Highlights
- Visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has one of the tallest minarets in the world
- Explore the remaining Roman ruins on your stop in Volubilis
- Watch the various entertainers come alive in Marrakesh's Jemaa el-Fna square
- Observe Berber families working on their farms in Ahinajen
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca | Casablanca |
| Day 2 | Hassan II Mosque & Afternoon Walking Tour | Casablanca |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Rabat, Hassan Tower & Salé City Tour | Rabat |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Fes via Meknes & Volubilis | Fes |
| Day 5 | Guided City Tour of Fes | Fes |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to Ahinajen Berber Village | Fes |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Marrakesh via Beni-Mellal | Marrakesh |
| Day 8 | Guided Medina Tour & Afternoon Food Tour | Marrakesh |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Ourika: Hike to a Waterfall | Marrakesh |
| Day 10 | Return to Casablanca, Explore | Casablanca |
| Day 11 | Depart Casablanca |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca
Today, you'll arrive in Casablanca and be picked up from the airport by your private driver. You'll be taken to your accommodations and then have the night to yourselves to recover from your flight. Enjoy a nice welcome dinner, and make sure to ask your driver for some recommendations.
Day 2: Hassan II Mosque & Afternoon Walking Tour
You'll begin today with a tour of the Hassan II Mosque. This exquisite mosque has one of the tallest minarets in the world and is a building representative of the best of Moroccan architecture. The interior is lavish with wood, marble, and carved stone and with guided ceilings. It's also the only mosque that is open for the public to tour and a real experience. Afterward, you can enjoy lunch or take a leisurely stroll around the city.
In the afternoon, you'll meet with your guide to take a tour of the city. The old medina here is newer than those in Fes and Marrakesh, so this tour will focus on the newer medina, the Habous, which was built in the 1930s by the French. The architecture here is a focal point and is inspired by the Art Deco movement.
Day 3: Transfer to Rabat, Hassan Tower & Salé City Tour
Today, you'll travel to Rabat, home of Hassan Tower. Rabat is the capital of Morocco and home to the Royal Family. The Hassan Tower monument is one of the most significant buildings produced by the Almohad Dynasty. It's a minaret of the incomplete mosque and Mausoleum of Mohamed V. In fact, it's a 12th-century project that was abandoned, where all that remains today is the red sandstone tower standing at 145 feet and about 200 columns.
Next, you'll head to the nearby city of Salé for a tour of the historic madrasa. The architecture and Moroccan craftwork are something that not many travelers get to experience. You can also check out the Bab Antare and Bab Mellah, which are walls and regions that divide up the city. You're free to enjoy your afternoon as you please. Feel free to consult your guide for recommendations on a delightful dinner experience.
Day 4: Transfer to Fes via Meknes & Volubilis
Today, you'll leave Rabat and travel toward Fes. After breakfast, you'll depart for Meknes, which is your first stop. It has a smaller medina than Fes, which allows you time to explore at a more leisurely pace–without worrying about the more aggressive shopkeepers. Your driver will lead you through the Ville Impériale area, where you can explore gardens, palaces, the impressive gate of Bab al-Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables.
Next, move on to Moulay Idriss, which, from a distance, looks like a sitting camel. The oldest town in Morocco, it was founded by Moulay Idriss I in 789, who fled Mecca because of religious and tribal conflicts. It was here that the Idrisid dynasty was founded. Note that the town has the only round minaret in Morocco. Lunch is on your own here, with recommendations from your driver.
Next, you'll stop in Volubilis. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins and makes for a nice break from driving. You can wander the massive complex with a guide, exploring large merchant homes with visible heating systems underneath, temples, and many colorful mosaics still in good condition. Today ends in Fes, where you can relax and enjoy the night at your leisure.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Guided City Tour of Fes
Your tour guide will meet you after breakfast to start your day of exploration in the Fes Medina. This UNESCO-protected medina is full of arms-width alleyways and donkey-width roads. Your Fes born-and-bred guide will share hidden stories and show you secluded corners of the medina, and you'll see daily life unfold, along with the impactful Fes madrasas and palaces. Your guide will help you learn about Fes as only a true local can. Be sure to ask your guide for lunch suggestions.
Fes is a hub of Moroccan crafts and arts, and you'll meet artisans to learn about the history and importance of their trades. Visit tanneries and mosaic workshops to observe traditional crafting methods still in use today. In the afternoon, return to your riad. You can relax for the rest of the day or go back out to test your new knowledge of the medina streets.
Day 6: Day Trip to Ahinajen Berber Village
Today, you'll visit the Berber village of Ahinajen in the Middle Atlas mountains. Upon arrival, you'll be introduced to a local family to have lunch with. After lunch, you'll be taken down the valley to observe and interact with the farmers working on the land. Traditionally, women and children act as shepherds for the family livestock, and you'll get to see how the family dynamic works. This experience can be very eye-opening to the rural way of life in the Atlas mountains and is a great way to interact directly with the local culture. On the way back to Sefrou, you'll stop in the Mausoleum of Sidi Bousghin for the panoramic view of Sefrou and the snowcapped Middle Atlas mountains.
Dinner will be on your own in either Sefrou or Fes.
Day 7: Transfer to Marrakesh via Beni-Mellal
Begin the day early as you prepare for your long day of travel from Fes to Marrakesh. This eight-hour journey takes you through the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. Along the way, you'll see Berber villages, and you can stop at a few if you would like. You'll take a break for lunch at Beni-Mellal, with recommendations on where to eat from your driver.
Enjoy the tranquility of the mountains before you're in the midst of the hustle and bustle of vibrant Marrakesh. Once you're in Marrakesh, feel free to spend the rest of the afternoon at a slower pace. You'll go on a guided hammam visit to relax after a long day of traveling.
In the early evening, the center, known as Jemaa el-Fna Square, comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games, food stalls, and more. If you want to enjoy from a distance, there are many cafés surrounding the square where you can sit and watch the show over a meal.
Day 8: Guided Medina Tour & Afternoon Food Tour
On your second day in Marrakesh, after you have breakfast, you'll meet your local tour guide, who will take you on a tour to explore the old medina, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its lively souk, you can take in the displays of djellabas, soft, brightly colored babouches, intricately pierced lanterns, mounds of exotic spices, and life unfolding among the web of alleys. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the history and stories of the Medina, the Souk, and the Mellah sections–all kept within the city's rose-pink walls. Lunch is on your own with the recommendation of your tour guide.
After lunch, take some time to relax before your evening activities. Around 6 pm, you'll go on a four-hour guided food tour around the Marrakesh Medina, tasting local foods and partaking in a full meal.
Day 9: Day Trip to Ourika: Hike to a Waterfall
Your Ourika Valley day trip starts early in the morning. After a short drive from Marrakesh into the foothills of the Atlas mountains, you'll take the road along the valley of Ourika, where you'll enter through a group of clinging mountain villages. Later, you'll continue the tour to reach Setti Fatma, a favorite weekend destination of many Moroccans, which is highly appreciated for its streams and waterfalls, beautiful cliffs, and green valleys. You'll explore a region that still practices a medieval agricultural tradition. Walk around the valley to take photos of the views of green terraces and the surrounding Atlas mountains. A local guide can take you on a hike to the first waterfall.
After the hike, take a break for a traditional lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy the view over the mountains. Then, you'll return to Marrakesh in the evening, where you'll have time to yourself.
Day 10: Return to Casablanca, Explore
Today, you'll leave early to head back to Casablanca via the coastal route. You'll visit two old Portuguese fortified cities along the way. The first city you'll encounter is El Jadida, where you'll tour the hauntingly beautiful Portuguese cistern. You can also walk the ramparts and visit the Church of the Assumption.
Next is Azemour, who has inspired many Moroccan artists over the decades, some of whom have chosen to live here. Life here is still traditional despite its close proximity to the cosmopolitan art market of Casablanca. A crumbling 16th-century medina squeezed between the Oud Er-Rbia (Mother of Spring River) and the ocean provides plenty of artistic inspiration. Once in Casablanca, you'll check into your downtown hotel. After lunch, you'll be picked up by your guide to tour parts of Casablanca you did not visit upon your arrival.
Day 11: Depart Casablanca
After breakfast, you'll take the 45-minute trip to Casablanca Mohamed V International Airport in preparation for your departure flight. Safe Travels!
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