DAY 1: CASABLANCA → ARRIVAL AND CITY TOUR

Welcome to Morocco. Your private driver meets you at Mohammed V International Airport. If time permits, you begin with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Morocco and one of the most stunning in the world, with its seafront setting and 210-metre minaret. The city of Casablanca itself reveals its character through the contrast of its Art Deco colonial architecture, modern business district, and the timeless rhythms of its medina. You settle in for the night in Casablanca.

DAY 2: CASABLANCA → RABAT → CHEFCHAOUEN

After breakfast, the journey heads north — first to Rabat, Morocco’s refined capital. Here, you visit the Hassan Tower, the magnificent Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the ancient Oudayas Kasbah, perched above the river mouth with views across to the old sale district.

After lunch in Rabat, the road continues northeast into the Rif Mountains, arriving in Chefchaouen by evening. The Blue City lives up to every expectation — its medina a labyrinth of photogenic blue-painted alleyways, fragrant with cedar and spice.

DAY 3: FULL DAY TO EXPLORE CHEFCHAOUEN

An entire day to lose yourself in one of Morocco’s most beloved destinations. Wander the medina’s countless blue alleyways in the early morning light — before the day-trippers arrive — and discover its hidden fountains, ancient mosques, and artisan workshops.

Climb above the town to the Spanish Mosque at sunset for a panoramic view of Chefchaouen’s blue rooftops against the backdrop of the Rif Mountains. Browse the local souks for hand-woven blankets, leather goods, and handmade jewellery. The evening is yours to enjoy the town at its most peaceful.

DAY 4: CHEFCHAOUEN → VOLUBILIS → MEKNES → FES

Departing Chefchaouen, the drive south leads you to Volubilis — the finest Roman archaeological site in Morocco, set on an elevated plateau with views across the surrounding wheat plains. The site’s exceptionally well-preserved mosaics, triumphal arch, and forum columns speak powerfully of a North African past long before the arrival of Islam.

Continuing to Meknes, you explore the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the ancient granaries of Sultan Moulay Ismail — one of Morocco’s most ambitious rulers — before the final drive east to Fes, where you spend the night.

DAY 5: GUIDED TOUR OF FES

A full day in Fes el-Bali — the ancient heart of Morocco’s most complex imperial city — with a specialist local guide. Founded in 789 AD, Fes remains one of the world’s great medieval cities: its 9,000-plus alleyways are home to mosques, madrasas, hammams, workshops, and souks that have operated continuously for over a thousand years.

The day covers the Chouara Tanneries, the ornate Bou Inania Madrasa, the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, the Jewish Mellah quarter, the woodcarvers’ souk, and the spice and dyers’ markets. It is one of the most immersive days of the entire journey.

DAY 6: FES → IFRANE → MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA DESERT

Departing Fes early, the road climbs south through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. Barbary macaques may be spotted in the trees near Azrou. The alpine town of Ifrane — known for its clean air and European-style buildings — makes for a pleasant stop before the terrain opens up into the vast Ziz Valley.

The descent through the palmeries of the Ziz Valley leads to the edge of the Sahara. By late afternoon, the dunes of Erg Chebbi appear ahead. Your camel is waiting. A sunset ride through the golden dunes brings you to your luxury desert camp, where dinner, Berber music, and a private tent beneath the stars await.

DAY 7: FULL DAY TO EXPLORE THE MERZOUGA DESERT

One of the most memorable days of the trip: an entire day dedicated to the Merzouga desert. After watching the sunrise from the dunes, your guide leads you on a 4×4 excursion deep into the desert.

The highlight of the day is a visit to a nomadic Berber family — welcomed with tea and genuine hospitality, you spend time learning about their traditions, their daily life, and their profound relationship with the desert landscape. The afternoon is open for sandboarding, photography, a solo walk among the dunes, or simply sitting in the vast silence of the Sahara. At sunset, another camel ride out to the highest dune, and then an evening of music and stargazing at the camp.

DAY 8: MERZOUGA DESERT → RISSANI → TODRA GORGE → DADES GORGE

The final morning in the desert. After sunrise and breakfast, you leave the Sahara behind heading west. Rissani — the historic market town and ancestral home of Morocco’s Alaouite dynasty — offers a vivid and colourful souk on market days (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday).

From Rissani, the drive to Tinghir brings you to the Todra Gorge: a narrow slot canyon of towering limestone walls pressed close together above a rushing mountain stream. Walking the gorge floor is an experience of sheer, silent drama. The afternoon drive through palm oases and pre-Saharan valleys ends in the Dades Gorge, where your hotel sits beneath extraordinary canyon walls for the night.

DAY 9: DADES GORGE → OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → MARRAKECH

The final day draws together the journey’s last great highlights. From the Dades Gorge, you drive west through the Valley of Roses and into Ouarzazate — gateway to the Sahara and Africa’s cinematic capital. From Ouarzazate, the UNESCO Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou rewards with its extraordinary earthen towers and ancient alleyways — the most photographed of all Morocco’s kasbahs.

After the kasbah, the High Atlas Mountains offer a dramatic final act: the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with its sweeping vistas and sharp bends, before the long descent into Marrakech and your drop-off at hotel or riad in the evening.