7 Days from Casablanca to the Imperial Cities and Desert

Overview

Highlights

• Hassan II Mosque and the capital, Rabat
• Blue medina of Chefchaouen
• Volubilis Roman ruins and Meknes
• Guided day in the medina of Fez
• Camel ride and camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
• Aït Ben Haddou and a visit of Marrakech (local guide optional)

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Day 1: Casablanca Hassan II Mosque – Rabat – Chefchaouen

   Your driver meets you at Casablanca airport or your hotel. You visit the Hassan II Mosque, built on the ocean (guided inside visit when open). Then you drive to Rabat to see the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. In the afternoon you continue north into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, the blue city. Night in a riad.

   Overnight: Chefchaouen

2. 2

   Day 2

   Day 2: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fez

   Enjoy a morning walk in the quiet blue lanes of Chefchaouen. Then you drive south to Volubilis, a Roman city with beautiful floor mosaics, protected by UNESCO. Next you visit Meknes, the city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, and its great gate, Bab Mansour. You arrive in Fez in the evening and check in to your riad, a traditional house with a central courtyard.

   Overnight: Fez

3. 3

   Day 3

   Day 3: Fez guided tour

   A licensed local guide shows you Fez el-Bali, a huge old medina with no cars. You walk through narrow lanes past spice shops and craftsmen. You see the Bou Inania madrasa, the outside of Al Quaraouiyine and the Chouara tannery from a terrace. You also visit pottery and tile workshops. The afternoon is free to rest or shop. Second night in Fez.

   Overnight: Fez

4. 4

   Day 4

   Day 4: Fez – Ifrane – Merzouga desert camp

   Today you drive south through the Middle Atlas. You stop in Ifrane and the cedar forest to see Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt, the road follows the Ziz valley with its palm trees. In the late afternoon you reach Merzouga and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Dinner and night in a desert camp, with drums by the fire and a sky full of stars.

   Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

5. 5

   Day 5

   Day 5: Sunrise – Todra Gorges – Dades

   Wake up early to see the sunrise over the Sahara. After breakfast you drive west to Tinghir and walk inside the Todra Gorges, between rock walls that rise very high. Then you continue to the Dades Valley, where the mountains are red and the road winds through old villages. You can stop at a viewpoint over the famous hairpin road. Dinner and night in a kasbah-style hotel.

   Overnight: Dades Valley

6. 6

   Day 6

   Day 6: Dades – Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech

   You drive through the Rose Valley and Ouarzazate, then visit Aït Ben Haddou, an earth village protected by UNESCO. You climb to the top for a great view of the valley and the old granary. After lunch you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, with stops at Berber villages. You arrive in Marrakech in the evening and check in to your riad.

   Overnight: Marrakech

7. 7

   Day 7

   Day 7: Marrakech visit and departure

   In the morning you visit Marrakech (a local guide is optional): the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace and the colourful souks. You end at Jemaa el-Fna square. Then your driver takes you to Marrakech airport. If your flight leaves from Casablanca, we can arrange a private transfer of about 3 hours. If you have extra time, we can also add nights in Marrakech for the Majorelle Garden and a hammam. End of the tour.

Route map

Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fez → Ifrane → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) → Todra Gorges (Tinghir) → Dades Valley → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech

Accommodation by category

Choose your hotel category. The final hotel names are confirmed when you book, depending on availability.

Photo gallery

Frequently asked questions