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass and the Ziz valley to reach Merzouga. Switch to camels for a desert crossing, watch the sunset from a high dune, and spend the evening at a Berber camp with music and dancing around the fire under the stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at desert camp with Berber music and dancing around campfire)
Included Activities
- Visit Ifrane
- Visit cedar forest with Barbary macaques
- Camel ride across Sahara desert
- Sunset stop on high dune
- Berber music and dancing around campfire at desert camp
Optional Activities
- Feed Barbary macaques in cedar forest
Landmarks/POIs Ifrane Cedar Forest of Merzouga Merzouga Desert - Day 5
Rissani - Erfoud - Todra Gorges - Dades Valley
Leave the desert and head to Rissani, an old capital with a busy souk where locals trade everything. Stop at a fossilized marble workshop in Erfoud to see the craftwork. Drive through palm groves to Todra Gorges, a dramatic canyon cut by the Todra river that's popular for rock climbing. Pass through Boumalne Dades into the Dades valley with stops at the 'monkey fingers' rock formation and mountain viewpoints, ending with dinner at your overnight spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Rissani Souk
- Visit fossilized marble workshop in Erfoud
- Explore Todra Gorges
- Drive through Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves
- Stop at 'monkey fingers' rock formation
- Stop with panoramic views of Dades valley
Optional Activities
- Rock climbing in Todra Gorges
Landmarks/POIs Rissani Souk Todra Gorges Dades Valley - Day 6
Rose Valley - Skoura - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakesh
After breakfast, reach Kalaa Magouna to see the Rose valley (the Rose Festival happens here every May). Continue through Skoura palm groves to Ouarzazate and tour the film studios where major movies were shot. From there, explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site with fortified clay buildings featured in films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Drive across Tizi-N-Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains toward Marrakesh with lunch and photo stops along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Rose valley at Kalaa Magouna
- Drive through palm groves of Skoura
- Visit Ouarzazate movie studios
- Visit Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
Landmarks/POIs Rose Valley Ouarzazate Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou Tizi-N-Tichka Pass High Atlas Mountains - Day 7
Marrakesh
A local guide shows you Marrakesh's main attractions including Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, and Ben Youssef Quranic Mosque. Walk through Morocco's largest traditional souk with time to grab lunch near Jemaa El-Fna square. Later, see the Koutoubia Mosque (the biggest in the city) and wander through Majorelle garden. You'll have free time back at your hotel and can explore Jemaa El-Fna in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bahia Palace
- Visit Saadian Tombs
- Visit Ben Youssef Quranic Mosque
- Stroll through largest traditional souk in Morocco
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque
- Visit Majorelle garden
Landmarks/POIs Bahia Palace Saadian Tombs Ben Youssef Mosque Marrakesh Souk Koutoubia Mosque Majorelle Garden Jemaa El-Fna - Day 8
Marrakesh to Essaouira
Leave Marrakesh and head to Essaouira on the coast, a city packed with windsurfers from April through November. Walk through the fortified medina and check out art galleries and boutique shops. Visit the port to see fishing nets and watch traditional boat building happening along the waterfront. You'll get a feel for the city's mix of cultures before settling into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore coastal city of Essaouira
- Visit fortified medina
- Explore art galleries and boutiques
- Visit atmospheric port with fishing nets and traditional boats
Landmarks/POIs Essaouira - Day 9
Essaouira to Marrakesh or Casablanca (Departure)
Your final day depends on when your flight departs. If you're flying out in the evening, spend more time in Essaouira exploring what you might have missed. If you need to wrap up in Casablanca instead, take the highway directly from Marrakesh or Essaouira depending on where you are and what works with your flight schedule.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Additional exploration of Essaouira (if evening departure)
