City Hopping in Northern Morocco - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca, Tour Hassan II Mosque

Welcome to Morocco! Touch down in Casablanca, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Settle in and then head out to explore this beloved port city, which offers a mix of architectural styles from Art Deco to Moorish and French colonial designs. Start with a guided tour of Casablanca's most famous attraction: the Hassan II Mosque. 

Morocco's largest mosque, Hassan II, sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Inaugurated in 1993, the building's 650-foot (200 m) minaret is the highest structure in Morocco and the world's tallest minaret. The mosque is also unique because it's one of the few in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. Tour the historic complex, which includes a museum, baths, Koranic school, a library, and a prayer room that can hold 25,000 people, supported by 78 granite and marble pillars. Gaze at the mosque's elaborate mosaics, decorative wood, and ornamental ceilings created by skilled artisans from across Morocco.

Day 2: Transfer to Tangier & Food Tour

This morning you'll travel to Tangier at the northern tip of Morocco. Strategically situated on the Strait of Gibraltar, the city serves as a gateway between Africa and Europe, making it a key trading port over the centuries. Check into your hotel in the whitewashed old town before venturing out to explore.

Get a taste of Tangier on a food tour with a local guide, who'll take you to the city's top culinary spots. Visit the community bakery to sample freshly-baked bread and then learn about Moroccan spices. You'll also indulge in street food and savor regional specialties, including grilled meats, fried sardines, and braised stews.

Day 3: Explore Tangier & Asilah with a Guide

Today you'll discover more of Tangier's treasures on a guided tour. Start with the kasbah, a historic fortress area that offers sweeping views of the Strait of Gibraltar. Wander through its snaking markets lined with market stalls and embellished architecture. Head out of the city to visit Cap Spartel, a striking lighthouse that marks the spot where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.

Continue south along the coast to the legendary Cave of Hercules, rumored to have been created by the mythical hero himself. Next, drive farther south to Asilah, an artistic town with a sugar-white medina (old town) built by the Portuguese and protected by 15th-century ramparts that provide ocean vistas. Return to Tangier for a final night in the city.

Day 4: Transfer to Chefchaouen via Tétouan

Journey south today to Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue City for its mazelike medina filled with bluewashed buildings. On the way, stop at Tétouan, which lies at the foot of the Rif Mountains. Recognized as a UNESCO site, the medina is the perfect place to stretch your legs and have lunch.

Afterward, drive to Chefchaouen, perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif Mountains; the city's name translates to "two horns," a reference to the twin peaks that shadow the metropolis. Check into your riad before exploring the city at your own pace. Get lost in the alleyways, pause to photograph the pastel blue architecture, and end the day with a delicious local tajine.

Day 5: Explore the Blue City of Chefchaouen

Delve into Chefchaouen's history today. The city was founded in 1471 by Idrisid Shorfa, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, as a stronghold in the fight against the Portuguese. Revered as a holy mecca, the city is home to eight mosques, several zaouias (an Islamic place of worship, school, monastery, or mausoleum), and marabouts (Muslim religious leaders). The Grand Mosque, built in 1560, makes a stunning photo stop.

The town also has a distinctive Spanish feel due to a wave of migrants from Granada in the 15th century, who built typical whitewashed houses complete with patios and citrus trees. This cultural blend is evident as you stroll through the old medina with its blue buildings topped with European red-tiled roofs, which converge on Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square named for the hammams (public baths) that once encircled it.

Find a restaurant or café for a bite to eat before browsing the many shops peddling traditional wares. Don't miss a trip to the old prison cells of the kasbah, used during Spanish rule, then end the day at Ras el Ma Spring, the town's primary water source, where families wash their clothes in the river. Take a break at one of the riverside cafés for mint tea.

Day 6: Transfer to Fes via Tour of Volubilis

Continue your trip south today to Fes, which is often referred to as Morocco's cultural capital. Check in and then head out to explore this sprawling medieval city, the oldest of the country's four imperial capitals and home to cobbled streets, spice-scented souks, and heritage-listed architecture.

Take a guided tour of Volubilis, a set of Roman ruins. Ramble through the streets of this once-grand settlement, which dates back to the third century and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Learn about the site's history as an Amazigh (Berber) city and its significance in establishing the first dynasty of the Kingdom of Morocco as you pass wealthy residential houses and public buildings with detailed mosaic floors.

Day 7: Guided Tour of Fes Medina

Uncover more of Fes's charms today on a tour of the fortified medina, accompanied by a local guide. Begin by passing through the Moorish Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) and wandering the crowded souks, where you'll find unique, handcrafted goods. Enjoy the bright collection of rugs, jewelry, and leather goods, or peruse the towers of spices, dried fruits, and culinary delicacies.

Admire the city's ancient walls as you walk to the Marinid Tombs, a hilltop archaeological site hosting the ruins of two 14th-century mausoleums. You'll also visit the Chouara Tannery, with its colorful leather dyes produced using centuries-old techniques. Next, visit the ninth-century Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, the world's oldest continuously operating university.

Other tour highlights include Bou Inania Madrasa or Al Attarine Madrasa, two 14th-century schools featuring beautiful Marinid and Moroccan architecture and zellij tiles, the mellah (Jewish district), and the Dar el Makhzen (Royal Palace of Fes). To finish, your guide will take you to top restaurants to taste dishes such as couscous, shakshuka (eggs poached in tomatoes), makouda (spiced battered potato cakes), and mechoui (spit-roasted lamb).

Day 8: Tour of Meknes & Guerrouane Wine Region

Start the day with a visit to nearby Meknes, another of Morocco's architecturally-renowned imperial cities. Begin by passing through the Bab Mansour Gate, which features marble pillars taken from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Stop at the sacred tomb of Sultan Moulay Ismail, an eccentric former ruler, then visit Heri es-Souani, a former granary and stables. You'll also learn about the vast underground prison and tunnel system beneath Meknes.

Escape the city this afternoon and venture into the rural Guerrouane wine region, where fertile soil, rain, and sun combine to provide excellent conditions for orchard fruits like apricots, plums, oranges, and the region's prized grapes. The area's winemaking roots can be traced back to Guerrouane's Jewish community and was later expanded by French settlers.

Today, the region produces red blends, rosé, vin gris, and local brandies called mahia (water of life). Stop at one of Guerrouane's famous vineyards for a tour and a tasting session before returning to Fes for the night. The courtyard in your riad is the ideal place to relax as you crack open your favorite bottle from the day's wine discovery.

Day 9: Transfer to Rabat, Explore 

Day 10: Private Sightseeing Tour of Rabat

Explore Rabat with a guide today, starting with a visit to the Royal Palace of Rabat and the Chellah Necropolis, where you can wander Roman and Islamic ruins. Continue to the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V, an abandoned 12th-century project that features the minaret of an incomplete mosque and some 200 columns. 

You'll have time to stroll through the medina and peruse the souks, where you'll find everything from rugs and spices to jewelry and leather goods. Your guide is on hand to help you barter for goods. Take a break from the crowds next at the Andalusian Gardens, where paths lead through exotic flower gardens and fruit tree groves reminiscent of Spain's Alhambra gardens.

The journey ends at the doorway to the Kasbah des Oudaïas, the heart of the original city center. The Kasbah des Oudaïas is home to the city's oldest mosque and Musée des Oudaïas handicrafts museum. Spend time admiring the white and blue architecture and learning about regional crafts. Return to your hotel afterward to enjoy a final evening in Rabat.

Day 11: Transfer to Marrakesh, Explore

Say goodbye to Rabat this morning and make the five-hour trip to Marrakesh via a lunch stop in Casablanca. Continue to the Red City, where you'll check into your hotel and rest before getting your first glimpse of this ancient metropolis. As you'll discover, the city is filled with Moorish riads and hectic bazaars crammed with spices, ceramics, and hand-woven rugs.

Highlights include the eerie Saadien Tombs and El Badi Palace, with extensive courtyards and sunken gardens. For dinner, head to Jemaa el-Fna, the central market square, which was an important trading bazaar for many centuries and features musicians, performers, and food stalls.

Day 12: Marrakesh Tour, Visit the Majorelle Gardens & Amal Center Cooking Class

Join an expert guide today to tour Marrakesh's most famous sites, including the Bahia Palace, which aptly translates to "the Palace of the Brilliant" with its intricate woodwork and ornamented ceilings. Move on to the city's largest mosque, Koutoubia, then pass through the medina's commanding gateways to meander through the twisting alleyways and souks.

Spend time in Jemaa el-Fna, the city's landmark plaza filled with markets, street food, and performers. From here, you'll stroll to a few of the best souks, with your guide leading the way. You'll find spices at Souk el Attarin, Moroccan slippers at Souk Smata, and locals dyeing and hanging cloth and yarn at Souk des Teinturiers. For a slice of serenity, head to Majorelle Gardens, an oasis of subtropical plants and palm trees. Stop at the museum in a building that once belonged to the French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle, and today, it's home to the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. 

End the day with an authentic Moroccan cooking class, where you'll learn how to cook chicken tajine with olives and pickled lemons in a shady corner of the Amal Center's garden. It takes about 90 minutes for your tajines to cook in the fire, which you'll enjoy with fresh flatbread. As you wait, you'll learn about this NGO, which offers women from disadvantaged backgrounds training in the food and hospitality industry.

Day 13: Optional Activities in Marrakesh

Rise early this morning to watch the sunrise over the desert on an optional hot-air balloon ride. Float up and above Marrakesh, passing arid hills, quaint villages, and pockets of lush greenery backed by rolling mountains. Savor the golden sunrise with a Moroccan pastry as you drift across the sky.

Relax at one of the city's hammams this afternoon. A crucial part of Moroccan culture, hammams offer hot steam baths and body scrubs to rejuvenate your body and mind. For the ultimate pamper session, book an extra massage or facial. Afterward, relish a leisurely evening in the city.

Day 14: Depart Marrakesh

Today your Morocco adventure comes to an end. You'll be transferred to the airport in time to catch your homebound flight. Safe travels!

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