Arrive in Casablanca, meet your driver, and transfer downtown (45 min). Start with a visit to the breathtaking Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s largest, known for its intricate Moroccan craftsmanship and capacity for 105,000 worshippers.
Continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital (1.5 hrs). Visit the unfinished Hassan Tower, an ambitious 12th-century project, and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, a stunning example of Alaouite architecture housing the tombs of Morocco’s royal family.
Finally, travel to Fes (3 hrs) and check in to your riad in the medina.
Overnight in Fes.
Discover Fes pottery at a local co-op, then enter the ancient medina, a lively marketplace dating back to 250 AD, where donkeys carry goods through its narrow lanes.
See Al-Quaraouiyine University, the oldest still-operating university, founded in 859 by a woman. Lunch in a historic medina restaurant (est. 1680) and explore handicraft workshops, from silk weaving to leather tanning.
Overnight in Fes.
After breakfast, depart Fes and head south (8 hrs). Stop for coffee in Ifrane, a charming alpine-style ski town, and visit friendly wild monkeys near Azrou.
Pause for lunch in Zaida with fresh barbecue at a local eatery, then enjoy scenic views crossing the Atlas Mountains. Pass Errachidia’s lush gorge filled with date and almond trees. Arrive in Merzouga by evening, check into your riad, and enjoy an included dinner.
Overnight in Merzouga.
Optional: Start with a one-hour ATV or dune buggy ride through the Sahara Desert, guided to ensure safety (extra fee).
Spend the day exploring this timeless region. Visit a Berber artist studio for unique sculptures and portraits, then explore Rissani market, a lively hub for locals, featuring blacksmiths, tent makers, and on market days, an animal trade area.
In the late afternoon, meet your camel guide for a trek to your desert camp, capturing unforgettable photos along the way. On arrival, enjoy mint tea and cookies, relax, then savor an included dinner and live music by the bonfire.
Overnight in the Sahara Desert.
Optional: Rise early to catch the sunrise over the dunes—don’t forget a jacket for the cool desert air!
Enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast at camp, then depart via SUV to meet your driver and begin the 6-hour journey west. Stop in Tinghir to see the dramatic Todra Gorge carved into red rock. Optionally, pause in Kalaat M’Gouna, famed for its Rose Valley, where thousands of roses are grown and distilled into rose products. Arrive in Ouarzazate, or ‘Moroccan Hollywood,’ home to Atlas Film Studio. Dinner included at your riad.
Overnight in Ouarzazate.
As you head out of Ouarzazate, make a stop at Ait Ben-Haddou, an ancient Ksar that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located along the former trade caravan route between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech, the Ksar is now often used as a filming location for movies including The Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, and Kingdom of Heaven. Continue across the Atlas Mountains via the winding Tichka Pass to arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Explore Marrakech with a private guide.
Begin at the Koutoubia Minaret, Marrakech’s tallest structure, standing at 253 feet. Next, visit a spice market to learn about traditional medicinal uses of Moroccan herbs and spices. Stop at Dar Bacha’s Museum of Confluences, featuring Berber, Arab, and Jewish artifacts, and enjoy a coffee from over 200 varieties in this historic palace. Discover Jemaa el Fna, a vibrant UNESCO site filled with performers and merchants, then wander through the surrounding souks to visit shoemakers and bakers at work.
Overnight in Marrakech.
After breakfast, journey to the coastal city of Essaouira (3 hrs), hoping to spot tree-climbing goats on the way! Explore Essaouira’s relaxed Medina with a private guide. This Atlantic coastal town blends Berber, Phoenician, Roman, and Portuguese influences, evident in its 16th-century fortress and ramparts.
Discover the city’s blue and white buildings, art scene, and visit highlights like the ancient ramparts, historic Jewish mellah, and iconic blue fishing boats. Don’t miss the artisans’ renowned wood carving.
Return and overnight in Marrakech.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
