The grand tour of Morocco from Casablanca airport: four imperial cities, the Sahara, the kasbahs and the Atlantic town of Essaouira.
Ten days to see the whole of Morocco without rushing. We start with the Hassan II Mosque and the capital Rabat, visit Meknes and the Roman city of Volubilis, and spend a full day in the medina of Fes.
Then the road goes south to the dunes of Merzouga, the gorges and the kasbahs, and ends with Marrakech and a day by the ocean in Essaouira.
Ten days to see the best of Morocco in a circle that starts and ends in Casablanca. The four imperial cities give you the history, the Sahara gives you silence and space, and Essaouira gives you two calm days by the ocean before you fly home.
Hotels are chosen in the heart of each place: riads in the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, a guesthouse by the dunes and a sea-view hotel in Essaouira.
Welcome at the airport, visit of the Hassan II Mosque and drive to Rabat: the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Oudayas.
A short drive along the coast brings you to Rabat, the elegant and calm capital of Morocco. You visit the unfinished Hassan Tower and the marble mausoleum of Mohammed V, guarded by the royal guard, then walk through the blue and white lanes of the Kasbah of the Oudayas, with its Andalusian garden and views over the ocean and the river.
The imperial gate of Bab Mansour in Meknes and the Roman mosaics of Volubilis. Evening arrival in Fes.
Heading inland, you reach Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, famous for the monumental gate of Bab Mansour and the huge royal granaries. Nearby lies Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, where you walk among columns, a triumphal arch and colourful floor mosaics. A last view of the holy town of Moulay Idriss and you continue to Fes.
A full guided day in the medina of Fes el Bali, its tanneries, madrasas and souks.
Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a local guide you walk its maze of more than nine thousand lanes: the Bou Inania madrasa with its carved cedar and zellige tiles, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, the Nejjarine fountain and the Chouara tanneries, seen from a terrace. You also meet weavers, coppersmiths and potters at work.
Across the Middle Atlas and the Ziz valley to the Sahara. Camel ride at sunset and night in the desert camp.
Leaving Fes, you climb into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, a surprising town with alpine roofs, and the cedar forest of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live in the wild. After lunch in Midelt, at the foot of the snowy Ayachi, the road follows the Ziz gorges and its endless palm groves past Errachidia and Erfoud to Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes.
Sunrise over Erg Chebbi, then the Todra gorges and the Dades valley for the night.
Wake up early to watch the sunrise from the top of a dune, then ride back to the village for breakfast and a shower. The road west passes Rissani, the old capital of the Tafilalet with its busy market, and the oases of Tinejdad. In the afternoon you walk in the Todra gorges and continue to the Dades valley, famous for its winding road and rock formations.
The road of the kasbahs, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas to Marrakech.
The road of the thousand kasbahs takes you through the Rose Valley, where Damask roses are grown, and the palm grove of Skoura with its earthen kasbahs. After Ouarzazate you visit the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass and descend to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.
Guided visit: the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna square.
With a licensed local guide you discover the essentials of the red city: the minaret of the Koutoubia, the painted ceilings and gardens of the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the old Jewish quarter of the Mellah. In the afternoon you get lost in the souks of spices, leather, lanterns and carpets, and at sunset you watch Jemaa el-Fna fill with life from a café terrace.
Argan cooperatives on the way and an afternoon in the port and medina of Essaouira.
The road west crosses the plains to the argan forest, where you may see goats climbing the trees and can visit a women's cooperative that makes argan oil by hand. In Essaouira, the wind and the sea welcome you to a relaxed medina of white houses and blue shutters, with the fishing port and the Skala ramparts.
A free day by the ocean: ramparts, beach and fresh fish.
A free day by the ocean. In the morning watch the fishermen bring in their catch at the port and eat grilled fish at the stalls, then walk the ramparts, the art galleries and the wood workshops of the medina. In the afternoon you can relax on the long beach, try kitesurfing or ride a horse or camel along the sand.
Drive along the coast back to Casablanca for your flight.
The coast road north passes small fishing towns and the lagoon of Oualidia, famous for its oysters, and the Portuguese city of El Jadida with its underground cistern. You arrive in Casablanca in the afternoon for a final visit of the Hassan II Mosque or your transfer to the airport.
This is a private tour: only your group travels in the vehicle. You can add days, change cities or choose the level of the hotels.
The price depends on the number of travellers and the hotels you choose. Ask us and we will send you the exact price.
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, with your own driver. We do not run shared tours.
The price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the level of accommodation. Send us your dates and we will reply with a clear price.
Of course. You can add days, start or finish in another city, or choose different hotels. Every tour can be adapted.
Our camps in Merzouga have tents with real beds, dinner and breakfast. Luxury tents with private bathroom are available on request.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. Winter days are sunny but desert nights are cold; summer is very hot in the south.
Grand tour12 daysTours from Casablanca · Rabat · Chefchaouen · Meknes · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Ait Ben Haddou · Marrakech · Essaouira
Popular7 daysTours from Casablanca · Rabat · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Ait Ben Haddou · Marrakech
Grand tour13 daysTours from Casablanca · Rabat · Asilah · Tangier · Chefchaouen · Meknes · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Ait Ben Haddou · Marrakech