Pick up at Marrakech airport. Transfer to the Riad. Visit the city and its famous Djemaa el Fna square. Accommodation in Riad.

In the morning, we begin our 12-day Marrakech Desert Tour with a visit to Marrakech, founded by the Almoravids in the 11th century. Highlights include the Koutoubia Minaret, a symbol of the city and a masterpiece of Almohad architecture, the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Medina, and the famous Jemaa el Fna square, bustling with vendors, acrobats, and storytellers. Overnight at a hotel or Riad.

We depart at 8:00 AM from your Riad or hotel in Marrakech for the second leg of our 12-day Desert Tour toward Merzouga. Our route crosses the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, where we’ll make several stops to admire panoramic views and photograph traditional Berber villages blending into the earth-toned landscape.

Next, we visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fortified ksar that has served as a backdrop for major films such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. After lunch in the village, we continue to Ouarzazate, known as the “gateway to the desert,” and explore its historic kasbah.

We then pass through the Valley of the Roses, renowned for its Damask roses used in rosewater and cosmetics, and stop at the lush Skoura palm grove with its concentration of ancient kasbahs. The day concludes in the Dades Valley, where we spend the night at a local hotel or Riad.

After breakfast, we continue our journey toward Merzouga. We begin with a scenic stop offering one of the best views of the Dades Valley and its distinctive kasbahs nestled among dramatic rock formations.

We then proceed to the Todra Gorges near Tinerhir, where towering cliffs frame a palm-lined oasis and traditional pisé villages. The gorges are a favorite among climbers and offer a striking contrast to the surrounding desert.

Following a walk through the gorges and lunch in Tinejdad or Touroug, we head toward the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga. Upon arrival, we mount camels for a one-hour ride into the heart of the dunes to reach our nomadic camp. Here, we witness a breathtaking sunset over the Sahara and enjoy dinner under a star-filled sky. Overnight in a traditional desert tent.

We rise before dawn to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, then return by camel to Merzouga. After a hearty breakfast, we explore the dunes and surrounding desert landscape, including a stop at the Tissardmine oasis, known for its fossil deposits.

We visit a nomadic family to learn about their customs and way of life, followed by a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the entire Erg Chebbi expanse. Later, we travel to Khamlia village, originally settled by people from Mali, where we enjoy mint tea and a performance of traditional Gnawa spiritual music.

The afternoon is free to relax or climb nearby dunes for sunset views. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Merzouga, marking the end of the fifth day of our 12-day Marrakech Desert Tour.

We depart Merzouga and head north through the vast Tafilalet palm grove, one of the largest in the world. We then enter the Ziz Valley, stopping to admire the river-fed oasis and the town of Aoufous from a scenic overlook.

A midday break in Midelt allows time for lunch in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. In the afternoon, we drive through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques may be spotted. We make a brief stop in Ifrane, often called “Moroccan Switzerland” for its alpine-style architecture, clean streets, and green spaces.

We arrive in Fez by approximately 6:00 PM and check into our Riad or hotel for the night.

After breakfast, we begin a guided tour of Fez. We first explore the Ville Nouvelle (new city), including the Royal Palace and the historic Jewish quarter (Mellah). A panoramic viewpoint offers sweeping views of the Medina, its minarets, and surrounding hills.

We then enter the UNESCO-listed Medina of Fez, one of the world’s largest car-free urban zones and a living medieval city. Its narrow alleys are lined with artisan workshops—dyers, potters, metalworkers—preserving centuries-old crafts. We visit the Bou Inania Madrasa and hear the chimes of the famous water clock, Al Magana, dating back over 700 years. Overnight in a Riad, concluding the seventh day of our 12-day tour.

After breakfast, we depart for Meknes, the 17th-century imperial city. We explore its grand ramparts, historic gates like Bab Berdaine and Bab El Khemis, the royal stables, granaries (Hri Souani), and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail—once the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims.

We then visit the monumental Bab Mansour gate before continuing to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Here, we wander among 2,000-year-old mosaics, arches, and columns, learning about Roman life in North Africa.

In the late afternoon, we drive to Chefchaouen, the famed “Blue City,” where we spend the night in a local guesthouse.

We leave Chefchaouen in the morning and head to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Our visit includes the Kasbah of the Udayas, a 12th-century fortress built by the Almohads, and the Hassan Tower—a minaret of an unfinished mosque—alongside the adjacent Mausoleum of King Mohammed V.

We then continue to Casablanca, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in a Casablanca hotel.

After breakfast, we depart for Marrakech via the highway, with a rest stop en route. We arrive in the “Red City” in the afternoon and check into our Riad or hotel for the night.

Following breakfast, we drive west through the Argan Valley to Essaouira, a coastal town renowned for its whitewashed buildings, historic fortifications, and vibrant cultural heritage. Its Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, reflects influences from Phoenician, Roman, Berber, Carthaginian, Portuguese, and French civilizations.

Known as “The Pearl of the Atlantic,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “The Well Kept,” Essaouira is a harmonious blend of tradition and openness, celebrated for its crafts, music, and windswept charm. Overnight in Essaouira.

After breakfast, we transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport according to your flight schedule, concluding our 12-day tour of Morocco.