7-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara

Your private driver meets you at Casablanca Airport for a short tour of the city, including the Hassan II Mosque — among the largest mosques in the world, built out over the Atlantic on its own promontory. From Casablanca, the route continues to Rabat, Morocco's political capital, for the Kasbah of the Oudayas, a UNESCO-listed fortress overlooking the river mouth, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the unfinished 12th-century Hassan Tower.

In the afternoon, the drive continues to Chefchaouen, the "Blue City" nestled in the Rif Mountains, with an evening stroll through its blue-washed streets before settling in for the night.

A morning to explore Chefchaouen's medina before heading south. Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Roman site dating to the 3rd century, brings well-preserved mosaics, arches and ancient streets. Meknes follows — one of Morocco's imperial cities, with the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the Bab Mansour gate, and the royal granaries built to store food for the sultan's cavalry.

By evening, the route arrives in Fes, Morocco's cultural and spiritual capital, checking into a traditional riad ahead of tomorrow's guided day.

Volubilis is inscribed as "an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town" — UNESCO World Heritage

A local guide leads a full day through Fes el-Bali, one of the world's oldest and best-preserved medinas: the exterior of the Royal Palace gates, the Mellah (the historic Jewish quarter), the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa, and the Chouara Tannery, where leather has been dyed by hand for centuries. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin, recognized as one of the world's oldest continuously operating educational institutions, is viewed from outside — access is generally reserved for worshippers and students.

One of the longer driving days on the route. The Middle Atlas brings a stop in Ifrane, known for its alpine-style architecture, and the cedar forest near Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques. The Ziz Valley's palm groves and rock formations follow before Merzouga is reached by afternoon, at the edge of the Sahara.

A camel trek carries you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset — a 4x4 transfer can be arranged instead if you'd prefer not to ride — followed by a traditional Berber dinner and music around the campfire at your desert camp.

An optional sunrise over the dunes, then a return to Merzouga before continuing to Rissani, the historic trading hub of southern Morocco, for a stop at the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif. The Todra Gorges follow — a canyon walk between steep rock walls — before the drive continues to the Dades Valley, known for its unusual rock formations.

The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs passes through Kalaat M'Gouna, known for its rose distilleries, before reaching Ouarzazate, where the Taourirt Kasbah is worth a stop. The main event of the day is Ait Ben Haddou — a fortified ksar and UNESCO World Heritage Site that has appeared in numerous productions, but whose real significance is as a historic stop on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech.

From there, the road climbs the Tizi n'Tichka Pass over the High Atlas before descending into Marrakech by evening.

Called "a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco" by UNESCO World Heritage

A local guide leads a morning through Marrakech's landmarks: the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, and the constant motion of Jemaa el-Fna square. In the afternoon, a private transfer takes you to Marrakech Airport, bringing the seven-day journey to a close.