8 Days tour from Casablanca

Your 8 Day Trip from Casablanca to Marrakech begins the moment you land at Mohammed V International Airport. You will be greeted by your private driver—a friendly local expert who speaks fluent English and is ready to introduce you to Moroccan hospitality.

First stop: The Hassan II Mosque. This isn’t just a religious site; it’s a masterpiece of engineering. Built on a promontory over the Atlantic Ocean, its prayer hall can hold 25,000 people. If you arrive in the morning, you might see the massive retractable roof slide open, flooding the intricate zellij tilework with sunlight.  

After soaking in the sea breeze, we drive north to Rabat, the political capital. Here, the vibe shifts from commercial to imperial. We’ll explore the Oudaya Kasbah, a fortress within a city painted in blues and whites that rival Greece. You’ll walk through the Andalusian Gardens, smell the citrus trees, and look out over the Bou Regreg river where pirates once docked.  

• Overnight: Riad Euphoriad or Villa Mandarine (Rabat).

Today, we leave the coast and head into the mountains. The drive takes us through the fertile Gharb plains before climbing into the Rif Mountains. As the road winds upward, the landscape turns rugged and green, dotted with olive groves.

By early afternoon, we arrive in Chefchaouen, the “Blue Pearl.” Founded in 1471, this town is famous for its blue-washed buildings—a tradition believed to have been started by Jewish refugees in the 1930s to symbolize the sky and heaven.  

Check into your riad and then step out into the medina. Unlike the chaotic souks of Marrakech, Chefchaouen is calm. You can wander the gradient of blue alleys without being hassled.

• Sunset Activity: Hike up to the Spanish Mosque (about 20 minutes) for the ultimate panoramic view of the blue city against the green mountains as the sun goes down.  

• Overnight: Lina Ryad & Spa (Luxury) or Riad Hicham (Superior).

This is a day for history buffs. We depart the mountains and descend into the rolling hills to visit Volubilis, the farthest outpost of the Roman Empire. You will walk among ruins that are 2,000 years old. The highlights are the incredibly preserved mosaic floors, which remain in situ—you’ll see the Labors of Hercules and the bathing nymphs just as the Romans did.  

Next, we make a stop in Meknes, one of the four Imperial Cities. We’ll stand before the colossal Bab Mansour gate. Completed in 1732, it is decorated with zellij tiles and marble columns taken from Volubilis. It’s widely considered the most beautiful gate in North Africa.  

Finally, we arrive in Fes, the spiritual heart of the country.

• Overnight: Palais Faraj Suites & Spa (Luxury) or Palais Houyam (Superior).

Today, you don’t drive; you walk. Fes el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest car-free urban area. Your private guide will lead you through a labyrinth of 9,000 alleyways.

Highlights of the Day:

• Al-Qarawiyyin University: Founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, this is the oldest continually operating university in the world. While non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, you can glimpse the stunning courtyard and library.  

• Chouara Tannery: This is the iconic image of Fes. You’ll head up to a terrace to look down on the stone vats where men stand thigh-deep in dyes of indigo, poppy, and saffron, processing leather just as they have for a thousand years. (Pro tip: Use the sprig of mint provided to mask the smell!).  

• Craftsmanship: Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and watch artisans hammer copper in Seffarine Square.

• Lunch: Try a Chicken Pastilla, a sweet and savory pie dusted with cinnamon and sugar—a Fes specialty.

This is the longest leg of your 8 days Morocco tour, but visually the most spectacular. We start by climbing into the Middle Atlas mountains to Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland” for its Alpine architecture and snow-capped peaks.  

Just down the road is the Cedar Forest of Azrou, home to the endangered Barbary Macaques. We’ll stop to see them, but remember to keep a respectful distance and avoid feeding them to maintain their wild habits.  

We then cross the High Atlas and descend into the Ziz Valley, a miraculous ribbon of millions of date palms winding through the desert rock. We’ll stop at the panoramic viewpoint near Aoufous for photos.  

By late afternoon, the black stone desert gives way to the golden sands of Merzouga. You will trade your 4×4 for a camel and trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset.

• The Night: Arrive at Madu Luxury Camp. Enjoy a traditional tagine dinner, listen to Gnawa music around the campfire, and sleep in a luxury tent with a full ensuite bathroom.

Wake up early. Seriously. The sunrise over the Sahara is a spiritual experience you cannot miss. The colors shift from purple to pink to gold in minutes.

After breakfast, we drive to Rissani, the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty. If it’s market day (Sun/Tue/Thu), we’ll visit the donkey market and souk. Foodie Alert: We highly recommend trying “Berber Pizza” (Medfouna) for lunch here—a stuffed flatbread baked in a mud oven.  

We continue to the Todra Gorges, where 300-meter high limestone cliffs pinch the sky, leaving a narrow corridor just wide enough for a river and a road. It’s a climber’s paradise.

We finish the day in the Dades Valley, driving past the strange rock formations known as “Monkey Fingers” because they look like melted hand digits.  

• Overnight: Hotel Babylon Dades or Xaluca Dades.

We travel along the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” passing through the Rose Valley (famous for rose water) and Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa.”

The star of the day is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This massive fortified village (ksar) is a striking example of earthen clay architecture. You’ll recognize it immediately from Gladiator and Game of Thrones (it was Yunkai).  

The final hurdle is the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, winding up to 2,260 meters over the High Atlas Mountains. The views are dizzying and dramatic. We descend onto the Haouz plain and arrive in Marrakech in the evening.

• Overnight: La Mamounia (Luxury) or Riad Kniza (Superior)

Your Morocco itinerary 8 days concludes in the Red City. Depending on your flight time, you can explore the Majorelle Garden (once owned by Yves Saint Laurent) or get lost in the Souks buying spices and slippers.

Finish with a mint tea on a terrace overlooking Jemaa el-Fnaa square, watching the snake charmers and storytellers below, before your transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).