(5.0)
9 Days
English
From Marrakech
Our 9 days Morocco tour from Marrakech is a complete loop of the country in a little over a week. You start and finish in Marrakech, so you only need one return flight.
First, you cross the High Atlas Mountains to the kasbahs of the south. Then you ride a camel into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi and sleep in a desert camp. After the Sahara, the road turns north to the imperial cities of Fes and Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the blue streets of Chefchaouen. Finally, you return along the Atlantic coast through Rabat and Casablanca.
Because the tour is private, the pace is yours. Your driver-guide adjusts stops, lunch breaks and photo time to suit you. If you have less time, our 7 days Morocco tour from Marrakech covers the desert and Fes in a shorter loop.
Welcome to Morocco. Your driver meets you at Marrakech Menara Airport or at your hotel and takes you to your riad in the medina.
In the evening, walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa square. As the sun goes down, the square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers. It is the best first taste of the Medina of Marrakesh.
Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
After breakfast, a local guide shows you the highlights of the Red City. You visit the Koutoubia Mosque from outside, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs.
Next, you walk through the souks, where craftsmen still work leather, metal and wood by hand. In the afternoon, you can relax in the Jardin Majorelle or enjoy a traditional hammam. For more ideas, see the Marrakesh page of the Moroccan National Tourist Office.
Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
Today the real road trip begins. You drive over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with Berber villages clinging to the slopes below.
On the other side, you reach Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified village of earthen houses has appeared in films such as Gladiator and in Game of Thrones. After a walk to the top of the ksar, you continue past Ouarzazate, often called the Hollywood of Africa.
In the late afternoon, you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and the Rose Valley to the Dades Valley. Learn more about the region on VisitMorocco’s Ouarzazate page.
Driving time: about 6 to 7 hours with stops. Overnight: hotel in the Dades Valley.
In the morning, you drive the famous zigzag road of the Dades Gorge for the view. Then you continue to the Todra Gorge, where rock walls rise almost 300 metres above a narrow path.
After lunch, the landscape opens up as you cross the oasis towns of Tinejdad and Erfoud towards Merzouga. In the late afternoon, your camel caravan is waiting at the edge of the dunes.
As the sun sets, you ride into Erg Chebbi, whose highest dunes reach about 150 metres. Dinner is served at the camp, often followed by Berber drumming around the fire and a sky full of stars.
Driving time: about 5 to 6 hours. Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi.
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower.
This is the longest driving day, so we break it up with regular stops. You follow the Ziz Valley, a long ribbon of palm groves, and climb into the Middle Atlas through Midelt. On the way, you may spot Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou.
Next, you pass Ifrane, a tidy mountain town nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco. You arrive in Fes in the evening. See the Merzouga region on VisitMorocco for more about this route.
Driving time: about 7 to 8 hours with stops. Overnight: riad in Fes.
Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Because it is so easy to get lost, you explore it today with a licensed local guide.
You visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, see the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque from its doorway, and look down on the Chouara Tannery from a leather shop terrace. Along the way, you pass coppersmiths, weavers and spice sellers working much as they did centuries ago.
In the afternoon, you can drive up to the Merinid Tombs for a panoramic view over the old city. You can also read our Fes guided city tour page for more on what you will see.
Overnight: riad in Fes.
This morning, you drive to Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail. You stop at the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the royal granaries.
Then you continue to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco. Here, you walk among triumphal arches, columns and floor mosaics that are almost 2,000 years old.
In the afternoon, the road climbs into the Rif Mountains. You arrive in Chefchaouen in time for a first evening walk through its blue lanes. For background on the town, see VisitMorocco’s Chefchaouen guide.
Driving time: about 5 hours. Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen.
Start the day in Chefchaouen while the streets are quiet. This is the best time for photos of the blue doors and stairways. You can also walk to the Spanish Mosque on the hill above town for a view at golden hour.
Around midday, you drive south to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. In the late afternoon, you visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the Bou Regreg river. Together, these sites form part of the UNESCO listing Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City.
Driving time: about 4 hours. Overnight: hotel or riad in Rabat.
On the last day, you drive along the coast to Casablanca. Here you visit the outside of the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, with its minaret rising over the Atlantic Ocean. If the timing works, you can join a guided tour inside.
After lunch, you head back to Marrakech, arriving in the late afternoon. Your driver drops you at your hotel or at the airport, and your 9-day journey through Morocco comes to an end.
Driving time: about 4 hours 30 minutes.
Yes. The tour is fully private, so only you and your travel companions share the vehicle and driver-guide. This means you can change the pace, stops and hotels to suit you.
Yes. Many travelers end in Fes or Casablanca to catch a flight. In that case, we adjust the route and the price. If you only want to cross the country one way, our 4 days trip from Marrakech to Fes may suit you better.
The ride to the camp takes about 1 to 1.5 hours each way. If you prefer not to ride, a 4x4 transfer to the camp is also possible.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot in the desert, while winter nights in the Sahara and the Atlas are cold.
Yes. We use camps with private tents, real beds and, on request, private bathrooms. Upgrades to luxury tents are available.
+212 666 392 331
Mhamid, Marrakech, Morocco – 40000, Morocco
journeystomorocco@gmail.com
Journeys Morocco offers authentic travel experiences across the kingdom, from the lively souks of Marrakech to the golden dunes on our unforgettable Sahara Desert tours.
Every trip is part of our carefully designed Morocco tours, crafted to immerse you in culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes.
