12 days / 11 nights · Culture & Food Group Trips
Grand Morocco Journey
12 days across Morocco: Marrakech, the Atlas kasbahs, the Sahara, the imperial city of Fes, Roman Volubilis and the blue town of Chefchaouen.
- Duration12 days / 11 nights
- Start & endMarrakech → Chefchaouen (transfer to Fes, Tangier or Casablanca)
- Trip typeHosted small group, or private for your group
- Activity levelEasy, suitable for most travelers
- Best seasonAll year, best in spring and autumn
- AccommodationRiads, kasbah hotel, desert camp
- Meals11 breakfasts, 5 dinners
- Local team in MarrakechWe run every hosted trip ourselves
- Free, no-obligation answerNothing to pay to ask
- Reply within 24 hoursBy WhatsApp or email
- Hosts can adjust itAny day can be changed for a group
Overview
The complete Morocco experience in twelve days. You start with two nights in the medina of Marrakech, then cross the High Atlas to the kasbahs and gorges of the south and spend two nights in the Sahara.
From the desert you travel north through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fes, explore its medina with a local guide, visit the Roman city of Volubilis and Meknes, and end in Chefchaouen, the blue town of the Rif mountains.
Highlights
- The medina of Marrakech and Jemaa el-Fna square
- Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- The Dades and Todra gorges
- Two nights in the Sahara with a camel trek
- A guided day in the medina of Fes
- Roman Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes
- The blue alleys of Chefchaouen
Route
- Marrakech Day 1
- Aït Ben Haddou Day 3
- Dades Gorges Day 4
- Merzouga Day 5
- Ifrane Day 7
- Fes Day 7
- Volubilis Day 9
- Chefchaouen Day 10
Hosted Trips on This Route
No hosted trip is planned on this route yet. Hosts can choose it for their group, or you can book it as a private trip.
Itinerary
This is the route our hosted groups follow. A host can adjust any day for their community.
| Day | Route | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Marrakech | Riad in Marrakech |
| 2 | Marrakech guided tour | Riad in Marrakech |
| 3 | Over the Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate | Kasbah hotel in Ouarzazate |
| 4 | Valley of Roses and the Dades Gorges | Guesthouse in the Dades Gorges |
| 5 | Todra Gorge to the Sahara | Desert camp in Erg Chebbi |
| 6 | A day in the Sahara | Desert camp in Erg Chebbi |
| 7 | Through the Middle Atlas to Fes | Riad in Fes |
| 8 | Fes guided tour | Riad in Fes |
| 9 | Volubilis and Meknes | Riad in Fes |
| 10 | Fes to Chefchaouen | Riad in Chefchaouen |
| 11 | Chefchaouen at your own pace | Riad in Chefchaouen |
| 12 | Departure | End of the tour |
-
Day1
Arrival in Marrakech
Airport pickup and transfer to your riad in the medina. In the evening, discover the stalls, musicians and storytellers of Jemaa el-Fna square.
-
Day2
Marrakech guided tour
A local guide shows you the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks. Afternoon at the Majorelle Garden or free time.
-
Day3
Over the Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visit the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou and continue to Ouarzazate.
-
Day4
Valley of Roses and the Dades Gorges
Drive through the Skoura palm grove and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Gorges, with time for a short walk.
-
Day5
Todra Gorge to the Sahara
Walk in the Todra Gorge, then continue to Merzouga and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
-
Day6
A day in the Sahara
Sunrise over the dunes, a visit to Khamlia and its Gnawa musicians, and free time for sandboarding or an optional quad ride.
-
Day7
Through the Middle Atlas to Fes
Follow the Ziz Valley and its palm groves north to Midelt, then cross the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, home to Barbary macaques, and the town of Ifrane before reaching Fes.
-
Day8
Fes guided tour
Explore Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free medinas in the world, with a local guide: the Bou Inania madrasa, the Chouara tannery and the artisans' quarters.
-
Day9
Volubilis and Meknes
Day trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the holy town of Moulay Idriss and the imperial city of Meknes.
-
Day10
Fes to Chefchaouen
Drive through the foothills of the Rif to Chefchaouen, the blue town of the mountains, and take a first walk through its alleys.
-
Day11
Chefchaouen at your own pace
Explore the blue medina, the Outa el-Hammam square and the Ras el-Maa spring, and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.
-
Day12
Departure
Transfer to Fes, Tangier or Casablanca for your flight or your next destination.
What's Included
Included
- Airport pickup in Marrakech and the final transfer
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a local driver, for the group only from day 3
- 11 nights' accommodation: riads, kasbah hotel, guesthouse and two nights in a desert camp
- 11 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- Local guides in Marrakech and Fes
- Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Fuel and parking
Not included
- Lunches, drinks and dinners not listed
- Entrance fees (palaces, madrasas, Volubilis)
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Tips for drivers and guides
Accommodation
-
Nights 1–2Riad in Marrakech
A traditional riad with a patio, in the heart of the medina.
-
Nights 3–4
Kasbah hotel and gorge guesthouse
Ouarzazate, then a family-run guesthouse in the Dades Gorges.
-
Nights 5–6Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Comfortable tents among the dunes, with dinner and music around the fire.
-
Nights 7–9
Riad in Fes
A restored riad in the old medina, close to the main sights.
-
Nights 10–11
Riad in Chefchaouen
A small blue-and-white riad with a terrace over the mountains.
Good to Know
-
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are ideal everywhere. Summer is hot in Marrakech, Fes and the desert; winter nights are cold in the Atlas and the Sahara.
-
Long driving days
Day 7 from the Sahara to Fes is long. We can split it with a night in Midelt if you prefer.
-
Medinas
Local guides are included in Marrakech and Fes, so you can enjoy the medinas without getting lost.
-
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, a scarf and a warm layer for the desert.
-
Money
Bring cash in dirhams for lunches, entrance fees, markets and tips. ATMs are easy to find in cities.
-
Staying connected
A local SIM card is cheap and works almost everywhere, except deep in the gorges and the desert.
FAQ
Can I join this route as a hosted group trip?
Yes, when a host leads it. Open Choose Your Date to see the hosted trips open for booking, with their dates, price and places left.
Can I host this trip for my community?
Yes. Apply on the Host a Group Trip page and choose "Grand Morocco Journey". We adapt the route to your group and send you a price per person.
Can the tour end in Marrakech instead?
Yes. We can return from Chefchaouen to Marrakech, or start in Fes and end in Marrakech. Tell us your flights and we will adapt the route.
Can we add the coast or Essaouira?
Yes. We can add Essaouira at the start or end of the trip, or replace Chefchaouen with the Atlantic coast.
Is the drive from the Sahara to Fes too long?
It is a full day with many stops. We can split it with a night in Midelt or the Middle Atlas.
Can we choose luxury riads?
Yes. We can book boutique riads and a luxury desert camp. The price is adjusted in your quote.
Is this tour good for families?
Yes. Children love the desert, the souks and the macaques of the Middle Atlas. We can add rest time and pool stops.
Do we need a guide in the medinas?
Guides are included in Marrakech and Fes. In Chefchaouen the medina is small and easy to explore on your own.
You may also like
