10 Days Morocco Tour from Fes to Marrakech: The Ultimate Grand Itinerary (Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert)

Your 10 days tour from Fes to Marrakech commences the moment you land at Fes Saiss Airport (FEZ). As you step onto the tarmac, you are breathing the air of a city that has been the spiritual and intellectual heart of Morocco for over a millennium. Your professional, English-speaking driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, ready to transfer you from the modern world into a living museum.

The drive to the medina takes approximately 30 minutes. As you approach Fes el-Bali (Old Fes), the largest car-free urban zone in the world, the scenery shifts. The wide, French-built boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle give way to ancient ramparts. Your vehicle will drop you at one of the main gates, such as Bab Boujloud (The Blue Gate), where a porter will transport your luggage through the narrow, winding alleyways to your accommodation.

You will be staying in a traditional Riad—a historic courtyard house converted into a boutique hotel. These architectural gems are designed with privacy in mind; plain walls on the outside conceal opulent interiors featuring intricate zellige (mosaic tilework), carved cedar wood, and central fountains filled with rose petals. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with the customary Moroccan hospitality ritual: a glass of sweet mint tea and Moroccan pastries.

Depending on your arrival time, we recommend a short walk to the Borj Nord or Borj Sud fortress for a panoramic sunset view. Looking down into the “bowl” of the medina, you will see a sea of minarets and satellite dishes, hearing the call to prayer echo from a hundred mosques at once—a spine-tingling introduction to your Morocco itinerary 10 days. Dinner will be served at your Riad, offering your first taste of Fassi cuisine, perhaps a sweet and savory Pastilla.

• Overnight: Luxury Riad in Fes (e.g., Riad Fes, Palais Amani, or similar).

Day 2 is dedicated entirely to unlocking the secrets of Fes, the oldest of the four Imperial Cities. After a rich breakfast of msemen (pancakes) and fresh orange juice, your certified local guide will meet you at the Riad. Fes is a labyrinth of over 9,000 alleyways, and navigating it requires expert knowledge.

The morning begins outside the medina walls at the Royal Palace (Dar el Makhzen). While the palace itself is private, the seven massive brass gates, framed by intricate zellige tile and cedar wood, are a masterpiece of craftsmanship and a favorite photo opportunity. From there, you will explore the Mellah, the old Jewish Quarter. Notice the difference in architecture; unlike the inward-facing Arab houses, Jewish homes here feature balconies overlooking the street. You may visit the Ibn Danan Synagogue, a testament to the city’s diverse religious history.  

Re-entering the medina through Bab Boujloud, you will descend the Talaa Kebira, the main thoroughfare. The sensory intensity builds as you approach the Chouara Tanneries. This iconic site has remained virtually unchanged since the 11th century. You will be handed a sprig of fresh mint to mask the pungent odor of the dyes and ammonia as you head to a viewing terrace. Below, you will see men standing thigh-deep in stone vats filled with white (pigeon poop and limestone for softening) and colorful (poppy, saffron, indigo for dyeing) liquids, processing hides into the soft leather Fes is famous for.  

Your tour continues to the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri. It is the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution in the world. You will also visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa or Bou Inania Madrasa, architectural jewels where you can admire the lace-like stucco work and Kufic calligraphy up close. Lunch will be in a traditional restaurant in the medina, such as The Ruined Garden or Dar Roumana, offering a respite from the bustle.

• Overnight: Luxury Riad in Fes.

We leave the spiritual capital behind and travel back in time to the Roman Empire. The drive west takes us through the rolling hills of the Saiss Plain, an agricultural heartland rich with olive groves and vineyards.

First stop: Volubilis (Walili). This UNESCO World Heritage site represents the farthest reach of the Roman Empire in North Africa. Your guide will walk you through the ruins of the Basilica, the Capitoline Temple, and the Triumphal Arch of Caracalla. The highlight, however, is the remarkably preserved mosaic floors left in situ. You will see the House of the Labours of Hercules, depicting the twelve tasks of the demigod, and the House of Venus, showcasing the artistic sophistication of this frontier city.

A short drive away is the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, perched dramatically on a hill. We will stop for lunch here, perhaps at Scorpion House, which offers a spectacular terrace view over the ruins of Volubilis. Continuing on, we reach Meknes, the “Versailles of Morocco.” This imperial city was built by the megalomaniacal Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. You will stand before Bab Mansour, widely considered the most beautiful gate in North Africa, adorned with Roman marble columns plundered from Volubilis. We will also visit the Heri es-Souani, the Sultan’s massive granaries and stables designed to house 12,000 royal horses, featuring an ingenious natural air-conditioning system.

The day concludes with a drive to Rabat, the current political capital of Morocco and the residence of the King. Rabat offers a more orderly, colonial atmosphere compared to the chaos of Fes.

• Overnight: Luxury Hotel or Riad in Rabat (e.g., Tour Hassan Palace or Villa Mandarine).

The morning of Day 4 is spent exploring Rabat’s imperial legacy. We begin at the Hassan Tower, an ambitious but unfinished minaret initiated by Yacoub al-Mansur in the 12th century. It was intended to be the tallest in the world, but construction stopped at 44 meters upon his death. The surrounding forest of 348 columns is all that remains of the mosque destroyed by an earthquake. Just opposite lies the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of modern Alaouite architecture housing the tombs of the current King’s grandfather and father, guarded by traditionally dressed Royal Guards. We will also stroll through the Kasbah of the Udayas, a fortress with blue-and-white painted streets that evoke the Greek isles, offering stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou Regreg river.  

Next, we drive one hour south to Casablanca, the economic powerhouse of Morocco. The undisputed highlight here is the Hassan II Mosque. It is one of the few mosques in the country open to non-Muslims (via guided tour). Built to commemorate the late King’s 60th birthday, it is a feat of engineering sitting partially over the ocean. Its minaret soars 210 meters high, topped with a laser pointing to Mecca. Inside, the prayer hall can hold 25,000 worshippers and features a retractable roof that opens to the sky in minutes, as well as heated floors and intricate cedar wood carving from the Middle Atlas.

After lunch on the Corniche of Casablanca, we hit the highway for a 3-hour drive to the Red City of Marrakech. As we approach, the landscape turns arid, and the silhouette of the High Atlas Mountains begins to dominate the horizon. We arrive in time for dinner, perhaps venturing to the edges of Jemaa el-Fna square to witness the carnival of storytellers, musicians, and food stalls coming to life.

• Overnight: Luxury Riad in Marrakech (e.g., La Maison Arabe or Riad Kheirredine).

Today is dedicated to the sensory overload that is Marrakech. Your local guide will meet you to explore the city’s most significant monuments. We begin with the Koutoubia Mosque, the city’s spiritual beacon, whose minaret served as the model for the Giralda in Seville.

Next, we visit the Bahia Palace. Built in the late 19th century for the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed, this palace is a maze of courtyards and gardens designed to house his four wives and 24 concubines. The architecture is a stunning display of Moroccan style, with painted cedar ceilings (zouak), stained glass windows, and Italian Carrara marble courtyards. Following the 2023 earthquake, the palace has undergone renovations and is fully open to the public in 2025, glistening with restored glory.

We will then explore the Saadian Tombs, a royal necropolis that was sealed up and forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery in 1917. The Hall of Twelve Columns is breathtakingly beautiful. In the afternoon, we leave the Medina to visit the Majorelle Garden in the Ville Nouvelle. Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent, this botanical garden is famous for its “Majorelle Blue” villa and diverse collection of cacti. It is a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city.

The day ends with a dive into the Souks of Marrakech. Unlike Fes, these souks are broader and more chaotic. You will navigate through Souk Semmarine and Souk El Attarine, seeing artisans crafting brass lanterns, leather slippers (babouches), and weaving carpets.

• Overnight: Luxury Riad in Marrakech.

We leave the city behind for the mountains on this pivotal day of your Fes to Marrakech desert tour 10 days. We ascend the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest major mountain pass in North Africa at 2,260 meters. The road (N9) has been significantly upgraded in recent years, but the hairpin turns still offer thrilling views of Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides and snow-capped peaks.  

Descending the southern slopes, the landscape transforms into the pre-Saharan “Ochre” world. We stop at the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This fortified village (ksar) is a masterpiece of earthen clay architecture. It is world-famous as a filming location for Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones (representing the city of Yunkai). You will walk across the riverbed and climb the narrow streets to the granary at the top for a panoramic view of the Ounila Valley.

After lunch, we continue through Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa,” and past the Skoura Palm Grove with its ancient kasbahs. We drive through the Valley of Roses (Kelaat M’Gouna), famous for its annual rose festival and rose water production. Finally, we enter the Dades Valley, winding our way up to the famous “Tisdrine” curves to reach our hotel. Keep an eye out for the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations, bulbous sandstone cliffs that look like giant digits.  

• Overnight: Kasbah Hotel in Dades Valley (e.g., Hotel Xaluca Dades or Chez Pierre).

Today, the desert calls. We start with a short drive to the Todra Gorge. Here, the Todra River has carved a massive canyon through the limestone, leaving vertical cliffs that rise 300 meters high on either side. It is a paradise for rock climbers and a humbling place to walk along the riverbank.  

Continuing east, we pass through Tinjdad and Jorf, noticing the ancient khettara irrigation systems—underground canals marked by mounds of earth on the surface. We reach Erfoud, the “Gate of the Sahara,” known for its fossil workshops. The region was once a prehistoric seabed, and you can see table tops and basins made from marble rich with orthoceras and ammonite fossils.  

By late afternoon, we arrive in Merzouga. The pavement ends, and the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi rise dramatically from the flat hamada. You will leave the 4×4 behind and mount a camel for a trek into the dunes. The silence is absolute. As you ride, the sun begins to set, shifting the color of the sand from yellow to gold, pink, and finally purple. You will arrive at your Luxury Desert Camp, a collection of private tents equipped with real beds, electricity, and ensuite bathrooms. Dinner is a traditional tagine served under a canopy of stars, followed by Berber drumming around a campfire.  

Overnight: Luxury Desert Camp in Merzouga (e.g., Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp).

Wake up before dawn to witness the sunrise over the Algerian border—a spiritual experience where the light floods the dunes with warmth. After breakfast at the camp, you have a full day to explore the desert ecosystem in your 4×4.

First, we visit the village of Khamlia. The inhabitants here are Gnawa, descendants of people brought from sub-Saharan Africa (Sudan, Mali, Niger) during the salt trade. They will perform their spiritual Gnawa music for you, a hypnotic rhythm of drums and castanets (krakebs) recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage.  

Next, we go off-road to visit a semi-nomadic Berber family. You will see their traditional tent, learn about their lifestyle herding goats and camels in this harsh environment, and share a cup of tea. We will also visit the Mifis lead mines and the seasonal Dayet Srji lake (if it has rained) which attracts pink flamingos. In the afternoon, adrenaline seekers can try sandboarding down the high dunes or rent a quad bike/ATV for a thrill ride. Alternatively, relax by the pool of a hotel at the edge of the dunes.

• Overnight: Luxury Desert Camp or Hotel in Merzouga (your choice).

We begin the journey north, closing the loop of our 10 days tour from Fes to Marrakech. This is a day of dramatic landscape changes. Leaving the desert, we travel through the Ziz Valley, a spectacular gorge filled with a river of green palm trees—the largest palm grove in Morocco—snaking through the arid red canyon.  

We ascend the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping for lunch in Midelt, the apple capital of Morocco. As we continue, the arid landscape gives way to the lush, alpine Cedar Forest of Azrou. Here, we will stop to see the Barbary Macaques. These endangered monkeys are friendly and accustomed to visitors, offering a unique wildlife encounter in the snow-covered cedars.

Our final stop is Ifrane, often called “Little Switzerland.” Built by the French in the 1930s as a hill station, it features chalet-style architecture, red roofs, and manicured parks that feel completely European—a surreal contrast to the Sahara we woke up in. From Ifrane, we descend back to the Saiss Plain and arrive in Fes in the early evening.

• Overnight: Luxury Riad in Fes.

On the final day of your 10 day private tour Morocco, enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your Riad. Depending on your flight schedule, you might have time for a last stroll in the medina to pick up souvenirs—perhaps some Fassi pottery or leather goods. Your driver will then transfer you to Fes Saiss Airport for your departure, ensuring you arrive with plenty of time. You leave Morocco not just with photos, but with the scent of spices, the sound of the call to prayer, and the silence of the Sahara etched into your memory.