One week is enough to reach a run of Morocco’s headline places at a steady pace: the Atlantic coast at Casablanca, the imperial cities, the blue town in the Rif, and the Sahara at Merzouga.
You start in the north at Casablanca and take the capital at Rabat and the blue city of Chefchaouen. The road south passes the Roman ruins of Volubilis and imperial Meknes to reach Fes, where a guided day is spent in the medina. From there you cross the Middle Atlas by way of Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley to the desert for a night at Merzouga. The return leg runs west through Rissani and Erfoud, the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, past the Roses Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, and over the High Atlas to Marrakech, where the tour ends in the late afternoon.
Your guide meets you on arrival, either at the airport or at your accommodation in Casablanca. The day opens at the Hassan II Mosque, set on a promontory above the Atlantic and the largest mosque in the country.
After some free time for lunch, the tour continues through the rest of Casablanca, taking in Mohammed V Square, a photo stop at Rick’s Café, and a walk along the lively Corniche.
Approx. 1 hour driving · Overnight: Comfortable hotel in Casablanca
After breakfast the road follows the coast to Rabat, one of Morocco’s imperial cities and its present-day capital. You visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon you head north through Ouazzane to reach the blue city of Chefchaouen, set in the Rif Mountains and known for its lanes painted blue.
Approx. 5.5 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Chefchaouen
After breakfast there is time to wander the lanes of the blue city. Then the road runs to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the ruins it is a 30 km drive to Meknes, where you visit Bab Al-Mansour, the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, the granary, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. You then continue to Fes.
Approx. 4 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Fes
You are collected from your riad after breakfast to explore Fes. The day starts with a driving tour: the Royal Palace Gate, the Mellah, the view over the medina from the Borj Sud fortress, and the Ceramic Village and School. Then comes the walking tour of the medieval medina with a local guide, taking in the Al Attarine Madrasa, the University and Mosque of Al-Qarawiyyin, and the colourful Chouara tanneries.
Approx. 30 min driving / 3–4 hours walking · Overnight: Riad in Fes
After breakfast the road runs south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, then the cedar forest of the Barbary macaques. You reach Midelt for lunch, then drive on toward Merzouga through the Tizi n’Tilghmt pass and along the Ziz Valley.
In the afternoon you arrive at the Sahara at Merzouga and switch to camels to cross the sand, pausing on a high dune for the sunset. You continue to camp for Berber drum music and dancing around the fire under a wide sky of stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Approx. 7 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
An early start is a must, to watch the sunrise over the desert. You return by camel or the camp’s 4×4 to Merzouga, then leave the desert for Rissani, with a large souk that comes alive three days a week.
After a walk through the souk, you continue to Erfoud to visit a fossilised-marble workshop, then through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to the Todra Gorge, a high, red-walled ravine. Free time for lunch. You then continue to the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades, with the stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and a viewpoint over the valley.
Approx. 5 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in the Dades Valley
On the last day you drive on to Kalaat M’Gouna to visit the Roses Valley and a cooperative, then through the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate, where you visit the Atlas Studios.
From there you head to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You then continue to Marrakech across the Tizi n’Tichka pass and the High Atlas, with stops for lunch and photos. On reaching Marrakech you are driven to the airport or your accommodation. This is the end of the tour.
Approx. 6 hours driving
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It is a private experience: only the travellers who make the enquiry take part, with no one else joining. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised trips, which is why we mainly run private tours.
The camel ride runs from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you stay in. If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that carries people and luggage in and out. ATVs can also be arranged at extra cost.
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has a private bathroom with hot running water.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best, with mild, pleasant weather across most regions. Winter is good too, especially in the south and the desert.
Either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both air-conditioned. The 4×4 is a Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 passengers); minivans are a Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo, or similar (up to 8 passengers). For groups larger than 8, a minibus for up to 18 can be provided.
