15-Day Morocco Itinerary Highlights

• Day 1: Adventure starts in Marrakech
  Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
  Meals included: Dinner
• Day 2: Explore the enormous Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca • To the capital, Rabat
  Accommodation: Hotel Musee/Executive Hotel (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 3: Explore Meknes old town and the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis • To Fez
  Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 4: Tour the medina and tanneries of Fez
  Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 5: To Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara
  Accommodation: Auberge La Caravane (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 6: Walk in the sand sea • Camel trek through the dunes • Camp in the Sahara
  Accommodation: Azawad Camp (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 7: To Skoura • Stop to explore the Todra Gorge
  Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 8: Optional hike through an Amazigh village • Enjoy Skoura, the palm grove capital of Morocco
  Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 9: To the mountain village of Tighza • Stop to explore the earthen clay alleys of Ait Benhaddou
  Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 10: Half-day of walking in the High Atlas • Authentic hammam experience
  Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 11: Over the High Atlas Mountains to the seaside town of Essaouira
  Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 12: Free day to explore relaxed Essaouira
  Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 13: To Marrakech • Tour the city highlights including the Bahia Palace and Djemaa el Fna
  Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 14: Free day to explore Marrakech
  Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
  Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 15: Adventure ends in Marrakech
  Meals included: Breakfast

A Detailed 15-Day Morocco Itinerary

Day 1: Adventure starts in Marrakech

But today is a laid-back day, so we can all come together and get settled.

When you arrive at the hotel, you will meet your tour guide and other travellers for the first time at approximately 6 o’clock in the evening. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other and hear about the exciting activities that lie ahead.

After that, your tour guide will make sure you get a full Moroccan welcome for supper.

Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Dinner

Day 2: Explore the enormous Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca • To the capital, Rabat

Among the world’s largest mosques, the Hassan II stands proud with its 655-foot-tall (200-meter) minaret and its sliding ceiling, which lets in sea breezes to keep the interior cool. Together with an expert from the area, we will explore the mosque and its beautiful ablution hall. Coverage of the knees and upper arms is mandatory.

Rabat, the second-most-important city in Morocco after Casablanca, is our next stop after a drive of one hour and thirty minutes. We can take our time exploring here. Despite its primarily modern vibe, Rabat boasts a fantastic ancient town filled with fascinating buildings influenced by Moorish and Andalusian architecture. Stop by the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) on your way to the bustling souk to have some of the delicious locally made delights, such the semolina bread known as harsha topped with the distinctive almond paste, amlou.

Accommodation: Hotel Musee/Executive Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Explore Meknes old town and the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis • To Fez

As one of the most arable regions of Morocco, the landscape transforms as farmland expands outside. Our local guide will meet us in Meknes so that we can explore the old town on foot. The decaying ramparts of the medina, which was built in the Spanish-Moorish architecture, have nine enormous gates. We step into a bustling local market where sellers fight for customers’ attention and artisans work to perfect their trade before making our way to El Hedim square, a miniature counterpart of Marrakech’s Djemaa El Fna. Afterwards, we find ourselves in front of the 1732-built Bab El Mansour gate, a majestic structure.

Volubilis, a World Heritage site and former major Roman town, is the biggest and best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, which we reach in the afternoon after a 45-minute journey. The city flourished during the Roman era. The stunning basilica, capital, and forum, all built in the second century, are evidence of this. As we meander through the streets, we come upon mosaic floor townhouse remnants, as well as baths, oil presses, aqueducts, and stores, all of which provide light on the occupants’ everyday lives.

Our two-night stay in the old city of Fez follows our two-hour exploration of this site with a local guide.

Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Tour the medina and tanneries of Fez

Established over a thousand years ago, it is home to numerous theological colleges and mosques, such as the al-Karaouine University, which dates back to the ninth century and features architecture reminiscent of Moorish Spain. An enormous maze of souks, the medina of Fez is one of the biggest in the world. Thousands of artisans call the narrow passageways and courtyards of this ancient city home. Inhaling the medina’s cacophony and aroma is an immersive experience. As our city guide shows us around the souk, we stop at booths offering copper, brass, and leather. Seeing the tanneries is an essential part of any trip to Fez. We will travel up to a panoramic viewpoint over the city, explore the outside of the Royal Palace, and tour the Jewish District (mellah) outside the medina.

Accommodation: Riad Dilar/Riad Al Mozyane (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: To Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara

The trip takes nine hours, but there are several breaks and stunning landscapes to enjoy. We descend through the scenic Ziz Valley and across the breathtaking Middle Atlas to reach the breathtaking Erg Chebbi, home of the world-famous golden dunes. By the dunes, we stay in a charming auberge (inn). You should start preparing your Sahara overnight bag tonight.

Driving: Nine hours
Accommodation: Auberge La Caravane (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Walk in the sand sea • Camel trek through the dunes • Camp in the Sahara

The sand sea’s pink undertones transform into a breathtaking rose hue when the sun sets, earning it widespread renown.

In the late afternoon, we embark on a traditional Saharan adventure: a 45-minute camel ride across the dunes, during which we can observe the sunset (or you can choose to walk). Our next stop is a desert camp for the night, so we’ll be right back. Under the stars, we will savour a home-cooked dinner this evening.

Accommodation: Azawad Camp (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: To Skoura • Stop to explore the Todra Gorge

As we go along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, we will see several old kasbahs tucked away in verdant palm groves.

Todra Gorge is our destination after a four-hour drive. We leisurely stroll along a winding road that winds its way around the gorge, pausing sometimes to snap photographs. The customary assortment of temporary souvenir stands is also there to entice you.

Driving: Seven hours with three stops
Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Optional hike through an Amazigh village • Enjoy Skoura, the palm grove capital of Morocco

Another option is to unwind at the lodge or nearby while strolling amid the verdant palm trees. Skoura, sometimes called the “capital of palm groves” in Morocco, is a great place to unwind and enjoy nature on foot as you explore the area’s many kasbahs and palm groves.

Accommodation: Skoura Lodge (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9: To the mountain village of Tighza • Stop to explore the earthen clay alleys of Ait Benhaddou

Several Hollywood films, including Gladiator (2000), were shot at this UNESCO World Heritage site, which is among the most breathtaking in the Atlas range. Atmospheric lanes and the mud walls of the houses are on display here.

Once we reach Anmiter, we disembark from the bus and go on a strenuous trek of 1 to 2 hours uphill to the Amazigh settlement of Tighza, where we will spend the following two nights. The journey continues into the highlands as we take an easterly route via a broad, flat valley. A small mountain community nestled in the Atlas Mountains is Tighza. You can watch the sun go down over the mountains from our riad’s terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of the valley below. Meeting local locals and learning about their culture is a great perk of this tranquil retreat. We are escorted with our bags to the village. Those who would prefer not to walk can hire mules for 170 dirhams, which can be paid locally.

When we get to the village, they give us mint tea to celebrate.

Driving: 1hr 30min
Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Half-day of walking in the High Atlas • Authentic hammam experience

Our hike’s duration will be around four hours, give or take depending on the group’s strength. You can spend the afternoon doing anything you like: reading a book, taking in the scenery from the mountains, going for a walk, or even playing football with the kids from the hamlet.

We have been supporting Tighza and three other villages in this isolated valley through various responsible tourism initiatives for over a decade. We stop at the village hammam, which our patrons helped fund. I am having a blast, and it is very genuine. Because it is a traditional hammam, you will likely have the chance to interact with locals, which enhances the experience even more. Twenty dirhams (about $1.90) will cover the cost of the normal treatment, but you’ll also need to buy a scrubber and some soap, on top of the usual tip of twenty dirhams. We head back to the lodge for our last mountain dinner, feeling revitalised.

Driving: 1hr 30min
Accommodation: Riad Bouchahoud/La Cigogne/Riad Tamkdakht (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Over the High Atlas Mountains to the seaside town of Essaouira

We do not feel comfortable entering this dilapidated, abandoned structure, but we can explore its exterior and capture images. We continue our picturesque drive to Marrakech over the High Atlas Mountains, taking the highest road in Morocco, the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 7,415 feet (2,260 meters) above sea level. There are some breathtaking vistas of the Alps and other breathtaking landscapes. We also make a pit stop at an argan oil farm run by a cooperative of women, where you can view the trees up close, learn about the process, and buy some if you’re interested. We reach the dry, flat plains of Marrakech at the end of our adventure, and then continue on to the picturesque coastal town of Essaouira.

Driving: 7hr 30min
Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12: Free day to explore relaxed Essaouira

The town as we know it now was built by Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah in 1760 as a base to put down an uprising from Agadir; the hamlet itself dates back to the 15th century. The town is much more laid-back now, and the contrast with the desert, kasbahs, and cities we’ve seen so far is striking, thanks to its whitewashed buildings with painted shutters, artisan workshops, boatyards, and fisherman. With our accommodation being in the middle of the old walled city, we’ll be able to easily explore the souks and the beach on foot. There is a wide variety of options for our evening meal, including numerous charming cafés and some exceptional seafood places.

Accommodation: Maison Du Sud/Riad Benattar (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13: To Marrakech • Tour the city highlights including the Bahia Palace and Djemaa el Fna

We have a guided tour of the city in the afternoon to get a feel for it and see all the sights. The tour concludes at the Djemaa el Fna plaza, where the town’s labyrinth of bazaars, palaces, and mosques comes to a whirl, after our guide whisks us away to the luxurious Bahia Palace, a former royal residence. In the evening, you should definitely make it to this famous site, as Marrakech comes alive in this central square, complete with acrobats, juice vendors, and food booths. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the nightlife here.

Driving: Three hours
Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 14: Free day to explore Marrakech

Explore the souks and ancient streets of the medina, or pay a visit to Koutoubia, the city’s largest mosque. We will have time to visit the Koranic School and Museum of Marrakech after we have shopped for souvenirs. Then, for half an hour, you can travel in a calèche, a verdant horse-drawn carriage, to the Jardin Majorelle. Yves Saint Laurent formerly owned these indigo-blue-decorated gardens.

We encourage you to have lunch at the Moroccan Restaurant and Amal Women’s Training Centre, two places we back because they help underprivileged women. Their mission is to help underprivileged youth gain economic independence and improve their quality of life by providing them with hands-on experience in a restaurant. Do stop by for a delicious traditional Moroccan supper and to help out this great cause. It is customary for the group to have their last lunch together on Djemaa el Fna this evening.

Accommodation: Ayoub Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 15: Adventure ends in Marrakech

You have ridden a camel through the Sahara, explored bustling medinas, and enjoyed a traditional hammam in the Atlas Mountains. But now is the moment to begin your return trip and plot your future adventure.

Alternatively, your sales agent would be pleased to advise you on how to prolong your stay in Morocco.

Meals included: Breakfast

End of the 15-Day Morocco Itinerary