8 Days Morocco Itinerary From Casablanca Via Desert

We start the tour with a pick-up from the airport, port, or your accommodation in Casablanca. The city is considered the economic center and the largest city in Morocco. First, we will visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco. It is located on the west coast of the city on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Free time for lunch. Then we will explore the city, including the amazing Corniche of Casablanca. Overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, we drive along the coastline to Rabat, one of the imperial cities of Morocco and the current capital. You will visit the highlights of the city including the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we drive to reach the Blue City of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains. The city is famous for its buildings and alleyways painted in shades of blue and white. Overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, feel free to wander through the beautiful alleyways of the Blue City, Chefchaouen. Then we drive to visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. This well-preserved site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring beautiful mosaics, ancient pillars, and archways. After exploring the ruins, we drive 30 km to visit the city of Meknes, one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. Here, we will visit Bab Al-Mansour, the Sahrij Souani Basin, the Royal Stable and Granary, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. We then head to Fes. Overnight stay in a Riad.

After breakfast, we will explore the highlights of Fes with a local guide. Fes is considered one of the imperial cities and is the cultural and religious center of Morocco.

We start the day by visiting the Royal Palace gate. Then we head to the well-preserved medieval Medina, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the Blue Gate, or Bab Boujloud, the entrance to the old Medina. Inside the Medina, we will visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Tanneries, and finally the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque and University, the oldest university in the world. After leaving the Medina, we will visit the Jewish Quarter, also known as “the Mellah.” In the afternoon, we will drive to an ancient fortress for a panoramic view of the Medina and the city of Fes. Finally, we return to your Riad.

After a warm breakfast, we drive south through Imouzer to visit Ifrane. The city is famous for its low temperatures, snow, and alpine-style architecture, earning it the nickname “the Switzerland of Morocco.” Next, we continue to the Cedar Forest, home to the Barbary macaques. Feel free to feed them while wandering in the forest. Later, we drive to Midelt, where you will have free time for lunch. We then continue to Merzouga through the Tizi n’Tlghamt pass and along the Ziz Valley, making stops along the way for panoramic views.

In the afternoon, we reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga. You will switch to camels and cross the sandy desert. We will stop on top of a high dune to enjoy the sunset, then continue to the desert camp. The camp combines the traditional tents of nomads with the luxury of a hotel. Here, you can enjoy Berber drum music and dance around the campfire under the vast open sky of the desert. Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

Wake up early in the morning to witness the breathtaking sunrise over the desert. After free time for breakfast, return on camels to Merzouga where your driver awaits. We then visit Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet, which remains a major trading center with a bustling souk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

After exploring Rissani Souk, we continue to Erfoud, where we visit a workshop specializing in fossilized marble. We proceed through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges. The Todra River has carved a magnificent canyon through the mountains, creating towering cliffs up to 300m high, making it an ideal spot for rock climbers. Enjoy some time wandering in the gorges and admiring the landscape before a lunch break at a local restaurant. We then continue to the Dades Valley, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and a viewpoint overlooking the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

After breakfast, we proceed to Kalaa M’gouna, renowned for its rose products, celebrated annually in May during the rose festival. Explore the palm groves of Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the desert, where we visit the film studios renowned for famous movie productions.

Next, we visit the iconic Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and backdrop for numerous films and TV series like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. We then journey through the Tizi-N’Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains, with stops for picturesque photo opportunities. Finally, we arrive in Marrakech for an overnight stay in a Riad.

On the final day, we travel north to Casablanca airport with stops for panoramic views along the way. Transfer to the airport for your departure, concluding the 8-day Morocco tour.