Circular tour through the Sahara, Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca, starting and ending in Marrakech.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Marrakech – Transfer to the Riad
Upon your arrival, our team will welcome you at Marrakech Airport or at the exact agreed meeting point. The transfer to your accommodation will be made in a private, comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle. From that moment on, you will have our assistance throughout the entire tour.
After check-in at the selected riad in the Medina, the rest of the programme will depend on your arrival time. If there is enough time, the guided tour of Marrakech with an official English-speaking local guide can take place on the same day. If the schedule does not allow it, the included visit will be moved to Day 8 before departure.
When no guided visit is scheduled, you will have free time to rest or enjoy your first contact with Jemaa el-Fna Square and the souks. You will spend the night in Marrakech with breakfast included; dinner will be at your own expense.
Day 2
Marrakech – Alto Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valle de las Rosas – Valle del Dades
After breakfast, our driver, who speaks your language, will pick you up at the riad to begin the journey south. We will cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, located at more than 2,200 metres above sea level, stopping at viewpoints and near Amazigh villages to enjoy the scenery and take photographs.
On the other side of the mountains, we will visit the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, an impressive fortified adobe village declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance fees to paid sites are optional. After lunch at your own expense, we will continue towards Ouarzazate, with the possibility of seeing the Kasbah of Taourirt depending on the available time.
The route will continue through the Skoura palm grove, the Valley of the Roses and the famous Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. At the end of the afternoon, we will arrive in the Dades Valley, where dinner will be served and you will spend the night in a selected riad or hotel.
Day 3
Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Tinghir – Tinjdad – Touroug – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
After breakfast, we will travel through the Dades Valley and continue to the Todra Gorges. We will stop to walk between its impressive rock walls, which reach around 200 metres in some places, and admire the canyon shaped by the river.
We will continue through Tinghir and the palm groves of Tinjdad and Touroug, where the green cultivated areas contrast with the arid landscapes. Later, we will reach Erfoud, known for its fossils and stone workshops. Lunch will be at your own expense during the journey.
In the afternoon, we will arrive in Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. We will leave the vehicle and begin the camel ride, normally one camel per person, to enjoy the sunset and reach the desert camp. Guests who prefer not to ride a camel may request a 4x4 transfer in advance, subject to the confirmed package.
At the camp, you will enjoy dinner, traditional music when scheduled, and a night under the Sahara sky. The camp category and the availability of a private bathroom and shower will be clearly specified in your quotation.
Day 4
Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Middle Atlas – cedar forest – Ifrane – Fez
Those who wish may wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast and time to freshen up, we will return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4, depending on the service booked, and rejoin our private vehicle.
We will pass through Rissani, the former capital of Tafilalet, and travel up the Ziz Valley through palm groves, mountains and panoramic viewpoints. The route will then cross the Middle Atlas and the landscapes of the cedar forest. When conditions permit, we may observe Barbary macaques in their natural environment without feeding or disturbing them.
We will also stop in Ifrane, known for its mountain architecture. At the end of the day, we will arrive in Fez, where the driver will leave you at the selected riad inside or near the Medina. This is a long travel day and arrival times may vary depending on stops, traffic and weather. Accommodation includes breakfast; dinner will be at your own expense.
Day 5
Fes – Guided City Tour
After breakfast, your visit to Fez will begin with an official English-speaking local guide. We will spend the day discovering the historic Medina, its monumental gates, souks, artisan quarters and viewpoints, with explanations about the history and daily life of one of Morocco’s great Imperial Cities.
Depending on opening hours and the group’s preferences, the tour may include the Bou Inania Madrasa, Nejjarine Fountain, the exterior of Al Quaraouiyine Mosque and University, the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss and the famous tanners’ quarter. We may also visit the golden gates of the Royal Palace. Entrance fees are optional and paid directly.
After the visit, you will have free time to continue exploring, buy handicrafts or rest. You will spend a second night in the same riad in Fez, with breakfast included and dinner at your own expense.
Day 6
Fez – Meknes – Rabat
After breakfast, we will leave for Meknes, located approximately 60 km from Fez. This former imperial capital preserves an important heritage from the time of Sultan Moulay Ismail. We will discover its main monumental and outdoor sites, such as Bab Mansour, El Hedim Square and the area around the mausoleum, depending on opening hours. Entrance fees are optional.
After lunch at your own expense, we will continue west towards Rabat, the current capital of Morocco. In the afternoon, we will visit some of its most representative sites, including the Kasbah of the Oudayas, Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and other panoramic locations depending on the available time.
At the end of the day, the driver will leave you at a selected riad in Rabat. Accommodation includes breakfast; dinner will be at your own expense so you can choose among the city’s restaurants.
Day 7
Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech
After breakfast, we will follow the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, located approximately 90 km from Rabat. We will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city and the Corniche Boulevard before reaching the Hassan II Mosque, one of Morocco’s great contemporary monuments.
The interior visit to the mosque is optional, subject to official opening times, and is paid directly. After lunch at your own expense, we will continue by road to Marrakech.
Arrival in Marrakech is expected at the end of the afternoon, although this may vary depending on traffic and stops. You will spend the final night in a selected riad in the Medina, with breakfast included and dinner at your own expense.
Day 8
Marrakech – pending guided visit and airport transfer
After breakfast and check-out, we will organise the day according to your departure time. If the guided tour of Marrakech could not take place on the first day, an official English-speaking local guide will accompany you to discover places such as Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the surroundings of the Koutoubia Mosque, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna Square. Entrance fees are not included.
If the visit was already completed on arrival, you will have free time for last-minute shopping, a walk through the Medina or an optional visit. The programme will always be adjusted to ensure timely arrival at the airport.
At the agreed time, our driver will provide the private transfer to Marrakech Airport or the previously confirmed departure point. This service marks the end of your eight-day journey through the Atlas Mountains, the Merzouga Desert and Morocco’s Imperial Cities.
Services Included
- Private pick-up and transfers to and from Marrakech Airport or the agreed location
- Private, comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout the circuit
- Professional driver fluent in your language
- Assistance from Viajes Almoravid before and throughout the route
- Two nights in a selected riad in Marrakech, with breakfast
- One night in a selected riad or hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast
- One night in a selected camp in Merzouga, including dinner and breakfast
- Two nights in a selected riad in Fes, including breakfast
- One night in a selected riad in Rabat, including breakfast
- Round-trip camel ride, normally one camel per person
- 4x4 transfer available as an alternative to the camel trek when requested in advance and included in the package
- Official local English-speaking guide for the Fes tour
- One visit of Marrakech with an official English-speaking local guide, scheduled on Day 1 or Day 8 depending on flight times
Services Not Included
- International flights
- Dinners in Marrakech, Fez and Rabat
- Lunches and beverages
- Entrance fees to museums, monuments and optional visits
- Additional local guides not specifically listed among the included services
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance, unless expressly indicated as included in the quote
Would you like to customize this itinerary?
Tell us your dates, number of travellers and preferred way of travelling. We will prepare a personalised proposal with all services and the final price clearly confirmed.
