15-Day Private Morocco Tour from Casablanca

Highlights

• Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower
• A guided day in the Fes medina
• Volubilis with a 45-minute guided visit, and Meknes
• Nomad visit, Khamlia and a sunset camel ride at Erg Chebbi
• Rissani, the Todra Gorge and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
• Taroudant, Agadir and a free day in Essaouira
• Guided tour of Marrakech and free time in the medina

Photo gallery

1. Day 1

   Arrival at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport

   You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Casablanca

2. Day 2

   Casablanca – Rabat – Fes

   Drive to Rabat to see the Kasbah of the Udayas and its gardens above the Bou Regreg river, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower, the minaret of an unfinished 12th-century mosque. Then follow the motorway through olive groves and farmland to Fes.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Fes

3. Day 3

   Fes – guided tour of the medina

   A full day with a local guide in Fes, Morocco's former capital and intellectual centre. Fes el-Bali, the walled old city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859. You will also see Fes el-Jdid with its Mellah, and the Ville Nouvelle.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Fes

4. Day 4

   Fes – Moulay Idriss – Volubilis – Meknes

   Visit Volubilis, Morocco's most important Roman archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a guided tour of about 45 minutes. Continue to Meknes, capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail, to see the vast granaries built to supply his stables and the monumental Bab Mansour gate.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Meknes

5. Day 5

   Meknes – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Erfoud – Merzouga

   A long but varied driving day. Pass through Ifrane, a green mountain town and ski resort at about 1,650 m, and have lunch in Midelt at the foot of Jbel Ayachi. Cross the mountains and descend into the pre-Saharan landscapes around Errachidia and Erfoud, known for its fossils, then continue via Rissani until the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise from the horizon.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Merzouga

6. Day 6

   Erg Chebbi – desert exploration and sunset camel ride

   Drive along the edge of Erg Chebbi past nomad tents and stop to share tea with a nomad family. Visit the village of Khamlia, then, after lunch and a rest, ride camels into the high dunes for sunset. Overnight in a Berber tented camp under the stars.

   Overnight:

   Berber tented camp, Erg Chebbi

7. Day 7

   Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge

   Visit Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet and once a major caravan centre, including the mausoleum associated with the founder of the Alaouite dynasty and its large market (busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays). Continue to the Todra Gorge, whose canyon landscapes are wonderful for a walk.

   Overnight:

   Hotel near the Todra Gorge

8. Day 8

   Todra Gorge – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

   Travel the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, visiting Kasbah Amridil and passing Boumalne Dades and the Valley of Roses, where local rose products include soaps, perfumes and creams. Arrive in Ouarzazate, home to the 17th-century Taourirt Kasbah and to film studios used by many international productions, such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and Gladiator.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Ouarzazate

9. Day 9

   Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Taroudant

   Visit the fortified ksar of Ait Benhaddou, about 35 km from Ouarzazate, on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. A few families still live inside; most villagers now live across the river. Continue to Taroudant.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Taroudant

10. Day 10

    Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira

    Drive to Agadir, a modern Atlantic resort known for its long beach, seafood and fishing port, then follow the coast for about 200 km to Essaouira, with its whitewashed houses, blue doors and windows and old fortress walls. The town was historically known as Mogador.

    Overnight:

    Hotel in Essaouira

11. Day 11

    Essaouira at your own pace

    A free day. Essaouira is known for kitesurfing and windsurfing thanks to its strong trade winds; you can also go horse or camel riding on the beach, visit its art galleries or simply relax. The Gnaoua World Music Festival is held here each June.

    Overnight:

    Hotel in Essaouira

12. Day 12

    Essaouira – Marrakech

    Drive through argan country — where goats climb the trees — and stop at a women's cooperative to see how argan oil is made. Arrive in Marrakech and, time permitting, go out for a walk.

    Overnight:

    Hotel in Marrakech

13. Day 13

    Marrakech – guided tour

    A guided morning in the "Red City" — the Koutoubia Mosque, the narrow lanes of the medina and its souks, and Jemaa el-Fna, which turns into a huge open-air restaurant in the evening.

    Overnight:

    Hotel in Marrakech

14. Day 14

    Marrakech at your own pace

    A free day to explore the medina's markets and lanes on your own, or to relax at your hotel.

    Overnight:

    Hotel in Marrakech

15. Day 15

    Marrakech – Casablanca Mohammed V Airport

    Private transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca airport according to your flight details.

Practical information

Tour type

Private tour with your own driver and vehicle

Starts and ends

Casablanca Mohammed V Airport

Guides

Local guides in Volubilis, Fes and Marrakech

Frequently asked questions