The Grand Tour of Morocco
Fourteen days, coast to desert to coast — the whole of Morocco in one unbroken thread.
- All four imperial cities — Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech
- Two nights of desert: a camel trek and a starlit camp in Erg Chebbi
- The UNESCO ksar of Ait Benhaddou at golden hour
- Roman Volubilis, the Todra Gorge and the Dades hairpins
- The bohemian Atlantic ramparts of Essaouira
- A private car and driver-guide for the entire route
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The itinerary, on the map
Browse stops on the list and map · numbers match pins · open details without covering the route
- Day 1 · 1h 30m · 91 km
Casablanca → Rabat
Begin on the Atlantic, beneath the soaring minaret of the Hassan II Mosque, then ease into the garden-laced capital.
- 10:30Hassan II Mosque
Africa's largest mosque, its 210m minaret rising straight from the ocean.
- 13:00Lunch, Casablanca medina
A first Moroccan table near the old quarter.
- 16:00Kasbah of the Udayas
12th-century Almohad kasbah with Andalusian gardens above the river.
- 18:00Riad in Rabat
Check in and settle into the capital.
- 10:30
- Day 2 · 2h 40m · 152 km
Rabat → Meknes → Volubilis
Roman mosaics, an emperor’s gateway and the holy hill town of Moulay Idriss in a single, unhurried day.
- 09:00Hassan Tower & Mausoleum
An unfinished 12th-century minaret beside a mausoleum of carved marble.
- 12:30Volubilis Roman Ruins
Morocco's finest Roman city — mosaic floors, a triumphal arch and basilica.
- 15:00Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
The country's holiest town, cascading white across two green hills.
- 17:00Bab Mansour, Meknes
North Africa's grandest gateway, sheathed in zellige.
- 18:30Riad in Meknes
Overnight in the imperial city.
- 09:00
- Day 3 · 1h 0m · 62 km
Meknes → Fes
A short transfer to Fes — and your first descent through the Blue Gate into the medieval medina.
- 10:00Heri es-Souani Granaries
Vast royal stables and granaries built for 12,000 horses.
- 15:00Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate)
The iconic blue-tiled threshold to Fes el Bali.
- 16:30Riad in Fes Medina
Into the world's largest car-free urban area.
- 10:00
- Day 4 · On foot
A full day in Fes
The intellectual heart of Morocco — madrasas, the oldest university on earth, and the medieval tanneries.
- 09:00Bou Inania Madrasa
14th-century college of carved stucco, cedar and onyx.
- 10:30Al-Qarawiyyin University
Founded 859 AD — the oldest continuously running university.
- 11:30Chouara Tannery
Stone dyeing vats worked by hand since the 11th century.
- 16:30Merenid Tombs viewpoint
Sunset over the whole medina from the hilltop ruins.
- 09:00
- Day 5 · 4h 0m · 216 km
Fes → Middle Atlas → Midelt
Alpine Ifrane, cedar forests full of macaques, and the long climb onto the high plateau.
- 09:30Ifrane
The "Switzerland of Morocco" at 1,650m.
- 10:30Cedar Forest of Azrou
Centuries-old Atlas cedars and wild Barbary macaques.
- 17:00Kasbah in Midelt
Apple-orchard town between the Middle and High Atlas.
- 09:30
- Day 6 · 5h 0m · 285 km
Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Down the dramatic Ziz gorges to the desert, ending with a camel trek into the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- 10:30Ziz Valley Panorama
A river of date palms carving through red canyon walls.
- 13:00Erfoud Fossil Workshop
Polished ammonites 350 million years old.
- 17:00Camel trek into Erg Chebbi
A 90-minute sunset ride into 150m dunes.
- 18:30Desert Camp, Erg Chebbi
Berber drumming and dinner beneath the stars.
- 10:30
- Day 7 · 4h 30m · 240 km
Sahara sunrise → Todra Gorge
Dawn over the dunes, the market town of Rissani, then the towering walls of the Todra Gorge.
- 06:00Sunrise over Erg Chebbi
The dunes turning gold then rose — the trip’s quiet highlight.
- 10:00Rissani Souk
Cradle of the ruling Alaouite dynasty and a bustling Berber market.
- 16:00Todra Gorge
A 300m limestone canyon, ten metres wide at its narrowest.
- 18:00Hotel in Todra
Overnight at the mouth of the gorge.
- 06:00
- Day 8 · 3h 30m · 160 km
Todra → Dades → Skoura
The hairpins of the Dades, the Valley of Roses, and the palm-shaded kasbahs of Skoura oasis.
- 09:00Dades Gorge hairpins
The famously serpentine road and "monkey-finger" rock.
- 11:30Valley of Roses (Kelaat M'Gouna)
Hedges of Damask roses distilled into rosewater each May.
- 16:00Skoura Palm Oasis
A sea of date palms hiding earthen kasbahs.
- 17:30Guesthouse in Skoura
Dinner under the palms.
- 09:00
- Day 9 · 2h 0m · 96 km
Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou
The Hollywood of Africa, then the great fortified village of Ait Benhaddou glowing at sunset.
- 09:30Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate
A labyrinthine 19th-century Glaoui kasbah.
- 11:00Atlas Film Studios
Sets from Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and more.
- 16:00Ait Benhaddou
UNESCO ksar of Gladiator and Game of Thrones fame.
- 18:00Kasbah by Ait Benhaddou
Sunset over the earthen towers.
- 09:30
- Day 10 · 3h 30m · 185 km
Ait Benhaddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Over the highest pass in North Africa and down into the red city, ending in the roar of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
- 09:30Tizi n'Tichka Pass
2,260m of sweeping High Atlas switchbacks.
- 15:00Koutoubia Mosque
The 77m minaret that is the symbol of Marrakech.
- 18:30Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk
Storytellers, musicians and food stalls under the smoke.
- 20:00Riad in Marrakech
Check in within the medina walls.
- 09:30
- Day 11 · On foot
A full day in Marrakech
Palaces of painted cedar, the electric-blue Majorelle garden, and eighteen souks to lose yourself in.
- 09:00Bahia Palace
160 rooms of zellige and painted ceilings.
- 10:30Saadian Tombs
16th-century necropolis of Carrara marble and gilt.
- 12:00Jardin Majorelle
Jacques Majorelle’s cobalt garden, saved by Yves Saint Laurent.
- 15:00The Souks
Leather, lanterns, spice and carpet — eighteen trades.
- 09:00
- Day 12 · 2h 45m · 191 km
Marrakech → Essaouira
West to the wind-blown Atlantic and the ramparts of bohemian Essaouira, stopping for argan oil en route.
- 10:00Argan oil cooperative
A women’s cooperative pressing oil the traditional way.
- 14:30Skala de la Ville ramparts
Bronze cannons lined along the sea walls.
- 16:00Essaouira Medina
Blue shutters, white walls and salt air — a UNESCO medina.
- 18:00Riad in Essaouira
Overnight by the harbour.
- 10:00
- Day 13 · 4h 0m · 268 km
Essaouira → Oualidia → El Jadida
A slow coastal run — Safi’s potters, the oyster lagoon of Oualidia and El Jadida’s Portuguese cistern.
- 10:30Safi Potters' Hill
Workshops firing Morocco’s blue-and-white ceramics.
- 13:00Oualidia oyster lagoon
Fresh oysters beside a sheltered turquoise lagoon.
- 16:30Portuguese City, El Jadida
A UNESCO cistern of haunting reflections beneath the fortress.
- 18:00Hotel in El Jadida
Last night on the Atlantic.
- 10:30
- Day 14 · 1h 30m · 99 km
El Jadida → Casablanca & departure
A final stretch of coast road back to Casablanca and your onward flight — fourteen days, one country, end to end.
- 10:00Casablanca Corniche
A last walk along the Atlantic before the airport.
- 13:00Mohammed V Airport
Departure — bghit n3awd! (we hope you’ll be back).
- 10:00
Best months to travel
Spring and autumn are the sweet spot across the whole route — warm days, cool desert nights and the lowest rainfall. Summer is intense inland but glorious on the Atlantic coast.
Morocco guides for this journey
Common questions
It is the most complete way to see Morocco without backtracking — a continuous loop from Casablanca that links the imperial cities, the desert and the coast. We keep driving days broken up with frequent stops.
Entirely. Every day can be lengthened, shortened or swapped using the Trip Builder. Add a night in the desert, skip a city, or upgrade your riads — your specialist re-prices it instantly.
A curated mix of 4–5★ riads, heritage kasbahs and one luxury desert camp. You can move the whole trip up or down a comfort tier in the Trip Builder.
Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Nov) are ideal. Summer is hot inland but fine on the coast; winter is mild by day and cold in the desert at night.
