17 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca

17 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca

17 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca – Private 17-day loop from Casablanca: Rabat, two nights in Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Fes, two nights in the Merzouga dunes, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, three nights in Marrakech, Essaouira and the Atlantic lagoon of Oualidia.

This is our most complete tour of Morocco at a relaxed pace. You see the imperial cities and the blue town of the Rif, cross the Middle Atlas to the Sahara, sleep in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs over the High Atlas to Marrakech, then end with the ocean towns of Essaouira, Oualidia and El Jadida.

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca

Pickup at Casablanca Mohammed V airport and transfer to your hotel. If time allows, visit the Hassan II Mosque on the ocean and walk along the Corniche.

Your driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and helps with a SIM card and money exchange. Casablanca is Morocco's economic capital: its Art Deco centre, the Habous quarter and the seaside promenade of Ain Diab are a gentle first taste of the country. In the evening we brief you on the whole route and answer your questions.

Overnight: hotel in Casablanca
Meals: breakfast.

Day 2: Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen

Morning in the capital Rabat: the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Kasbah of the Udayas. Continue north into the Rif Mountains to the blue town of Chefchaouen.

In Rabat, the royal capital, you walk among the unfinished columns of the 12th-century Hassan Mosque and through the white and blue lanes of the Udayas kasbah above the river. After lunch the road climbs through green hills, cork oaks and olive groves of the Rif to Chefchaouen, reached in the late afternoon. Take an evening stroll to the main square for mint tea as the lights come on.

Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: breakfast.

Day 3: Chefchaouen

A full day in Chefchaouen: the blue alleys of the medina, the kasbah on Uta el-Hammam square and the walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the town.

Chefchaouen is best enjoyed slowly: early morning is the quietest time for photos of the blue stairs and doorways. Visit the cool garden and small museum inside the kasbah, browse for wool blankets, goat cheese and woven hats, and see the Ras el-Ma spring where locals wash wool. Those who like walking can hike in the Talassemtane hills, or relax on a rooftop terrace with a view of the mountains.

Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: breakfast.

Day 4: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes

Drive south to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO site with fine mosaics, then visit Meknes and its Bab Mansour gate. Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon.

Volubilis was a prosperous Roman town and its mosaics of Bacchus, Orpheus and the labours of Hercules are still in place. Nearby is the holy town of Moulay Idriss on its two hills. In Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, you see the monumental Bab Mansour gate, Lahdim square and, if open, the royal granaries and stables. Fes is about an hour further.

Overnight: riad in Fes
Meals: breakfast.

Day 5: Fes

Guided visit of Fes el-Bali, the largest car-free medina in the world: the Bou Inania madrasa, the Chouara tannery, the Al Quaraouiyine area and the craft quarters.

A licensed local guide leads you through the 9,000 alleys of Fes el-Bali, founded in the 9th century. You see craftsmen at work: coppersmiths, weavers, tile makers and the leather dyers of the Chouara tannery seen from a terrace. Stop at the Nejjarine fountain and the Attarine madrasa, and in the afternoon visit the Merinid tombs for a panoramic view over the whole medina.

Overnight: riad in Fes
Meals: breakfast.

Day 6: Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga

Cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the cedar forest of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live, then Midelt and the Ziz valley palm groves. Arrive at the Erg Chebbi dunes in the evening.

This is the longest drive of the tour, broken by regular stops. Ifrane looks like an Alpine village, and in the cedar forest you can see wild macaques. After lunch in Midelt, at the foot of the Ayachi mountain, the road crosses the Ziz gorges with their palm groves and kasbahs before the first view of the great dunes of Erg Chebbi, glowing orange at sunset.

Overnight: hotel at the foot of the Merzouga dunes
Meals: breakfast and dinner.

Day 7: Merzouga: 4x4 tour and camel ride

Morning 4x4 trip around Erg Chebbi: nomad families, the Gnawa village of Khamlia and the black desert. In the afternoon, ride a camel into the dunes for sunset and spend the night in a luxury desert camp.

Your 4x4 driver shows you the many faces of the desert: a nomad family who offers tea in their tent, old fossil and mining sites, the black stony desert and Khamlia, where descendants of West African musicians play Gnawa music. After lunch with Berber pizza (madfouna), the camels take you into the dunes for about 1 h 30. At the camp enjoy dinner, drums by the fire and a sky full of stars.

Overnight: luxury desert camp with private bathroom
Meals: breakfast, Berber pizza lunch and dinner.

Day 8: Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Gorges

Sunrise over the dunes, then drive via Rissani and Tinghir to the Todra Gorge, with cliffs up to 300 m high. Continue to the Dades valley and its winding road.

Wake up early to climb a dune and watch the sunrise, then ride back by camel to shower and have breakfast. On the way west you pass Rissani, home of the Alaouite dynasty, and the long palm groves of Tinjdad. In the Todra Gorge, walk between the rock walls beside the clear stream. The evening road climbs into the Dades valley, famous for its strange rock formations called the Monkey Fingers.

Overnight: hotel in the Dades Gorges
Meals: breakfast and dinner.

Day 9: Dades – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou

Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley and the Skoura oasis to Ouarzazate, the film capital of Morocco. Sunset at the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.

The valley between the High Atlas and the Saghro mountains is lined with mud-brick kasbahs. Kelaat M'Gouna is known for its Damask roses and rose-water products, and the Skoura oasis hides the beautiful Amridil kasbah. In Ouarzazate you can visit the Taourirt kasbah or the Atlas film studios. Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site seen in many films, is at its most beautiful in the late light.

Overnight: kasbah hotel in Ait Ben Haddou
Meals: breakfast and dinner.

Day 10: Ait Ben Haddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech

Visit the ksar in the morning light, then cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Marrakech.

Climb to the granary at the top of the ksar for a view over the valley, then cross the river to the road. The route over the High Atlas passes the Telouet area, Berber villages built in the colour of the mountain and many viewpoints. After the Tizi n'Tichka pass the road descends through walnut trees and red earth to Marrakech, where you check in to your riad in the medina.

Overnight: riad in Marrakech
Meals: breakfast.

Day 11: Marrakech

Guided visit of Marrakech: the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the souks and Majorelle Garden. Evening on Jemaa el-Fna square.

Your guide explains the history of the Almoravid, Saadian and Alaouite dynasties as you visit the main monuments. Walk through the souks of spices, leather and lanterns, and finish in the Majorelle Garden with its famous blue villa and the Berber museum. At night Jemaa el-Fna fills with musicians, storytellers and food stalls: a must for dinner.

Overnight: riad in Marrakech
Meals: breakfast.

Day 12: Marrakech

Free day in Marrakech, or an optional day trip to the Ourika valley or the Agafay desert.

Spend the day as you like: a hammam and massage, shopping in the souks, or a cooking class to learn tagine and couscous. If you prefer nature, we can arrange a trip to the Ourika valley and its waterfalls, or an evening in the stony Agafay desert with a camel ride and dinner under the stars (optional, not included).

Overnight: riad in Marrakech
Meals: breakfast.

Day 13: Marrakech – Essaouira

Drive through argan country to the Atlantic port of Essaouira, with a stop at a women's argan cooperative. Evening on the Skala ramparts.

Along the way you may see goats climbing argan trees, a famous sight of this region. At the women's cooperative you can watch how argan oil is made by hand and taste amlou, a spread of almonds, honey and argan oil. Essaouira is a relaxed, windy port with an 18th-century medina designed by a French architect, perfect for walking.

Overnight: riad in Essaouira
Meals: breakfast.

Day 14: Essaouira

Free day in Essaouira: the UNESCO medina, the fishing port, the beach and the art galleries.

Start with the fishing port, where the blue boats return in the morning and you can choose fresh fish to be grilled for lunch. Walk the Skala ramparts with their old cannons, visit the woodwork shops of thuya wood, and spend the afternoon on the long sandy beach, famous for kitesurfing. In the evening, listen to Gnawa music in a small café.

Overnight: riad in Essaouira
Meals: breakfast.

Day 15: Essaouira – Safi – Oualidia

Coastal road north to Safi, known for its pottery, and on to the lagoon of Oualidia, famous for its oysters and calm water.

Safi is the pottery capital of Morocco: visit the potters' hill to see the kilns and the hand-painted ceramics, and the old Portuguese sea castle. The coastal road continues along cliffs and salt pans to Oualidia, a peaceful lagoon protected from the ocean, ideal for a swim, a boat ride to see birds, or a lunch of fresh oysters and seafood.

Overnight: guesthouse in Oualidia
Meals: breakfast.

Day 16: Oualidia – El Jadida – Casablanca

Visit the Portuguese city of El Jadida and its underground cistern (UNESCO), then return to Casablanca for a farewell evening.

El Jadida, the former Portuguese Mazagan, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk around its star-shaped ramparts and into the Portuguese cistern, whose vaulted hall reflected in shallow water is one of the most photographed places in Morocco. Arrive in Casablanca in the late afternoon and enjoy a farewell dinner by the ocean.

Overnight: hotel in Casablanca
Meals: breakfast.

Day 17: Departure

Private transfer to Casablanca Mohammed V airport for your flight.

Depending on your flight time, enjoy a last breakfast and a walk along the Corniche. Your driver drops you at the airport about three hours before departure. We hope to welcome you back in Morocco soon.

End of the tour: private transfer to Casablanca Mohammed V airport for your flight.

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