Highlights
- Climb up to Chefchaouen's Spanish Mosque for a sunset over the blue city
- Explore dunes, oases, hidden valleys, and old kasbahs in the Sahara
- Hike in the foothills of the Atlas mountains and dine with a Berber family
- Learn to cook like a local with a group cooking lesson in the famed La Maison Arabe
- Take a private kitesurfing lesson in laid-back Essaouira
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca, Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque | Casablanca |
Day 2 | Transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat, Explore the Blue City | Chefchaouen |
Day 3 | Transfer to Fes via Volubilis & Meknes | Fes |
Day 4 | Half-Day Guided Tour of Fes | Fes |
Day 5 | Transfer to Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, Overnight at a Desert Camp | Merzouga |
Day 6 | Desert Safari Adventures | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Transfer to Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge | Boumalne Dades |
Day 8 | Hike & Lunch with a Local Family in Dadès Valley | Boumalne Dades |
Day 9 | Transfer to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou & Tizi n'Tichka Pass | Marrakesh |
Day 10 | Private Guided Tour of Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Optional Activities in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Transfer to Essaouira: Seaside Ramparts & Fresh Seafood | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Free Day in Essabouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | Return to Marrakesh, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca, Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque
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Day 2: Transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat, Explore the Blue City
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Day 3: Transfer to Fes via Volubilis & Meknes
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Leaving Chefchaouen, your driver will take you to UNESCO-protected Volubilis, about 3.5 hours south. Wander the complex of the country's best-preserved Roman ruins, including many colorful mosaics. Next, you're off to Meknes, another imperial city. Stroll through the compact medina, less busy than other cities, offering a more laid-back atmosphere. Other than the scattered souks, you can visit the Marinid-era architecture at the 14th-century Madrasa Bou Inania and the impressive 19th-century palace of Dar Jamaï. In the Ville Impériale area, explore gardens, palaces, the gate of Bab al-Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables.
Your final stop is Fes. Before settling into your traditional riad accommodation, drive up to the Marinid Tombs, where you can enjoy a lovely panorama of the old city. On the hillside below, you may see leather drying in the sun. Then make your way into the bustling medina and enjoy navigating Fes' charming streets. Relax at your riad for dinner.
Day 4: Half-Day Guided Tour of Fes
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Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Transfer to Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, Overnight at a Desert Camp
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Start early today as you make the eight-hour journey to your Bedouin-style tent in Merzouga, stopping at cultural highlights to see the desert communities of the Sahara. You'll start by driving through the town of Azrou and climbing an elevation of 7,146 feet (2,178 m) over the Col du Zad Pass. Enjoy the scenery as you twist through the cedar forests of the Atlas mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for the local Barbary macaque monkeys! Your first stop will be for lunch in Midelt, known as the "Apple City," thanks to the nearby Moulouya River and its surrounding fruit orchards.
Day 6: Desert Safari Adventure
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Enjoy a drive through the dunes of Erg Chebbi by Jeep, meet with nearby nomads, enjoy a cup of tea with a local family, and visit the Gnawa house in Khemliya, an authentic Sahara village, to discover the spiritual healing music. In the afternoon, you can rent a sandboard and test your skills on the dunes. Alternatively, join a quad ATV tour. With the help of a local guide, you'll zip through the sandy peaks and visit gorgeous viewpoints and interesting spots. Small 4WD vehicles are an excellent way to discover Merzouga's environment. Afterward, return to camp and climb up the nearest dune to take in another desert sunset before heading back to camp for dinner and a night by the campfire.
Day 7: Transfer to Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge
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Day 8: Hike & Lunch with a Local Family in Dadès Valley
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Today, you'll immerse yourself in the region's culture. You'll enjoy a leisurely walking tour while interacting with local Berber families, who have a wealth of knowledge about the regional culture and traditions. The foothills of the mountains offer a green oasis of vegetation, perfect for quaint towns to thrive. Your guide will lead you through the area, stopping in a few villages to meet locals. Admire the architecture, listen to stories about regional history, partake in fun activities, observe traditional farming techniques, enjoy live entertainment, and more.
At lunchtime, you'll join a local family in their home. While enjoying Berber and Moroccan cuisine, learn more about the history of this culture. End your meal with an authentic tea ceremony, then drive back to your accommodation in Boumalne Dades.
Day 9: Transfer to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou & Tizi n'Tichka Pass
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This morning, you'll head out to Kelâat M'Gouna. Here, the intensely cultivated plots of farmland are bordered by rose bushes, which are used in the cosmetic industry to make rose water and rose oil. In May, a Rose Festival celebrates the year's production. From here, you'll stop in. The town was made famous by the growing movie industry, and you have an option to tour one of the two movie studios if you like. Next, you'll explore Aït Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO world heritage site. It has been featured in many movies, portraying landscapes all over the desert, Africa, and the Middle East.
As you head up and over the High Atlas, look out for the highest peak, Mount Toubkal, which stands at 13,671 feet (4,167 m). Near the top of the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, you can enjoy incredible panoramic views over the mountain range and the road that snakes down the mountainside. The first town after the pass is Taddert, where you can stop at an oil cooperative to learn how olives are processed for various uses. Taste a few products, then head back on the road. After all the tranquillity of the mountains and the desert, soon, you'll be in the midst of the hustle, bustle, and clamor of vibrant Marrakesh.
Day 10: Private Guided Tour of Marrakesh
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Marrakesh is Morocco's second-largest metropolis, known as the "Red City," thanks to the natural red pigment of its walls. Start with the Bahia Palace, where you'll explore its beautiful courtyard and gardens and the building's interior with intricate woodwork and ornamented ceilings. Next, your guide will take you to the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, the city's largest mosque. Although non-Muslims can't enter, you can still admire the grounds and exterior, including its distinctive minaret. Pass through one of the medina's historical gates and meander its twisting alleyways to the souks and hidden fondouks (hostel).
From Jemaa el-Fna, the city's landmark plaza, you'll stroll to a few of the best souks, with your guide leading the way. You'll find the famed spice towers at Souk el Attarin and traditional Moroccan slippers at Souk Smata. But don't miss Souk des Teinturiers, where you can watch locals dyeing and hanging cloth and yarn. If there's interest, you can discover the beauty of the Majorelle Gardens, a botanical garden offering a reprieve from the unrelenting heat. You'll find its famous bright blue and yellow house in the gardens. Now housing the Berber Museum and Yves Saint Laurent Museum, this building was once the home of the French Orientalist artist Jacques Marojelle.
Follow your nose to the smells that waft from food stalls back in Jemaa el-Fna in the evening. Watch locals prepare authentic delicacies and taste the flavors of Marrakesh as the sun goes down and the street performers come out to entertain. If you prefer a quieter eating experience, choose from one of the many cafés sitting above the square and watch the action below.
Day 11: Optional Activities in Marrakesh
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You'll have today to explore Marrakesh at your leisure, though you may consider one or two of the following activities. Enroll yourself in a private group cooking class (three hours). Explore traditional Moroccan cuisine at La Maison Arabe, a culinary venue in Marrakesh with a long history dating back to 1946 and renowned for its cooking workshops. You'll learn step-by-step the secrets of authentic Moroccan cuisine from dadas (traditional Moroccan cooks) using modern, everyday kitchen equipment. You'll enjoy a lunch of original recipes passed down from generation to generation when finished.
Alternatively, join a private food tour of the medina. This tour guides you on a culinary journey to some of Marrakesh's beloved local hotspots. You'll taste 10 traditional delicacies, ranging from Morocco's unique sweets to an authentic and savory tajine. Along the way, learn about the country's essential ingredients, cooking techniques, and culinary culture. Lastly, there's the option to enjoy a spa experience at a hammam. Based on historical Roman bath practices, you'll soak in baths, visit steam rooms of varying temperatures, receive a massage using argan and essential oils, and sip on mint tea.
Day 12: Transfer to Essaouira: Seaside Ramparts & Fresh Seafood
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This morning, you'll head to Morocco's west coast, following a route over vast rolling plains and passing through an argan tree forest endemic to this part of the world. You may even see goats dining on the argan fruit up in the branches. You'll have the choice of stopping in at a female-run cooperative for a guided tour of the circuit of production of argan oil.
Arrive in the port city of laid-back Essaouira, a nice contrast to frenetic Marrakesh, and spend the rest of the day as you choose. Walk the Skala de la Kasbah (the 18th-century seafront ramparts) along the coast. Designed by European engineers, old brass cannons line the walls and offer viewing access over the Atlantic. Explore the UNESCO-listed medina before making your way to the windswept beach. Walk back to Essaouira and enjoy a meal of fresh-caught seafood.
Day 13: Free Day in Essaouira
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Explore Essaouira today. A small city on the Atlantic coast known for its historical medina and well-designed layout, you'll twist through the medina's wide and bright streets, enjoying the souks, street vendors, leafy plazas, and whitewashed houses with ornate wooden doors. Essaouira was built on a rocky peninsula jutting out into the ocean with several islets scattered along its coast. Its layout is unusual because it was planned before development. The French architect Cornut, who, between 1760 and 1764, built the Scala de la Ville and the Scala du Port, endowed the town with fortifications and outer and inner walls.
As you stroll, stop into various traditional shops for the perfect souvenirs. In particular, stop at the Spice Souk, the place to go for herbal medicine, Berber lipstick, exotic spices, and ghassoul (clay used in face masks). Chat with local artisans as you peruse ceramics, spices, art, leather goods, shoes, jewelry, rugs, wood crafts, etc. Visit the city's central square, Mulay El-Hassan Square, lined with restaurants and hotels, the 16th-century Portuguese Castelo Real of Mogador, and two defensive structures, the Borj El Barmil tower, and the Skala de la Kasbah. Next, explore the city's Jewish history, stopping at Rabbi Haim Pinto.
Day 14: Return to Marrakech, Depart
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On your last morning in Essaouira, take time to buy any last-minute souvenirs before your private transfer to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK). The ride is about three hours, and you'll once again pass through the argan tree forest, endemic to Morocco, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve home to those tree-climbing goats!