9 Days Essential Morocco Tour from Marrakech

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech – Welcome to Morocco

Upon your arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you’ll be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your charming riad in the Medina. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a guided walk or relax in the tranquil courtyard of your accommodation.

Spend your evening discovering the magical atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, alive with snake charmers, storytellers, food vendors, and musicians. Overnight stay in a traditional riad.

Day 2: Marrakech City Tour – Gardens, Palaces & Souks

After breakfast, embark on a guided city tour of Marrakech with a licensed local guide. You’ll explore:

• Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech

• Bahia Palace, a 19th-century masterpiece of Moroccan architecture

• Saadian Tombs, a historic necropolis hidden for centuries

• Majorelle Garden, an oasis of color and calm once owned by Yves Saint Laurent

• The vibrant souks of the Medina, where artisans sell everything from carpets to spices

Return to your riad in the evening. Optionally, enjoy a traditional Moroccan hammam and spa experience.

Day 3: Marrakech – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

Leave Marrakech and begin your journey into southern Morocco. Cross the spectacular High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, offering panoramic views of valleys and Berber villages.

Stop at Aït Benhaddou Kasbah

Visit the famous Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar known for its mudbrick architecture and cinematic history. After lunch nearby, continue to Ouarzazate, often called the “Hollywood of Africa.”

Dades Valley

Travel through the Skoura Oasis and Valley of Roses before reaching the stunning Dades Valley, home to dramatic gorges and rock formations. Dinner and overnight at a riad overlooking the valley.

Day 4: Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (Sahara Desert)

After breakfast, continue through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, passing through small Berber villages and ancient settlements.

Explore Todra Gorges

Stop at the incredible Todra Gorges, where 300-meter-high cliffs rise beside a clear river. Enjoy a walk through the gorge and a local lunch before heading toward the Sahara.

Camel Ride into Erg Chebbi Dunes

Arrive in Merzouga, where your camel caravan awaits. Ride into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset, an unforgettable experience. Arrive at your luxury desert camp, where you’ll enjoy mint tea, a traditional dinner, and live Berber music under the stars.

Overnight in your private desert tent.

Day 5: Merzouga Exploration – Nomads, Khamlia Village, and Desert Landscapes

Wake early for sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, enjoy a 4×4 tour around the desert, visiting:

• Nomadic families living in tents

• Khamlia village, known for its Gnaoua music and Sub-Saharan heritage

• Fossil sites and seasonal salt lakes

Lunch with locals or picnic in the desert. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the dunes or enjoying optional activities like quad biking or sandboarding.

Overnight in Merzouga – either in the camp or in a desert hotel, as preferred.

Day 6: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

Depart the desert after breakfast and travel through the scenic Ziz Valley, famous for its palm groves and river views. Continue to Midelt, a mountain town between the High and Middle Atlas ranges.

Cedar Forests & Ifrane

Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping in the cedar forests of Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques. Visit Ifrane, nicknamed the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine-style architecture and clean environment.

Arrive in Fes in the evening. Overnight in a luxury riad in the old Medina.

Day 7: Fes City Tour – Discover the Spiritual Capital

Explore the spiritual and intellectual capital of Morocco on a guided walking tour of Fes el-Bali, the oldest and most authentic medina in the Arab world.

Highlights include:

• Al Quaraouiyine University, the world’s oldest existing university

• Chouara Tannery, where leather is dyed using centuries-old methods

• Medersa Bou Inania, a beautifully preserved religious school

• Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and the Royal Palace Gates

Navigate the narrow alleys, visit artisan workshops, and soak in the medieval ambiance of this UNESCO-listed city.

Day 8: Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Rabat

After breakfast, leave Fes and drive to the imperial city of Meknes, known for its monumental gates and historic medina. Visit:

• Bab Mansour, one of the grandest gates in North Africa

• Heri es-Souani, the royal granaries and stables

• The Moulay Ismail Mausoleum

Continue to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, with its mosaics, columns, and temples dating back over 2,000 years.

In the late afternoon, arrive in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Visit the Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and Kasbah of the Udayas.

Overnight in Rabat in a modern hotel or riad.

Day 9: Rabat – Casablanca – End of Tour

After breakfast, drive along the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic city tour featuring:

• Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture built partly over the ocean

• The Corniche, a scenic oceanfront boulevard

• Downtown Casablanca and the Art Deco buildings

Depending on your flight schedule, we’ll provide a transfer to Casablanca International Airport (CMN), marking the end of your 9-day Essential Morocco Tour.

What’s Included in the Tour

• Private modern vehicle with English-speaking driver/guide

• Airport transfers in Marrakech and Casablanca

• 8 nights’ accommodation (4-star riads, luxury desert camp, and hotels)

• Daily breakfasts + 4 dinners (in Dades, Merzouga, and the desert camp)

• Guided city tours in Marrakech, Fes, and Volubilis

• Camel trek in Erg Chebbi dunes (sunset and sunrise)

• 4×4 desert tour in Merzouga

• Entrance fees to key monuments

• All tolls, fuel, and taxes