Itinerary #1: Highlights of Morocco: Casablanca to the Atlantic Coast
Follow this moderately-paced grand tour circuit around Morocco, beginning and ending in Casablanca, for unique cultural experiences, desert adventures, and coastal relaxation.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Morning in Casablanca, Afternoon in Rabat | Rabat |
Day 2 | Rif mountains and the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen | Chefchaouen |
Day 3 | Chefchaouen, Roman Ruins of Volubilis, Fes | Fes |
Days 4-5 | Fes: Explore the Imperial City & Medieval Medina | Fes |
Day 6 | Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga & the Sahara | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Desert Adventures, Rissani Market, Todra Gorge | Todra Gorge |
Day 8 | Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou | Aït Benhaddou |
Day 9 | Aït Benhaddou, Tizi n'Tichka Pass over the High Atlas | Marrakesh |
Days 10-11 | Marrakesh: Explore the "Red City" | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Marrakesh to Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Essaouira to Casablanca via the coast | Casablanca |
Day 14 | Depart Casablanca |
Tour northern Morocco, starting in modern Casablanca and Rabat, the country's present-day capital, where you'll find historic ruins and towering minarets alongside tranquil gardens. Heading to Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, you can relax in plazas and along the river, taking in the blue-painted walls at every turn. Explore the Roman ruins and impressively well-preserved mosaics at Volubilis as you make your way to Meknes and then Fes to get lost in the cultural capital and its medieval maze-like medina.
Leaving the city for a desert adventure, you'll follow caravan routes through desert oases like the Ziz Valley, Tinghir, and 11th-century Aït Benhaddou. Make your way over the High Atlas mountains and into the bustling squares and secret gardens of Marrakesh. Then relax along the Atlantic coast, enjoying fresh seafood, walking the Skala de la Kasbah, and shopping the less frenetic medina in Essaouira before you return to Casablanca to catch your flight home. Learn more
Itinerary #2: Morocco's Cities, Coast, Mountains & the Desert
Enjoy culture, history, adventure, and relaxation on this two-week Morocco circuit, beginning in Casablanca and ending in Essaouira. You'll spend equal time in historic medinas of imperial cities as you explore the desert and Atlas mountains. Plus, there will be enough time to lie on a beach, soak in a hammam, and listen to traditional Berber music on a Sahara tour.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca, Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque | Casablanca |
Day 2 | Chefchaouen via Rabat, Explore the "Blue City" | Chefchaouen |
Day 3 | Fes via Volubilis & Meknes | Fes |
Day 4 | Half-Day Guided Tour of Fes | Fes |
Day 5 | Merzouga, Erg Chebbi & Camel Ride | Merzouga |
Day 6 | Desert Safari Adventures around Merzouga | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge | Boumalne Dades |
Day 8 | Hike and Lunch with a Local Family in Dades Valley | Boumalne Dades |
Day 9 | Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou & Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 10 | Private Guided Tour of Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Free Day in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Essaouira, Goats on Trees & Argan Women Cooperative | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Free Day in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 14 | Return to Marrakesh, Depart |
After a night in Casablanca, you'll head north the next day to the Blue City of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, stopping first in the present-day capital, Rabat. On Day 3, you'll turn south and visit Volubilis and its ancient ruins, then Meknes, your second imperial city, before ending the day in buzzy Fes. You'll check out 14th-century madrasas and the famed Chouara Tannery. Taking the Col du Zad Pass, you'll get to visit desert towns like Midelt and Erfoud before switching it up in Merzouga and transferring to your camel to ride to your Bedouin-style camp. Tour the Sahara as you like on Day 6, from ATV, Jeep, or sandboard.
The next day, pass through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to reach Boumalne Dades, where on Day 8, you'll hike in the Atlas foothills and dine with locals. Smell roses in Kelâat M'Gouna and visit kasbahs in Aït Benhaddou before arriving in Marrakesh for three nights. You'll tour the highlights, learn to cook in La Maison Arabe, indulge in a hammam, and tour plenty of souks. Then you're off to laidback Essaouira to explore the city and relax on the beach, with options to ride a horse along the Atlantic or learn to kiteboard. Learn more
Itinerary #3: South Morocco Adventure
This southern Morocco circuit combines two weeks of lesser-known destinations like Imlil in the High Atlas, Skoura, and Taroudant, though no less worthy of your time. For a complete Morocco adventure, you'll begin and end in Marrakesh, traverse the High Atlas, spend time in Berber villages, and camp in the desert, before reaching Essaouira on the Atlantic.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 2 | Free Day in Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 3 | Mountain Hike in Imlil & Lunch with a Local Family | Imlil |
Day 4 | Imlil Valley Guided Hike | Imlil |
Day 5 | Transfer to Skoura Oasis via Aït Benhaddou & Ouarzazate | Skoura |
Day 6 | Skoura Oasis Walk, Pottery Factory & Lunch with a Local Family | Skoura |
Day 7 | Transfer to Zagora via Saghro Mountains & Draa River Valley | Zagora |
Day 8 | Zagora to Erg Chegaga Desert | Erg Chigaga Desert |
Day 9 | Desert Adventures, Discover Nomadic Life | Erg Chigaga Desert |
Day 10 | Taroudant via Foum Zguid across the Anti-Atlas Mountains | Taroudant |
Day 11 | Explore Taroudant, Transfer to Essaouira via Agadir | Essaouira |
Day 12 | Private Morning Cooking Class, Free Afternoon in Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 13 | Return to Marrakesh, Food Tour, Henna or Babouche Workshop | Marrakesh |
Day 14 | Depart Marrakesh |
After two nights in Marrakesh, you'll transfer south to the mountain village of Imlil in the center of Toubkal National Park. After sipping tea with your guide, you'll enjoy an easy-paced trek to the highest village in the Imlil Valley, Armed to spend time with a Berber family. On Day 5, you'll continue east toward Skoura, stopping at an Argan Oil Co-operative in Taddert, crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass, touring at least one movie studio in Ouarzazate, and then strolling the narrow passageways of iconic Aït Benhaddou. Once in Skoura, you'll immerse yourself in the region's unique culture and break bread with a local family.
Heading farther south to the grand city of Zagora, you'll cross the Jbel Saghro mountains and the palm-fringed fertile Draa River Valley. Day 8 and nine see you riding camels amid the massive dunes of Erg Chigaga, spending a day with desert nomads, and sleeping under the starry sky. Spot wildlife in Iriqui National Park, then head west over the Anti Atlas to your riad (house with a courtyard) in Taroudant. Day 11 sees you going to the Atlantic seaboard and to Essaouira. Spend time in the medina, learn to cook tajine, and take a kiteboarding lesson before ending your trip in Marrakesh. Learn more
Itinerary #4: Morocco's Cities from Coast to Coast
This complete two-week itinerary covers popular highlights (and imperial cities) like Marrakesh, Meknes, and Fes, as well as the less-than, frequented, but no less attractive, cities of Azemmour, El Jadida, Safi, Beni-Mellal, and Moulay Idriss—Morocco's oldest town, and Tetouan, near the Alboran Sea.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive, Explore the Coast to Essaouira | Essaouira |
Day 2 | Essaouira: Seaside Ramparts & Fresh Seafood | Essaouira |
Day 3 | Kiteboarding and Jewish Quarter | Essaouira |
Day 4 | Transfer to Marrakesh | Marrakesh |
Day 5 | Tour Bahia Palace, Hammam & Souks | Marrakesh |
Day 6 | Majorelle Garden & Saadian Tombs | Marrakesh |
Day 7 | Marrakesh Museum and Secret Garden | Marrakesh |
Day 8 | The Imperial City of Fez | Fes |
Day 9 | Cooking class and medieval medina | Fes |
Day 10 | Fes: Free day | Fes |
Day 11 | Meknes, Moulay Idris & Chefchaouen | Chefchaouen |
Day 12 | Tetouan & Tangier | Tangier |
Day 13 | Visit Caves of Hercules | Tangier |
Day 14 | Ferry to Spain |
You'll take your time getting to Essaouira, stopping along the coast to visit three formerly Portuguese-occupied coastal cities: Azemmour, El Jadida, and Safi. Once you arrive, walk the Skala de la Kasbah (the 18th-century seafront ramparts) along the coast, try kiteboarding, or wander one of Morocco's best-preserved mullahs (Jewish quarter). You'll then transfer to Marrakesh, where you can enjoy the hammam public baths, specialized souks like Souk el Attarin and Souk Smata for a selection of spices and babouche (Moroccan slippers), and the 500-year-old craftsmanship of the Saadian Tombs.
Up next is Fes. You'll learn to cook Moroccan creations inside the medina and have time to explore the city and its famous tannery and winding alleys on your own. Then, make your way to Chefchaouen via the historical sites at Meknes and Volubilis. After a night in the Blue City, you'll finish your trip in Tangier, stopping along the way in Tetouan, a jewel of a town in a striking location at the foot of the Rif Mountains, just a few miles from the Alboran Sea. Visit the Caves of Hercules and explore the markets in Tangier before you head across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. Learn more
Itinerary #5: Luxury Highlights of Morocco
Live the high life with this two-week luxury tour through two of Morocco's most popular cities (Fes and Marrakesh) and the attractions in between. Plus, go on a wine tour, take a cooking class, and enjoy a hot air balloon ride.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat | Rabat |
Day 2 | Rabat to Fes: Hassan Tower and the Roman Ruins at Volubilis | Fes |
Day 3 | Fes: Explore the Imperial City and its UNESCO Medina | Fes |
Day 4 | Guerrouane Region Winery Tour | Fes |
Day 5 | Fes: Traditional Cooking Class | Fes |
Day 6 | Fes to Merzouga: Over the Middle Atlas Mountains to the Sahara | Merzouga |
Day 7 | Merzouga to Tinghir: Adventuring in the Todra Gorge | Todra Gorge |
Day 8 | Tinghir to Ouarzazate | Ouarzazate |
Day 9 | Ouarzazate to Marrakesh: Over the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou | Marrakesh |
Day 10 | Marrakesh: Medina & City Tour | Marrakesh |
Day 11 | Marrakesh: Sunrise Yoga and Afternoon Hammam | Marrakesh |
Day 12 | Marrakesh: Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride and Afternoon of Leisure | Marrakesh |
Day 13 | Marrakesh to Casablanca: the Atlantic Coast & Portuguese Ports | Casablanca |
Day 14 | Depart from Casablanca |
You'll fly into Casablanca and transfer to Rabat, the capital city known for its impressive white architecture and the Hassan Tower. Then road-trip your way to Fes via the historic town of Meknes, 8th-century Moulay Idriss, and Roman ruins at Volubilis. Once you arrive, you've got four nights to enjoy Fes and its UNESCO World Heritage medina. Follow a guide through the winding streets, tour the neighboring Guerrouane agricultural region (complete with wineries), and learn to cook a four-course Moroccan meal. Next, it's off to the desert, with a trip through the scenic Ziz Valley and the dates and fossils of Erfoud.
Once in Merzouga, board a camel to ride across the desert to a plushly appointed tent for a night in the dunes. You'll then make your way to Tinghir and the trails of the Todra Gorge. Walk through the gorge before you continue through Boumalne Dades to Ouarzazate and the 11th-century trade city of Aït Benhaddou. Cross over the High Atlas and into Marrakesh. With four nights to spend in this bustling city, you'll be able to take in raucous Jemaa el-Fna and follow a guide to all the city's landmark sights. Enjoy a sunrise yoga class, soak in a hammam, and soar over the landscape on a hot air balloon ride. End in Casablanca, via the port towns along the coast. Learn more
More Great 2-Week Morocco Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Morocco? Check out these other two-week Morocco itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.