7-Day Casablanca Grand Tour

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 before reaching Volubilis, a sprawling Roman archaeological site
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once one of the most important Roman outposts in North Africa, Volubilis is preserved well enough that
visitors can walk through triumphal arches, along ancient streets, and over mosaic floors that have
survived nearly two thousand years beneath the Moroccan sun. Continue a short distance to 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, 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
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 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, and the Bou Inania Madrasa, a stunning 14th-century theological school
featuring some of the finest examples of Moroccan decorative craftsmanship.
Head to the world-famous Chouara Tanneries, where leather has been dyed using natural pigments and
traditional methods for over a thousand years, best viewed from the rooftop terraces of the surrounding
leather shops. Spend the afternoon exploring the artisan quarters, where coppersmiths, weavers, and
ceramicists still practice their crafts, with free time to browse the souk before returning to your riad.
Overnight stay: Traditional riad in Fes

After breakfast, depart Fes and head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop is Ifrane, a
charming alpine town with stone chalets, manicured parks, and cool mountain air that has earned it the
nickname the Switzerland of Morocco. Continue to the cedar forests around Azrou, where Atlas cedar
trees tower above the road and Barbary macaque monkeys roam freely among the branches, a species
found only in the Atlas Mountains and a small area of Algeria.
After a lunch stop in Midelt, famous across Morocco for its high-quality apples and traditional Berber
carpets, the road descends 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.
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, the dunes glowing in shades of
amber and rose as the sun descends. 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 before dawn to witness the Sahara sunrise, one of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments the
desert offers. After breakfast at the camp, check out and transfer to your comfortable riad or hotel in
Merzouga for the second night, this time with the full day free to explore the region properly rather than
rushing on toward the next destination. Because today’s stops lie off the paved road across open sand and
rough desert tracks, the day is done in a private 4×4 vehicle with an experienced desert driver, rather than
the standard touring car used on the rest of the trip.
Begin with a visit to a nomadic Berber family in their tent and gain a genuine insight into their quiet,
self-sufficient way of life, learning about their traditions and daily routines in one of the most challenging
environments on earth. Continue to the fossil mines near Merzouga, where millions of years of prehistoric
marine life are embedded in the local rock, before heading to Khamlia village, home to the descendants of
sub-Saharan Africans brought to Morocco in the 16th and 17th centuries, who have preserved the ancient
tradition of Gnawa music. A live performance by local musicians here is one of the most memorable
cultural encounters of the entire tour, and the 4×4 makes it possible to reach all three stops directly across
the desert rather than backtracking to the paved road between each one.
After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is free for optional activities, with the 4×4 already on hand to
reach the best dune areas. ATV quad biking across the Erg Chebbi dunes is the most popular choice,
offering a thrilling way to experience the desert from a different perspective. Sandboarding is also available
at an additional cost paid locally. Return to your riad or hotel in the early evening for dinner and a second
night in Merzouga, giving you a genuinely immersive Sahara experience rather than a single quick
overnight.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast Transport: Private 4×4 vehicle for the day’s desert
excursions

After breakfast in Merzouga, say farewell to the desert and begin the journey west. Stop in Rissani, the
historic former capital of the Tafilalt region and the ancestral heartland of Morocco’s Alaouite royal dynasty,
where a market day visit reveals one of the most authentic trading scenes in southern Morocco.
Continue 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, a favorite among rock climbers, hikers, and photographers. Take a refreshing walk along
the river through the gorge before continuing 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, the Dades Valley offers one of the most scenic overnight stops on the route.
Check into your riad overlooking the valley for a peaceful evening.
Overnight stay: Riad in the Dades Valley

After breakfast, depart the Dades Valley and continue west through the Valley of Roses toward
Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa for the film productions shot in its dramatic desert scenery.
Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most iconic fortified villages,
built entirely from earthen clay and rising dramatically from the riverbank.
After a stop to explore the kasbah, 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, with sweeping views of
mountain peaks and Berber villages along the way. Descend into Marrakech by early evening.
Depending on your flight schedule, this final stretch can end either with an overnight in Marrakech and a
guided city tour the following morning, or with a direct transfer onward to Casablanca for your departure
the same evening. Either way, this brings your seven-day journey across Morocco’s imperial cities and the
Sahara Desert to a close, a route that has taken you from the Atlantic coast to the blue city, the medieval
medina, and the golden dunes and back again.
End of tour with Navigate Morocco