Exploring Morocco's Imperial Cities and Natural Landscapes - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca - Explore

Welcome to Morocco! After arriving at the airport, a private driver will transfer you to your hotel. Get settled into your accommodation and prepare to explore the bustling imperial city of Casablanca.

Casablanca has a long and interesting history, with the first settlement being the Berber village Anfa. By the end of the 18th century, Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah founded a Muslim town at this site. It quickly gained global significance as a European economic hotspot for wool and grain. You'll see remnants of the past as you peruse the city's history, culture, and economy by visiting sights like The United Nations Place and Mohamed V Square. 

End your afternoon of city exploration at the Central Market and the Habous Quarter where you can enjoy the view of the Royal Palace and the famous Hassan II Mosque.

If you're looking for a place for dinner, Rick's Cafe is a great option for your first dinner in Morocco. It's located by the marina where you'll find many other cafes, restaurants, and bars.

Day 2: Drive to the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen via Rabat and Asilah

After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you to Chefchaouen, the beautiful "Blue City" of Morocco. Founded in 1471 in order to halt the southward expansion of the Portuguese and the Spanish, this small, charming city is situated in the heart of the Rif Mountains in northeastern Morocco. Enjoy the blue painted walls inside its historic medina (old town).

On the way, your driver will first stop in Rabat, which is Morocco's royal capital known as the "city of lights" due to its many illuminated museums and gardens. Afterward, you'll head to the little seaside town of Asilah, which is a fortified village on the Atlantic coast. Like most towns in Morocco, it has a charming and historic walled medina. Asilah is, however, known for its cultural arts scene, so you will find its walls painted with colorful and elaborate murals.

By late afternoon, you'll arrive in Chefchaouen. After settling into your accommodation, enjoy a leisurely evening strolling through the city. You can either stay in the medina with its blue-washed walls or drive to a vista to watch the sunset over the city.

Day 3: Hike to Akchour Waterfall - Private Tour of Chefchaouen

Enjoy an early breakfast before meeting your local guide for a day of exploration. You'll start with a hike to the unique waterfalls of Akchour, a beautiful and unforgettable experience much loved by travelers to Morocco. The hike will take about 3-4 hours, passing through beautiful, forested scenery.

You'll return to Chefchaouen in time for lunch. Fuel up in a cafe or restaurant in the buzzy medina before starting your personalized, 2-hour city tour. Feel free to discuss your preferences for the tour with the local guide, then take in the beautiful sights and sounds of colorful Chefchaouen.

Enjoy a free night in Chefchaouen.

Day 4: Visit the Roman Ruins of Volubilis - Drive to Fes

Rise early and explore the historical landmark of Volubilis, a UNESCO world heritage site which contains Morocco’s best-preserved Roman ruins. You'll wander the massive complex, exploring large merchant homes with impressive features like heating systems, temples, and colorful mosaics.

By the afternoon, you'll arrive in the city of Fes, which is often referred to as the spiritual capital of Morocco as it was one of the most important places of scholarship in the world. As you head out to explore this beautiful city, know that Fes can be neatly divided into three different parts: Fes el-Bali (the heart of the medina); Fes el-Jdid (where the Jewish quarter and the Royal Palace are located); and the Ville Nouvelle (the administrative area).

Day 5: Discover the Beautiful City of Fes

In the morning, your guide will meet you for a 6-hour tour of Fes and its medieval medina. You'll start with the great gates of the Royal Palace and the nearby Mellah (Jewish quarter). Then you'll visit the ruined forts on the hills surrounding Fes. From this vantage point, you have stunning panoramic views across the city. Next, visit the pottery quarter located outside the medina, where you can see how the famous blue pottery of Fes and the intricate tiled mosaics are created.

Your guide will then take you through the medieval medina on foot, where you can lose yourself within the labyrinthine streets. Discover the many artisans, such as the metal workers, dyers, woodworkers, and silk weavers. You'll visit the tanneries where leather is processed in the way it has been done for centuries. Discover grand mosques and medresa (Koranic schools), and learn about the ancient traditions of Berber medicine men.

In the evening, you can continue your exploration of the city at your leisure. Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Day 6: Travel Over the Atlas Mountains to Merzouga Desert Camp

Today you'll trade the bustling city life for an outdoor adventure in the Sahara Desert. After breakfast, your driver will take you toward Merzouga, a place of important exchange between northern and southern Morocco for many centuries. If you have time, there are a few interesting stops along the way. You can see the wild Barbary Apes in their natural habitat, or stop in the towns of Azrou and Ifrane, which are known as "the Switzerland of Morocco". If you're interested in learning more about the nomad life in Morocco, take a detour to the city of Erfoud.

Once you arrive in Merzouga, you'll receive an orientation to properly prepare you for your camel ride through the desert. Your guide will provide you with all the clothing and equipment you'll need, and help you get acquainted with riding a camel. Once you feel comfortable, you'll head to a gorgeous viewpoint to enjoy the sunset. Then you'll make your way to your camp for the night, where dinner is waiting for you in the restaurant tent.

After dinner, you can settle into your private tent where your luggage awaits. Each tent includes a comfortable bed and a private bathroom. You can sit outside your tent and listen to the camp's local musicians before falling asleep. Feel free to play with them or dance under the desert sky.

Day 7: Visit the Market of Rissani and the Stunning Todra Gorges

Sunrises in the Sahara are some of the best in the world, so rise early and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the chilly morning air. After breakfast, you'll meet your driver and head to the nearby Saharan village of Khamleya. Here you can enjoy traditional music, drumming, and dancing.

Next, you'll drive to the market in Rissani. Enjoy the impressive gate that welcomes you into the town before you meander through the market. You'll then continue through the desert to the town of Tinerhir, which has amazing viewpoints of neighboring villages, rivers, and palm trees. Enjoy views of the landscape with its impressive buttes, mesas, and plateaus.  

Your destination for today is the magnificent canyon of Todra Gorges, a series of limestone river canyons (also known as wadi) in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. Both the Todra and neighboring Dades Rivers are responsible for carving out these deep, cliff-sided canyons. 

You'll stay the night near the gorge and enjoy a traditional dinner.

Day 8: Drive to Aït Benhaddou via Ouarzazate

This morning, you'll first head to the city of Ouarzazate, a popular stopping point for travelers in the Sahara Desert. It's set in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and is certainly worth a visit. Its attractions include a beautiful 19th-century palace and a museum dedicated to the movies that have used the area as a filming site.

Continue driving toward the village of Aït Benhaddou, which holds the UNESCO Heritage Site Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. With the help of some Hollywood touch-ups, this protected fortified village seems frozen in time, still resembling its days in the 11th century as an Almoravid caravanserai (a roadside inn and settlement). Movie lovers may recognize it from Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth (for which much of Aït Benhaddou was rebuilt), Jewel of the Nile (note the Egyptian towers), Gladiator, and—most recently—Game of Thrones. 

Take advantage of walking to the top of the Kasbah for a breathtaking sunset!

Day 9: Drive Tizi n'Tichka Pass to Marrakech - Visit a Hammam

Your drive this morning will take you over the Atlas Mountains via its highest pass, Tizi N'Tichka. The route is exciting and beautiful, with many stopping points to look at the Berber villages and take breathtaking photos.

By the afternoon, you'll arrive in buzzy Marrakech. With its bustling souks, flavorful food, and welcoming hospitality, it's no wonder tourists are starting to take note of Marrakesh. Known as the Red City, Marrakech is Morocco's exotic imperial city of the south. It's the country's fourth largest city and lies near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

Settle into your accommodation and relax before you meet your driver. This evening, you'll enjoy a lovely Moroccan experience at a traditional Hammam. You'll quickly learn why Hammams are a wonderful and unique way to experience the local culture. 

Hammams usually begin in a dry, warm room to relax and allow the body to acclimate to the heat before entering a sauna and then a steam room. Next, you'll receive a body scrub with black olive-oil soap known as Savon beldi. Your Hammam attendant will coordinate a series of scrubbing and rinsing to alleviate any rough skin and stress. You'll emerge from your experience feeling refreshed and energized.

Return to your accommodation and head out into the city for dinner and nightlife. Djemaa-el-Fna Square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, dancers, and musicians. In the evening, the square transforms into a huge open-air restaurant with smoke rising from the many food stalls.

Day 10: Discover the Charming Berber Town of Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains

Enjoy an early breakfast as you prepare for your departure. Your destination for the day is the enchanting town of Imlil, a little Berber village in the High Atlas Mountains. The surroundings of Imlil are dominated by 13,000-foot (4000 m) mountains, covered by snow for part of the year. The highest mountain of North Africa, Mount Toubka, can be seen from Imlil. The surroundings are excellent for walking and enjoying nature and the environment.

A private, local guide will meet you in the village and take you on a walking excursion through the beautiful forests and hills. Expect many viewpoints, plus a delicious and traditional lunch in a charming Berber house.

In the afternoon you'll resume your hike through the valley where you will explore many small villages on the way. Return to Imlil for a leisurely evening and dinner.

Day 11: Return to Marrakech for Your Departure

Wake up in the fresh mountain air and enjoy your final breakfast in Morocco. Today you'll return to Marrakech to catch your flight home, or to continue to your next destination.