10 Days Tour from Marrakech

Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Benhaddou

In the morning at 8:30 we will begin our first day of our best 10 days desert tour from Marrakech. Our guide will pick you up from your hotel/riad in Marrakech in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. We will begin our route leaving Marrakech, our first place being Ait Benhaddou. The road offers stunning views of the Atlas Mountains. We will make several stops along the way so you can enjoy the beauty of the snow-capped peaks and the magnificent landscape along the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. On site, we will visit the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, one of the most popular kasbahs in Morocco. This fortified village of clay structures is an impressive historical landmark. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the village, we can learn about pre-Saharan construction techniques, although none of the houses are older than the 17th century. Walking through the ancient passageways of this desert kasbah feels like stepping into another time. After lunch, we will tour the Kasbah of Tamdaght, just under 4 miles (6 km) from Ait Benhaddou. In the evening, we will climb to the Ait Benhaddou fortress to get a magical view of the sunset. Our guide will then take you to your accommodation for the night.

Day 2: Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate

If you are interested in capturing a spectacular sunrise in Ait Benhaddou, be prepared to get up early. After breakfast, we will head towards Ouarzazate. Closer to the city, the climate becomes more desert-like, offering a splendid desert landscape. There are also several Berber villages on our way, and we will stop to see them.

Unlike Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate offers a more diverse range of attractions. First, we’ll stop at Atlas Film Studios, before heading downtown to explore the city. Ouarzazate is loved for its incredible old-time features, and it’s one of the reasons why the location has been popular with Hollywood filmmakers.

We will visit the Kasbahs of Tifoultoute and Taourirt. From there, we will go sightseeing to the main square of Ouarzazate. The square is lined with restaurants and cafes selling local food. It is also a good place to watch the sunset. In the evening, our guide will take you back to your hotel or riad for the night.

Day 3: Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga Desert

After breakfast, we will continue our 10 days tour from Marrakech. We will head towards the Todra Gorges. The picturesque road passes through Kalaat M’Gouna, Boumalne Dades and Tinghir. In the gorges, you will be greeted by impressive canyons approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) deep. We will walk through the valley and visit important oases in the surroundings. You will enjoy hiking through the Todra Gorges and marveling at this natural wonder.

After the Todra Gorges, we will continue towards the oasis city of Erfoud. The town has many quality restaurants and cafes so we will have our selection of great places to choose from for lunch. You can enjoy the traditional cuisine of the local people. Erfoud is a city known for its rich fossil deposits and we will visit a craft workshop to see how they extract the fossil from the bedrock.

Next comes a road trip to the Merzouga desert. You will get on one of the best camel rides in Morocco. It is a walk of approximately an hour and a half to the Berber camp where we will stay. You will climb the giant dunes of the Erg Chebbi sand sea and enjoy a peaceful sunset over the dunes. The night will be spent in a Berber camp in the desert, with traditional food served and Berber music played.

Day 4: Exploration of the Merzouga Desert

We will wake up early in the morning to experience the magical sunrise on the top of the dunes in the Merzouga desert. Set your alarm so you don’t miss the show. A camel ride will take us back to Merzouga, where our driver will be waiting to take us on a journey deeper into the desert.

We will freshen up and head to the Erg Chebbi dunes. We will visit Hassilabied, Khamlia and other towns in the area. We will meet the nomads camped in the desert and have the opportunity to enjoy live Gnawa music performed by the Gnawa tribe.

The trip will continue further into the desert, where we will see Lake Dayte Sarje and several oases in the dunes. We will then stop in Rissani to explore its famous souks and markets for most of the afternoon. In the evening, we will take you back to your riad or hotel in Merzouga.

Day 5: Merzouga Desert – Ziz Valley – Midelt

After breakfast, prepare for a long road trip from Merzouga to Midelt. There will be several stops along the way so you can see some of the popular attractions. Some of the main sites we will find are Aoufous, Ziz Valley, Errachidia and Er-Rich on the way to Midelt. There will be opportunities to enjoy the beautiful scenery and interact with local tribes, including the Berbers. The Aoufous oasis in the area is another must-see place.

In the afternoon we will have arrived at Midelt. We will explore the city for the remaining part of the day. Some of the main attractions to visit are Aguelmous, the Church of Midelt, the monastery Notre Dame de l’Atlas and the spectacular Gorges d’Aouli. We will also pass through Berber villages to explore local life. The afternoon will be spent watching the sunset in Midelt.

Day 6: Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

After breakfast, we will head towards Fes. There are several places along the way where we will make stops to enjoy the landscape. Some of the popular places include the village of Zaida and Timahdte, before reaching the cedar forest near Azrou. This forest is known for its friendly Barbary macaque monkeys. We will stop here for a while to enjoy forest fruits and berries and play with the monkeys.

From Azrou, we will head to Ifrane. The city is also known as the Moroccan Switzerland due to its clean environment. Ifrane is a contemporary city that seems to belong more to a European continent than to Africa. You will feel the stark contrast in the architecture and urban structure immediately. Its climate is quite cool, with snowy winters and moderate summers. We will go to the city to see.

A visit to this city cannot be complete without seeing the stone lion monument in a city park. In the evening, we will take another exciting road trip to the city of Fes. We will take walks through the medieval city before returning to the hotel for the night.

Day 7: Visit Fes with a local guide

In the morning, our tour guide will pick you up at your accommodation and we will have the whole day to explore the city. It has been more than 1200 years since Fes was founded and therefore offers many features and history. A walk through the streets really feels like being in medieval Morocco. First we will go to the two medinas, walking through the centuries-old streets. Fes el-Bali is one of the most popular medinas in the city and is also the largest intact medina in the world. From here, you can see the stunning view of the famous Medersa Bou Inania minaret.

After the medinas, we will visit the Medersa el-Attarine before heading to lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll see more of the city, including the Quaraouiyine Mosque built in 857. Its prayer hall can hold up to 20,000 worshipers. The oldest library in the world is in this mosque and its collection includes a Quran dating back to the 9th century.

We will then visit the old Jewish quarter (Fes el-Jedid) and the site of the Royal Palace right next door. Other attractions of the day include Bab Bou Jeloud, the Chouara Tannery, and the Ibn Danan Synagogue.

Day 8: Fes – Meknes

If you want to capture something special, get up early to wander the empty streets of Fes. The Medina is a perfect location for early morning photography. You will also have the opportunity to capture a spectacular sunrise over the city. After breakfast, we have more of Fes to explore. We will go to the Bou Jeloud Gardens and the Jnan Sbil Park. From there we will head to Ville Nouvelle, which is home to many attractions, including eye-catching fountains, shopping venues, mosques and cultural sites. The dramatic contrast in architecture as you enter Ville Nouvelle will leave you in awe.

After lunch, we will go on an exciting road trip to Meknes. The imperial city of Meknes has a lot in common with Fes in terms of mixing ancient and modern qualities. Among the main attractions of this city is the bustling medina of the locals. With the city’s roots dating back to the 9th century, there are many historical attractions for us to visit. We will also visit the bustling souks of Meknes. In the evening, our driver will take you to your riad or hotel.

Day 9: Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen

We will get up early in the morning to enjoy a beautiful sunrise. If you like photography, you will be able to capture the deserted streets of Meknes as they will be empty in the early morning. After breakfast, we will go on an exciting journey to the excavated city of Volubilis.

We will spend the entire morning exploring the well-preserved Roman ruins, architecture, mosaics, art and other ancient features at the archaeological site. With roots in the 3rd century BC, Volubilis has many fascinating things to teach about history, especially the Roman Empire. History enthusiasts will love this site, and it has something to offer everyone.

In the afternoon, we will continue our tour to the Blue Pearl, or Chefchaouen. It is a spectacular road trip characterized by a powerful mountainous landscape. We will stay in Chafchaouen for the night.

Day 10: Exploring Chefchaouen – Tangier

Waking up and finding yourself in beautiful Chefchaouen is a magical feeling. We will have breakfast and then start exploring the city. Chefchaouen is a city with history and a very unique place in the world. It has retained its appearance since the 15th century, thus providing an impressive atmosphere. We will visit the main attractions, including the old town and the historic medina, also known as the Blue City.

The architecture and blue-washed houses make it a photographer’s paradise. We will walk through the streets before going to the souks. We will visit Outa el-Hamman Square, which is lined with local traditional restaurants and cafes, and have lunch here. Afterwards, we will see more attractions, including the Kasbah Museum, the Grand Mosque, Ras el-Ma, the souks and bazaars, and take a scenic hike in the Rif Mountains.

In the evening, we will embark on the last road trip of our Morocco Tour from South to North towards the coastal city of Tangier. The trip offers stunning views of the mountainous landscape around us. In Tangier, our driver will drop you off at your riad/hotel, marking the end of a memorable Morocco route from South to North.