Itinerary #1: Highlights of Morocco: Casablanca to Essaouira
On this 15-day itinerary, you'll see all four of Morocco's imperial cities (historic capitals): Fes, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Meknes. You'll also experience the Sahara Desert, the Atlas mountains, and the Atlantic Coast.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat | Rabat |
Day 2 | Explore the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen | Chefchaouen |
Day 3 | Travel to Fes via Volubilis & Meknes | Fes |
Day 4 | Half-Day Guided Tour of Fes Medina | Fes |
Day 5 | Travel to Merzouga via the Middle Atlas, Midelt & Erfoud | Merzouga |
Day 6 | Desert Safari Adventures around Merzouga | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Drive Through the Desert to Reach Skoura | Skoura |
Day 8 | Walk Skoura Oasis & Have Lunch with a Local Family | Skoura |
Day 9 | Drive to Marrakesh via Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou | Marrakesh |
Day 10 | Half-Day of Guided Sightseeing in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Travel to the Coast and Explore Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 12 | Guided Sightseeing Tour of Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Free Day in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | Transfer to Casablanca | Casablanca |
Day 15 | Depart Casablanca |
Transfer to Rabat from Casablanca. Tour the city's main sights, such as the Royal Palace, Hassan Tower, and Andalusian Gardens. The next day, move on to Chefchaouen before heading to Fes via Morocco's best-preserved ancient Roman complex at Volubilis and the smaller imperial city of Meknes. Explore Fes' scenic and lively medina (old town) and souks (markets). Then pass through the Middle Atlas mountains and into the Sahara. On the way, stop in Midelt and the market town of Erfoud. Enjoy a desert safari, where you'll ride a camel, meet local nomads, learn about traditional music, and sleep in a Berber tent under the stars.
Next, make your way through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to the relaxing palm grove of Skoura. Have lunch with a local family, learn about the area's history, and enjoy live entertainment. Continue to Marrakesh, but not before visiting Ouarzazate, a town made famous by the film industry, and Aït Benhaddou, Morocco's most renowned kasbah (fortification). In Marrakesh, wander bustling souks, see attractions like the Bahia Palace and Koutoubia Mosque, and stroll in the scenic Menara Gardens and Jardin Secret (secret garden). End your tour in the laid-back port city of Essaouira before returning to Casablanca for your flight home. Learn more
Itinerary #2: Luxury Morocco
Live the high life in Morocco with this 15-day luxury tour. Cover all the main attractions, plus some special experiences like a relaxing spa treatment at a Fes hammam, a wine tour in the Guerrouane region, and a hot air balloon trip in Marrakesh.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat | Rabat |
Day 2 | Discover Chefchaouen, A City Awash in Blue | Chefchaouen |
Day 3 | Transfer to Fes via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes | Fes |
Day 4 | Explore Fes and its UNESCO Medina | Fes |
Day 5 | Guerrouane Region Winery Tour | Fes |
Day 6 | Over the Middle Atlas Mountains to the Sahara | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Adventure in the Todra Gorge | Todra Gorge |
Day 8 | Head to Ouarzazate via the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs | Ouarzazate |
Day 9 | Cross the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou | Marrakesh |
Day 10 | Medina & City Tour in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride, Afternoon at Leisure | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Transfer to Essaouira, Argan Oil & Seafood | Essaouira |
Day 13 | A Day of Seaside Adventure in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | To Casablanca via the Atlantic Coast & Portuguese Ports | Casablanca |
Day 15 | Depart Casablanca |
From Casablanca, you'll travel to Rabat and dine on fresh delicacies and see impressive sites. On Day 2, head to the "blue city" of Chefchaouen for a stay in a luxurious riad (traditional house with a courtyard) and some shopping at the local craft markets. Then, visit Meknes, Moulay Idriss (Morocco's oldest town), and ancient Volubilis en route to Fes. In Fes, have a guided tour of the medina, take a private cooking class, and indulge in a relaxing hammam experience. The next day, head to a Guerrouane winery to learn about Moroccan wine and enjoy a tasting, then travel to the Sahara for a camel ride and a pleasant night under the stars in a luxury glamping tent.
Spend the following day wandering through the Todra Gorge before visiting Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate. Transfer to Marrakesh for a tour and early hot air balloon ride over the plains the following day, where you'll have great views of Berber villages and the distant Sahara. Head to the coast to Essaouira for seaside adventures before packing it in and venturing up the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, stopping to check out Safi and its stunning vistas, El Jadida, and Azemmour along the way. Learn more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Itinerary #3: South Morocco Adventure
Get outdoors with this 15-day adventure tour, which takes you through the Imlil Valley and Saghru Mountains. You'll enjoy hiking, spending time with local Berber families, riding a camel through the desert, and exploring many of Morocco's fascinating cities and towns.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
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Day 1 | Arrive in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 2 | Explore Marrakesh, the "Red City" | Marrakesh |
Day 3 | Mountain Hike in Imlil & Lunch with a Local Family | Imlil |
Day 4 | Guided Hike in Imlil Valley | Imlil |
Day 5 | Transfer to Aït Benhaddou, Free Time in Aït Benhaddou Kasbah | Aït Benhaddou |
Day 6 | Hike & Lunch with a Local Family in Dadès Valley | Boumalne Dadès |
Day 7 | Travel to Merzouga via Tinghir & Rissani, Enjoy a Sunset Camel Ride | Merzouga |
Day 8 | Desert Adventures around Erg Chebbi | Merzouga |
Day 9 | Drive to Zagora via the Saghru Mountains & Draa Valley | Zagora |
Day 10 | Explore Ouarzazate on a Self-Guided Tour | Ouarzazate |
Day 11 | Explore Taroudant on a Self-Guided Tour | Taroudant |
Day 12 | Transfer to Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Private Morning Cooking Class in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | Traditional Hammam Experience & Private Food Tour in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 15 | Depart Marrakesh |
Fly into Marrakesh, the "red city." Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of its souks and the lively activity of Jemaa el-Fna. The next day, hike in the Imlil Valley, which will take you from the village of Imlil to the nearby Berber town of Armed. Spend time with a Berber family and then hike down through the village of Aït Souka. The next day, head off on a longer 3-4 hour hike through the Imlil Valley and around Mount Toubkal. Move on to Aït Benhaddou and the town of Boumalne Dadès. Learn about the region's history and traditions while meeting with locals. Next, make your way to Merzouga for a camel ride and a night in a tent under the stars.
Travel through villages and oases before discovering the "dune sea" of Erg Chebbi by Jeep, sandboard, or ATV. Head to Zagora to enjoy an evening among the palms, then explore Ouarzazate and the historic town of Taroudant, known as the "Grandmother of Marrakesh." Have a short hike or check out the town's attractions, such as the Palais Claudio Bravo, the former home of a Chilean artist. The next day, drive to the bohemian coastal town of Essaouira via Agadir. In Essaouira, have a private cooking class at a traditional riad. Transfer back to Marrakesh for a hammam experience and food tour before heading home. Learn more
Itinerary #4: Jewish Heritage and Historic Morocco
Learn about Morocco's fascinating history and Jewish cultural heritage on this 15-day tour. Explore the country's many unique attractions, including the only Jewish museums found in the Arab world and the historically-Jewish city of Sefrou.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
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Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca | Casablanca |
Day 2 | Visit the Hassan II Mosque & Museum of Moroccan Judaism | Casablanca |
Day 3 | Transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat and Ouazzane | Chefchaouen |
Day 4 | Explore Moulay Idriss, Volubilis & Meknes on the Way to Fes | Fes |
Day 5 | Wander through Fes' Jewish Quarter and Medina | Fes |
Day 6 | Day Trip to Sefrou: Jewish Heritage and Artisan Craft Center | Fes |
Day 7 | Travel to the Atlas Mountains | Azrou |
Day 8 | Over the Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga & the Sahara | Erg Chebbi Dunes |
Day 9 | The Edge of the Sahara and Fossil Workshops | Ouarzazate |
Day 10 | Over the High Atlas to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Medina and City Tour & Hammam in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Argan Oil & Seafood in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Jewish Heritage Tour of Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | See Morocco's Atlantic Coast & Portuguese Ports - Evening in Casablanca | Casablanca |
Day 15 | Depart from Casablanca |
Start in Casablanca, where you can wander along the scenic oceanfront Boulevard de la Corniche. The following day, tour the city and see the Museum of Moroccan Judaism and Temple Beth-El. Visit Rabat's Hassan Tower and the town of Ouazzane, a holy city for many Moroccan Jews, before heading to Chefchaouen. Journey through Volubilis and Meknes before reaching Fes, where you'll explore the medina and mellah (Jewish quarter). Next, visit the Craft Center in Sefrou, a historically-Jewish walled city.
Transfer to the Sahara Desert, stopping in the Atlas mountains along the way. Ride a camel and spend a night in a desert tent, enjoying traditional Berber music. Then, travel back across the desert to Merzouga and Ouarzazate. Tour Aït Benhaddou and head to Marrakesh to explore the city's old medina and have a relaxing hammam bath and spa treatment. Drive to Essaouira on the coast, which has one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Morocco. Here, you'll get the chance to visit the Jewish cultural center of Bayt Dakira, which has a research center, museum, and synagogue. Return to Casablanca via Safi, El Jadida, and Azemmour. Learn more
Itinerary #5: Mediterranean Morocco
For an alternative way of seeing Morocco, ignore the desert and head to the coast with this 15-day itinerary. On this scenic route, you'll explore bohemian enclaves, relaxed beach spots, and Spanish colonial sites.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
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Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca, Transfer to Rabat | Rabat |
Day 2 | Explore 3,000 Years of Antiquity on the Way to Asilah | Asilah |
Day 3 | Hercules Cave & Cap Spartel | Tangier |
Day 4 | See Tangier on a Self-Guided Tour | Tangier |
Day 5 | Tetouan & the Rif Mountains | Chefchaouen |
Day 6 | Hike the Rif Mountains & Wander through the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen | Chefchaouen |
Day 7 | Leave Chefchaouen and Travel to the "Rif Riviera" | Al Hoceima |
Day 8 | Visit Al Hoceima and Relax by the Sea | Al Hoceima |
Day 9 | Transfer to Fes via Taza | Fes |
Day 10 | Explore the Imperial City of Fes | Fes |
Day 11 | Tour a Winery in the Guerrouane Region | Fes |
Day 12 | Day Trip to Meknes and the Roman Ruins at Volubilis | Fes |
Day 13 | Travel from Fes to Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 14 | Marrakesh Medina & City Tour | Marrakesh |
Day 15 | Half-Day Morning Medina Tour, Depart Marrakesh |
Fly into Casablanca and head to Rabat to see the Hassan Tower and Chellah, a fortified medieval necropolis and archaeological site. Then travel along the Atlantic coast to Asilah, stopping on the way to visit the Roman site at Lixus and the formerly-Spanish town of Larache. Continue until you reach Cap Spartel, the northwestern tip of Africa and the perfect place to stop for a beach break. Drive to Tangier, a bohemian town with attractive views and several fascinating museums. Next, make your way to Chefchaouen, stopping in historic Tetouan. Then, head north past the Laou River Gorge to the area known as the "Rif Riviera."
Travel through Al Hoceima National Park, home to many species of avian and marine wildlife, before reaching the town of Al Hoceima, whose culture is a mix of Spanish and Rifi Berber influences. Take another opportunity to relax on the beach, enjoying the view of the Spanish island fortress of Peñón de Alhucemas. Head inland toward the Rif Mountains, stopping in the cities of Aknoul and Taza on the way to Fes. Enjoy a tour of Fes' historical medina and a wine tasting in Guerrouane before visiting Meknes, Volubilis, and Moulay Idriss. End your journey in Marrakesh, discovering the city with a local guide before heading home. Learn more
More Great 15-Day Morocco Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Morocco? Check out these other 15-day Morocco itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.