Morocco Imperial Cities with Desert Taste Tour

Starting from $1975 /person
Everyday from Casablanca
9 Days /8 Nights
Private Tour
English
Trip Overview

Embark on a 9-day Morocco tour starting in Casablanca, visiting Rabat, Volubilis, and Meknes. Enjoy a guided tour and pottery workshop in Fez, experience a camel ride and a night in the Merzouga desert, and explore Ouarzazate, Todra Gorge, and the UNESCO site Ait Benhaddou, concluding in Marrakech with guided tours and time to explore its rich history.

Detailed itinerary Open all days

As you land in Casablanca, our local driver guide will welcome you in front of gate 2 outside the airport. You will drive up north to Rabat, capital of Morocco; you will be taken to check-in at your hotel where you will be spending the night.


Overnight in Rabat.

After breakfast, be prepared for a guided tour of Rabat, which will revolve around uncovering the history of Rabat. The tour includes a visit to Chellah and Kasbah Ouddaya. Free time afterward to stroll around the souks and bazaars in the old medina of Rabat. Then, continue to “Café Maure”, on the bank of Bouregrag River, to enjoy a Moroccan Tea time with mint tea alongside some Moroccan goodies like: “Kaab Ghazal” and “Ghariba”.
Then we will head to Fez. En route, we will be making a stop by Volubilis and Meknes. The archeological site of Volubilis is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A specialized guide will walk you around the remains of the Roman and Berber cultures that once occupied it. Afterward, the trip will continue to the Imperial City of Meknes, one of Morocco’s lesser-visited cities. It was built by Moulay Ismail and was conceived to be the ‘Versailles of Morocco’. Once you meet your local guide, you can visit the famed gate of Bab El Mansour and Lhri. These sites are the main beating veins of the city. We will then continue our way to Fez.
The more to know: Kaab Ghazal means in Arabic the hoof of the dear, and along with Ghariba and Mint Tea are symbols of Moroccan hospitality.

Local experience: Café Maure Overlooking the Abouregrag River.

Overnight in Fez.

Meals: Breakfast, Tea break.

After breakfast, start your guided city tour of Fez, once the capital of the kingdom before 1912. Your visit today will revolve around exploring Fez the Medina which is a World Heritage Site, according to the UNESCO, and it was founded in the 9th century and it is home to the world's oldest university.
Your local guide will show you around the major sites like Bou-Inania and AttarinMedersa, the tanners, Ess-Seffarine Square, Moulay Idris's tomb, El-Nejjarine square, and the cabinet makers’ souk, the Hebrew district ‘Mellah’. In your schedule, you will have a pottery workshop with a pottery master so that you get to have a full Moroccan experience. After lunch at a local restaurant, you are free to either choose to go back to your hotel or stroll in the narrow alley of the old town on your own. Fez is a rich city; therefore, we encourage you to take the day to discover it.
The more you know: each October, Fez holds one of the largest and most known Sufi festivals with performers from around the world.

Local Experience: Pottery workshops.


Overnight in Fez.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

After breakfast, we will be heading towards Erfoud through Ifran and Midelt. Erfoud will be our gateway to the majestic Moroccan Sahara. It is well known among archaeologists due to fossils dating back hundreds of years. Upon arrival, you will head off for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure drive in 4-wheel vehicles across the barren sand dunes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset along the way to the camp in Merzouga.
The more you know: Erfoud is well known for “Medfouna,” which translate to the buried. It is a Berber calzone filled with meat. Do not mess it! catch a flight back home.

Local Experience: The desert camp.


Overnight in Merzouga.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner.

Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the dunes on the back of a camel. Then travel today between Erfoud and Ouarzazate with English speaking driver. En route, stop in the Todra Gorge. These gorges are located just southwest of Tinerhir and some 110 km (65 miles) from Ouarzazate. After some stunning photos, you will continue the drive to Ouarzazate. Before reaching there, you will make a stop in Skoura - one of Morocco's beautiful oases. At first glance from the road, it resembles a sort of thin, long oasis, but if you have a chance to explore it, you will notice it is rather large and impressive.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner.

Local experience: Camel ride.


Overnight: Ouarzazate.

After Breakfast, meet your driver guide in front of the hotel because ….
“Lights, Camera, Action!”
“Rolling picture”
“CUT”
Here are some of our favorite catchphrases that maybe we do not get to say. However, today you’ll have the chance to visit the Atlas studios, home of some of the world’s most loved films and series like The Mummy, Gladiator, Asterix and Obelix and of course, “ embrace yourself “ Game of Thrones. So make the best of it. En route, enjoy the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass and Ait Ben Haddou – the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Once you arrive in Marrakech, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace or relax at your hotel.


Overnight in Marrakech.

Meals: Breakfast.

Today, you will get the chance to wake up and live in Marrakech, a dream of many, so be sure to make the best of it. After your breakfast, our local guide and driver will be waiting for you to start a guided city tour of the “Ochre City”. We will visit first in the morning the Majorelle Garden which was named after the French painter, Jacques Majorelle, who dedicated a lot of effort and passion to this art piece. After Majorelle, let’s continue to Menara, and though the name in Arabic translates to “lighthouse”, it is a pavilion with a basin and a garden of orchards and olive groves. We will be heading afterward to the Koutobia Mosque and through the Jewish quarter called Mallah. After lunch at a local restaurant, finish your visit with a carriage ride or “Koutchi” to Jamaa El Fnaa.
The more you know: Marrakesh is known for being holy, Moroccans call it “the land of the seven men” who were huge religious and Sufi scholars that gave their lives for knowledge and worship.

Local experience: Kotchi(Horse Carriage Tour)

 

Overnight: in Marrakech.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast, then a Free day in Marrakech. Because all good stories start with a lot of courage, today you get a free day at Marrakech to discover it on your own and have one of those fascinating “once in Marrakech …. stories


Overnight: In Marrakech.

Meals: Breakfast.

Wake up and enjoy a lovely 8 at your hotel before heading to Casablanca to catch a flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast.
Included in the price
    • Arrival: Meet and assist by our representatives at the airports.
    • Transportation: All airport transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle.
    • Accommodation: 01 night in Rabat with bed and breakfast.
    • Accommodation: 02 nights in Fez with bed and breakfast.
    • Accommodation: 01 night in Merzouga with bed, dinner, and breakfast.
    • Accommodation: 01 night in Ouarzazate with bed, dinner, and breakfast.
    • Accommodation: 03 nights in Marrakech with bed and breakfast.
    • Sightseeing: Local English-speaking guides in Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fez, and Marrakech.
    • Monuments: Panoramic visits of Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, Camel Ride in the desert.
    • Transportation: 4X4 transfers to the desert of Merzouga.
    • Monuments: admission fees as per the itinerary.
    • Daily Mineral bottled water in the car.
    • Service charges and local taxes.
Excluded from the price
    • International Airfare
    • Morocco Entry Visa
    • Meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
    • Personal spending
    • Tipping 
    • Optional activities
Diamond Accommodation
Price Details
  • Per Person in Tripe Room $3016
  • Per Person in Double Room $3229
  • One Person Traveling Alone $6030
  • Single Occupancy Supplement $1813
Golden Accommodation
Price Details
  • Per Person in Tripe Room $2282
  • Per Person in Double Room $2554
  • One Person Traveling Alone $4532
  • Single Occupancy Supplement $907
Silver Accommodation
Price Details
  • Per Person in Tripe Room $1975
  • Per Person in Double Room $2167
  • One Person Traveling Alone $3818
  • Single Occupancy Supplement $548

Reviews from our travelers on Trustpilot Feefo

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Best trip to morocco ever
As a solo male traveler, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Morocco. The small group tour with Desert Trails was perfectly balanced - great mix of guided activities and free time. Highlights included hiking in the Atlas Mountains and bargaining in Marrakech's souks (with helpful tips from our guide). The riad accommodations were charming and the group meals were a fantastic way to bond with fellow travelers. Already planning my return!
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An Absolutely Magical Moroccan Adventure!
From the moment we arrived in Casablanca to our final sunset in the Sahara, this tour was perfection! Our guide, Rachid, made every historical site come alive with his knowledge. The highlight was definitely our luxury desert camp - falling asleep under a blanket of stars after traditional Berber music around the fire. Atlas Luxury Tours thought of every detail. Merci for this unforgettable experience!
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Best Cultural Immersion We've Ever Had
As frequent travelers, we can honestly say this Morocco tour exceeded all expectations. The food tour through Fes' medina, the breathtaking Todgha Gorge, and our stay in a restored riad were all highlights. Special mention to our driver Mohammed who navigated the Atlas Mountains like a pro. Morocco Discovery Tours delivered an authentic, well-paced itinerary that balanced activity with relaxation.
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Incredible Experience with Minor Hiccups
Overall an amazing trip! The blue city of Chefchaouen was even more beautiful in person, and our camel trek at sunset was magical. One point off because our Marrakech hotel room wasn't ready upon arrival, but the tour company resolved it quickly. Our guide Fatima's knowledge of women's roles in Moroccan history was particularly fascinating. Would definitely recommend Sahara Dream Tours
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Perfect Family Holiday
Traveling with our 8 and 11 year olds was seamless thanks to Morocco Family Adventures. The kids loved the cooking class and the mule ride in the mountains. We appreciated how the team adjusted activities to our pace and interests. The desert camp had comfortable family tents, and the staff entertained our children with henna and drum lessons. Tusind tak for wonderful memories
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