Morocco by Heart
Blue City to Sahara Grand Tour
The whole country in one arc — imperial cities, the Blue Pearl, the dunes and the Red City
- Time on the ground
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Route
- Casablanca · Rabat · Chefchaouen · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · Casablanca
- Airports
- Arrive and depart Casablanca (CMN)
- Pace
- Steady: two long scenic driving days, everything else within a few hours
Ten days that carry you from the Atlantic to the Sahara and back: the Hassan II Mosque standing over the ocean, the ramparts of Rabat, the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, the medieval labyrinth of Fes, a night in a luxury camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, the gorges of Todra and Dades, the earthen towers of Ait Benhaddou, and finally Marrakech at dusk. Private vehicle, licensed city guides and a farewell dinner in Casablanca to close the circle.
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Casablanca — gateway to Morocco
Your private driver meets you at Mohammed V airport and transfers you to your hotel. Time to rest, then a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque, standing dramatically over the Atlantic, and an easy evening along the Corniche.
Day 2
Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat
North to Rabat, Morocco's modern capital: the ramparts of the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. In the afternoon, on through the green hills of the Rif to the Blue Pearl, Chefchaouen.
Day 3
The Blue Pearl of Chefchaouen
A full, relaxed day in the blue-washed town: a guided morning walk through cobbled alleyways, Outa el-Hammam Square, the kasbah fortress museum, artisan workshops, lunch on a rooftop and sunset over the valley.
Day 4
Chefchaouen to Fes — into medieval history
South through the countryside to Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. An afternoon guided walk into Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO site and the largest car-free urban area in the world: spice markets, tanneries, madrasas and artisan workshops.
Day 5
Fes to Merzouga — into the Sahara
Across the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou, with lunch on the way and the wide views of the Ziz Valley. By late afternoon, the dunes of Erg Chebbi: a camel trek along the crests or a 4x4 traverse, sunset, dinner at a luxury camp, Amazigh music by the fire and the stars.
Day 6
Merzouga to the Dades Valley via Todra
Sunrise over the dunes, then west past the ancient underground Khettara irrigation channels to the Todra Gorges, where limestone walls rise a thousand feet — time for a canyon walk. On along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to a night in the Dades Valley.
Day 7
Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou
West to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa, and the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou, the backdrop for Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones. Then over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, 7,415 feet, and down into Marrakech.
Day 8
Marrakech — the Red City unveiled
A full day with your private guide: the Bahia Palace, the fourteenth-century tilework of the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the quiet of Le Jardin Secret. In the afternoon, the souks, finishing at Jemaa el-Fnaa as the storytellers, musicians and food stalls take over the square.
Day 9
Marrakech to Casablanca
A leisurely morning for last shopping, a hammam or coffee in a courtyard cafe, then a comfortable transfer north to Casablanca and a celebratory farewell dinner.
Day 10
Departure
Breakfast to suit your flight, then a private transfer to Mohammed V airport in good time for your flight home.
Add the plan to your calendar
Choose the date of your first day in Morocco and download an .ics file — every day of the journey lands in your calendar.
Highlights
- The Hassan II Mosque, built out over the Atlantic
- A full day in Chefchaouen rather than a rushed stop
- Guided Fes el-Bali, the world's largest car-free medina
- A night in a luxury camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi
- The Todra Gorges and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Ait Benhaddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas
What is included
- Private modern air-conditioned vehicle with a dedicated professional driver
- Licensed local guides in the key cities, including Fes and Marrakech
- 9 nights in handpicked boutique riads, hotels and a luxury Sahara camp
- Daily breakfast and selected dinners, including dinner at the desert camp
- Camel trek or 4x4 dune transfer in Merzouga
- All airport transfers and ground transport
- Moha as your personal host, on WhatsApp from the moment you land
Not included
- International flights — quoted separately at the current fare
- Travel insurance, lunches and dinners not listed, personal spending