DAY 1: Arrival in Casablanca, Transfer to Rabat

Casablanca → Rabat

We will meet you upon your arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, after which we will take a short tour of the city. We will visit the grounds of the immense Hassan II Mosque, which has the world’s tallest minarets and towers out over the Atlantic coastline. After our tour we will depart to Rabat, Morocco’s diplomatic and administrative capital.

We will briefly introduce you to some of the city’s most important sights, including the Royal Palace and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, before taking you to your riad or hotel and letting you settle in. We will spend the night in Rabat.

DAY 2: Rabat to the blue pearl Chefchaouen via Rif Mountains

Rabat → Asilah → Rif Mountains → Chefchaouen

On the way we will make a stop in Asilah. Fortified town of Asilah, this well-preserved 15th-century ramparts and gates, built by colonial Portuguese; Asilah provides a taste of Spain mixed with Moroccan traditions, adorned with inspiring artwork. After a walk around and lunch we will continue our journey to Chefchaouen, our road ascending into the valleys of the Rif Mountains. The valley forms a dramatic entrance to the vividly blue-colored town of Chefchaouen, which is set like a sapphire among the jagged mountain peaks.

We will go directly to your riad to settle in and relax before going for a walk among the blue and white walls of the medina and the unique local crafts markets. With its unique, colorful style and its unforgettable view over the mountains, Chefchaouen is also a one-of-a-kind destination for photography. In the evening you can enjoy an aromatic glass of red wine and a tajine and couscous meal at one of the hotel’s three rooftop terraces before relaxing under the crystal-clear Moroccan night-sky.

DAY 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Moulay Idriss → Meknes → Fes

After breakfast, you will set out for the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. This important Roman town still features detailed and gorgeous mosaics that will give you a unique perspective on Morocco’s ancient history. Afterwards we will continue our journey to Meknes, one of Morocco’s greatest imperial cities, often called the “Versailles of Morocco” due to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments.

We will take some time to explore the highlights of Meknes, including the Bab Mansour, Sahrij Souani, and the old Medina, before making our way to Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. In Fes we will check into your hotel before having dinner and settling in for the night.

DAY 4: Fes Sightseeing escorted by an official local guide

After breakfast a local guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you on a tour of the famous medina of Fes. Wandering through the labyrinth of twisting alleyways, you will feel like you have stepped back in time. Donkeys and mules are still popular forms of transportation in the medina’s steep, narrow streets. As you enter the shady souks, you will encounter aromas from the market stalls where countless spices and perfumes are traded.

In stark contrast, you’ll brave the stink emanating from the leather tanneries where men often stand up to their waists treating leather in noxious baths in the same way that it has been done for centuries. Don’t let the smell put you off though – the ethnic leather products produced by these craftsmen are world-class and make great souvenirs. In the evening you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants of the medina and spend the night at your hotel.

DAY 5: Fes → Ifran → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Gorges → Erfoud → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi → Camel trek in the Sahara and overnight in the golden dunes in a Berber camp.

Leaving Fes with its fantastic history, head to a totally different part of Morocco. On the way to Erfoud pass through many Berber cities and villages, the first of which are the cities of Ifrane and Azrou. Ifrane, nicknamed Morocco’s Switzerland, is a very beautiful little town with very charming European style homes and Azrou, a Berber village known for its handicraft cooperatives. Continue via Midelt, the Ziz River and a series of fortified villages’ en route to Erfoud.

From Erfoud, it’s another 40 minutes across an immense palm oasis and a vast area of stony desert to get Merzouga, where we’ve selected a charming kasbah hotel on the outskirts of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Then at 4pm we will ride our camels, trekking across the desert, will take us to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes,( some rising of 820 feet), the highest in North Africa.

The camp consists of three comfortable Berber tents equipped with mattresses, linen, toilets, a restaurant, and a kitchen. Gaze at the shooting starts whilst feasting on a hearty dinner around the camp fire, followed by a traditional music show and overnight stay in a nomad camp with luxury tents.

DAY 6: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Oases & Canyons → Dades valley.

If you would like, your camel guide will wake you up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes. Afterwards you might even want to try sand-boarding some of the dune faces. After a cup of tea, we will ride the camels back to the kasbah, where we will be able to freshen up before heading out of town to the Todra Gorge, known as “Morocco’s Grand Canyon”. We will have lunch here and take the opportunity to explore along the river and through the gardens or up the road on the other side of the gorge to take in the view.

In the afternoon we will continue our scenic drive into the Dades Valley, also known as the “Valley of 1000 Kasbahs” for the countless abandoned kasbahs one can see dotting the countryside among the palm trees. Later that afternoon we will arrive in the Dades Gorge, where we will watch the sunset’s orange glow against the rocks before having dinner and spending the night in our hotel.

DAY 7: Dades valley → Rose Valley → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou → Atlas Mount → Marrakech

After breakfast we will drive through the villages of this charming area, passing fields cultivated by Berber women and getting some brilliant views of the Atlas Mountains. Our journey will continue towards Ouarzazate, going off-road along the piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and join them for a glass of tea. From here, we will continue through the Valley of the Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May, and past the “Road of 1000 Kasbahs” by the Skoura Oasis before arriving in Ouarzazate.

In Ouarzazate, also known as the “Hollywood of Morocco”, we will visit the Taouirirt Kasbah and the cinematographic museum before continuing on to Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters such as “Gladiator” “Indiana Jones” and “Lawrence of Arabia”. You will have the chance to explore some of the ruined buildings and climb to the top of the hill where the agadir (granary) offers a spectacular view over the village and the surrounding countryside. You may also want to enter one of the houses and share a glass of mint tea with some of the locals to gain a better understanding of their way of life.

In the afternoon you’ll drive north across the High Atlas Mountains. The road, completed by the French Foreign Legion in 1936, winds up over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and offers stunning views over the mountains before descending past Berber villages to the plains surrounding Marrakech. Even today, the name Marrakech conjures up scenery from Arabian Nights – alleyways, souks, and market stalls. This remarkable city, with the graceful architecture of the renowned 11th-century Koutoubia Minaret dominating the skyline, never fails to satisfy the curiosity of its visitors. We will arrive back in Marrakech by late afternoon.

DAY 8: Marrakech sightseeing guided by an official local guide

We set off on a guided tour in the morning (on foot) to see the spectacular sites of Marrakech. Our city guide will take us to the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, which date back to the 16th century, and the Dar Si Said Museum. There is then some free time to visit the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutoubia, and venture through the old streets of the medina to the Koranic School and the Museum of Marrakech.

The afternoon is free to explore the labyrinth of souks off Djemaa el Fna Square and try some bartering techniques or simply enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice in one of the many rooftop cafés overlooking the square.

DAY 9: Marrakech at leisure → Transfer Casablanca

Your last day of travel will be in Marrakech, where you will be free to wander through the winding alleyways of the old medina and search for souvenirs or last-minute gifts for friends among the bustling souks and the stalls of Djemaa el Fna square. In the afternoon we will return to Casablanca, where we will have plenty of time to relax and settle in the night.

DAY 10: Casablanca transfer to airport (Subject to your flight schedule)

We will help you with any departure formalities and you will be taken directly to Casablanca airport with plenty of time left over to catch your departure flight.