9 Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca

Day 1: Casablanca Arrival, Hassan II Mosque & the Atlantic Corniche

Your journey begins the moment your private driver greets you at the airport or your Casablanca accommodation. As Morocco’s economic capital, Casablanca houses striking modern architecture. Headlining the day is a morning visit to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. Perched on a rocky platform above the Atlantic, it showcases hand-carved wood and detailed mosaic tiling.

After a lunch break by the water, your private vehicle continues to the wider historic sights of the city. Depending on your schedule, you’ll see Mohammed V Square, stop for photos outside Rick’s Café, and stroll along the Casablanca Corniche. Finally, as the afternoon fades, your driver takes you to your hotel for check-in. The evening is free for a traditional coastal dinner.

Day 2: Casablanca to Rabat and the Blue Town of Chefchaouen

After breakfast, you’ll drive to Rabat, Morocco’s current capital. There, your driver guides you to the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the clifftop Kasbah of the Oudayas. Following lunch at a seaside café, the route turns north through Ouazzane and climbs into the Rif Mountains.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Chefchaouen, celebrated for its blue-painted alleyways. Indeed, these blue-washed lanes give the town a calm, magical atmosphere. After check-in at your riad, you’re free to stroll at your own pace. Finally, enjoy a traditional northern Moroccan dinner at a local rooftop restaurant, followed by an overnight stay nestled in the historic center.

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes

After breakfast, enjoy free time to wander Chefchaouen’s fairytale alleyways and capture memorable photos. Then, the route heads south out of the Rif, through green rolling valleys. Your first major stop is Volubilis, a remarkably preserved Roman city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you’ll walk among triumphal arches, grand columns, and detailed floor mosaics depicting ancient mythological scenes.

Next, a short 30-kilometer drive brings you to Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail. There, you’ll see the Bab Al-Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Finally, after lunch in the historic center, you’ll continue east to Fes for an overnight stay at your riad.

Day 4: Full-Day Guided Tour of the Fes Medina

After breakfast, you’ll meet your local guide for a full day exploring Fes, Morocco’s spiritual and cultural heart. First, a driving tour takes in the Royal Palace gates and the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter. Next, you’ll visit the Borj Sud fortress for a bird’s-eye view over the old medina, followed by a stop at a traditional ceramics workshop.

Then, you’ll enter the Medina of Fes on foot with your guide. Highlights include the Al Attarine Madrasa, the Najjarine Fountain, and the Chouara Tanneries, where leather is still dyed using centuries-old methods. Finally, you’ll see the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque and University, recognized as the oldest existing university in the world, before returning to your riad.

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

After breakfast, the route travels south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, often called “the Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine architecture and cool climate. Next, you’ll pass through the cedar forests of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live among the trees. It’s a good spot to observe them respectfully, without feeding them. Following lunch in Midelt, the route crosses the Tizi n’Talghemt pass, at 1,907 meters, with stops for photos.

Afterward, you’ll follow the Ziz River canyon, with a panoramic stop over the green palm oases below. By late afternoon, you’ll reach the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. There, you’ll switch to a camel for a trek across the sand to watch the sunset. Finally, you’ll check into your luxury camp for dinner and live traditional drumming around the campfire.

Day 6: Merzouga to Rissani Market, Erfoud, Todra Gorge, and Dades Valley

Waking early for a Sahara sunrise among the dunes is a highlight. After breakfast at camp, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4WD, where your driver meets you. Then, you’ll travel to Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet and a major trading hub, with a lively souk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Next, you’ll continue to Erfoud for a visit to a fossilized marble workshop.

Afterward, you’ll pass through the palm oases of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorge, where the river has carved a 300-meter limestone canyon. Here, you can walk along the riverbed and photograph this popular rock-climbing spot. Finally, by late afternoon, you’ll enter the Dades Valley and see its “monkey fingers” rock formations, before an overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 7: Dades Valley to Rose Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, and Marrakech

After breakfast, the route passes through Kalaat M’Gouna, the Rose Valley, known for rose water and cosmetic oils. Next, you’ll explore the palm groves of Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, with the option to tour its film studios, including Atlas Studios.

Afterward, you’ll continue west to the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming location for Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. Here, you’ll walk through the earthen corridors, with an optional hike of about 20 minutes to the top for views. Finally, after lunch, the route climbs back over the Tizi n’Tichka pass before arriving in Marrakech for an overnight stay at your riad.

Day 8: Full-Day Guided Tour of Imperial Marrakech

After breakfast, you’ll meet your local guide for a day exploring Marrakech, the historic red city. First, you’ll visit the 19th-century Bahia Palace, with its mosaic courtyards and carved cedar ceilings. Next, your guide leads you through the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 14th-century Islamic college known for its Moorish architecture, and then through the medina’s traditional souks.

After lunch near Jemaa el-Fnaa square, you’ll see the Koutoubia Mosque minaret from outside. Afterward, you’ll explore the cobalt-blue architecture and botanical walkways of the Majorelle Garden before returning to your accommodation. In the evening, you’re free to return to Jemaa el-Fnaa, where musicians, street performers, and food stalls light up the night.

Day 9: Marrakech to Casablanca and Airport Departure

After breakfast at your riad, your private vehicle heads north toward the Atlantic plains, a scenic three-hour drive to Casablanca. If your flight allows, you may have some free time in the morning. Then, your driver takes you directly to Mohammed V International Airport, or to your hotel, with plenty of time for check-in.

If the schedule permits, extra photo stops are possible along the way. With that, your 9-day journey across Morocco’s mountains, imperial cities, and Sahara dunes comes to a close.