Morocco Medina + Desert

Nine days across Morocco by private vehicle: Marrakech's souks, the High Atlas passes, the Dades and Todra gorges, two nights among the Merzouga dunes and a guided day in the medina of Fes. A starting point we tailor around you.

Every journey is customizable. Use our featured journeys as inspiration. We'll tailor the dates, hotels, activities, pace and budget around you.

Highlights

• The souks of Marrakech

  A guided day through palaces, madrasas and markets, then the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna at dusk.

• Over the High Atlas

  Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visit mountain villages and reach the earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou for sunset.

• Two nights in the Sahara

  Ride a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset and sleep in a desert camp with en-suite tents.

• Dades and Todra gorges

  Winding roads, rose-colored cliffs and an easy walk between the towering walls of Todra Gorge.

• The medina of Fes

  Madrasas, tanneries and craft workshops in a car-free old city, explored with a licensed local guide.

Suggested day-by-day

A starting point, not a fixed schedule — we adjust every day to suit you.

1. 1
   Day 1Arrive in MarrakechMarrakech, Morocco+

   You are met at Marrakech Menara Airport and driven to your riad, the last stretch usually on foot with a porter since many medina lanes are too narrow for cars. After mint tea in the courtyard, take an evening stroll to Jemaa el-Fna as the food stalls light up.

   • Private airport transfer
   • Welcome mint tea at your riad
   • Evening walk to Jemaa el-Fna

   Boutique riad or similar · Marrakech medina
2. 2
   Day 2Palaces, madrasas and souksMarrakech+

   Explore the medina with a licensed guide: the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the souks where leatherworkers, dyers and metalworkers keep old crafts alive. In the afternoon, visit the Majorelle Garden or simply retreat to your riad before dinner.

   • Guided medina walk with a licensed guide
   • Bahia Palace and Ben Youssef Madrasa
   • Craft workshops in the souks
   • Optional Majorelle Garden or hammam

   Boutique riad or similar · Marrakech medinaBreakfast
3. 3
   Day 3Over the High Atlas to Aït BenhaddouHigh Atlas and Aït Benhaddou+

   Climb into the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka road, stopping for mint tea in a mountain village and, time allowing, at the kasbah of Telouet. Arrive at Aït Benhaddou, an earthen ksar recognized by UNESCO, in time to walk up through its lanes at sunset.

   • Drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass
   • Mountain village stop with a local host
   • Optional visit to the Telouet kasbah
   • Sunset walk through Aït Benhaddou

   Kasbah-style guesthouse or similar · Aït Benhaddou areaBreakfast, Dinner
4. 4
   Day 4The valley of kasbahs to DadesSkoura and the Dades Valley+

   Continue east past Ouarzazate to the Skoura palm grove and its restored kasbahs, then through the Rose Valley around Kelaat M'Gouna, which is at its most fragrant in spring. The road ends in the Dades Valley, where you can walk among rust-red rock formations before dinner.

   • Skoura palm grove and kasbah visit
   • Drive through the Rose Valley
   • Short walk in the Dades Valley

   Boutique kasbah hotel or similar · Dades ValleyBreakfast, Dinner
5. 5
   Day 5Todra Gorge to the SaharaTodra Gorge and Merzouga+

   Walk between the towering walls of Todra Gorge, then drive on through oasis towns toward Merzouga. In the late afternoon, swap the vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi to your camp for dinner under the stars.

   • Walk in Todra Gorge
   • Drive via Tinghir and Rissani
   • Sunset camel ride into the dunes
   • Dinner and stargazing at camp

   Upscale desert camp with en-suite tents, or similar · Erg Chebbi, near MerzougaBreakfast, Dinner
6. 6
   Day 6A day in the dunesMerzouga and Erg Chebbi+

   Climb a dune for sunrise, then explore the edges of the erg by 4x4 at an unhurried pace. Visit the village of Khamlia to hear Gnawa music, browse the market town of Rissani, and return to camp for a quiet afternoon and a second night in the desert.

   • Sunrise from the dunes
   • 4x4 excursion around Erg Chebbi
   • Gnawa music in Khamlia
   • Optional sandboarding

   Upscale desert camp or desert-edge kasbah hotel, or similar · Erg Chebbi, near MerzougaBreakfast, Dinner
7. 7
   Day 7Across the Middle Atlas to FesZiz Valley, Middle Atlas and Fes+

   This is the longest drive of the trip, usually eight hours or more with stops. Follow the palm-lined Ziz Valley north, cross the Middle Atlas via Midelt, and look for Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou before arriving in Fes for the evening.

   • Scenic drive through the Ziz Valley
   • Stop in the Middle Atlas cedar forests
   • Arrive at your riad in Fes

   Boutique riad or similar · Fes medinaBreakfast
8. 8
   Day 8The medina of FesFes+

   Spend the day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide: the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Chouara tannery seen from a terrace above, and workshops where weavers, coppersmiths and tile-makers work much as they have for generations. End with views over the old city from the hills outside the walls.

   • Guided day in Fes el-Bali
   • Madrasas and the Chouara tannery
   • Artisan workshops
   • Panoramic view over the medina

   Boutique riad or similar · Fes medinaBreakfast, Dinner
9. 9
   Day 9Depart from FesFes+

   Transfer to Fes-Saïss Airport for your onward flight. If your connections work better from Casablanca, we can arrange a private transfer or first-class train tickets instead.

   • Free morning in Fes
   • Private transfer to Fes-Saïss Airport, or onward to Casablanca

   Breakfast

Make it yours

A few of the ways travelers tailor this journey:

• Hike in a High Atlas village

  Add a night or two in a mountain valley near Imlil for walks between villages with a local guide.

• Float over Marrakech at dawn

  Add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the plains outside the city, weather permitting.

• Finish on the Atlantic coast

  End with two or three nights in Essaouira, a relaxed, breezy port town a few hours from Marrakech.

• Add Chefchaouen

  Continue north from Fes to the blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen for a night or two.

• Break up the long drive

  Add an overnight stop between the desert and Fes, or upgrade to a more private luxury desert camp.

Best months

1. Jan
2. Feb
3. ✓ Mar
4. ✓ Apr
5. ✓ May
6. Jun
7. Jul
8. Aug
9. ✓ Sep
10. ✓ Oct
11. ✓ Nov
12. Dec