Halal Muslim-Friendly Morocco Tour: 9 Days

Overview

Highlights

• Hassan II Mosque by the ocean, with the chance to pray there
• Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the holy town of the founder of Morocco
• Al Quaraouiyine in Fez, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri
• Two nights in Merzouga with halal dinners and qibla direction in camp
• Prayer stops every day and Jumu'ah on Friday
• Alcohol-free restaurants and family-friendly riads

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque

   Your driver welcomes you at Casablanca airport. Today you visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Africa, built on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Its minaret is very tall, and part of the prayer hall stands over the water. If the timing allows, you can pray there with local people. In the evening you can walk on the Corniche by the sea. Night in a hotel in Casablanca with a halal dinner nearby.

   Overnight: Casablanca

2. 2

   Day 2

   Day 2: Rabat – Meknes

   You drive about 1 hour 30 minutes to Rabat, the capital. You see the Hassan Tower, the minaret of a great mosque that was never finished, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where the late king is buried. Then you walk in the Kasbah of the Oudayas above the river. In the afternoon you continue to Meknes, a city built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Night in a riad in Meknes.

   Overnight: Meknes

3. 3

   Day 3

   Day 3: Meknes – Moulay Idriss – Volubilis – Fez

   In the morning you see Bab Mansour, the large decorated gate of Meknes. Then you drive to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the holy town where Idriss I, founder of the first Moroccan dynasty, is buried. Many Moroccans come here on pilgrimage. Nearby you visit Volubilis, the ruins of a Roman city that later became the first base of Idriss I. In the afternoon you arrive in Fez and check in to your riad.

   Overnight: Fez

4. 4

   Day 4

   Day 4: Spiritual Fez with a licensed guide

   Today is dedicated to the Islamic heritage of Fez. With a licensed guide you visit Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri, and known as one of the oldest universities in the world. Muslim visitors may enter the mosque to pray. You also see the Zawiya of Moulay Idriss II, the founder of Fez, and the Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, old Quran schools with fine carved wood and tiles.

   Overnight: Fez

5. 5

   Day 5

   Day 5: Fez – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga desert camp

   A long and scenic drive takes you south. You stop in Ifrane and in the cedar forest with its Barbary macaques. Your driver plans stops for Dhuhr and Asr prayers at mosques on the road. In Merzouga you ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. At camp you receive a halal dinner, a prayer mat and the qibla direction. Praying on the sand under the stars is a moving moment for many guests.

   Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

6. 6

   Day 6

   Day 6: Merzouga: Khamlia and Rissani (old Sijilmasa)

   Pray Fajr and watch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast you visit Khamlia, our home village, known for Gnawa music. Then you go to Rissani, near the ruins of Sijilmasa, a great Islamic trade city on the old caravan routes. The local market is full of dates and spices. In the afternoon you can rest at the camp or the hotel. Second night in Merzouga, with a halal dinner.

   Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

7. 7

   Day 7

   Day 7: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

   You drive west through desert villages and palm groves. In Tinghir you walk into the Todra Gorges, a narrow canyon with very high walls. Your driver stops at local mosques for prayer times. In the afternoon you reach the Dades Valley, with its red rocks and old kasbahs. Dinner and night in a kasbah-style hotel, with halal food and no alcohol at your table if you ask.

   Overnight: Dades Valley

8. 8

   Day 8

   Day 8: Dades – Aït Ben Haddou – Tichka – Marrakech

   Today you pass Ouarzazate and visit Aït Ben Haddou, an old earth village protected by UNESCO. You climb to the top to see the valley. After lunch in a halal restaurant, you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with wide mountain views. You arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon and check in to a family-friendly riad.

   Overnight: Marrakech

9. 9

   Day 9

   Day 9: Marrakech: Koutoubia, Ben Youssef madrasa and departure

   Your last morning is in Marrakech with a local guide. You see the Koutoubia Mosque and its 12th-century minaret, a model for many mosques in North Africa. Then you visit the Ben Youssef madrasa, a large old Quran school with a beautiful courtyard, and walk in the souks. After the visit, your driver takes you to Marrakech airport. We can add more nights if you wish.

Route map

Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Moulay Idriss → Volubilis → Fez → Ifrane → Midelt → 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