Description
Experience the very best of Morocco on an unforgettable 12-day, 11-night journey from Marrakech to Marrakech with Wanderlust in Morocco. This comprehensive adventure combines Morocco’s imperial cities, breathtaking mountain landscapes, ancient kasbahs, golden Sahara dunes, charming coastal towns, and authentic Amazigh culture.
Begin your journey in Marrakech, where you will discover the vibrant atmosphere, historic medina, colorful souks, and fascinating cultural heritage of the Red City. From Marrakech, travel through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains, enjoying panoramic views of valleys and traditional Amazigh villages before reaching the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Join Wanderlust in Morocco and create unforgettable memories on a complete Moroccan adventure filled with spectacular landscapes, cultural discoveries, desert experiences, and authentic local encounters.
Book Your Tour
Discover the historic medina, vibrant souks, iconic landmarks, and rich cultural heritage of Morocco’s famous Red City.
Travel through spectacular mountain landscapes and enjoy panoramic views of valleys and traditional Amazigh villages.
Explore the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s most iconic historic kasbahs.
Explore Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses, and the beautiful Dades Valley while discovering the landscapes of southern Morocco.
Discover dramatic rock formations, beautiful valleys, palm groves, and peaceful oases.
5 Days / 4 Nights
Airport / Hotel
Free
Marrakech
Marrakech
No experience needed. Safe, smooth landing guaranteed — unforgettable memories included.
Upon arrival at Marrakech Airport, you'll be greeted by a member of our WanderlustInMorocco team holding a sign with your name, ready to transfer you to your riad or hotel in the heart of the Marrakech medina. Once settled in, take some time to soak up the electric energy of Jemaa el-Fnaa square, where food stalls, storytellers, musicians, dancers and street performers bring the city to life every evening. Your first night will be spent in a charming riad tucked within the medina.
Around 8:00 AM, your driver will collect you from your riad or hotel to begin your private 12-day journey across southern Morocco. We'll first cross the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains, passing traditional Berber villages nestled into the rugged landscape. Our first major stop is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah that has served as the backdrop for Hollywood classics like Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia, showcasing the striking beauty of traditional Moroccan fortress architecture. After exploring the kasbah, enjoy a Berber lunch at a nearby restaurant with panoramic views over the site. From there, we continue to Ouarzazate, with an optional visit to the Atlas Film Studios, before reaching the palm oasis of Skoura and its notable Kasbah Amridil. The journey continues along the aptly named "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs," offering sweeping views of the valley dotted with ancient fortifications, until we reach Kalaat M'Gouna in the Roses Valley — famous for its annual Rose Festival each May. We arrive in the Dades Valley by evening for an overnight stay in a riad, with dinner and breakfast included.
After a hearty traditional breakfast, we continue through roads flanked by historic kasbahs and picturesque Berber villages within the Dades Canyon, taking in scenery once traveled by caravans until the early 20th century. We'll then head to the Todra Gorges, a stunning 15-kilometer valley lined with palm groves, where towering grey and pink rock walls rise dramatically alongside the road — perfect for an on-foot exploration of the canyon. From there, we press on toward Merzouga and the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes. A roughly 90-minute camel trek carries you deep into the desert to your authentic Sahara camp, with a stop along the way to watch a breathtaking sunset over the sand — and the option to try sandboarding if you're feeling adventurous. Once night falls, you'll be welcomed at camp with a glass of mint tea, followed by Berber music around a campfire, a delicious dinner, and a night spent beneath a truly spectacular starlit sky.
After breakfast, we visit Khamlia, known as the "village of the Gnawa," home to descendants of families originally from Mali and Sudan who have preserved their rich musical traditions. Enjoy a short, soulful Gnawa music performance before continuing by 4WD into the Erg Chebbi dunes — home to Morocco's Great Dune, rising over 250 meters and tracing part of the historic Paris-Dakar rally route, with the Algerian mountains visible in the distance. We'll stop at a scenic viewpoint overlooking the dunes, along with abandoned kohl mines and long-deserted Berber and French villages, before visiting a nomadic family in their tent to learn about their traditional way of life. Enjoy a local specialty lunch (Berber "pizza") before heading to Rissani to browse one of the region's largest and most authentic markets, where nomads and townspeople gather to trade goods. Return for dinner and another night at a charming riad overlooking the dunes.
Rise early for the chance to witness a magical sunrise over the Merzouga dunes (optional), followed by breakfast at camp. Your camel guide (or 4WD, depending on preference) will then take you back to central Merzouga to begin the drive toward Fes. Leaving the desert behind, we pass through Errachidia, stopping for panoramic views of the Ziz Valley — one of southeast Morocco's largest oases, filled with palm groves and olive trees. Continuing through Midelt, we'll break for lunch before driving on to Azrou, home to the region's famous macaque monkeys and Morocco's largest cedar forest. A short stop in the alpine-style town of Ifrane follows before we complete the journey to Fes, where you'll spend the night in a charming riad.
Today is devoted entirely to Fes, Morocco's cultural and artisanal heart. Known as Fes el Bali, this UNESCO World Heritage old city was founded in the 9th century and is home to the world's oldest university. It flourished as the kingdom's political and cultural capital under the Merinid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, and although the capital later moved to Rabat in 1912, Fes has remained Morocco's foremost center for traditional craftsmanship. Its centuries-old workshops still thrive today, practicing metalwork, leatherwork, ceramics, silk weaving and sculpture within the original city walls that shelter nearly 9,000 narrow lanes. With a local guide, you'll explore the Jewish Mellah quarter, the historic tanneries, the silk, wool and cotton dyers' souks, the Zellij tile cooperative, Al Quaraouiyine University, the Royal Palace of Fes, and a traditional weavers' cooperative, capped off with a panoramic view over Fes el Bali. Enjoy free time to continue exploring at your own pace before your second night in the medina.
After breakfast, we head west to Volubilis, home to Morocco's most significant Roman archaeological remains, before turning north into the heart of the Rif Mountains toward Chefchaouen. You'll have free time to wander the ruins at Volubilis at your own pace, with the option of a guided visit to learn more about this ancient site. From there, we continue to Chefchaouen, one of Morocco's true gems — celebrated for its whitewashed houses, turquoise-blue doors, wrought-iron windows and cascading blue streets. On arrival, relax at a café terrace overlooking the impressive Tarik-Ben-Ziad Mosque, admire the Andalusian architecture of the kasbah at the medina's center, and stroll past workshops famed for their basketry, pottery, and the traditional djellaba robe, which originates from this very town. Your local guide will also lead you through the lively souk, still brimming with authentic Moroccan life. Overnight in a charming riad within the medina.
After breakfast at your riad, we head toward the coast to visit Rabat, Morocco's capital, where you'll see the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower, with free time to explore the Kasbah of the Oudayas. From there, we continue to Casablanca to view the exterior of the Hassan II Mosque — Africa's second-largest — followed by a short tour of the city's most notable landmarks, including the Corniche boulevard, the sprawling Arab League Park, the Park of the Arab League Nations, and Mohammed V Square. Overnight in a beautiful hotel in Casablanca.
After breakfast, we visit the iconic Hassan II Mosque, exploring both its exterior and, where possible, its interior — a defining landmark of Morocco's economic capital. If you'd like, take some time for a walk along the beaches of the Corniche before we continue on to the coastal town of Essaouira, where you'll spend the night.
Enjoy a free morning to explore Essaouira after breakfast, including the historic port of Mogador, built by the Portuguese on a narrow peninsula beside a vast crescent of fine sand. Sheltered by imposing 18th-century French-built ramparts, the city is largely pedestrian and organized into distinct neighborhoods along a grid layout. Climb the Skala for views over the colorful fishing harbor, old fortresses and Spanish cannons, and browse the town's renowned woodwork, often inlaid with lemon wood, ebony, mother-of-pearl, copper or silver. Seafood lovers should treat themselves to a fresh meal at the port. In the evening, we return to Marrakech, where you can once again enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa with its food stalls, storytellers and dancers. Overnight in a charming riad in the medina.
Around 8:30–9:00 AM, your guide will meet you at your riad or hotel to begin a full day exploring Marrakech. The city is best known for the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square, filled with juice stalls, dried fruit and nut vendors, henna artists, snake charmers, storytellers and nightly food stands. Depending on your pace and interests, you'll visit the Majorelle Garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent and famed for its signature "Majorelle blue," and Le Jardin Secret, a traditional four-quadrant Islamic paradise garden fed by water channels from the Atlas Mountains. You'll pass the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech's towering landmark near Jemaa el-Fnaa (entry restricted to Muslims, though the surrounding gardens are lovely in spring), followed by the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Medersa — once home to around 80 Quranic students — and the Saadian Tombs. In the souks, explore the tanneries, metalworkers crafting countless lamps, carpet and Berber rug sellers, and the beautifully restored Mellah quarter with its Jewish souks. Your guide will escort you back to your riad at the close of the tour.
Enjoy a final breakfast and some free time to soak up a bit more of the Red City before your transfer to Marrakech Airport, timed to your flight's departure, bringing your Moroccan journey to a close.