Morocco Tour from Fes in 8 days: The Imperial & Desert Explorer

We leave Fes in the morning and head north through the agricultural plains, ascending into the rugged peaks of the Rif Mountains. By midday, the striking blue architecture of Chefchaouen emerges. Spend your afternoon wandering this remarkably calm, photogenic town. Photograph the brilliant blue walls, shop for locally woven carpets, and enjoy fresh mint tea in the bustling Plaza Uta el-Hammam before settling into your mountain Riad.

• Driving Time: About 3.5 to 4 hours

• Accommodations: Charming blue-styled Riad in Chefchaouen

• Meals: Breakfast included

Enjoy a peaceful morning capturing the blue alleys before the daytime crowds arrive. Mid-morning, we journey south toward Fes, stopping to walk the monumental grounds of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Roman site known for its well-preserved, detailed floor mosaics. We return to Fes by late afternoon, giving you a relaxing evening to prepare for your journey south to the desert.

• Driving Time: About 4.5 hours total with stops

• Accommodations: Authentic Riad inside the Fes Medina

• Meals: Breakfast included

An early departure takes us south across the Middle Atlas. We stop in alpine Ifrane and the ancient cedar forests of Azrou to view wild Barbary macaque monkeys. After lunch in Midelt, we descend through the breathtaking Ziz Valley, where millions of date palms slice through deep desert canyons. By late afternoon, the golden dunes of Merzouga rise on the horizon, where you will check into a Kasbah hotel at the edge of the sand dunes.

• Driving Time: About 7 hours

• Accommodations: Traditional desert Kasbah hotel at the edge of the dunes

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Spend the morning exploring the desert dunes in a private 4×4. We will visit a nomad family in their traditional tent to share mint tea, then listen to ancestral Gnawa music in Khamlia village. In the afternoon, mount your camel for a peaceful trek across the high Erg Chebbi dunes. Watch an incredible Sahara sunset before arriving at your luxury camp for dinner, traditional fireside drumming, and premium stargazing.

• Driving Time: Minimal (Desert tracking)

• Accommodations: Private luxury desert camp tent (with en-suite bathroom)

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

Wake up early for a spectacular Sahara sunrise over the sand ridges. After breakfast, we travel west into the rugged Atlas terrain to reach the Todra Gorge, a massive limestone canyon with vertical rock walls rising 300 meters high. Walk along the cool riverbed before continuing into the scenic Dades Valley, famous for its winding cliffside roads and unique weathered rock formations.

• Driving Time: About 4.5 hours

• Accommodations: Traditional Kasbah or Riad inside the Dades Valley

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included

We travel along the historic Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to explore Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, an 11th-century mud-brick fortress town featured in films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. After lunch at this UNESCO site, we take on the dramatic drive over the High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 meters elevation), dropping down into the vibrant plains of Marrakech by evening.

• Driving Time: About 6 hours total

• Accommodations: Traditional boutique Riad in the Marrakech Medina

• Meals: Breakfast included

Your private history guide will meet you for a morning walking tour of the “Red City.” Discover the brilliant tilework of the Bahia Palace, view the historic Koutoubia Mosque, and wander the packed artisan souks. In the afternoon, your driver will provide a direct, seamless transfer to either the Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) or back to the Casablanca Airport (CMN) for your flight home.

• Driving Time: 20 minutes to Marrakech Airport or 2.5 hours to Casablanca Airport

• Meals: Breakfast included