13 Days Private Morocco Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech – Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert

Arrive at Casablanca Airport and transfer to your hotel in Casablanca for check-in.

After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of Casablanca, including a visit to the impressive Hassan II Mosque. Continue to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where you'll explore historical sites such as the Kasbah des Oudaias and Mohamed V Mausoleum. Later, drive to Meknes, the former capital of Morocco, and check-in to your accommodation.

Begin your day with a tour of Meknes, visiting its charming medina and historic sites. Drive to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis for a guided tour of its archaeological ruins. Continue your journey to Chefchaouen, the "blue city," and explore its captivating streets and medina.

On today’s tour from Tangier to Marrakech, we start our adventure towards the Sahara Desert through the impressive mountains of the Middle Atlas. During our journey we stop to visit the beautiful town of Ifrane (Switzerland of Morocco) and the cedar forest where the Barbary Apes live. Then we will continue to the Merzouga desert through the wonderful Zizi valley, where you will fall in love with the fascinating views and landscapes. Upon arrival in Merzouga desert, you will start your camel trek towards the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi where you will camp, have dinner, listen to the Berber music and admire the endless stars.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day guided tour to uncover the historical heritage of Fes city. Explore iconic landmarks such as Madrasa EL Bouinania, El Quaraoiyin Mosque and University, the South Tower, the Pottery Village, Nejjarine Square, the Royal Palace, the Tanneries, the Jewish Quarter, and more , After that you will enjoy some free time before an overnight stay in Fes.

Today, leave the intensity of the city behind for the simplicity of the High Atlas Mountains. Drive south, inland through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes – to the small town of Midelt (approximately 3.5 hours). Midelt is a market town, originally built as a base for mining in the area, and is nestled between the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains at an elevation of just over 1,500 metres. It's a perfect spot to break up the journey to the Sahara, and is a great base for some easy walks. Many of the locals are Berber, and the town can offer an insight into their way of life. After lunch, stretch your legs for a few hours on an easy hike in the nearby hills. Be prepared for some astonishing views of the Atlas Mountains, with snowy peaks almost touching the sky. Wander through plantations of apple trees on the way back to your accommodation for a relaxing evening, resting up before the Sahara tomorrow.

On today’s tour from Tangier to Marrakech, the camel man will wake you up to witness the breathtaking sunrise over the dunes of the Erg Chebbi desert. Then we ride camels and return to the village of Merzouga. Breakfast and shower at the guest house. On the fifth day, we will continue to Todra Gorge and through the incredible mountains of Saghro. In Todra you will have the opportunity to walk through beautiful, narrow and high gorges, which are an attraction for climbers. A nice visit to Todra and lunch. Then we will drive to Dades valley. Overnight stay in a hotel in Dades.

Enjoy a real Lawrence of Arabia moment this morning with yet another camel ride, this time for unforgettable sunrise across the desert. After breakfast drive to Todra Gorge (approximately 4 hours), a massive trench that rises over 250 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. The limestone stacks make a perfect area for trekking, and so today you will take a short walk through the sheer cliffs. Continue your journey inland for tonight’s destination, M’goun (approximately 2 hours). You will get closer to the customs and lifestyle of the Berber this evening with the night spent in a traditional Berber house.

You have a full day to explore the beauty of this largely untouched Moroccan backcountry. On foot is the best way to discover the natural and man-made landscape and the rural way of life. There are a couple of circuits to choose from, but the most popular choice, and the one we recommend, is a 10 kilometre circuit that will take about four hours. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll walk a trail that undulates slightly here and there, but isn't too challenging if you have a basic level of fitness. On the walk you'll pass Berber villages, meeting local Berbers along the way and perhaps having a chance to share a cup of mint tea with some of them. The surrounding mountains and the famous Rose Valley make a sensational setting.

Leaving the M'goun Valley today, set off on the fabled ‘Road of 1,000 Kasbahs’. The first stop is at Skoura Oasis (after approximately 2 hours), home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here visit the Kasbah Ameridhl, with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications. Continue on your journey to Ait Benhaddou (approximately 2 hours). Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites. Its grant kasbah is one of the most beautiful in Morocco and the fortified village is a fine example of clay architecture. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Enjoy a walk through the winding streets of old town, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy the views across the surrounding plains. After heading to your nearby hotel for the night, maybe sit back on the roof top terrace and watch the sun setting over the magical Kasbah.

Today you will drive for several hours through the winding roads of the Atlas, bound for Marrakech, an ancient, exotic city wrapped in European modernity. There’s no rush as the scenery through the High Atlas Mountain passes is magnificent, and there will surely be calls for several photo stops along the way. On arrival in Marrakech you will check in to your hotel. This evening, head to the great square of Jemaa el Fna, one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna-painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar, packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. Enjoy an included dinner on this magical square with your new friends on one of the outdoor street food vendors and then perhaps finish your day with a cup of tea on one of the roof-top restaurants overlooking the square.

After breakfast today, meet your local guide and set off on a morning tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace. This splendid mansion was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. Continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture. Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; its famous minaret is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. Then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore further or shop in the bazaar. Perhaps visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, once one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, perhaps head back into the medina, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift to buy. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practice your haggling skills or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine, filled with the pure scent of Morocco.

End of this journey