Morocco from North to South: 14 Day Private Tour

Day 1

Arrival in Casablanca: Welcome to Morocco

Casablanca

Welcome to Morocco’s largest city. When you arrive at Mohammed V International Airport, your driver guide meets you and takes you to your hotel in the city center. Rest after the journey, and if time allows, stroll the Corniche waterfront, where the ocean breeze and the skyline make a fine introduction to the country.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner, with fresh seafood a natural choice in this port city, and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Overnight: Hotel in Casablanca

Day 2

Atlantic Coast Odyssey

Casablanca to Rabat to Tangier

Your first full day begins at the Hassan II Mosque, an architectural marvel perched over the waves. Its 210 metre minaret soars above the city, and you tour the dramatic interior with its carved cedar ceilings, marble floors, and shimmering mosaics. It is an introduction to modern Moroccan craftsmanship and spiritual life.

Leaving Casablanca, we drive up the Atlantic coast to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital. We stop at the Royal Palace gates and the Hassan Tower, a twelfth century red sandstone minaret that remains the unfinished legacy of a former dynasty, and explore the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where Morocco’s kings rest under a beautifully decorated dome. Because Rabat is a quieter city, a walk through the Kasbah of the Oudayas, with its blue and white lanes overlooking the ocean, is a peaceful pleasure.

We continue north to Tangier, and the landscape changes as fertile plains give way to the blue of the Mediterranean. We arrive in the late afternoon, with the city’s mix of Europe and Africa immediately visible along the bay. If time allows, we visit the Caves of Hercules just outside the city, where Atlantic waves crash into the grottoes and, according to myth, Hercules rested. At Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, the setting sun often paints the sky in vivid colors.

In the evening, settle into your Tangier hotel, then stroll through the Petit Socco in the old medina or along the waterfront promenade. The city’s cafe culture is lively yet laid back, and you can enjoy both Spanish tapas and Moroccan mint tea.

Overnight: Hotel in Tangier

Day 3

Into the Rif: From Tangier to Chefchaouen

Tangier to Chefchaouen

We start with a short tour of Tangier’s historic quarter. We wander through the Kasbah above the port and visit the old Sultan’s Palace, now the Kasbah Museum, where artifacts span Phoenician to Portuguese times. Because Tangier has long been a gateway between continents, the medina alleys reveal Spanish churches and French mansions alongside Moroccan souks. We also pass the American Legation, a symbol of the city’s international heritage as the first American public property outside the United States.

By late morning we head inland into the Rif Mountains. The road winds through green valleys and terraced hills, past small farming villages and olive groves, and the air grows cooler and fresher as we climb.

We arrive in Chefchaouen by early afternoon and are greeted by a dreamlike palette of turquoise, indigo, and powder blue, on walls, doors, and stairs. After checking in at your riad, enjoy a relaxed walking tour of the medina, with a seat at a cafe shaded by mulberry trees on Plaza Uta el Hammam. Above the square, the red hued Kasbah and its garden house a small ethnographic museum on Amazigh culture.

As the sun begins to set, hike or drive to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint above town for a panorama of blue cube houses against the Rif peaks, as the sky turns pink and gold and the call to prayer echoes across the valley. In the evening, enjoy mountain cuisine, such as a tagine with local goat cheese, then take an after dinner stroll through the softly glowing lanes.

Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen

Day 4

A Free Day in the Blue Pearl

Chefchaouen

Today is yours to enjoy Chefchaouen’s bohemian charm. No long drive is scheduled, so you can fully relax in this Rif Mountain town. Breakfast is on your riad’s rooftop terrace, with splendid views of the blue medina, and then you set out to find the hidden corners of the town.

Because Chefchaouen is compact, you can wander without a map. Local shops sell handwoven blankets, wool garments, and beautifully painted ceramics, and the relaxed vendors are likely to offer tea and conversation. For a nature walk, a gentle trail follows the Ras el Ma river to a small waterfall where local women wash laundry and children play, a slice of country life just steps from town. Photographers will love the ever changing shades of blue in each alley, with potted plants, ornate doorways, and cats lounging on blue stoops.

For lunch try a bowl of bissara or a tagine made with the region’s famous olives. At the Kasbah Museum you can learn more about Chefchaouen’s history, or simply relax in its peaceful gardens. In the afternoon, return to your riad for a siesta, since this is essentially a rest day. In the evening, you may like to meet your guide for a home cooked meal with a local family, such as savory chicken pastilla or a vegetarian tagine with mountain herbs, a taste of genuine Rif hospitality.

Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen

Day 5

Volubilis, Imperial Meknes, and on to Fez

Chefchaouen to Volubilis to Meknes to Fez

We say goodbye to Chefchaouen and drive south toward Fez. After descending from the Rif, our first major stop is Volubilis, the sprawling ruins of a Roman city more than 2,000 years old. Among the stone columns and marble slabs you can imagine the prosperous city that stood at Rome’s southwestern frontier. Mosaic floors showing the Bath of Diana and the Labors of Hercules are still lively under the North African sun. Stand beneath the triumphal arch and look over the olive groves that stretch to the horizon, much as they did in ancient times.

A short drive from Volubilis brings us to Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, often called the Versailles of Morocco. We admire Bab Mansour, a monumental gate decorated with zellij tilework and Quranic inscriptions, widely considered one of the most beautiful in the country. We stroll through El Hedim Square, and if time permits visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, with its serene courtyards, one of the few sacred sites in Morocco open to non Muslims. Lunch at a local eatery might be a tangy kefta tagine, as Meknes is known for its flavorful cuisine and olive markets.

By afternoon, we continue to Fez, stopping first at the Borj Sud overlook for a panoramic view of the ancient medina, a sea of earth toned buildings and minarets crowned by the green tiled roof of the Qarawiyyin Mosque. We enter through Bab Bou Jeloud, the Blue Gate, and reach your traditional riad. Tonight, a relaxing dinner of bissara or pastilla and an early night prepare you for tomorrow’s full day in the medina.

Overnight: Riad in Fez

Day 6

Fez: The Medieval Maze

Fez

Today is devoted to Fez, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial capitals and a treasure of architecture and history. After breakfast, you meet your expert local guide and step into Fes el Bali, the old walled city founded over a thousand years ago. With narrow alleys too tight for cars, and more than 300 neighborhoods, the medina can feel like a labyrinth, but your guide ensures you see the highlights and quieter corners with ease.

We begin at the Bou Inania Madrasa, a fourteenth century theological college known for its cedar woodwork, stucco carvings, and zellij walls. At the Chouara Tannery you overlook the colored dye pits where leather has been tanned by hand for centuries. The process is traditional, so the smell can be strong, and mint sprigs are provided. From a terrace you watch workers knee deep in dyes of saffron yellow, poppy red, and indigo, a scene virtually unchanged since medieval times.

We wander through the souks, with the spice market of cumin and cinnamon, the coppersmiths hammering gleaming pots in Seffarine Square, and the weavers near Place Nejjarine, which has a beautiful mosaic fountain and the Carpentry Museum in a historic fondouk. Fez is renowned for its crafts, so this is a perfect place to buy hand knotted rugs, intricate brass lamps, or fine leather from the artisans themselves.

We stop by the University of al Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 by a learned woman named Fatima al Fihri and recognized as the oldest operating university in the world. Non Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but you can admire its exquisite exterior and peek into the courtyard of white arches. Nearby is the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, the tomb of Fez’s founder.

After a traditional Fassi lunch, perhaps a bowl of herby harira or the sweet crunch of seffa, steamed vermicelli with cinnamon and almonds, we continue to Fes el Jdid, the new medina, which dates to the thirteenth century. Here are the historic Mellah, the Jewish Quarter, with its distinctive balconies, and the Royal Palace gates with their stunning brass doors.

By late afternoon, you may feel pleasantly overwhelmed. Return to your riad to relax on the courtyard or rooftop, or visit a local hammam for a soothing spa experience. Tonight, consider a Fassi dinner of Moroccan salads, a tagine of lamb with prunes, or chicken with preserved lemon and olives, as the call to prayer sounds from dozens of mosques.

Overnight: Riad in Fez

Day 7

Cedar Forests, Oasis Valleys, and a Camel Caravan to the Sahara

Fez to Ifrane to Midelt to Erfoud to Merzouga

Time to leave the cities and venture toward the Sahara. We depart Fez after breakfast and climb into the Middle Atlas, where tall pine and cedar trees replace the urban bustle. After about an hour we pass through Ifrane, a charming town called Little Switzerland for its alpine chalets and flower lined roads. Pause to stretch your legs and photograph the stone lion statue, a local landmark.

Continuing through the Middle Atlas, we pass Azrou, known for a cedar forest inhabited by troops of Barbary macaques. They are friendly and always looking for a peanut, so you can stop briefly to meet them safely. Berber nomads tend flocks on the slopes nearby.

Around midday we arrive in Midelt, a market town famous for its apples and set in a high plains valley between mountain ranges. Lunch may be a warming Berber tagine with local apples in the sauce. As the journey continues, the terrain turns more arid. We cross the Tizi n’Talghoumte Pass, often called the Camel Pass, and descend to the Ziz Valley, where a ribbon of green palms signals the approach of the Sahara. At a panoramic overlook, emerald palms contrast with red rock canyons, a stunning spot for photos.

Passing through Erfoud, known for its fossils and date festival, we sense the Sahara is near. If time allows, visit a fossil workshop to see how rock filled with ancient marine creatures is polished into decor pieces. As the afternoon light turns golden, we reach Merzouga, the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes.

In Merzouga, swap the 4×4 for a camel. You climb aboard a sure footed dromedary and travel into the dunes as caravans have for centuries. The pace is unhurried, swaying and rhythmic, and the dunes, some of them over 150 metres high, surround you, changing from ochre to deep orange and purple. You pause atop a high dune to watch the sun melt into the sea of sand, a moment of pure magic.

You reach your desert camp before dark. Spacious canvas tents have comfortable beds and rugs, a cozy blend of rustic charm and comfort. As the sky fills with stars far from city lights, the Milky Way arcs overhead. Gather around the campfire for a hearty Berber dinner while nomad musicians play lively Gnawa music, with a chance to dance or clap along. Later, climb a small dune near camp to marvel at the night sky, or lie back on a blanket outside your tent to watch for shooting stars.

Overnight: Deluxe desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga area)

Day 8

Sunrise in the Dunes, Nomadic Encounters, and the Gorge

Merzouga to Khamlia to Rissani to Todra Gorge to Dades Valley

Wake before dawn to witness a Sahara sunrise. Climb a dune near camp in the pre dawn hush, and as the first rays break over the horizon the dunes glow in pink and gold. The air is crisp and still, and this will be one of the most beautiful sunrises of your life. After breakfast at camp, you ride camels or take a 4×4 back to Merzouga village, where your driver waits.

This morning is for the culture around the desert. A short drive brings us to Khamlia, a small settlement whose community came originally from sub Saharan Africa. Here you enjoy a performance of Gnawa music, hypnotic rhythms handed down from the people brought north centuries ago. The musicians play the guembri, a three stringed lute, and the large iron castanets called qraqeb. The music is soulful and trance inducing, and the joy of it is contagious. You are also offered a cup of tea while you listen.

If it is market day, typically Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday, we visit Rissani, a historic market town that was once a camel caravan center. The souk is authentic and busy, with spices, dates, and livestock, and a donkey parking lot where rural visitors tie up their animals. Try the local mazari dates, which are deliciously sweet.

Heading west the landscape transforms again, with acacia dotted plains and the volcanic Jebel Sahro mountains toward the High Atlas. By midday we reach Todra Gorge, one of Morocco’s most spectacular natural sights, where sheer limestone cliffs tower about 300 metres on either side of a narrow canyon. A clear river runs through it. Take a leisurely walk, trailing your fingers in the cool stream, and look up to spot rock climbers on the cliffs like tiny specks. Lunch is at a cafe near the gorge entrance, with Moroccan salads and grilled brochettes in the shade of palm trees.

We then continue into the Dades Valley, a region famous for red rock formations and hundreds of old kasbahs. The strata glow red and orange in the late afternoon sun, and a stop at the Monkey Fingers formation makes for good photos. If you travel in spring, the valley is perfumed with blooming Damascus roses, harvested to make rosewater near Kalaat M’Gouna.

By late afternoon we reach a guesthouse in the Dades Gorge or valley. You might take a short hike to a viewpoint or visit a local family in their kasbah home for tea. Dinner is a hearty home cooked meal, perhaps with the region’s sweet rose infused syrup if in season. As night falls, the surrounding cliffs fade to silhouettes under a starry sky, and the sound of the river may be the only thing you hear.

Overnight: Guesthouse in the Dades Valley

Day 9

The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, Ouarzazate, and Ait Benhaddou

Dades Valley to Skoura to Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou

After breakfast amid the rose scented air of the Dades, we follow the Southern Oases Route through the Valley of Roses, where locals tend rose bushes and distill rosewater in small cooperatives. In April and May, the pink blossoms are at their peak. We pass the palm groves of the Skoura Oasis, studded with hidden kasbahs, and stop at Kasbah Amridil, a well preserved seventeenth century fortress of packed earth and straw that appears on the fifty dirham banknote. Inside its rooms and courtyards you can see traditional kitchens, grain stores, and an old olive press. Climb to the rooftop for a view of a sea of date palms with the snow capped Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

We arrive in Ouarzazate around midday. Known as the Door of the Desert, it has become famous for its movie studios, since its dramatic landscapes have doubled for ancient Rome, Egypt, and Arabia. You may tour the Atlas Film Studios, if the schedule permits, to see sets and props from films like Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, or Game of Thrones. A visit to Kasbah Taourirt, the former palace of the Glaoui family, a maze of lavish rooms and crumbling walls, shows the power the local pasha once held over the Saharan trade routes.

Lunch is at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the main square, perhaps a Moroccan salad and kefta brochette with views of distant kasbahs. A short drive then takes us to Ait Benhaddou, Morocco’s most iconic ksar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Earth red towers and crenellated walls rise from a hillside, much as they did in the seventeenth century. You cross the shallow river and enter the ksar, where time slows down in the narrow alleys between mud brick houses. Climb to the granary at the top for a panoramic view, with late afternoon sun bathing the kasbahs in golden light.

Tonight, stay in a guesthouse in Ait Benhaddou or a neighboring Berber village, with dinner overlooking the ksar at sunset if possible. In the evening, you may join a cooking class, learning to bake bread in a traditional earthen oven or prepare a classic tagine. After dark, Ait Benhaddou falls silent, lit by moonlight and a few lanterns, an experience that transports you back centuries.

Overnight: Guesthouse near Ait Benhaddou

Day 10

Over the High Atlas to Marrakech

Ait Benhaddou to Telouet to the High Atlas to Marrakech

Today brings a stunning ascent over the High Atlas. We leave Ait Benhaddou in the morning and soon turn onto the road that climbs north, an old caravan path now paved as the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. The climate cools, the landscape shifts from arid plains to green valleys and terraced hillsides, and every bend offers a new view, so we take it slowly and stop for photos.

A worthwhile detour leads to the Telouet Kasbah, once the palatial residence of the powerful El Glaoui clan, who controlled the Atlas trade routes. Parts of it are in ruins, but others still show decadent zellij tilework, painted ceilings, and carved cedar. Your guide tells the story of Thami El Glaoui, the Lord of the Atlas, who lived here in lavish style, and of a kasbah that was left to the elements after independence.

Back on the main road we reach the summit of Tizi n’Tichka at 2,260 metres, the highest major road pass in North Africa. Savor the cool air and panoramic views, and watch for shepherds guiding flocks across steep slopes and roadside merchants selling amber and glittering geodes. As we descend, you may notice the shift from Berber Amazigh regions toward Arab influenced plains.

In the early afternoon, we reach the foothills and plains around Marrakech, with palm groves and olive farms heralding the Red City. You arrive and check in to your riad in or near the old medina and have the rest of the afternoon to relax.

As evening comes, we take our first taste of Jemaa el Fna, the famous central square and a UNESCO recognized cultural space. It comes alive with food stalls, musicians, and storytellers. Snake charmers play eerie tunes on flutes, henna artists call out, and orange juice vendors line up glowing pyramids of oranges. The scent of grilled kebabs, harira, and sweet fried pastries fills the air. Find a rooftop cafe overlooking the square and sip mint tea as daylight fades. Then return to your riad for a calm night.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech

Day 11

The Red City Revealed: Palaces, Souks, and Traditions

Marrakech

Today a local city guide helps unlock the secrets of Marrakech. We begin at the Koutoubia Mosque, whose 77 metre minaret of rosy stone has stood over the city since the twelfth century. The interior is closed to non Muslims, but the tower and the gardens around it are lovely, scented with orange blossom.

Next is the sumptuous Bahia Palace, a nineteenth century palace whose name means brilliance. Zellij mosaics, carved plaster, and painted cedar ceilings adorn a series of lush courtyards and salons. Your guide shares the story of the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed, who built it, as you wander the harem quarters and the jasmine scented garden courtyards.

From grandeur to sacredness, we move to the Saadian Tombs, hidden for centuries and rediscovered in 1917. In a quiet enclosed garden lie the elaborately decorated tombs of Sultan Ahmed al Mansour and his family from the sixteenth century, made with Italian Carrara marble and gold. Sunlight filtering through screens illuminates delicate tombstones and tile patterns.

Now we plunge into the living heart of the city, its medina and souks. In the Souk Semmarine merchants display spices such as paprika, saffron, and cumin, and the Cherratine leather souk smells of tanned leather goods from bags to babouche slippers. Bargaining is expected, and your guide helps you navigate if you decide to buy a keepsake. We visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa, once an Islamic college for students from all over Morocco (it may be under restoration at times), whose courtyard is covered in exquisite calligraphy, geometric patterns, and carved cedar.

For lunch, we escape the bustle into one of the medina’s riad restaurants, with cold Moroccan salads and perhaps a tagine of lamb with raisins and almonds beneath citrus trees. In the afternoon we explore the souks more deeply, where metalsmiths pound brass and copper, artisans hand dye wool, and woodworkers carve cedar. Your guide can lead you to a trustworthy cooperative if you are interested in a carpet or a more complex item.

Later, step outside the old walls into the new town, Gueliz, if you like, or visit the Majorelle Garden, created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. Advance tickets help, as it can be busy, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is next door. In the evening you might be drawn again to Jemaa el Fna, or choose a dinner with live music at a restored palace restaurant, or a rooftop lounge where you can watch the lights of the Koutoubia flicker on.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech

Day 12

Seaside Escape: Argan Cooperatives and Essaouira

Marrakech to Essaouira

After the intensity of Marrakech, it is time for a change of pace on the Atlantic coast. We depart for Essaouira, a charming fortified port city about two and a half hours west. The drive passes through orchards of argan trees, which grow only in this part of the world, and we stop at a women’s cooperative to see how argan oil is made. Berber women crack argan nuts by hand between stones, often with remarkable speed, and grind the kernels into a paste to extract the oil. Taste some on freshly baked bread. Keep an eye out for goats climbing the trees.

We arrive in Essaouira late in the morning. Formerly known as Mogador, this coastal town welcomes you with salty ocean air and a laid back vibe. First visit the Skala de la Ville, the sea bastion with dozens of old bronze cannons facing the Atlantic. From here you get a postcard view of blue shuttered white houses, the fishing harbor, and perhaps kite surfers on the waves.

Head into the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its grid like layout, a rarity in old Moroccan cities. Stroll through the Mellah, the old Jewish Quarter, with its carved wooden balconies, and explore workshops on streets such as Rue Chbanate, where marquetry craftsmen inlay aromatic thuya wood with mother of pearl and lemon wood to make boxes, chess sets, and furniture.

For lunch, nothing is fresher than the catch of the day. Walk to the fish market by the harbor, choose prawns, sardines, or a whole sea bream, and have them grilled to order at an outdoor stand. Squeeze on lemon, sprinkle cumin and salt, and eat at a picnic table alongside locals.

The afternoon is yours. You can walk the sandy beach outside the medina walls, take a surfing lesson or camel ride, or browse galleries and boutiques. Do not miss Patisserie Driss, a beloved local bakery, for almond cornes de gazelle. At sunset, walk to the Skala du Port, the fortress at the harbor, and climb its ramparts to watch the sun set over the Atlantic and fishing boats in the port, a scene so picturesque that Orson Welles used these ramparts in Othello. Tonight, savor a seafood tagine spiced with charmoula, or a dinner with live Gnawa music.

Overnight: Riad in Essaouira

Day 13

From the Coast Back to the Red City

Essaouira to Marrakech

Wake to the sound of waves and the cries of seagulls. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast of msemen with argan oil and honey, in a cafe by the sea or in your riad courtyard. There is time this morning for last minute shopping, since Essaouira’s relaxed shopkeepers and fixed price handicraft shops can be a relief after bargaining in Marrakech, or for a final walk on the sunlit ramparts.

By late morning, we leave Essaouira and travel back toward Marrakech through sun baked countryside and small Berber villages, where children may wave from doorways and farmers drive donkey carts of hay. If you like, we can stop at an argan cooperative again or visit a vineyard, as the region is known for some Moroccan wines. As we near Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains reappear on the horizon, often wreathed in cloud.

We arrive in Marrakech by mid to late afternoon and check in to your riad. The rest of the day is free, a chance to catch sights you have not yet seen, bargain for that rug or lamp, visit the Majorelle Garden if you did not have time earlier, or treat yourself to a spa afternoon in one of the city’s many hammams.

In the evening, as this is your final night, a special farewell dinner can be arranged. Dine at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Jemaa el Fna, or in a beautifully restored riad with live Andalusian music, over a multi course Moroccan feast. Try a tagine of beef with prunes and sesame, or keep it light with zaalouk, the eggplant salad, and lentil stew. During dinner, reminisce about favorite moments with your companions, whether the sunrise over the Sahara dunes, the Gnawa musicians, blue Chefchaouen, or a quiet cup of tea in the Atlas with a local family.

End the night with a short walk to take in Marrakech once more, the warm night air and the glow of lanterns on the red walls, before drifting to sleep to the sounds of the medina.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech

Day 14

Farewell: Maa Salama, Morocco

Marrakech to the Airport

After breakfast it is time to bid farewell to Morocco. Maa salama means goodbye, and bislama means see you again, and the memories you have made will surely call you back someday. Depending on your flight, you may have a few hours for last exploration or shopping in Marrakech.

If your flight leaves from Marrakech Menara Airport, your driver will take you there in good time. If you are flying from Casablanca, a three hour drive, we will arrange an early transfer to Mohammed V Airport. As you travel, take in the final sights, whether the palm groves around Marrakech or the broad boulevards of Casablanca, and carry home not just souvenirs but a piece of Morocco’s soul, from friendships formed over cups of mint tea to the vivid colors of souks and mountains, the sound of desert drums and the call to prayer, and the taste of warm msemen in the morning.

Your journey has come full circle, from the Atlantic’s edge to the Sahara’s heart and back to the sea. Thank you for traveling with Uniquely Morocco. Bon voyage, until we meet again.