7-Day Morocco Highlights Tour

Highlights

• Guided day in Marrakech: souks, Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fna
• Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas crossing
• Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
• Camel trek and desert camp night in Erg Chebbi
• Cedar forests and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas
• Guided day in the Fes el-Bali medina and its tanneries
• Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes

Marrakech → Ait Ben Haddou → Dades → Todra → Merzouga → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes → Meknes/Volubilis → Rabat → Casablanca

Best for: First-time visitors with a week who want the big three — Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes — with guided city days.

Activities

• Guided Marrakech medina tour
• Ait Ben Haddou visit
• Todra Gorge walk
• Sunset camel trek and sunrise in Erg Chebbi
• Guided Fes medina tour
• Volubilis Roman site visit
• Optional cooking class in Fes (on request)

Itinerary

Driving times are approximate and exclude long stops; they vary with weather, roads and traffic.

1. 1

   Arrival in Marrakech

   Airport transfer approx. 20–30 min

   On arrival at Marrakech Menara airport you are met and driven to your riad or hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is free to settle in. Many travellers head out in the evening to Jemaa el-Fna, the great square that fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers after dark. If your riad is inside the medina, the last part of the transfer may be on foot with a porter, as cars cannot enter the narrow lanes. Our team will brief you on the week ahead and answer any questions about the route.

   OvernightMarrakech – riad or hotel (category chosen at booking)

   MealsNo meals on arrival day by default; dinner can be arranged on request
2. 2

   Guided Marrakech

   City day; short transfers only

   A local guide shows you the heart of Marrakech. A typical day takes in the Koutoubia Mosque (exterior), the Bahia Palace with its painted ceilings and gardens, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef area, before plunging into the souks where dyers, metalworkers and leather craftsmen work in their alleys. The afternoon is free: you might visit the Majorelle Garden, relax in a hammam or simply sit on a rooftop terrace. Exact sites depend on opening hours and your interests, and you are never obliged to buy anything in shops visited with the guide.

   OvernightMarrakech – riad or hotel (category chosen at booking)

   MealsBreakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)
3. 3

   Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley

   approx. 7–8 h including stops (≈ 320 km)

   We set off early over the High Atlas, climbing through Amazigh villages to the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m. On the dry southern side we visit Ait Ben Haddou, walking up through the ksar to its hilltop granary for views across the valley. After lunch we pass Ouarzazate and travel east along the valley of kasbahs, through the Skoura oasis and Kelaat M’Gouna, the town of roses. We reach the Dades Valley in the early evening, where the cliffs glow red in the last light. This is the first long driving day of the trip.

   OvernightDades Valley – guesthouse or hotel (category chosen at booking)

   MealsDinner and breakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)
4. 4

   Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga desert camp

   approx. 5 h driving plus stops (≈ 290 km)

   After breakfast we drive to Tinghir and walk into the Todra Gorge, whose walls rise around 300 m above the river. We then cross the high plateau to Erfoud and on to Merzouga, at the foot of Erg Chebbi. In the late afternoon you swap the vehicle for a camel and ride for about 1–1.5 hours into the dunes as the sun goes down. At camp you are welcomed with mint tea; dinner is often a tagine, followed by music around the fire. On a clear night with little moonlight the stars can be remarkable.

   OvernightErg Chebbi desert camp (budget, standard or luxury tent)

   MealsDinner at camp and breakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)
5. 5

   Merzouga – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

   approx. 7–8 h driving plus stops (≈ 470 km)

   Rise early to watch sunrise over the dunes before returning to Merzouga for breakfast. The drive north follows the Ziz River through Erfoud, Errachidia and the dramatic Ziz Gorges with their palm-filled valley. We cross high plains around Midelt below the snow-capped Jbel Ayachi in winter, then enter the Middle Atlas cedar forests, where Barbary macaques are sometimes seen by the roadside near Azrou. A short stop in Ifrane, with its sloping roofs and gardens, makes a striking contrast before we descend to Fes in the evening.

   OvernightFes – riad or hotel (category chosen at booking)

   MealsDinner and breakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)
6. 6

   Guided Fes

   City day; short transfers only

   Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free medinas in the world, and a guide is essential for finding your way. A typical day includes the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain and woodwork museum, the exterior of the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, and a view over the Chouara tanneries from a leather shop terrace. We may begin with panoramic views from the Merinid Tombs and visit the royal palace gates and the Mellah. The afternoon is free for your own exploration, a cooking class (on request) or rest.

   OvernightFes – riad or hotel (category chosen at booking)

   MealsBreakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)
7. 7

   Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Rabat – Casablanca (or Fes departure)

   approx. 4.5–5.5 h driving plus visits (≈ 390 km)

   If you are flying from Casablanca, we leave Fes after breakfast for Volubilis, where well-preserved Roman mosaics lie among olive groves, then continue to Meknes to see the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the El Hedim square. The motorway then takes us to Rabat for a brief stop at the Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum, before arriving in Casablanca for your flight or hotel. Allow realistic connection time and tell us your flight details. Alternatively, if you are flying from Fes, we simply transfer you to Fes–Saïss airport.

   OvernightNot included — tour ends at Casablanca airport/hotel or Fes airport

   MealsBreakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)

Inclusions & exclusions

Accommodation, meals & transport

Every night is booked in the comfort level you choose at booking. Budget means clean, simple guesthouses, auberges and family-run riads, some with shared or basic facilities. Standard means well-located mid-range hotels, riads and kasbah guesthouses with private bathrooms. Luxury means boutique riads, characterful kasbah hotels and premium properties. In the Sahara the same logic applies to the camp: a budget camp has simple tents and often shared washing facilities; a standard camp usually offers private tents, many with en-suite toilet and shower; a luxury camp has larger, furnished tents with en-suite bathrooms, more space and a more refined dinner. Exact properties are confirmed in writing before you travel and depend on availability. In Marrakech and Fes we favour riads in or near the medina for atmosphere; hotels outside the walls can be chosen if you prefer car access to the door.

On private departures you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle (typically a minivan or 4x4, depending on group size) with an English- or French-speaking driver who knows the route well. Breakfast and dinner are normally included on touring nights as part of the typical plan; lunches are usually taken at local restaurants of your choice along the way and paid locally. Vegetarian and other dietary needs can usually be catered for if mentioned at booking. On city days in Marrakech and Fes, only breakfast is included in the typical plan so you can explore the restaurant scene.

Good to know

Departure

Marrakech

Finish

Casablanca (or Fes)

Possible departure cities

Marrakech

Tour type

Private

Group size

Confirmed on request

Pickup & drop-off

Meet-and-greet at Marrakech Menara airport on Day 1, or pickup from your Marrakech accommodation if you are already in the city. Riads in the medina may require a short walk with a porter to the nearest vehicle access point.

Safety, age & accessibility

The Tizi n’Tichka pass climbs to 2,260 m on a well-surfaced but winding road with many hairpin bends; if you are prone to travel sickness, sit near the front and bring medication. Days 3 and 5 are long (7–8 hours including stops) and Day 7 is around 5 hours plus visits. Camel rides are gentle but not suitable for everyone: they are not recommended during pregnancy or for people with back, hip or serious joint problems, and riders above roughly 100–110 kg should tell us in advance (limits are set by the camel handlers — to be confirmed). Walking alongside the camels is always an option. Desert temperatures swing widely: summer afternoons can exceed 40 °C and winter nights can drop close to freezing, so pack layers. City medinas involve uneven paving and crowds; keep valuables secure. Medina streets, kasbah stairs and soft sand are difficult for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility; tell us your needs and we will advise honestly what can be adapted.

Price

Contact us for a price. Every trip is priced for your dates, group size, tour type and accommodation level. Send us your plan on WhatsApp or by email and we will send you the price.

Payment & cancellation

[TO CONFIRM: payment method (e.g. bank transfer), deposit amount and balance deadline]. A booking is confirmed only after we confirm availability and payment arrangements in writing. We never ask for card details on this website.

[TO CONFIRM: cancellation windows and refund conditions]. See our Cancellation Policy. Read the policy, our booking terms and the Sahara tour FAQs.

Destinations you visit

• Marrakech travel guide
• Fes travel guide
• Meknes & Volubilis travel guide
• Rabat travel guide
• Casablanca travel guide
• Ait Ben Haddou travel guide
• Dades Valley travel guide
• Todra Gorge travel guide
• Merzouga & Erg Chebbi travel guide

FAQs