Unique Morocco Experience
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The Chouara tannery in Fez seen through an arch
← All journeysTAILOR-MADE JOURNEY · 10 DAYS

Fez, Desert & Marrakech

Casablanca → Marrakech

See it day by day
Length10 days · 9 nights
RouteCasablanca → Marrakech
FormatPrivate, no groups
DatesWhenever you choose

It can be done in reverse, starting in Marrakech, and adjusted in length and accommodation. It's private: no groups and no fixed dates.

THE ROUTE

The route on the map

10 days · 9 nights · from Casablanca to Marrakech

  1. 01 Casablanca
  2. 02 Rabat
  3. 03 Volubilis
  4. 04 Fez el Bali
  5. 05 Ziz Valley
  6. 06 Erg Chebbi
  7. 07 Todra Gorges
  8. 08 Aït Ben Haddou
  9. 09 Marrakech
  10. 10 Departure
LaâyouneDakhlaAtlantic Ocean 1121112CasablancaRabatFezErfoudMerzougaDadesMarrakechVolubilisIfraneTodraAït Ben Haddou N 100 km Fez, Desert & Marrakech10 days · 9 nights · numbers show nights
THE JOURNEY, DAY BY DAY

Ten days, one by one

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca at sunset
Day01

Casablanca · Rabat

Casablanca → Rabat

Pickup at Casablanca Airport at your flight's estimated arrival time. A first look at the country's economic capital: the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the sea, the Corniche promenade, and Mohammed V Square, known as Pigeon Square. If your flight lands at night, this visit moves to the next day. Then the drive along the coast to Rabat.

Overnight: riad · Rabat

The Hassan Tower and its columns in Rabat at sunset
Day02

Rabat · Meknes

Rabat → Meknes

A tour of Rabat: the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where the king, who died in 1961, rests with his son and successor Hassan II, who died in 1999. Then the Andalusian gardens of the Kasbah of the Udayas and its blue and white houses, like those of many towns on the Atlantic coast. In the afternoon, Meknes, with the Bab Mansour gate, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the old granaries.

Overnight: riad · Meknes

The triumphal arch of Volubilis above green fields
Day03

Meknes · Volubilis · Moulay Idriss · Fez

Meknes → Volubilis · Moulay Idriss → Fez

The drive to Volubilis, the ancient Roman city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose ruins spread over a wide area with views of the valley and the Zerhoun hills. Next comes the holy town of Moulay Idriss: non-Muslims can't enter the mausoleum on the main square, but the town has good views and small shops. Arrival in Fez in the afternoon.

Overnight: hotel or riad · Fez, 2 nights

Dye pits at a Fez tannery
Day04

Fez, the whole city

Fez → full day → local guide

A guided tour of Fez. You'll start in Fez el Jedid, with the Royal Palace and the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, then go up to the South Tower (Borj Sud) viewpoint to see the whole medina and its minarets. After that comes a walk through the medina of Fez el Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose alleys are still organized by guilds of potters, dyers, and other craftsmen, at a pace that has changed little in centuries.

Overnight: same accommodation · Fez

A whitewashed house among palm trees
Day05

Fez · Ifrane · Midelt · Erfoud

Fez → Ifrane · Midelt · Ziz Valley → Erfoud

South across the Middle Atlas. The first stop is Ifrane, known as the Little Switzerland of Morocco, whose symbol is a stone statue of the Atlas lion. Then come the cedar forests, home to Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt the land turns arid: the Ziz Valley, adobe villages, palm groves, and distant kasbahs signal your approach to Erfoud, the gateway to the desert.

Overnight: riad · Erfoud

A small camel caravan crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes
Day06

Erfoud · Rissani · Merzouga

Erfoud → Rissani → Erg Chebbi

In the morning, a visit to the souks of Rissani. From there, a 4×4 ride to the lake and a visit with a Berber nomad family, who share some of their traditional music. Lunch at a lodge near the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the afternoon, a camel ride to the top of the dunes to watch the sunset. Dinner, music, and the night in a tent at the desert camp.

Overnight: tent at the desert camp · Erg Chebbi

The winding road of the Dades Gorges at sunset
Day07

Merzouga · Todra · Dades

Merzouga → Tinejdad · Todra → Dades Gorges

An early start to climb the highest dune nearby for sunrise, then back to camp by camel. After breakfast, the road heads west through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad to the Todra Gorges, a sheer-walled canyon popular with climbers, with time for lunch and a half-hour walk. In the afternoon, a stop at the Monkey Fingers rocks of Boumalne and arrival at the Dades Gorges.

Overnight: hotel, with dinner · Dades Gorges

The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, its mud-brick kasbahs climbing the hill
Day08

Dades · Aït Ben Haddou · Marrakech

Dades → Ouarzazate · Aït Ben Haddou · Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech

Breakfast and the drive west through Ouarzazate. A visit to Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage adobe ksar and the setting for films such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Then you'll cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 m (7,415 ft), past Berber villages and small farms on the slopes. Arrival in Marrakech at the end of the day.

Overnight: riad · Marrakech, 2 nights

Jemaa el-Fna square at dusk with the Koutoubia minaret behind
Day09

Marrakech, the red city

Marrakech → full day → local guide

After breakfast, a local guide picks you up for a tour of Marrakech: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Majorelle Garden. The afternoon is free to rest and, as the sun goes down, to head to Jemaa el-Fna square, which changes completely at night with its food stalls and circles of musicians.

Overnight: same accommodation · Marrakech

Jemaa el-Fna food stalls lit up at night, with the Koutoubia behind
Day10

Marrakech · airport

Marrakech → airport

Breakfast and free time until the agreed time for your transfer to Marrakech Airport. We'll help you check your luggage and show you to the boarding gate. End of our services.

Transfer included · any time

A couple watching the sunset over the desert

Can you picture this trip?

We’ll adapt it to your dates, your pace and the style of accommodation you prefer.

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