Eight days from Casablanca to Marrakech — the 7-day itinerary with an additional full guided visit of Marrakech at the end. The route covers the Hassan II Mosque, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, the Merzouga Desert, Todra Gorge, Dades Gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou, ending with a full day exploring the Red City of Marrakech before departure.
Pick-up from Mohammed V Airport or your hotel in Casablanca. Visit to the Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Morocco, with its 210-meter minaret and terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Then we travel to Rabat: Hassan Tower, Mohammed V Mausoleum, and a walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas with its whitewashed walls and views over the Bou Regreg estuary. Arrival at your accommodation in Rabat.
Note: If you arrive at night, direct transfer to your hotel in Casablanca until the next day.
Overnight in a hotel or riad in Rabat.
Breakfast and drive north to Chefchaouen. The route crosses hills and rural Moroccan countryside villages. Upon arrival, check-in at your riad and free afternoon to explore the blue medina: its blue and white alleyways, rooftop cafés overlooking the city, and artisan souks selling wool and leather crafts.
Overnight in a riad in Chefchaouen.
Breakfast and scenic drive through Rif villages. Volubilis: Roman mosaics and monuments from the 3rd century preserved in exceptional condition. Meknes: Bab el Mansour — a monumental gateway of impressive proportions — and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, one of the most important sacred sites in Moroccan Islam. Lunch in Meknes. Arrival in Fes at sunset.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
Local guided tour of the Fes medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day includes the golden gate of the Royal Palace, the University of Al Quaraouiyine (founded in 859), the Al Attarine Madrasa with its mosaic decoration and wood carvings, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Chouara Tanneries viewed from leather shop terraces, the Mellah (Jewish quarter), and finally an ancient fortress with panoramic views over the entire city.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
Breakfast and early departure south. Stop in Ifrane, the charming alpine town of the Middle Atlas. Cedar forest with Barbary macaques. Lunch en route. Ziz Valley. Arrival in Merzouga late afternoon. Camel ride at sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Luxury camp: private tent, private bathroom, dinner, and Berber drum music around the fire under a star-filled sky.
Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga.
Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Breakfast and return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. Rissani market if it is a market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday). Panorama of the Tinghir oasis. Walk in Todra Gorge between 300-meter limestone cliffs. Dades Gorges with its “monkey fingers” rock formations and winding zigzag road.
Overnight in a hotel in the Dades Gorges.
Departure after breakfast. Ouarzazate with optional visit to Atlas Studios. Ait Ben Haddou: a UNESCO World Heritage earthen ksar featured in Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. Lunch. Crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech. Arrival late afternoon. Free time for a first walk in Jemaa el-Fna square.
Overnight in a riad in Marrakech.
Your local guide will pick you up for a full-day exploration of Marrakech. Visits include the Bahia Palace with its decorated courtyards and rooms; the Saadian Tombs, rediscovered in 1917 after centuries of neglect; the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the largest Quranic learning center in Morocco; the medina souks with artisans working in copper, leather, and textiles; the Koutoubia Mosque, the city’s landmark; and the Majorelle Garden, the exotic botanical sanctuary created by Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. Transfer to the airport or next destination as scheduled.
End of the 8-day itinerary in Morocco from Casablanca.
IMPORTANT NOTES
