8-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca, Fes, Merzouga Desert & Marrakech

5.00

(13 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me stepping out of the airport in Casablanca was that salty Atlantic breeze—cooler than I expected for Morocco. Our driver was waiting, and before long we were standing in front of the Hassan II Mosque. It’s massive—honestly, you can hear the call to prayer echoing off the marble even outside. Inside, sunlight filters through stained glass onto carpets where thousands pray. Later, in Rabat, we wandered Chellah’s ruins; storks nest on crumbling Roman columns while cats nap in the shade. The unfinished Tower Hassan stands nearby—locals say it’s a favorite spot for evening strolls. Meknes felt quieter but those city gates are something else; Bab Mansour is covered in green tiles and Arabic script that our guide explained was a poem praising the sultan.

Breakfast in Meknes meant thick bread with honey and mint tea before heading to Volubilis. The mosaics there are still bright after centuries—our guide pointed out one with dolphins that most people walk right past. In Fes, getting lost is part of the fun; over 9,000 alleys twist through the medina. Donkeys squeeze past carrying everything from leather hides to crates of oranges. The tanneries smell strong—kind of earthy and sharp—but watching men dye leather by hand is worth it. We tried pastilla at lunch (sweet and savory pie) and later watched potters shape tiles for those famous Moroccan fountains.

Leaving Fes behind, we crossed into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Ifrane looks almost European with its red roofs—locals call it “Little Switzerland.” We stopped to watch Barbary macaques leap between cedar trees near Azrou; they’re cheeky if you’ve got snacks. Lunch was apple tajine in Midelt (they’re proud of their apples here). By late afternoon, sand started replacing stone—the Sahara was close. In Merzouga, camel rides at sunset feel unreal; the dunes glow gold and you can hear nothing but wind and hooves crunching sand.

The next day took us through palm groves and narrow valleys—Todra Gorge is so steep you have to crane your neck just to see sky between cliffs. We stopped for tea with a family who still use old irrigation channels in Eljerf; their dates are sticky-sweet straight from the tree. Dades Valley has these weird rock formations locals call “monkey fingers.” Ouarzazate is all about movies—posters hang everywhere—and Taourirt Kasbah looks like something out of a storybook with its mudbrick towers.

Ait Ben Haddou is even more impressive up close than any photo online—mud walls glowing orange at sunset, kids playing soccer near ancient granaries. Our guide told us about film crews camping here during “Gladiator.” Telouet Kasbah sits high above winding roads; inside it’s quiet except for your footsteps echoing on tile floors. The drive over Tizi-n-Tichka Pass is wild—hairpin turns and tiny villages clinging to red hillsides until finally Marrakech appears on the horizon.

Marrakech buzzes from morning till night: Bahia Palace dazzles with painted ceilings; Saadian Tombs hide stories from centuries ago; souks overflow with spices, lanterns, leather slippers—you’ll get lost but that’s half the fun. Jardin Majorelle is calm after all that chaos—a blue oasis full of cacti and birdsong. Jamaa El Fna square comes alive at dusk: snake charmers play flutes while food stalls sizzle kebabs late into the night.