Diez dias desde Casablanca hasta Marrakech — el tour mas recomendado desde esta ciudad para quien quiere ver Marruecos a un ritmo verdaderamente comodo. El itinerario recorre todas las joyas del pais: la Mezquita Hassan II, Rabat, Chefchaouen, las ruinas romanas de Volubilis, la ciudad imperial de Meknes, un dia completo de visita guiada a Fes, el desierto de Merzouga con dia entero de exploracion en 4×4, la Garganta del Todra, las Gargantas del Dades, Ait Ben Haddou y un dia completo de visita guiada a Marrakech. Cada ciudad importante del pais queda cubierta sin que ningun dia resulte agotador.
Pick-up from Mohammed V International Airport or your hotel in Casablanca. The first stop is the Hassan II Mosque — a masterpiece of contemporary Arab-Islamic architecture built on the Atlantic Ocean, with a 210-meter minaret and capacity for ninety thousand worshippers. Its interiors of zellij mosaic, Carrara marble, and carved cedar wood represent the height of Moroccan craftsmanship. From there we travel to Rabat, the capital of the kingdom, to visit the Hassan Tower — the unfinished minaret of a 12th-century mosque planned by Yaqub al-Mansur to be the largest in the world — the Mausoleum of Mohammed V with its white marble architecture and royal guard in traditional uniform, and the Kasbah of the Udayas, the most romantic area of the city with its white and blue alleyways overlooking the Bou Regreg estuary.
Note: If you arrive at night, direct transfer to your hotel in Casablanca.
Overnight in a hotel or riad in Rabat.
Breakfast and departure north to Chefchaouen, a mountain village in the heart of the Rif whose medina was painted blue by its Jewish inhabitants in the 15th century as a symbol of spirituality. The drive takes about five hours through rolling hills and adobe villages. Upon arrival, check-in at your riad and free afternoon to explore its alleyways, the most photographed in Morocco.
Overnight in a riad in Chefchaouen.
Breakfast. A journey through Rif Berber villages leads to Volubilis, Morocco’s largest Roman archaeological site. Its 3rd-century mosaics — Dionysus scene, Venus procession, Labors of Hercules — are among the best preserved in the western Mediterranean. The Arch of Caracalla and the Capitol complete the visit. Then Meknes: Sultan Moulay Ismail built it in the late 17th century as his imperial capital, with twelve kilometers of walls, stables for twelve thousand horses, and the monumental Bab el Mansour — one of North Africa’s most impressive gates. The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail is one of the few royal mausoleums open to non-Muslims. Lunch in Meknes. Arrival in Fes at sunset.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
Expert local guide for a full day in Fes, Morocco’s oldest city. The tour begins at the Royal Palace gate and continues through Fes el-Bali medina, founded in 789 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the University of Al Quaraouiyine — founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri and considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world — the Al Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine Fountain, and the Chouara Tanneries with their centuries-old dye vats of ochre, red, and blue leather. We also visit the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and climb Borj Nord fortress for panoramic views over the city.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
Breakfast and early departure south. First stop in Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco.” Cedar forest where Barbary macaques live freely. Lunch en route. Ziz Valley with endless palm groves leading to the desert. Arrival in Merzouga in the late afternoon: camels waiting at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The camel ride to the luxury camp takes place during golden hour. Welcome tea, private tent with bathroom, dinner, and Berber music around the fire under a star-filled sky.
Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga.
Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes — one of the most memorable moments of the journey. Breakfast, then a full 4×4 desert excursion. First stop: Khamlia village, home of the Gnawa people, descendants of sub-Saharan Africans, preserving trance music traditions with powerful rhythms. Then the abandoned village of M’Fis and its old galena mines used for kohl production. Next, a nomadic family living beyond the dunes: tea with them and insight into their desert life. The Flamingo Lake, where migratory birds stop when conditions allow, completes the excursion. Lunch in Merzouga. Afternoon at the riad or dunes.
Overnight in a riad in Merzouga.
Breakfast at the riad. Visit Rissani market if it is market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday), an authentic southern souk trading dates, livestock, pottery, and spices. View of the Tinghir oasis and its mud kasbahs. Todra Gorge: 300-meter limestone walls forming a narrow canyon just ten meters wide at its tightest point. Afternoon arrival at Dades Gorges with its “monkey fingers” rock formations and winding road.
Overnight in a hotel in Dades Gorges.
Breakfast and departure to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s film capital. Optional visit to Atlas Studios, used in Gladiator, The Mummy, Indiana Jones, and more. Kasbah Taourirt, former residence of the Glaoui, is a short stop. Then Ait Ben Haddou: the most photographed ksar in Morocco, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Lunch overlooking the ksar. Afternoon crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260m) to Marrakech.
Overnight in a riad in Marrakech.
A local guide meets you for a full exploration of Marrakech. Visits include Bahia Palace (19th-century grand vizier residence with courtyards and orange trees), Saadian Tombs rediscovered in 1917, Ben Youssef Madrasa — Morocco’s largest Quranic school with marble courtyard — artisan souks of the medina, Koutoubia Mosque (12th century, model for Seville’s Giralda), and Majorelle Garden, created by Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent.
Overnight in a riad in Marrakech.
Breakfast and transfer to Marrakech airport or next destination.
End of the 10-day itinerary in Morocco from Casablanca.
IMPORTANT NOTES
