15-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca

Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat

Upon arrival, we will pick you up and take you to Casablanca where you will visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside of Mecca, and experience the coastal Corniche. Then, we will drop you off in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Here, you will see the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah before checking into the riad in the heart of the medina. Overnight stay at our hotel/riad.

Day 2: Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

After breakfast at the riad, you will begin your journey to Meknes, another important imperial city in Morocco, known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco. In Meknes, you will see the famous Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. After lunch, the journey continues to Volubilis, the well-preserved site of Roman ruins dating back to 25 BC. Then, I will continue to Fez via the foothills of the Rif Mountains, arriving in the afternoon. Overnight stay at our hotel/Riad.

Day 3: Fes – Fes

After breakfast at the riad, you will begin exploring Morocco’s oldest city by wandering through its narrow streets and alleys. Our tour begins with a visit to the gate of the Royal Palace, the Jewish quarter, and the first mellah ever built in Morocco. We will make sure to visit all the sites of historical and cultural interest, including the famous Al Qaraouine University—the oldest in the region—the tanneries, and the Attarine Museum. After lunch, you will see the pottery factory and enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the entire Medina of Fez. In the afternoon, we will visit the new city, “La Ville nouvelle,” for a drink. Accommodation in a riad.

Day 4: Fez – Ifran – Azrou-Midelt

After breakfast, we will leave Fez and travel to Ifrane, a beautiful mountain village known as “the Switzerland of Morocco.” During this trip, you will catch glimpses of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. We will stop in Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest (the largest in Morocco), where you will have the opportunity to see some Barbary macaques. We will then travel through the Tizi Ntalghamt pass to Midelt and along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved into volcanic rock. Overnight stay at our hotel/riad.

Day 5: Midelt – Errachidia – Merzouga

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to Merzouga via Errachidia and Erfoud. You will travel through the Ziz Gorge, with views of the High Atlas Plateau, noting how the scenery changes to reveal desert tracks as you approach the city of Errachidia. Here you will have lunch and enjoy Berber hospitality. Then, you will travel through the lush Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud and Rissani. Arriving in Merzouga in the afternoon, you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before checking into your hotel.

Day 6: Merzouga – camel ride and night in the desert

After breakfast at the hotel, you can explore the area. You will visit the Gnawa village, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle, while not far away is Lake Merzouga with its bird populations. You may also want to visit the nomadic wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. In the afternoon, it’s time for your camel ride, guided by an experienced camel driver, to explore the sand dunes of Merzouga. Dinner is served in front of the tent where you will spend the night at the camp.

Day 7: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Merzouga

Your guide will wake you up early in the morning to see what may well be the best sunrise of your life, after which you will ride a camel to the village of Merzouga, admiring the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes—changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast at the riad, you will leave for Rissani, Tinghir, and the Todra Gorges—the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco. Lunch in the heart of the gorge precedes a walk through the Dades Valley, where you will see the majestic sand castles and incredible rock formations known as “monkey fingers.” Overnight at our hotel/Riad.

Day 8: Dades Gorges – Ouarzazate

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through the Dades Valley is the Way of the Thousand Kasbahs – offering numerous opportunities to take some of your best photos of the trip. We will stop at Kalaa Mgouna, “the pink city,” to buy rose water, which will make your linen smell wonderful long after your trip. Continuing on to Skoura and the Dirds Valley, you will visit the Kasbah Ameridil, a well-preserved kasbah in this area. After some excursions in the valley, we will have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the entire valley. The tour continues to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa,” whose geography and beautiful landscapes have attracted many world-class film producers. Here you can choose to visit the studios, which contain props used in films you may have already seen, such as The Mummy, Gladiator, and The Last Temptation of Christ. You will stay at a local riad.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Taroudant

After breakfast, we will head to Taroudant via Taznakht, stopping in Taliouine to visit the Safran cooperative. If your visit coincides with the Safran harvest, you will have the opportunity to meet Berber women and their families harvesting saffron in their fields. We should arrive in Taroudant in the afternoon, where you will see the city walls and walk through the narrow streets of the medina. Taroudant is often referred to as “little Marrakech” because most of its walls were built by the Saadi dynasty in the 16th century, before they moved to the great “red city.”

Day 10: Taroudant – Essaouira

After breakfast, we will head to Essaouira, traveling via Agadir, where we will stop for lunch. Agadir has a beautiful large beach and has been a major tourist destination for many years. There we will take a short walk along the promenade before continuing to Essaouira. The coastal route offers beautiful scenery, an area famous for argan trees. Along the way you will see herds of goats climbing the argan trees in search of ripe fruit. You will stay in a riad in the medina.

Day 11: Essaouira – Essaouira

Breakfast is at the riad, before a tour of the city. You will visit the Skala fortress, the port, the souks, and see Thuya wood carved by artisans, strolling through the narrow streets of the medina and the hundreds of crafts. Essaouira is known for its strong winds all year round and is known as the “city of wind,” attracting surfers from all over the world. Essaouira has known many civilizations—including Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture—yet it remains a small town with a lot of history. Due to its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also considered the “jewel of the Atlantic coast of Morocco.” The visit includes the Mellah—the Jewish quarter—and the beach. There is an annual “Gnawa Music” festival, where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world. It usually starts in the third week of June, so if your trip coincides with this, you have the option of extending your stay by one more day. Today you will have lunch in a Moroccan way, buying fish ‘cooked to order’. The afternoon is free for you to walk around and explore on your own. Accommodation is in a riad in the medina.

Day 12: Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast at the riad, departure from Marrakech. On our way—as it is the culture of the land of Argan—there is an opportunity to visit the women’s argan oil cooperative where the oil is extracted, famous for its culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal properties. After several stops to take photographs, you will continue your journey before checking into the Riad Marrakech. After dinner, you can enjoy a stroll around the famous Jemaa El Fna Square, enlivened by magicians, storytellers, musicians, and snake charmers. You will spend the night in a Medina-based Riad.

Day 13: Explore Marrakech

After breakfast, you can start exploring Marrakech, “the red city of Morocco.” Your guide will ensure you see the most important historical and cultural sites, including the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, and the Ben Youssef Koranic School. Lunch is at a restaurant near the square, then in the afternoon you can visit the Majorelle Gardens and the Koutoubia Tower. Overnight stay at our hotel/riad.

Day 14: Marrakech excursion to the Atlas Mountains

After breakfast at the riad, we will drive to the village of Asni and the town of Imlil in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. Here you will enjoy panoramic views across the Moulay Brahim Gorges and the town of Imlil, a small Berber village with a strong culture. You will have the opportunity to walk around the villages and experience authentic Berber culture. If you choose to have lunch at the Kasbah Toubkal, the view of the Toubkal mountains, the highest in North Africa, is quite impressive. In the afternoon, you will travel to Marrakech. Overnight stay at our hotel/Riad.

Day 15: Marrakech – transfer to the airport

Today, depending on your departure time, we will drive you to the airport for your outbound flight.