After picking you up at the airport and checking you into your hotel for one night, we’ll have the rest of the day to discover Morocco’s biggest and richest city: Casablanca.

N.B: If you arrive early, we’ll take you on an exclusive tour of the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco. This stunning architectural marvel is a true symbol of Moroccan craftsmanship, with its intricate details and breathtaking design overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

 After picking you up after breakfast at your accommodation in Casablanca, we will hit the way directly to Rabat.

Depending on how early we start, we can spend more time visiting certain sights than others.

We will begin our exploration of Rabat with a visit to the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V.

A veritable complex of Moroccan royal history, here we’ll see where Morocco’s past meets its future, completed in 1199 by the Almohad king Yacub al-Mansour, the Hassan Tower, a UNESCO site, and its 200 collapsed columns have stood as a symbol of royal power in Morocco for over 800 years.

Just next to it, one finds the ornately decorated Mausoleum of Mohamed V, the grandfather of the present king and founder of modern Morocco.

You have the option of visiting these sites with or without a local guide.

Next, we will drive to visit the Chella An ancient Roman port city, a Moorish outpost, a fortified necropolis—the Chella of Rabat enjoyed a storied history before becoming the tourist destination it is today.

A winding, unkempt assembly of houses, ruins, streets, and gardens, one wonders if the families of white storks or humans enjoy visiting the Chellah more.

You have the option of visiting this site with or without a guide.

After a stop for lunch at a nice local restaurant, we will move on to visit the Kasabah of the Udayas.

This fortified neighborhood has sat perched over the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean since its completion in 1269.

A maze of small streets, ancient stone houses, picturesque doors, and views over the Atlantic Ocean, the Kasabah of the Udayas UNESCO status isn’t just merited by its rich history, but also by its calm beauty.

You have the option of visiting this site with or without a guide.

Then we will discover Rabat’s new town, where Morocco meets the modern world, Rabat’s new city, left behind by the French, features many notable sights all connected by a sleek brand-new tram system: the Bank of Morocco, the Postal Museum, and the Saint Peter Cathedral Adjacent to this neighborhood, we find Rabat’s old city.

After a long day of discovering Rabat, we will take you to your accommodation in Rabat.

After a morning pick up at your hotel in Rabat, we will hit the road to chefchaouen.

Nestled in a green mountain valley at 600m above sea level, Chefchaouen was originally built up as a hidden outpost to push back the increasing incursions of European powers into Morocco starting in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the Reconquista and fall of Islamic rule in Spain, Muslim Andalusian refugees flocked to Chefchaouen to begin new lives on the African continent.

Until the middle of the 20th century, when Spanish rule of northern Morocco began, Chefchaouen had held a reputation for being impossible for non-Muslims to enter.

Today, that’s all different: tourists just can’t get enough of Chefchaouen’s innumerable charms.

Much calmer and cozier than Fez, Chefchaouen’s most striking feature is, without a doubt, its old city’s picturesque sky blue painted walls and streets built on a mountainside.

Among the major sights in Chefchaouen are the Kasabah (fortress), the Ras El Maa river valley, and the hillside Spanish Mosque (a 30 minute hike from town).

Chefchaouen can be explored with or without a guide.

Once completing your visit, we will drive to your accommodation in Chefchaouen.

Leaving Chefchaouen, we will drive to Meknes where we’ll spend the day before heading to Fez to spend the evening.

Our First stop will be the mighty walled Imperial City of Meknes.

Meknes’s old city offers a trove of sights for a curious visitor: Moulay Ismail’s massive stables, capacious granary, and cavernous underground prison.

We will also visit Moulay Ismail’s mausoleum (one of the only mosques in Morocco open to tourists), the monumental Mansour Gate, the covered food market, and the El Hidem Square.

Next we will make a quick stop in the adjacent small town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. During this stop, we will go to a panoramic view point, visit the town center, and get lunch, a snack, or a beverage.

Our last stop will be the ruined Roman city of Volubilis.

French archeologists began excavating Volubilis in the early 20th century, though half of the immense sight still remains beneath centuries of topsoil.

Marvel at the famous sights, like the basilica, the triumphal arc, and the many palaces with their exquisite mosaics. The tour of Volubilis can be done either with or without a local guide.

Once finished with this busy day of sightseeing, we will take the highway to Fez.

We will begin at the Seven Golden Doors, a magnificent set of ornate gates that mark the entrance to the Royal Palace. From there, you’ll stroll through the Jewish Quarter (Mellah), offering a glimpse into Morocco’s rich Jewish heritage and history. 

Next, head to a panoramic viewpoint where you can take in a breathtaking view of Fez, with its sprawling medina below, surrounded by mountains. 

Then we’ll visit the Ceramics area, renowned for its stunning pottery and traditional craftsmanship.

Finally, we’ll return to explore Fez’s ancient medina, the biggest urban car-free zone in the world. Fez, a UNESCO sight, is a massive labyrinth of dusty alleys, sumptuous houses and palaces, hectic markets, and innumerable stories.

The joy of visiting Fez consists largely in simply meandering through this medieval urban maze.

Among the many things we’ll discover are the recently restored leather tanneries, the Foundouk Nejjarine woodworking museum, the Dar el-Magana water clock, the hilltop Merenid Tombs, the serene Bou Inania Koranic school, the Moulay Idriss II Mausoleum, and the Karaouiyne University (the oldest university in the world).

Following an early morning pick up at your accommodations in Fez, we will hit the road and drive directly to our destination,Midelt.

On our way you’ll enjoy watching the beautiful scenery change as we pass through different natural environments.

First, we will pass through the alpine climate of Middle Atlas Mountains, with rich natural features, such as oak and cedar trees, lakes, and Barbary ape colonies.

Climbing higher up and passing through oak forests, the next stop on our drive will be in the famed ‘Switzerland of Morocco’, the town of Ifrane.

Ifrane is famous for the world renowned Al-Akhawayn University, which attracts the best and brightest of Morocco each year.

We will also make a stop at the Ifrane National Park to admire the ancient cedar trees and try our luck at finding a colony of Barbary apes. In Ifrane, we will go to a great local restaurant for lunch.

Driving just a little further, our last stop of the day will be in the town of Azrou, the ancient capital of the Amazigh people in the Middle Atlas region, famous for its cedar forests, butterflies, and Barbary ape population, Azrou is a perfect place to get back to nature.

During our time in Azrou, we will visit the old town center with the possibility of also taking a walk in the abundant nature.

Once finishing our tour of Azrou and the Middle Atlas Mountains, we’ll hit the road to Midelt where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.

After breakfast in Midelt, we’ll head towards the Erg Chebbi Dunes, visiting the beautiful scenery on the way.

Once over the Middle Atlas Mountains, the climate will become ever drier as we enter into the picturesque arid Ziz River Gorge at the tail end of the adjacent High Atlas Mountains.

Soon thereafter, we’ll find ourselves overlooking the Tafilalt Oasis, a stunning region of abundant palm groves, underground rivers, and traditional mudbrick architecture.

The Tafilalt Oasis is also a region rich in history from which the current Moroccan royal dynasty descends.

To explore this history, we’ll stop at the Moulay Ali Sherif Zaouia.

Driving through the Tafilalt, we’ll also stop in Rissani to explore the traditional souks and get some exotic Berber pizza for lunch.

By late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our day’s destination: the Erg Chebbi Dunes.

Sleep in or take our advice and wake up early to catch the sunrise over the sand dunes.

If you’re feeling groggy, you can also ride over the sand dunes on camelback.

It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

After breakfast you will be able to spend your day exploring the desert surrounding Merzouga as you like.

Possible activities to do: visiting the historical towns and palm groves around the Tafilalt Oasis (Rissani, Merzouga, Erfoud), taking a 4×4 excursion into the desert to explore black volcanic rock formations and fossils, visiting a nomadic family living in a tent, riding quadbikes around the sand dunes, visiting Khamlia village to hear Gnawa music, or relaxing around the desert tents.

 In the late afternoon, once the day’s heat has subsided, we’ll trek out via camelback to a Berber camp site in the middle of the sand dunes, far, far away from the worries of the world.

Here your Berber hosts will cook traditional desert meals for you, while teaching you about their culture, spend the evening huddled around the campfire, venture out into the desert, or lie on a sand dune and gaze at the stars.

Sleep in or take our advice and wake up early to catch the sunrise over the sand dunes.

After a hearty breakfast, we will ride out of the desert on camelback to the town on the edge of the desert.

There you will be able to shower and refresh yourself in a hotel before we set out on our way.

Leaving the desert, we’ll get back on the road and make our way towards Ouarzazate, exploring traditional mudbrick towns and beautiful desert landscapes as we go.

Our day’s first stop will be in Tinerhir, an ancient Berber town built of traditional mudbrick architecture.

In Tinerhir, we’ll turn off the main road to make a stop in the amazing Todra Gorges, where climbers from around the world fight gravity and their fear as they scale vertical cliffs.

Don’t worry—we’ll be exploring this fascinating area horizontally on foot.

Driving a little further on, we’ll arrive at the Dades Valley, a region famous for its sprawling palm groves growing over an underground river.

Along our way, we’ll visit the famous little town of Kelaat Mgouna, known across Morocco for its traditional Rose Festival in May.

A little further down the road, we’ll discover Soukora, a traditional mudbrick town in the heart of 25km² of lush palm groves.

We’ll finish this exciting day in Ouarzazate, where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.

hitting the road to Marrakesh.

Ouarzazate, a clean, quiet, and sunny city, is the capital and biggest city of the surrounding province.

Even the etymology of the word ‘Ouarzazate’ comes from the Berber expression meaning ‘without noise’.

We’ll begin by visiting the old town with its large ancient Taourirt Kasbah.

Its noble founders have long since moved out, leaving its many towers to families of White storks.

We’ll move on to visit what modern Ouarzazate is most famous for: Morocco’s largest movie studios.

Over the years, thanks to their prime desert location, these studios have helped turn out classic films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), and, most recently, certain episodes of Game of Thrones.

Leaving Ouarzazate, we’ll turn off the main road to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou.

An ideal model of the many mudbrick villages and Kasbah’s that dot the south of Morocco, the ancient town of Ait Benhaddou enchants its thousands of visitors with its curious towers, surrounding desert scenery, and place in Morocco’s history.

Once done visiting Ait Benhaddou, we can get lunch at one of the numerous restaurants that overlook the picturesque town.

Starting our drive to Marrakech, the environment will change as we climb higher into the High Atlas Mountains.

The arid desert plains and hills will give way to forests, mountain streams, and, depending on the time of year, snowcapped mountains.

We’ll follow the road to the very top of these mountains where we’ll stop at the Tizi n’Tichka pass before heading down the other side.

Once over the mountains, it will be a straight shot to the ochre city, Marrakesh, where we’ll drop you off wherever you like.

– Today we’ll spend the whole day exploring the legendary red city of Marrakesh.

Highlights include:

– Marrakesh’s old medina – Smaller than the Fez medina, but no less riveting, Marrakesh’s old medina feels worlds away from the fancy modern hotels, clubs, and restaurants that gild its new town.

Main attractions in Marrakesh’s old medina include the Mellah (Jewish neighborhood), the ornate 19th century Bahia Palace, and the crumbling 16th century Badi Palace.

What’s more, we’ll explore the Koutoubia Mosque and the world famous Jemma el-Fna, a UNESCO site, with its fabled snake charmers, monkey tamers, acrobats, musicians, orange juice sellers, and story tellers.

– The Majorelle Gardens – Taking a little excursion into Marrakesh’s new town, we’ll visit the lush Majorelle Gardens.

Designed by the French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 1930s, the Majorelle Gardens feature a striking array of cactus species from all over the world in Art Deco inspired grounds.

Famous for its iconic blue walls, the Majorelle Gardens also house an excellent museum devoted to Berber culture and history.

Leaving Marrakech, we’ll make our way south, traversing the High Atlas Mountains to reach the picturesque Berber village of Imlil.

Located near the base of Mt. Toupkal, which, at 4,167km is the highest mountain in Northern Africa, Imlil nestles in the shadow of the massive mountain ranges that surround it.

Here we will check into the hotel before going on a hike around the beautiful valley and peaks.

At 1,400km above sea level, you may need to break out some cold weather clothing!

After a beautiful morning waking up and breathing in the clean, crisp mountain air, we’ll hop back in our van and make our way further south.

Today our destination is the walled Berber town of Taroudante. On our way there, you will marvel at the beautiful mountain landscapes.

Located in the famous Sous valley, with the mountain peaks hovering behind in the background, the Taraoudante beauty of the town itself and its surroundings attracts countless tourists every year.

After visiting its souks, walls, and small streets, you will understand why!

Leaving Taroudante, we will head back to the coast, where we will turn north and head to the historic port city of Essaouira.

Essaouira came to the forefront of history during the European Age of Exploration when nations, like Portugal, Spain, France, and England, all jockeyed for control over the port of Essaouira.

By the 18th century, Moroccans had firmly wrested back control of Essaouira.

Because Muslims were prohibited from conducting trade with the Christian enemy, the Jews of Essaouira acted as commercial intermediaries between the two groups and grew very rich.

As such, Essaouira features one of the most important Jewish neighborhoods, or Mellah, in Morocco.

Today, Essaouira’s Mellah has emptied of its original inhabitants and, like most across Morocco, is collapsing from neglect, risking the loss of this important chapter in Moroccan history.

After visiting the Mellah, we will discover other important sights in the Essaouira old city, such as the jewelry market, the port, and the fish market.

Speaking of fish, Essaouira is a great place to get a delightful fresh seafood lunch.

In the afternoon we will orient ourselves towards Essaouira’s massive sandy beaches where it’s possible to do a number of different activities.

Camel riding, horseback riding, quadbike riding, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, or just sunbathing—you’re free to enjoy the beach as you wish! If spending time at the beach isn’t your cup of tea, there are other ways we can enjoy our afternoon. 

For example, we can explore Essaouira’s rich musical history by learning about Gnawa music (did you know the Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page both spent time in Essaouira learning about traditional Moroccan music?).

Or we can visit a traditional herbal pharmacy and learn about old fashioned remedies to different ailments.

Leaving Essaouira, we will drive along the coast to reach the beautiful, laid back town of El Jadida.

We will spend the day exploring El Jdida’s UNESCO World Heritage site: the old Portuguese city.

It’s mighty ramparts, beautiful views, and enchanting old cistern all make discovering El Jadida an unforgettable experience.

On our last day together, we will drive you to the airport in Casablanca for your return flight home and say our goodbyes.