10 Days Morocco Itinerary: Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert Adventure

On the first day of our 10-day itinerary in Morocco, you will start with a driver picking you up from Marrakech Airport and transferring you to your hotel/riad. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit some of the best sights in Marrakech. This tour offers a unique chance to experience the heart and soul of Marrakech, where you can learn how to bargain for great deals on valuable items. You will enjoy dinner and spend the night at the hotel or riad.

Today, after enjoying breakfast, our local guide will meet you at your accommodation in Marrakech. Explore the famous 'Red City of Morocco' with visits to the most significant historical and cultural sites, including the Saadian Tombs, the stunning Palaces of El Bahia and El Badi, the Ben Youssef Quranic School, and the historic Koutoubia Mosque with its 77-meter-high minaret. Visit the Menara Gardens and Jardin Majorelle, then head to Jamaa El-Fna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with magicians, storytellers, snake charmers, and street food vendors. Continue to discover the colorful and diverse souks.

Drive towards Ouarzazate via the Tizi N'Tichka pass, reaching an elevation of 2,260 meters in the High Atlas Mountains. Travel through Berber villages and learn about argan oil production from Berber women in their cooperative. Visit the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest Kasbah in Morocco. Continue through Ouarzazate, known as the 'Hollywood of Africa,' following the path of the One Thousand Kasbahs and stopping at Kalaat Mgouna, famous for its annual rose festival. Spend the night in the heart of the Dades Gorges.

Drive through the valley to observe the rock formation known as 'the monkey toes.' Head towards Tinghir and the Todra Valley, enjoying panoramic views of old mud Berber villages. Take a walk under the impressive 300-meter-high red cliffs at Todra Gorge. Visit fascinating underground water channels and see fossil artifacts in Erfoud. Reach Erg Chebbi desert for a camel trek across the high sand dunes. Enjoy the sunset from a high dune before riding camels to your desert camp. After dinner, listen to Berber music played by local nomads under the stars and experience the unique desert sunrise.

Wake up early to enjoy the beautiful desert sunrise. After breakfast, begin a desert excursion exploring the Erg Chebbi region. Drive off-road to visit nomadic families living around the sand dunes, learning about their unique lifestyle and sharing mint tea with them. Visit the M'Fis mines on a high plateau offering panoramic views of Erg Chebbi. Head to Khamlia Village (Gnaoua Village) to learn about the culture of inhabitants whose ancestors came from Central and West Africa. Enjoy traditional Gnaoua music and taste Berber pizza for lunch. Visit Lake Dayet Sarji, which attracts pink flamingos and other wildlife in springtime.

After breakfast, drive to Fes via Errachidia, passing through the magnificent Ziz Valley with thousands of palm trees. Stop in Zaida for barbecue and mint tea. Continue to Michlifen in the Middle Atlas Mountains to see Barbary macaques/apes in the cedar forest. Visit Ifrane, often called the 'French Village' or 'Switzerland of Morocco.' Arrive in Fes and spend the night at a hotel or riad.

Meet our local guide for a full-day tour of Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco's oldest imperial cities, founded in 808. Begin at the Golden Doors of the Royal Palace, then visit a viewpoint to admire the walls surrounding the Old Medina (Fes El-Bali). Walk through the Medina to experience its vibrant atmosphere, visiting mosques, madrassas, and religious places before reaching the Tanners district. Continue to the artisans' neighborhood where skilled craftsmen preserve Andalusian art and techniques brought from Spain.

After breakfast, journey to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, an open-air museum offering insight into Morocco's ancient history. Stop in Meknes, known as 'The Moroccan Versailles,' founded by Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. Continue through the scenic Rif Mountains with lush agricultural hills to reach Chefchaouen. Known worldwide for its vibrant blue-washed buildings, explore the beautiful streets of the medina with white and blue-washed walls and local markets offering unique handcrafts.

Rise early to photograph the peaceful streets of Chefchaouen before exploring this famous blue-washed town. Journey through Rabat, the imperial capital known for its domes, minarets, and green spaces. Visit the Oudaias Kasbah, Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and wander through the Medina. Continue to Casablanca to visit the Mosque of Hassan II, one of the world's biggest and most beautiful mosques, gorgeously positioned by the Atlantic Ocean with prestigious interior decorated with finest Moroccan mosaics.

Begin with a tour of Casablanca, including an external visit to the Mosque of Hassan II. Enjoy the Corniche or seaboard part of the city. Drive to Marrakech and transfer to the airport depending on your flight schedule. Our services for this 10-day Morocco itinerary conclude at Marrakech airport.