10-Day Grand Desert & Imperial Cities from Casablanca

Day 1: Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche

First, your driver meets you at Mohammed V airport or your hotel. In the afternoon, you visit the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean and one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours. Then, you stroll along the Corniche at sunset. Overnight in Casablanca.

Day 2: Rabat and the Blue Town of Chefchaouen

After breakfast, you drive to Rabat, the capital, and see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas. Then, you continue north into the Rif Mountains and reach Chefchaouen in the late afternoon. About 5 hours of driving.

Day 3: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes and Fes

After breakfast, you drive south to Volubilis, a Roman city with arches and floor mosaics listed by UNESCO. Next, you visit Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismail, with its Bab Mansour gate. In the evening, you check in to your riad in Fes. About 4.5 hours of driving.

Day 4: A Guided Day in Fes

Next, a licensed local guide leads you through Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free medinas in the world. Along the way, you see the Al Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine Fountain and the Chouara Tanneries. As a result, you understand a city that is easy to get lost in alone.

Day 5: Ifrane, the Cedar Forest, Midelt and the Merzouga Camp

After that, you cross the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the cedar forest of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live. After lunch in Midelt, you follow the Ziz Valley south. In the late afternoon, you ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset, then enjoy dinner at the camp. About 7.5 hours of driving.

Day 6: A 4×4 Day with Nomads and Khamlia

Wake early for sunrise over the dunes. Then, a 4×4 takes you to a nomad family, where you share tea in their tent. Next, you visit Khamlia, a village famous for Gnaoua music, and the palm groves around Merzouga. The night is in a hotel facing the dunes.

Day 7: Rissani, Erfoud, Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley

After breakfast, you visit the market town of Rissani and a fossil workshop in Erfoud. Then, you walk along the river in Todra Gorge, between towering limestone cliffs. In the afternoon, you reach the Dades Valley and its “monkey fingers” rocks. About 4.5 hours of driving.

Day 8: Rose Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech

First, you drive through the Rose Valley and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate. Next, you explore the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a setting for many films. Finally, you cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 meters and reach Marrakech in the evening. About 7 hours of driving.

Day 9: A Guided Day in Marrakech

Then, a licensed local guide shows you the Medina of Marrakech: the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks. In the evening, you can enjoy the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna square. No long drives today.

Day 10: Marrakech to Casablanca and Departure

After breakfast, you drive to Casablanca, about 3 hours away. Finally, your driver drops you at Mohammed V airport or your hotel.

Know Before You Go: 10-Day Morocco Tour From Casablanca

• Start and end: Casablanca airport or hotel.
• Meals: daily breakfast, plus dinner at the desert camp. Other meals are not included.
• Guides: licensed local guides in Fes and Marrakech.
• What to bring: modest clothes and a warm layer for the desert. See our desert packing list.