Welcome to Morocco! Your adventure begins with a pickup from Casablanca Airport, where your Navigate Morocco driver will be waiting to start your journey. The first stop is the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Africa and an extraordinary piece of architectural ambition completed in 1993. Built partly over the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque’s 210-meter minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world, and its interior of hand-carved cedar wood, Italian marble, and intricate zellige tilework is breathtaking. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, making it a truly special experience.
After Casablanca, continue north to Rabat, Morocco’s modern capital and one of its four imperial cities. Begin with the Oudaya Kasbah, a beautifully preserved 17th-century fortified quarter perched above the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. Its narrow blue and white painted streets, Andalusian gardens, and panoramic views over the Atlantic coast make it one of the most charming corners of Rabat. Continue to the Hassan Tower, the imposing unfinished minaret of a 12th-century mosque that would have been one of the largest in the world had it been completed. Just beside it stands the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of Moroccan royal craftsmanship and one of the most visited monuments in the country.
After lunch in Rabat, head south toward Chefchaouen, driving through the scenic Rif Mountains as the road winds higher into the hills and the views become increasingly dramatic. Arrive in Chefchaouen in the late afternoon and check into your riad. Take the evening to wander through the famous blue-washed medina atyour own pace, discovering the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary mountain town where nearly every wall, staircase, and doorway is painted in a different shade of blue. The soft evening light makes the colors particularly beautiful and the medina is at its most peaceful after the day visitors have gone.
Overnight stay: Riad in Chefchaouen
After breakfast in Chefchaouen, take a short morning walk through the medina before departing south toward one of Morocco’s most remarkable historical sites. The drive from the Rif Mountains back down to the plains passes through fertile farmland and rolling hills before reaching Volubilis, a sprawling Roman archaeological site set among green fields near the town of Meknes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once one of the most important Roman outposts in North Africa, Volubilis is today preserved well enough that visitors can walk through triumphal arches, along ancient streets, past the bases of columns, and over stunning mosaic floors that have survived nearly two thousand years beneath the Moroccan sun. The scale and quality of what remains here is genuinely remarkable and offers a completely different dimension to Morocco’s already rich history. Your guide will bring the site to life with stories of the Roman families, merchants, and soldiers who once called this place home.
Continue a short distance to visit the nearby city of Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, for a brief stop at the magnificent Bab Mansour gate, considered one of the finest decorated gates in all of Morocco. From Meknes, continue east to Fes, arriving in the late afternoon. Check into your traditional riad in the heart of the old medina and enjoy a relaxed evening with dinner, preparing for a full day of exploration in one of the world’s greatest medieval cities the following morning.
Overnight stay: Traditional riad in Fes
Today is entirely dedicated to Fes el-Bali, the ancient walled medina of Fes and one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval cities anywhere in the world. With a knowledgeable local expert guide, spend the day walking through a labyrinth of over nine thousand alleyways where the pace of life has changed little over the centuries and where the sounds, scents, and textures of medieval Morocco are very much alive.
Visit Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 AD and recognized by UNESCO as the world’s oldest continuously operating university. The institution has been at the center of Islamic scholarship for over a thousand years and remains an active place of learning today. Continue to the Bou Inania Madrasa, a stunning 14th-century theological school featuring some of the finest examples of Moroccan decorative craftsmanship, with intricate zellige tilework, elaborately carved stucco walls, and ornate cedar wood ceilings.
Head to the world-famous Chouara Tanneries, where leather has been dyed using natural pigments and traditional methods for over a thousand years. View the tanneries from the rooftop terraces of the surrounding leather shops, where the vivid circular dye vats create one of the most striking and visually memorable experiences in all of Morocco. Spend the afternoon exploring the artisan quarters, where coppersmiths, weavers, potters, and ceramicists practice their crafts as they have for generations. End the day with free time to browse the souk for souvenirs or relax at a traditional cafe in the medina.
Overnight stay: Traditional riad in Fes
After breakfast, depart Fes and head south through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop is Ifrane, a charming alpine town that feels remarkably out of place in Morocco in the best possible way. With its stone chalets, manicured parks, clean streets, and cool mountain air, Ifrane has earned its nickname of the Switzerland of Morocco. It is a popular retreat for Moroccan families and a genuinely refreshing contrast to the bustle of the imperial cities. Stop for a short walk and a coffee before continuing south.
Continue to the cedar forests around Azrou, a vast woodland where Atlas cedar trees tower above the road and Barbary macaque monkeys roam freely among the branches and along the roadside. These charismatic primates are found only in the Atlas Mountains and a small area of Algeria, making an encounter with them a genuinely special wildlife experience. After the forest, continue south to Midelt for a lunch stop. Midelt sits between the Middle and High Atlas ranges and is famous across Morocco for its high-quality apples and traditional Berber carpets.
After lunch, the road descends dramatically into the Ziz Valley, a stunning pre-Saharan oasis where thousands of date palms line the banks of the Ziz River through a corridor of red rock cliffs and ancient kasbahs. Stop at the panoramic viewpoint high above the valley for photographs before continuing south through small desert villages and open plains. By late afternoon, the towering orange dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon. Your camels will be waiting at the edge of the desert for a sunset trek across the golden sands. As the sun descends, the dunes glow in shades of amber and rose. Arrive at your luxury desert camp to a warm welcome of mint tea and Berber bread, followed by a traditional dinner and live Berber music around the campfire under a sky full of stars.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Rise early to witness the Sahara sunrise, one of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments of the entire journey. As the first light of dawn creeps over the dunes, the desert awakens in shades of gold and pink. After breakfast at the camp, begin the drive westward, leaving the desert behind.
The first stop is Rissani, the historic former capital of the Tafilalt region and the ancestral heartland of Morocco’s Alaouite royal dynasty. If your visit falls on a market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday), the Rissani souk comes alive with local traders selling fresh dates, spices, handmade crafts, traditional rugs, and livestock. It is one of the most authentic market experiences in southern Morocco and offers a wonderful glimpse into desert life that has barely changed in centuries.
Continue west toward the Todra Gorge, a spectacular natural canyon carved by the Todra River through limestone cliffs that rise over 300 meters on either side. At its narrowest, the canyon walls close in to just a few meters wide, creating a dramatic corridor of sheer rock that is a favorite among rock climbers, hikers, and photographers from around the world. Take a refreshing walk along the river through the gorge and enjoy the extraordinary scenery. Continue into the Dades Valley in the late afternoon, known for its winding roads, red rock formations, ancient kasbahs, and the famous Monkey Fingers rock formations near Ait Oudinar. Check into your riad overlooking the valley for a peaceful evening and overnight stay.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
After breakfast, depart the Dades Valley and continue west through the Valley of Roses, named for the fragrant Damask rose fields cultivated by local Berber farmers across the hillsides. The town of Kelaat M’Gouna is the heart of this region and celebrates a famous Rose Festival each May, when the harvest is marked with music, markets, and the crowning of a local Rose Queen. Even outside of festival season, the landscape here is lush, colorful, and full of character.
Continue to Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa, a city whose dramatic desert landscapes and traditional kasbah architecture have attracted some of the world’s most celebrated film productions including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. From Ouarzazate, visit the legendary Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most iconic fortified villages. This ancient ksar, built entirely from earthen clay, rises dramatically from the riverbank in a series of towers, walls, and labyrinthine alleyways. Wander through the narrow streets, climb to the top for sweeping views of the surrounding desert, and learn about the centuries of Saharan caravan history embedded in its walls.
After lunch, cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest paved road in North Africa at approximately 2,260 meters above sea level. The views from the pass are spectacular, with sweeping panoramas of mountain peaks, deep gorges, and traditional Berber villages perched on the slopes. Descend into the red plains surrounding Marrakech and arrive in the city by early evening. Check into your riad near the medina for an overnight stay in the Red City.
Overnight stay: Traditional riad in Marrakech
After breakfast, embark on a full guided tour of Marrakech with a knowledgeable local guide. Begin at the Bahia Palace, a magnificent 19th-century royal residence whose name means brilliance in Arabic. Walk through its grand courtyards, intricately painted ceilings, carved stucco walls, and fragrant orange tree gardens. Continue to the Saadian Tombs, a royal necropolis of the Saadian dynasty discovered in 1917 after being sealed for centuries. The tombs are decorated with some of the finest examples of Moroccan craftsmanship, with elaborate marble carvings, gilded cedar wood, and intricate zellige tilework surrounding the burial chambers of Saadian sultans and their families.
Visit the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech, whose 70-meter minaret has guided travelers to the city for over eight centuries and remains the defining landmark of the Marrakech skyline. In the afternoon, enjoy two hands-on cultural workshops with local artisans. Join a pottery-making session and try your hand at shaping traditional Moroccan clay under the guidance of a skilled craftsman, then take part in a perfume-making experience, where you will learn about the essential oils and natural ingredients used in traditional Moroccan fragrance and blend your own unique scent to take home as a personal souvenir.
In the evening, depending on your flight schedule, your private Navigate Morocco driver will transfer you comfortably from Marrakech to Casablanca Airport for your departure. This marks the end of your 7-day Morocco adventure, a journey that has taken you from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara Desert and back, through ancient cities, mountain passes, and golden dunes, leaving you with memories that will last a lifetime.
End of tour with Navigate Morocco
Is this a private tour?
Yes. This is a fully private tour operated exclusively for you and your travel companions by Navigate Morocco. You will have a dedicated vehicle and driver-guide throughout all 7 days and will not share with any other group at any point during the journey.
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts in Casablanca with an airport pickup and ends with a transfer back to Casablanca Airport from Marrakech on Day 7. The transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca takes approximately 3 hours by road and will be timed to suit your flight schedule.
What type of accommodation is included?
You will stay in a carefully selected mix of traditional riads, comfortable hotels, and a luxury desert camp in Merzouga. All accommodations are chosen for their comfort, cleanliness, and authentic Moroccan character.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout the tour. All meals at the Sahara Desert camp are included (dinner on arrival, breakfast the following morning). Other dinners and lunches are not included unless specified, giving you the freedom to explore local restaurants at your own pace.
Is the camel trek suitable for all travelers?
Yes. The camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes is slow-paced and guided by experienced local handlers, making it suitable for all travelers including those who have never ridden a camel before. A 4×4 transfer to the desert camp can be arranged as an alternative if preferred.
Are entrance fees included?
Entrance fees to monuments, kasbahs, and museums are not included in the tour price, allowing you to choose freely which sites you wish to enter. Your guide will advise on the best options based on your interests and the time available.
What are the hands-on workshops in Marrakech?
On Day 7, you will have the opportunity to take part in a pottery-making session with a skilled local artisan and a perfume-making experience where you will learn about traditional Moroccan essential oils and blend your own unique fragrance to take home. Both workshops offer a genuine and memorable cultural experience.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Absolutely. Navigate Morocco offers fully flexible itineraries. Stops, pacing, accommodation preferences, and optional activities can all be adjusted to match your group’s interests and schedule. Simply get in touch and we will tailor the experience for you.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The best months are March to May and September to November, when temperatures are comfortable across all regions of the route. Summer can be very hot in the Sahara Desert and southern Morocco, while winter is cooler but still manageable with appropriate clothing, particularly in the mountains.
What should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes, light layered clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential. Bring a warm layer for cool evenings in the mountains and desert. A small daypack is ideal for daily excursions and the camel trek, and a scarf or shawl is useful for the desert and when visiting religious sites.
Do I need a visa to enter Morocco?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many nationalities can enter Morocco visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, but it is always best to check with your local consulate or embassy before travel and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
Is this tour suitable for families with children?
Yes. This tour is suitable for families, couples, solo travelers, and small groups. The pace is comfortable and activities can be adjusted to suit all ages. Children particularly enjoy the camel trek, the desert camp experience, the Barbary macaque encounter in Azrou, and the hands-on workshops in Marrakech.
