Casablanca Airport Pickup

Casablanca - Arrival at Casablanca airport, followed by hotel check-in and relaxation.

Casablanca – Rabat – Asilah

Casablanca - Depart from your accommodation to Asilah via Rabat, with visits to Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammad V.

Hassan Tower - Overlooking Oued Bou Regreg and surrounded by lush gardens, this is Rabat’s most iconic landmark. The Almohads’ grand project was to be the second-largest mosque of its era, after Samarra in Iraq, but Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour’s death left it unfinished. The intended 60m minaret was halted at 44m. An earthquake in 1755 destroyed the mosque, leaving only a forest of broken pillars as a testament to Al-Mansour’s vision. The tower shares its design with Seville’s Giralda and Marrakech’s Koutoubia.

Mausoleum of Mohammad V - Adjacent to the tower, this marble mausoleum is crafted in traditional Moroccan style. It is the resting place of the current king’s late father, Hassan II, and grandfather. Despite its intricate mosaic and carved plaster, the decoration exudes tranquility.

Asilah - Arrive in Asilah by early evening. The town resembles a Greek island, with Spanish menu items like tapas and paella, and wrought-iron windows on white houses, reminders of its Spanish past. Asilah has a rich history as a strategic port since its origins as the Carthaginian settlement of Zilis. Known as a city of arts, it boasts over 50 resident artists, five galleries, and several studios. The artistic tradition began in 1978 with Moroccan artists painting the medina walls. The town’s landmark is its Ramparts & Medina, surrounded by 15th-century Portuguese stone fortifications, now flanked by palm trees. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Asilah.

Asilah - Tangier - Chefchaouen

Tangier - Continue exploring the northern Moroccan town of Tangier, visiting historical sites like St Andrew’s Church, Tangier American Legation Museum, and more.

St. Andrew’s Church - A charming oddity built between 1894 and 1905 on land granted by Queen Victoria. The Moorish-style Anglican church interior lacks graven images, with the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic. Behind the altar, a cleft indicates Mecca’s direction, with Quranic quotes carved. Outside, the graveyard features intriguing wartime headstones, including a fighter pilot’s with ‘Good Hunting, Tim’ and a downed aircrew’s headstones aligned shoulder to shoulder.

Tangier American Legation Museum - Morocco was among the first to recognize the United States, and this was the first American property abroad. It’s the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil. Touring the museum feels like stepping into an exotic historical novel.

Musee de la Kasbah - Located in Dar el-Makhzen, the former sultan’s palace, recently renovated, where Portuguese and British governors also resided.

Caves of Hercules - The cave has two openings, one to the sea and one to land. The sea opening, “The Map of Africa,” is believed to have been created by the Phoenicians, shaped like Africa from the sea. Wall markings resembling eyes are said to be Phoenician, forming a local area map. The cave is both natural and man-made, with Berber people expanding it by cutting stone wheels for millstones.

Chefchaouen - Arrive in Chefchaouen by early evening. Nestled beneath the Rif peaks, Chefchaouen is a picturesque, artsy, blue-washed mountain village. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Chefchaouen.

Chefchaouen Sightseeing + Excursion to Akchour Waterfalls

Chefchaouen Medina - After breakfast, a local guide will take you to explore Chefchaouen and Akchour waterfalls. Chefchaouen’s medina is one of Morocco’s most charming. Small and uncrowded, it’s easy to navigate, with winding paths to explore but compact enough to avoid getting lost. Buildings are painted a bright blue-white, with terracotta tiles adding an Andalusian touch. The medina’s heart is the shady, cobbled Plaza Uta el-Hammam, lined with cafes and restaurants offering similar fare. It’s a peaceful spot to relax and watch the world go by.

Place Outa el Hammam - Dominated by the kasbah’s red-hued walls and the adjacent Grand Mosquée, notable for its unique octagonal tower. The Grande Mosquée, built in the 15th century by the town founder’s son, has been recently restored. The kasbah, a heavily restored fortress, now houses a lovely garden, a small Ethnographic Museum, and a smaller art gallery. The museum offers fascinating views of old Chefchaouen, including the plaza and kasbah.

Akchour - Discover Morocco’s hidden paradise, Akchour waterfalls, a stunning turquoise oasis at the end of an easy 5.5km drive in the Rif Mountains, near Chefchaouen. Return to Chefchaouen by early evening. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Chefchaouen.

From Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis - Moulay Idriss - Meknes

Volubilis - The Roman ruins of Volubilis lie in a fertile plain about 33km north of Meknes. It’s Morocco’s best-preserved archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. Its most remarkable features are the beautiful mosaics preserved in situ. Originally settled by Carthaginian traders in the 3rd century BC, Volubilis was annexed by the Roman Empire around AD 40. Historians suggest Rome imposed strict controls on North African production, leading to massive deforestation and large-scale wheat planting around Volubilis. As Berber tribes reasserted themselves, the Romans abandoned Volubilis around 280. However, the city’s Berber, Greek, Jewish, and Syrian populations continued speaking Latin until Islam’s arrival. The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 felled many buildings.

Moulay Idriss - The picturesque whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss sits on two green hills in a mountain cradle, less than 5km from Volubilis. It’s a significant pilgrimage site, named after Moulay Idriss, a great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, founder of Morocco’s first dynasty, and the country’s most revered saint. His tomb is central to the town. A terrace offers a vantage point high above the mausoleum and town for photos.

Bab Mansour Gate - The Place el-Hedim’s focal point is the grand Bab el-Mansour gate, the most impressive of all Moroccan imperial gateways. The gate is well-preserved, with lavish Zellij and inscriptions across the top, completed by Moulay Ismail’s son, Moulay Abdallah, in 1732.

Heri es Souani - Moulay Ismail’s immense granaries and stables, Heri es Souani, were ingeniously designed. Tiny windows, massive walls, and underfloor water channels kept temperatures cool and air circulating. The building provided stabling and food for 12,000 horses, and Moulay Ismail considered it one of his finest architectural achievements.

Sahrij Swani - North of the granaries and stables lies the enormous stone-lined Agdal Basin. Fed by a complex 25km-long irrigation system, it served as a reservoir for the sultan’s gardens and a pleasant lake. Benches line the water, and a giant Giacometti-like statue of a traditional water seller stands nearby.

Fes - Fez attracted scholars, philosophers, mathematicians, lawyers, astronomers, and theologians. Craftsmen built houses and palaces, kings endowed mosques and Medersas (religious schools), and merchants offered exotic wares from the Silk Roads and sub-Saharan trade routes. Although Fez lost influence in the early 19th century, it remains a self-assured city with a rich cultural and spiritual heritage that captivates visitors. Overnight stay in Fes.

Fes Sightseeing

Fes - After breakfast at the hotel, an accredited local guide will lead a walking tour of Fes to explore its culture and history. Visit historical landmarks like the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, Borj Nord, Madrasa Bou Inania, Chaouwara Tanneries, and more.

Royal Palace of Fez - The palace entrance is stunning, a modern restoration example, but the 80 hectares of palace grounds are not open to the public. Admire its imposing brass doors, surrounded by fine zellij and carved cedarwood. After breakfast, a licensed guide will take you to visit Fes, starting with the Royal Palace. The entrance is stunning, a modern restoration example, but the 80 hectares of palace grounds are not open to the public. Admire its imposing brass doors, surrounded by fine zellij and carved cedarwood. Walk through the Jewish Quarter (Mellah). In the 14th century, Fes became a refuge for Jews, creating a Mellah (Jewish Quarter). Their old houses, with open balconies facing the streets, contrast with Muslim styles.

Borj Nord - Head here for one of the best city panoramas. Like its southern counterpart (Borj Sud), Borj Nord was built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour in the late 16th century to monitor Fes’s potentially disloyal populace.

Bou Inania Medersa - The finest of Fes’s theological colleges, built by Marinid Sultan Bouinan between 1350 and 1357. The madrasa underwent extensive restoration, resulting in elaborate zellij, carved plaster, beautiful cedar, and massive brass doors.

Chouara Tannery - One of three tanneries in Fes, Morocco, and the largest and oldest. The tanning industry is a major tourist attraction. The tanneries are filled with round stone vessels containing dye or white liquids for softening hides. Leather goods produced here are exported worldwide.

After the guided visit, enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Fes.

Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Errachidia - Erfoud - Merzouga

Fes - After breakfast, depart early for the Merzouga desert via Ifrane, Midelt, Errachidia, and Erfoud.

Ifrane - Tidy and modern, it resembles a Swiss alpine resort more than North Africa. Built by the French in the 1930s to recreate an alpine-style resort, it features neat red-roofed houses, blooming flower beds, and lake-studded parks, all impeccably maintained. Ifrane’s famous landmark is the stone lion on a grass patch, carved by a German soldier during WWII when Ifrane was a POW camp, commemorating the last wild lion shot nearby in the early 1920s.

Azrou Cedar Forest - The Cedar forests are home to a sub-population of Barbary macaques, and you might spot a troupe foraging in the woods.

Midelt - Midelt is in apple country between the Middle and High Atlas. The landscape offers breathtaking views, especially of the eastern High Atlas, which seems to rise from nowhere. Midelt consists of one main street (Ave Mohammed V in the north, becoming Ave Hassan II to the south) and a modest souq.

Errachidia - Known for its hospitality, Errachidia is home to a sizable military population stationed to monitor the nearby Algerian border. It also hosts the enormous theatre that features performers from across the Sahara at the Festival du Desert.

Erfoud - Known for fossilized bathtubs and sweet dates, Erfoud was once the end of the road. In September or October, Erfoud hosts a well-attended date festival with dancing and music. The market at the town’s southern end sells local dates and fresh produce.

Merzouga - Once among the dunes, you’ll be welcomed into a charming Kasbah to relax by the pool and enjoy a desert blues band into the evening.

Desert Culture + Tea with Nomads + Camel Trek

Erg Chebbi - Watching the sunrise among the dunes is a magical experience not to be missed. Breakfast awaits upon your return, followed by a visit to the nomadic communities around Merzouga, with tea in the souks and traditional Gnawa music. As the midday sun wanes, mount camels and trek into the Moroccan Sahara’s pink sands. Enjoy ample free time to explore and appreciate the desert dunes’ beauty and vastness. After sunset, a Moroccan dinner is served with live music around the campfire, followed by more exploration under a star-filled sky and the Sahara’s nighttime silence.

From Merzouga to Skoura via Tinejdad, Todgha Gorge, Boumalne Dades

Todgha Gorge - Being between a rock and a hard place is sublime in the Todra Gorge, where the massive fault dividing the High Atlas from the Saghro mountain is sometimes just wide enough for a crystal-clear river and single-file trekkers. The road from Tinghir passes green palmeras and Berber villages until, 15km long, high walls of pink and grey rock close in around the road. The approach is thrilling and urgent, as if heaven’s doors were about to close.

Boumalne Dades - Nomad crossings, rose valleys, and two-tone kasbahs: even on paper, the Dades valley stretches the imagination. From the daunting High Atlas to the north to the rugged Jebel Saghro range south, the valley is dotted with oases and mudbrick palaces, earning it the nickname “Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs.”

Kasbah Amridil - Morocco’s most coveted kasbah, this 17th-century wonder appears on Morocco’s 50-Dirham note. Signposted just a few hundred meters from the main road, this living museum shows that traditional kasbah life hasn’t changed much over the centuries, with hand-carved door locks, an olive-oil press, functioning bread ovens, and goats bleating in the courtyard.

Skoura - By the time caravans laden with gold and spice reached Skoura, the camels must have been gasping. After a two-month journey across the Sahara, blue-robed Tuareg desert traders offloaded cargo from caravans in Skoura, where Middle Atlas mountaineers packed it onto mules headed to Fez. Ouarzazate is now the region’s commercial center, but Skoura’s historic mudbrick castles remain, and desert traders throng Monday and Thursday souqs brimming with intensely flavorful desert produce. When market days end and palm-tree shadows stretch across the road, no one seems in a hurry to leave. Elsewhere, life goes on as usual, but in Skoura, it remains a wonder. Overnight stay in Skoura.

From Skoura to Marrakech via Ouarzazate & Ait Benhaddou Kasbah

Ouarzazate - After breakfast, drive to Marrakech via Ouarzazate. Strategically located, it has thrived on its wits rather than its looks. For centuries, people from Atlas, Draa, and Dades valleys converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling Taourirt kasbah. A modern garrison town was established here in the 1920s to oversee France’s colonial interests. The movie business gradually took off in Ouarzazate after the French protectorate left in the 1950s, and “Ouallywood” movie studios have built a résumé providing exotic backdrops for films set in ancient Rome, Somalia, and Egypt.

Taourirt Kasbah - Unlike other Glaoui kasbahs, Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as a Hollywood backdrop and attracting UNESCO’s attention, which carefully restored small sections of the Glaoui inner sanctum.

Atlas Studios - The first “Ouallywood” studio displays sets and props from movies filmed here, including Jewel of the Nile, Kingdom of Heaven, and Kundun.

Ait Ben Haddou - The UNESCO-protected kasbah seems frozen in time: with Hollywood touch-ups, it still resembles its 11th-century days as an Almoravid caravanserai. Movie buffs recognize this red mudbrick kasbah 32km from Ouarzazate from Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth (for which much of Ait Benhaddou was rebuilt), Jewel of the Nile, and Gladiator.

Marrakech - The drive continues via Tishka pass, reaching an altitude of 2260m. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Marrakech.

Marrakech Sightseeing with Official Local Guide + Transfer to Essaouira

Marrakech - Breakfast at your Riad, followed by a knowledgeable local guide leading you through Marrakech’s labyrinth of winding alleyways, hidden gardens, and secret souks. Visit historically and culturally rich landmarks like Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Dar Si Said, Jardin Majorelle, and more.

Bahia Palace - Built with Morocco’s top artisans over 14 years, the Bahia Palace is a 19th-century marvel with rooms adorned with stunning stuccos, paintings, and mosaics, and gardens in Marrakech, Morocco. Intended to be the greatest palace of its time, “Bahia” means “brilliance” in Arabic. Like other period buildings, it captures the essence of Islamic and Moroccan style. The palace features a 2-acre (8,000 m²) garden with rooms opening onto courtyards.

Saadian Tombs - Anyone who says you can’t take it with you hasn’t seen the Saadian tombs near the Kasbah mosque. Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahbi spared no expense on his tomb, importing Italian Carrara marble and gilding honeycomb muqarnas (decorative plasterwork) with pure gold to make the Chamber of 12 Pillars a suitably glorious mausoleum. Al Mansour died in splendor in 1603, but a few decades later, Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail walled up the Saadian Tombs to keep his predecessors out of sight and mind. The French reopened them in 1917.

Dar Si Said Museum - A monument to Moroccan maalems (master artisans), Dar Si Said showcases Marrakech’s graceful riad architecture and regional craftsmanship. Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed had the power, but his brother Si Said had the master artisans to make his home a model of quiet elegance.

Jardin Majorelle - Other guests bring flowers, but Yves Saint Laurent gifted the entire Jardin Majorelle to Marrakech, the city that adopted him in 1964. After a sequence of events, including launching hippie fashion and a stint in the French Military, Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought the electric-blue villa and its garden to preserve the vision of its original owner, landscape painter Jacques Majorelle, and keep it open to the public. Per his instructions, Yves Saint Laurent’s ashes were scattered over Jardin Majorelle upon his June 2008 passing.

Ben Youssef Madrasa - The Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic madrasa now a historical site. Once the largest Islamic college in Morocco, it’s named after the adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque, founded in the 14th century by Almoravid Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf. “You who may enter my door, may your highest hopes be exceeded,” reads the inscription over the entryway. This Quranic learning center was once North Africa’s largest and remains among the most splendid.

Koutoubia Mosque - The Koutoubia serves a spiritual purpose, but its minaret is also a reference point for international architecture. The 12th-century 70m-high minaret is the prototype for Seville’s La Giralda and Rabat’s Le Tour Hassan, featuring Moorish ornament: scalloped keystone arches, jagged merlons (crenellations), and mathematically pleasing proportions. When the present mosque and its minaret were finished by Almohad Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour in the 12th century, 100 booksellers clustered around its base, hence the name, from Kutubiyyin, or booksellers.

Jemaa el-Fnaa - Think of it as live-action channel-surfing. Discover drama already in progress. The hoopla and halpa (street theatre). The daily performance is underway. Snake charmers blast oboes to calm cobras hissing at careening Vespas; henna tattoo artists, water sellers in fringed hats, and musicians tune up their instruments.

Essaouira - After the guided tour, transfer to Essaouira. Overnight stay in Essaouira.

Essaouira at Your Leisure

Essaouira - Breakfast at your riad, then explore Essaouira at your leisure. Meet local artists in their studios and browse their artwork, or visit the lively fish market for a savory lunch of fresh grilled fish caught that morning. A short beach walk at low tide reveals the crumbling ruins of Borj El Barod fort, and a boat ride to Mogador island offers glimpses of the rare Eleanora’s falcon. For watersports enthusiasts, try surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, or kayaking on popular local beaches. If you’re feeling tired from your travels, Essaouira is perfect for recouping. Relax in a beachside cafe on Place Moulay Hassan, enjoy a mint tea and Moroccan pastry, and watch the waves roll in. Spend another night in your Essaouira riad.

Essaouira to Casablanca

Casablanca - On the final day of your Moroccan adventure, leave Essaouira and journey back to bustling Casablanca, traveling up the coastline through quiet coastal towns to El Jadida, where you may visit the citadel and see the underground cistern. Overnight stay in Casablanca.

Transfer to the Airport

Casablanca - Transfer to Casablanca airport.

• Camel Ride
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast

• Lunch & Beverages
• Dinner x 10

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.