21-Day Morocco Grand Tour from Casablanca

You're welcomed at Mohammed V Airport and transferred to your hotel in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city and its economic heartbeat. Depending on your arrival time, the day allows for a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, built out over the Atlantic on its own promontory, followed by a walk along the Corniche or a stop at Mohammed V Square. Overnight in a hotel, Casablanca.

Rabat, Morocco's political capital, brings the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas, a fortified quarter overlooking where the Bou Regreg river meets the Atlantic. From there the route continues north to Asilah, a small whitewashed port town known for the murals painted across its old town during its annual summer arts festival. Overnight in a riad, Asilah.

Tangier sits at the meeting point of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, with a stop at Cape Spartel's lighthouse and the nearby Hercules Caves worth the short detour. From there, the road climbs into the Rif Mountains and arrives at Chefchaouen by afternoon — its blue and white walls set against a green hillside, unmistakable even from a distance. Overnight in a riad, Chefchaouen.

A full day with nothing scheduled — the medina's blue alleyways reward wandering without a map, and the surrounding hills offer viewpoints back over the town. The small kasbah museum, the central Outa El Hammam square, and the medina's craft stalls are all worth the time if you'd like some structure to the day. Overnight in the same riad.

The Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, come first — well-preserved mosaics and archways set among olive groves. Meknes follows, an imperial capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail, with the monumental Bab Mansour gate marking the entrance to its walled medina. The day ends in Fes, checking into a riad ahead of tomorrow's guided exploration.

A local guide leads a full day through Fes el-Bali, the old medina and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right. The Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, the Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas, and the Chouara Tanneries — where leather has been dyed by hand for centuries — are among the highlights, alongside the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter. Overnight in a riad, Fes.

Ifrane, with its alpine-style architecture, sits at the edge of a cedar forest home to wild Barbary macaques, often spotted from the road. Past Midelt, the drive follows the Ziz Valley's palm groves and irrigation channels toward Merzouga, arriving in time for a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a first night at a desert camp.

An optional sunrise over the dunes starts the day, followed by a 4x4 route to the village of Khamlia for a performance of Gnawa music, and a visit with a nomadic family living much as their ancestors did. A second night at a hotel in Merzouga follows, before the route turns toward a very different part of the Sahara tomorrow.

Rissani's market and old medina mark the last stop before leaving the Merzouga area, followed by a long, scenic drive along the Draa Valley — Morocco's longest, with an almost unbroken palm grove running for well over a hundred kilometres. Zagora, once the starting point of caravan routes toward Timbuktu, is the base for tonight, with the second desert stretch beginning tomorrow.

A 4x4 crossing of stony hammada terrain leads to Erg Chigaga, a far more remote dune field than Erg Chebbi, with none of the crowds and a stronger sense of isolation. A camel ride, a second desert camp, and a night with noticeably less light pollution make this a genuinely different experience from the Merzouga stay earlier in the trip.

The road north crosses back toward Ouarzazate, with a detour into the Todra Gorges, where sheer canyon walls narrow around the road and river — a favourite spot for rock climbers, and worth a walk on foot regardless. The night is spent in the Dades Valley, among rock formations that shift colour through the evening.

The Valley of Roses (home to Morocco's annual Rose Festival each May) precedes the palm groves of Skoura, one of the region's oldest oases, before the day ends in Ouarzazate — Morocco's film capital, with its own kasbah and studio backlots worth a look.

The ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified caravan-route village, is the day's centrepiece before the road climbs over the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Arrival in Marrakech comes by late afternoon, with the evening left free before tomorrow's guided day.

A local guide leads the way through Marrakech's landmarks: the Bahia Palace, the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, the souks, and the constant motion of Jemaa el-Fna square. Overnight in a riad, Marrakech.

A full day to spend as you like — the Majorelle Garden, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, more time in the souks, or simply resting at your riad before heading into the Atlas Mountains tomorrow.

Around an hour and a half from Marrakech, Imlil sits at the base of Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak. The day is given over to gentle walking through Berber villages and terraced fields, mountain air a world away from the desert and the medinas, with the option of a longer hike for anyone keen on more. Overnight in a mountain guesthouse, Imlil.

A relaxed descent back to Marrakech, with the rest of the day free — a good moment for any shopping or sights missed earlier in the trip. Overnight in a riad, Marrakech.

The drive to the coast passes through argan groves, with a stop at a women's cooperative to see the traditional oil-pressing process. Essaouira itself brings a change of pace entirely — the Skala fortress, a working fishing port, and a medina with a noticeably calmer rhythm than Marrakech's. Overnight in a riad, Essaouira.

A full free day by the Atlantic — the beach, a walk along the ramparts, surfing, or simply slow mornings and long lunches. Overnight in the same riad.

The route returns inland to Marrakech before continuing a short distance further to Agafay, a rocky, almost lunar desert landscape unlike either of the sandy regions visited earlier in the trip. An optional camel or quad ride and a sunset over the stone hills lead into a final desert evening, with dinner and music at camp under a clear sky.

The final drive returns to Casablanca, with a transfer to Mohammed V International Airport timed to your flight, bringing this three-week journey through Morocco to a close.