Morocco in Layers: From Casablanca to Marrakesh

Day 1 | Arrival in Casablanca

Arrival in Casablanca and transfer to your hotel. The evening begins gently, with a visit to a local artisan’s home for mint tea — an introduction to Moroccan hospitality without formality.

A short stop at Rick’s Café follows, before sunset drinks at a beachside café overlooking the Atlantic. The emphasis is on settling in rather than sightseeing.

Overnight: Casablanca

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Day 2 | Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen

A morning drive brings you to Rabat, where history and modern planning coexist with restraint. Time is spent at the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower, Chellah, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V — sites approached as working spaces of memory rather than monuments to be rushed through.

After lunch, the journey continues north into the Rif Mountains, arriving by evening in Chefchaouen.

Overnight: Chefchaouen
Drive time: approx. 5–6 hours total

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Day 3 | Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fez

Morning in Chefchaouen is unhurried, before heading east toward Volubilis. The Roman ruins sit exposed in open farmland, mosaics and columns left to weather and light.

In Meknes, time is spent near Bab Mansour and Lahdim Square, followed by lunch in a riad or local restaurant. By evening, the road reaches Fez.

Overnight: Fez

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Day 4 | Fez: Medina, Craft & Cooking

The day begins above the medina, easing into the city before entering it on foot. Exploration includes historic institutions such as Al-Qarawiyyin University, religious sites, artisan quarters, and the tanneries — observed from terraces where preferred.

Fresh ingredients are sourced in the market before a hands-on cooking session in a riad kitchen, followed by lunch. The afternoon moves between craft workshops and viewpoints overlooking the city, ending with a traditional hammam and spa experience.

Overnight: Fez

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Day 5 | Fez → Middle Atlas → Merzouga

Leaving Fez early, the road climbs into the Middle Atlas, passing through Ifrane and cedar forests near Azrou. The landscape shifts steadily — forest to plateau to oasis — before descending into the Ziz Valley.

By evening, arrival in Merzouga marks the edge of the Sahara. A camel ride carries you into the dunes at sunset.

Overnight: Desert camp

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Day 6 | Merzouga Desert

Sunrise over the dunes sets the tone for a quieter day. A 4×4 excursion introduces desert life through visits with nomadic families and a stop in Khamlia, where Gnawa music reflects the region’s layered history.

Lunch is shared locally, with the afternoon left open for rest or an optional drive across the dunes.

Overnight: Desert camp

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Day 7 | Merzouga → Todra Gorges → Boumalne Dades

Morning begins in Rissani’s markets, followed by a gradual journey west. Palm oases, river valleys, and rock formations replace dunes as the route reaches Todra Gorges.

Walking along the river is optional; others may choose to rest with tea. By evening, the road climbs toward Boumalne Dades, pausing at viewpoints as the light softens.

Overnight: Dades Valley

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Day 8 | Dades → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech

The drive west passes rose fields and kasbah landscapes, with a stop at a local rose cooperative. In Aït Ben Haddou, time is allowed to walk through the ksar at an unhurried pace.

Crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the High Atlas gives way to the plains surrounding Marrakech, where arrival is timed for a later, quieter evening.

Overnight: Marrakech

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Day 9 | Marrakech

The day begins early at Majorelle Garden and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, before moving into the medina’s architectural layers — mosques, palaces, madrasas, and souks.

After lunch, the afternoon includes a hammam and spa, followed by time in Jemaa el-Fna as evening gathers. Dinner is taken among the food stalls before a late transfer back to Casablanca.

Overnight: Casablanca

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Day 10 | Departure

Transfer to Casablanca airport for onward travel.

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