Magical Morocco

We arrive in Casablanca, where our guide warmly welcomes us at the airport and accompanies us to our hotel, Kenzi Basma Hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay in Casablanca.

For early arrivals: optional lunch at the iconic Rick’s Café — designed to recreate the romantic atmosphere of the classic Casablanca movie. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal with one starter, one main course, and one dessert, accompanied by water, coffee or tea. Return transfers between hotel and restaurant are included in the price. (reservation subject to availability and confirmation)

This morning, we journey to Rabat, the regal capital on Morocco’s Atlantic shore. We stroll through the blue-and-white alleys of the Kasbah of the Oudayas, visit the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, where kings rest in timeless serenity, and stand before the unfinished Hassan Tower, an enduring echo of medieval ambition.

Our route then winds through olive groves and cork forests to Meknès, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Behind its monumental walls, we admire the ornate Bab El Mansour gate and the Sultan’s richly decorated mausoleum, where dazzling mosaics and intricate stucco showcase Moroccan artistry at its finest.

Later, we explore the evocative ruins of Volubilis, once Rome’s capital in Morocco. Here, delicate mosaics, weathered columns, and a proud triumphal arch rise against the vast horizon.

In the evening, we arrive in Fes, Morocco’s spiritual and cultural jewel.

Dinner and overnight stay in Fes, Across Hotel & Spa.

We devote the day to uncovering the wonders of Fes, Morocco’s oldest imperial city. As we wander through its labyrinth of narrow alleys, we pass the gilded gates of the Royal Palace and step into the Jewish quarter, home to the country’s first Mellah. We visit Al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest functioning university, and marvel at the exquisite Attarine Madrasa, adorned with delicate zellij tiles.

In the vibrant tanneries, vats brimming with natural dyes form a living rainbow of color. We pause at the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, founder of Fes, before enjoying sweeping views over the medina — a sea of minarets and rooftops.

For those who wish, the afternoon offers the opportunity to try Arabic calligraphy in a private workshop — a unique and personal keepsake of Moroccan culture. Price from 47 USD.

Overnight stay in Fes.

We depart Fes and drive into the Middle Atlas Mountains. In Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco”, we are charmed by its alpine character and European-style architecture. Soon after, we arrive in Azrou, where majestic cedar forests provide a habitat for lively Barbary apes.

After lunch in Midelt, our route follows the Ziz River, winding through dramatic gorges and opening into palm-dotted valleys. As the afternoon light softens, we reach Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara, where the first desert landscapes begin to unfold before us.

Dinner and overnight stay in Erfoud, Kasbah Hotel Xaluca.

Today, the desert calls. We set out in 4x4s across the rolling golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, meeting nomadic families who share with us a way of life shaped by centuries of tradition.

In Khamlia, we are welcomed by the hypnotic rhythms of Gnawa music — a trance-like heritage passed down from desert traders. For lunch, we savor a Berber specialty: desert pizza, baked to perfection in traditional clay ovens.

In the afternoon, those who wish may ride camels into the dunes as the sun sinks low, painting the sands in fiery shades of red and gold. Price from 35 USD.

At our desert camp, we dine on fragrant tagine, sip sweet mint tea, and gather around the fire to the beat of Berber drums. Beneath a canopy of stars, the Sahara feels timeless, vast, and infinite.

Overnight stay in a desert camp, Auberge La Belle Etoile.

We rise early to watch the sun crown the desert, a spectacle of shifting colors across the dunes. After returning to camp for breakfast, we leave Merzouga behind and journey toward Tinghir, where the dramatic Todra Gorge towers above us — sheer cliffs glowing in the morning light. Here, there is time for a stroll along the river that winds its way through the gorge.

After lunch, we continue to the Dades Valley, where whimsical rock formations, known as the “monkey’s toes,” rise from the earth. Sand-colored kasbahs and lush green oases line our route before we arrive in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s famed “Hollywood of the Desert.”

Dinner and overnight stay in Ouarzazate, Hotel Karam Palace.

We begin the day exploring the treasures of Ouarzazate, including the imposing Kasbah Taourirt and the world-famous Atlas Film Studios, where countless cinematic epics have been brought to life.

Our journey continues to the legendary Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of earthen architecture. With its fortress-like walls and soaring kasbah towers, this desert stronghold once welcomed camel caravans traveling along ancient trade routes.

In the afternoon, we cross the majestic High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka Pass, where breathtaking panoramas accompany us on the road back to Marrakech.

Dinner and overnight stay in Marrakech, Kech Boutique Hotel & Spa.

Today, we immerse ourselves in the wonders of Marrakech.

We begin at the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, its graceful minaret a defining landmark of the city, before continuing to the tranquil Secret Garden and the ornate Madrassa Ben Youssef, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. We then lose ourselves in the vibrant souks, where every alley bursts with color — pyramids of fragrant spices, handwoven carpets, gleaming brass lanterns, and finely crafted leatherwork.

After the tour, the afternoon is free to explore at leisure — perhaps to sip sweet mint tea on a rooftop café overlooking the medina and watch the city come alive beneath us.

Dinner and overnight stay in Marrakech.

After breakfast, we drive north to Casablanca, Morocco’s bustling cosmopolitan center.

Our visit begins at the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, rising majestically above the Atlantic. With its dazzling tilework, marble halls, and the tallest minaret in the world, it stands as one of the most breathtaking landmarks in the Islamic world. The sea breeze then leads us to Mohamed V Square, framed by elegant buildings, before we admire the graceful exterior of the Sacré Coeur Cathedral.

Here, we encounter Morocco’s modern face — vibrant and dynamic, yet still deeply rooted in its heritage.

Dinner and overnight stay in Casablanca.

Depending on our flight schedule, we may enjoy a relaxed morning discovering hidden corners of Marrakech or simply soaking up its last impressions. At the appointed time, we transfer to the airport, carrying with us memories of Morocco’s colours, sounds, and timeless magic.