MULTI-DAY MOROCCO TOUR
7-Day Morocco Grand Tour — Imperial Cities & the Sahara Desert
A complete private Morocco tour combining Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and the imperial city of Fes.
DURATION
7 Days / 6 Nights
ROUTE
Marrakech to Fes
GROUP SIZE
2-16 People
TYPE
Private Multi-Day Tour
Tour Overview
This 7-day private tour is our most complete introduction to Morocco, combining the energy of Marrakech, the scenery of the High Atlas Mountains, a night in the Sahara Desert, and the historic imperial city of Fes. It is built for travelers who want a genuine sense of the whole country in a single trip.
Traveling by private vehicle with your own driver throughout, this multi-day Morocco tour balances city time, mountain scenery, and a proper Sahara Desert experience without feeling rushed.
Tour Highlights
- Explore Marrakech, including the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah
- Explore the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorges
- Camel trek into the Sahara Desert dunes at Merzouga
- Overnight in a private desert camp under the stars
- Guided walking tour of the Fes medina
- Optional day trip to Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech — Guided City Tour
On arrival in Marrakech, you will settle into your riad or hotel before setting out with a local guide to discover the city. Highlights typically include the Bahia Palace, a 19th-century palace celebrated for its ornate courtyards and painted ceilings; the Koutoubia Mosque, whose 12th-century minaret has served as an architectural model across the region; and the winding lanes of the medina, filled with spice stalls, textile shops, and traditional workshops where artisans still practice trades passed down through generations.
As evening falls, visit Jemaa el-Fnaa, one of the most iconic public squares in Africa, as it comes alive with food stalls, musicians, acrobats, and storytellers — a scene that has drawn travelers to Marrakech for centuries and rarely looks the same twice.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 2: Marrakech to Dades Valley — via the Atlas Mountains & Ait Ben Haddou
Head south into the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, a road that winds through more than fifty kilometers of switchbacks, red rock cliffs, and small Berber villages. Your driver will stop at several viewpoints along the way, giving you time for photographs and to browse stalls run by local families selling minerals, carpets, and handmade jewelry.
Your main stop is Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified UNESCO World Heritage kasbah built almost entirely from rammed earth, its dramatic silhouette having featured in numerous international film productions. You will have time to explore its narrow passageways, visit artisan workshops within its walls, and climb to the old granary for sweeping views over the valley.
Continuing through Ouarzazate and the Skoura oasis, with its dense palm grove and centuries-old kasbahs, you will arrive in the Dades Valley by late afternoon, where dramatic folded rock formations rise above terraced fields along the river.
Overnight in a guesthouse in the Dades Valley.
Day 3: Dades Valley to Merzouga — via the Todra Gorges
This morning, visit the Todra Gorges, a spectacular limestone canyon where cliffs rise more than 300 meters on either side of a narrow riverbed, popular with rock climbers from around the world. You will have time for a walk along the canyon floor and a mint tea at one of the small cafés built against the rock face.
Continuing east, the landscape shifts from green valley to flat, stony desert plain as you approach Merzouga, with the first dunes of the Sahara appearing on the horizon as the afternoon light softens. At the edge of Erg Chebbi, you will leave your vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes as the sun sets, arriving at your desert camp for mint tea, a traditional dinner, and an evening of Berber music around the fire beneath a sky full of stars.
Overnight in a private desert camp near Merzouga.
Day 4: Merzouga to Fes — via the Ziz Valley & Middle Atlas
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, one of the most memorable moments of the trip, before beginning the journey north along the Ziz Valley, where the road follows a ribbon of palm groves and traditional villages along the Ziz River.
Climbing into the Middle Atlas Mountains, you will pass through Midelt, known for its apple orchards, and Ifrane, a mountain town whose alpine-style architecture feels distinctly different from the rest of Morocco. Arrive in Fes in the evening, with time to settle in before dinner.
Overnight in Fes.
Day 5: Fes — Guided City Tour
Spend the day exploring Fes el Bali with a local guide, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Bou Inania Madrasa, an exceptional example of Marinid-era craftsmanship; the historic Chouara Tannery, where leather has been dyed by hand for centuries; and the area around the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 and recognized as the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in the world.
Beyond the landmarks, the walk through the medina offers a genuine sense of daily life — coppersmiths, weavers, spice merchants, and bakers carrying dough to the neighborhood’s communal oven.
Overnight in Fes.
Day 6: Optional Day Trip to Meknes & Volubilis
On your final full day, take an optional excursion to Meknes, another of Morocco’s imperial cities, known for its monumental Bab Mansour gate and the vast stables and granaries built under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century to house thousands of horses. From there, continue to Volubilis, a remarkably well-preserved Roman archaeological site where mosaics depicting mythological scenes remain visible in their original locations amid the ruins of villas, a basilica, and a triumphal arch.
Return to Fes in the evening, or relax and continue exploring the medina at your own pace if you prefer a quieter final day.
Overnight in Fes.
Day 7: Departure from Fes
After breakfast, your private tour comes to an end. You will be transferred to Fes airport or the train station, or we can help arrange a private transfer to Chefchaouen, Rabat, or Casablanca if you would like to continue your trip.
What’s Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for 7 days
- Fuel and all transportation costs
- Accommodation for 6 nights (Marrakech hotel, guesthouse, desert camp, Fes hotel)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinner in the desert camp
- Camel trek in Merzouga
- Guided city tours in Marrakech and Fes
What’s Not Included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums (including Meknes and Volubilis)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
Good to Know Before You Go
- This is our most complete short introduction to Morocco, balancing city time, mountains, and the desert in a single week.
- Best time to travel: spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable temperatures throughout the route.
- Desert nights get cold, even when the daytime temperature is warm — pack a warm layer for the evening in Merzouga.
- Comfortable walking shoes are useful for the medinas of Marrakech and Fes.
- Not sure whether to spend more time in Marrakech or Fes? Our guide comparing Marrakech vs Fes can help, or read about a night in the Sahara Desert before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
START PLANNING
Ready for the complete Morocco experience?
Tell us your travel dates and group size, and we’ll help you plan this journey through Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and Fes.