Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech – Reception and welcome

You will land in the legendary city of Marrakech, where you will be welcomed and transferred to your riad in the medina. You will have free time to take your first stroll through the souks and enjoy a mint tea overlooking the lively Jemaa el-Fna Square, declared an Oral Heritage of Humanity.

Day 2: Guided tour of Marrakech – Gardens, palaces, and souks

After breakfast, a local guide will accompany you on a tour of the most emblematic sites of Marrakech:

• The Koutoubia Mosque
• The Bahia Palace
• The Saadian Tombs
• The Majorelle Gardens
• The traditional souks

The afternoon is free to continue exploring the red city on your own, visit a traditional hammam, or dine at a restaurant with a show.

Day 3: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

Atlas Mountains to Dades Valley: A Cinematic Journey

Our day begins with an exhilarating ascent through the High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass. As we climb to 2,260 meters, breathtaking panoramas unfold – terraced hillsides dotted with traditional Berber villages cling to the rugged mountainsides.

The morning’s highlight awaits at the legendary Ait Ben Haddou, its towering earthen kasbah rising dramatically from the desert plains. This UNESCO treasure, immortalized in films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones, offers perfect photo opportunities as we explore its ancient passageways.

After lunch in film-famous Ouarzazate, we follow the scenic “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs,” where crumbling fortresses stand sentinel over lush oases. Our day culminates in the dramatic Dades Valley, where we’ll spend the night surrounded by towering red-rock gorges that glow spectacularly at sunset.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga (Sahara Desert)

From Canyon to Dunes: A Sahara Adventure

Morning light reveals the towering limestone walls of Todra Gorge, where we’ll wander between 300-meter-high cliffs carved by ancient rivers. The canyon’s narrow passageways create perfect frames for unforgettable photos as morning light dances on the rock faces.

Our journey continues through a patchwork of emerald palm groves and earthen villages, where local farmers tend their date harvests. The landscape gradually transforms as we approach Merzouga – the gateway to Erg Chebbi’s golden sea of sand dunes.

As afternoon fades, we mount gentle camels for our sunset trek into the dunes. The shifting sands glow fiery orange while our shadows stretch across the desert. At camp, the scent of slow-cooked tagine welcomes us to an evening of Berber hospitality – rhythmic music, storytelling around the fire, and a night spent beneath the Sahara’s breathtaking canopy of stars.

Day 5: Merzouga – Khamlia Village – Desert Nomads – Oasis

After watching the sunrise over the dunes, we return to the camp for breakfast and showers. The day of desert exploration begins:

Visit to Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa music

Meeting with nomadic families

Stop at the Tisserdmin oasis

Exploration of fossil mines and desert landscapes

We spend a second night in the desert, ideal for relaxing and enjoying the absolute silence of the Sahara.

Day 6: Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fez

Return to Fez: From Desert to Medina

As we bid farewell to the golden dunes, our journey northward takes us through the lush Ziz Valley, where thousands of palm trees create a vibrant green ribbon through the arid landscape. Our first cultural stop brings us to historic Rissani, where the bustling souk offers a glimpse into traditional Moroccan life and the origins of the country’s royal dynasty.

The road then climbs into the Middle Atlas, where we pause in Midelt – a charming mountain town surrounded by apple orchards. Continuing through the region’s cool forests, we stop in Azrou to walk among ancient cedar trees and observe playful troops of Barbary macaques in their natural habitat.

By afternoon, the urban tapestry of Fez unfolds before us. We settle into our authentic riad accommodation in the heart of the medina, where the evening air carries the scent of spices and the distant echoes of the muezzin’s call. The perfect end to our desert-to-city adventure.

Day 7: Guided tour of Fez – History, spirituality, and tradition

We discover Fez el-Bali, the oldest and best-preserved medina in the Arab world, with a local guide:

• Karaouine University
• Bou Inania Madrasa
• Chouara tanneries
• Souks and artisan neighborhoods
• Monumental gates and palaces

The experience is a total immersion in the living history of Morocco. Free afternoon for shopping or relaxing.

Day 8: Fez – Meknes – Volubilis – Rabat

We depart for nearby Meknes, a charming imperial city, where we visit the Bab Mansour Gate, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the royal granaries. Then we head to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa, with intact mosaics and impressive ruins.

We continue to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we visit:

• The Hassan Tower
• The Mausoleum of Mohamed V
• The Kasbah of the Oudayas

We spend the night in Rabat or continue on to Casablanca, depending on preference.

Day 9: Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech

On the last day, we visit Casablanca, where the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful in the Islamic world, stands out. We then make our way back to Marrakech, thus concluding a 9-day tour of Morocco full of contrasts, culture, history, and unforgettable landscapes.

What does this 9-day tour of Morocco from Marrakech include?

• Private air-conditioned transportation
• English-speaking driver/guide
• Accommodation in riads, hotels, and desert camp
• Camel ride in Erg Chebbi
• Dinners in the desert and the Dades Valley
• Guided tours in Marrakech and Fez
• Entrance fees to selected monuments

A Balanced and Complete Tour of Morocco

This 9-day itinerary in Morocco from Marrakech is perfect for those seeking a culturally rich, visually stunning, and emotionally inspiring trip. It takes you from the Atlas Mountains to the deepest desert, without neglecting the country’s imperial jewels.