If you’re planning to explore Morocco in a week, this 7-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech is the best option for you. It offers a well-paced itinerary through Morocco’s diverse cities, mountains, ancient ruins, and desert landscapes. You’ll explore everything from blue towns and imperial cities to golden dunes and historical kasbahs. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning explorer, this trip is a perfect snapshot of Morocco’s diverse magic.
Morning Departure from Casablanca: Your journey begins in Casablanca, either from the airport or your hotel. After a warm welcome, we’ll visit the iconic Hassan II Mosque before heading northeast toward Rabat. Explore Hassan Tower in Rabat: In Rabat, we’ll stop to visit the Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century minaret that stands as a symbol of the city’s rich history. Nearby, you’ll also spot the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Drive through the Scenic Rif Mountains: After our stop in Rabat, we continue the drive north through the stunning Rif Mountains. This scenic route offers beautiful landscapes, rolling hills, and glimpses of traditional village life along the way. Evening Arrival in Chefchaouen: By late afternoon or early evening, we’ll arrive in the iconic Blue City of Chefchaouen. Tucked into the hills, this town is famous for its calm atmosphere and blue-painted streets. Take a gentle walk through the medina and soak in the peaceful vibe.
Wander Through the Blue Streets: We’ll start our second day in the calm and colorful town of Chefchaouen. The morning is perfect for strolling through Stalk, the town’s charming center, where blue-washed buildings, colorful flower pots, and artisan shops line every alley. Visit the Kasbah and Museum: Next, we’ll step inside the Kasbah Ethnographic Museum, located right in the heart of the medina. This small fortress offers a glimpse into Chefchaouen’s history through old photographs, traditional garments, and local artwork. Nature Escape to Akchour Waterfalls: Later in the day, we’ll have the option to venture out to the Akchour Waterfalls, a scenic hike just outside the city. The trail winds through forested paths and river streams, eventually leading to one of the Rif Mountains’ most stunning natural attractions. Evening in the Medina: In the evening, we’ll return to Utah Lhmam Square, where locals gather and street performers liven up the atmosphere. We’ll also explore the Al-Swaiqa District, a quieter corner of the medina filled with tiny shops and cafés. You’ll spend another night in your traditional riad.
Volubilis Roman Ruins: After breakfast, we leave the Blue City and travel south to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. We'll explore the ancient mosaics, basilica, and triumphal arch. Meknes Imperial City: We continue to Meknes, one of Morocco's imperial cities. We'll visit the grand Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Swani basin, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Arrival in Fes: In the late afternoon, we arrive in Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco. We check into our riad in the medina for the night.
Guided Medina Tour: Today is dedicated to exploring Fes el-Bali, the oldest walled city in the world. A local guide will take us through the narrow, winding alleys. Key Sights: We'll visit the Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Nejjarine Fountain, and the Chouara Tanneries, where we can see the traditional leather dyeing process. Fes el-Jdid: We'll also explore the Royal Palace gates and the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) in Fes el-Jdid. We return to our riad in the evening.
Middle Atlas Mountains: We leave Fes and head towards the desert, passing through Ifrane and the Cedar Forest of Azrou, where we might see Barbary apes. Ziz Valley: We cross the Midelt pass and descend into the Ziz Valley, a stunning palm oasis. Erfoud & Merzouga: We pass through Erfoud, known for fossils, and arrive in Merzouga. We switch to camels for a trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes to watch the sunset. We spend the night in a desert camp with dinner and music.
Sunrise & Rissani: We wake up early for sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, we visit the market in Rissani. Todra Gorges: We travel to the Todra Gorges for a walk beneath the towering cliffs. Dades Valley: We continue to the Dades Valley, admiring the rock formations and kasbahs. We spend the night in a hotel in the valley.
Valley of Roses & Ouarzazate: We drive through the Valley of Roses to Ouarzazate to see the Atlas Film Studios and Taourirt Kasbah. Ait Ben Haddou: We visit the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. High Atlas Mountains: We cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Arrival in Marrakech: We arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon, concluding the tour.
