Morocco by Heart
Atlantic Coast to Sahara Grand Journey
Fifteen days, coast to coast — royal capitals, the Blue Pearl, the dunes and the Atlantic wind
- Time on the ground
- 15 days / 14 nights
- Route
- Casablanca · Rabat · Tangier · Chefchaouen · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · Essaouira · Casablanca
- Airports
- Arrive and depart Casablanca (CMN)
- Pace
- Unhurried: two full days in Chefchaouen and Fes, two nights on the Atlantic, one desert camp
Our most complete journey. It begins where the Hassan II Mosque rises out of the Atlantic and ends there too, but in between it carries you the whole length of the country: the royal capital of Rabat, the murals of Asilah, the Strait of Gibraltar at Cap Spartel, the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, the Roman mosaics of Volubilis, medieval Fes, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, a night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, the thousand-foot walls of the Todra Gorges, the earthen towers of Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech at dusk and finally the sea wind of Essaouira. Private vehicle and driver throughout, licensed city guides, and Moha on WhatsApp from the moment you land.
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Casablanca — gateway to Morocco
Your private driver meets you at Mohammed V airport and takes you to your hotel. Time to rest, then a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest working mosques in the world, built out over the ocean, and a gentle drive along the Corniche.
Day 2
Casablanca to Rabat — the royal capital
After breakfast, north along the coast to Rabat. The UNESCO-listed heart of the city: the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the cliffside Kasbah of the Udayas above the Atlantic, then the gardens and ruins of Chellah as the light softens.
Day 3
Rabat to Tangier via Asilah — where Africa meets Europe
The scenic Atlantic road north, with a stop in Asilah for its whitewashed ramparts and painted walls. Arrive in Tangier by late afternoon for Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, the Caves of Hercules and the wide view over the Strait of Gibraltar.
Day 4
Tangier to Chefchaouen — into the Rif Mountains
A morning in Tangier: the Kasbah Museum, the old medina and the Grand Socco. In the afternoon a beautiful drive through the green peaks of the Rif to the Blue Pearl, arriving in Chefchaouen for the evening.
Day 5
Chefchaouen — exploring the Blue Pearl
A full, peaceful day in the blue-washed town: the famous alleyways and doorways, artisan leather and woven blankets, Outa el-Hammam Square, the kasbah fortress, and a short walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the valley.
Day 6
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Out of the Rif toward Fes, with the Roman ruins of Volubilis and their exceptional floor mosaics, the holy hillside town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and a stop in imperial Meknes at the great Bab al-Mansour gate before arriving in Fes.
Day 7
Fes — step into medieval history
A full guided day in Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO site and the largest car-free urban area in the world: spice markets, the artisan quarters, the Chouara Tannery, the Bou Inania Madrasa and Al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest working university on earth, with the Royal Palace gates on the way.
Day 8
Fes to Merzouga — journey to the Sahara
An early start south through the Middle Atlas: alpine Ifrane, the cedar forests of Azrou with their wild Barbary macaques, and the palm-filled Ziz Valley. By late afternoon, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi — a camel trek or a 4x4 dune drive into your luxury camp, dinner, music by the fire and the Saharan stars.
Day 9
Merzouga to the Dades Valley via the Todra Gorges
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, the village of Khamlia and its Gnawa musicians, then west to the Todra Gorges, where limestone walls rise a thousand feet — a walk along the riverbed — and on along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley.
Day 10
Dades Valley to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou
Through the Valley of the Roses to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa: the Kasbah Taourirt and the Atlas Film Studios. Then the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou, the red-earth fortified village behind Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, best seen in the late afternoon light.
Day 11
Ouarzazate to Marrakech across the High Atlas
Over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, 7,415 feet, with sweeping valley views, Amazigh villages on the slopes and a stop at an argan oil cooperative before the descent into the Red City.
Day 12
Marrakech — imperial wonders and vibrant souks
A full day with your local guide: the nineteenth-century Bahia Palace, the fourteenth-century Ben Youssef Madrasa and the quiet of Le Jardin Secret. In the afternoon, the souks, finishing at Jemaa el-Fnaa as the musicians, acrobats and food stalls take over the square at dusk.
Day 13
Marrakech to Essaouira — coastal charm
West through the argan groves to the Atlantic, about two and a half hours. In Essaouira: the eighteenth-century Skala de la Ville ramparts, the car-free UNESCO medina, the fishing harbor and fresh seafood at the water's edge.
Day 14
Essaouira to Casablanca
A slow morning by the sea — a beach walk, thuya wood workshops, coffee on Moulay Hassan Square — then a comfortable private drive up the coastal highway to Casablanca and a celebratory farewell dinner.
Day 15
Departure
Breakfast at your hotel, then a private transfer to Mohammed V airport in good time for your flight home.
Add the plan to your calendar
Choose the date of your first day in Morocco and download an .ics file — every day of the journey lands in your calendar.
Highlights
- The Hassan II Mosque and the royal monuments of Rabat
- Asilah, Cap Spartel and the view across the Strait of Gibraltar
- Two nights in Chefchaouen, with sunset at the Spanish Mosque
- The Roman mosaics of Volubilis and the gates of Meknes
- A full guided day in medieval Fes el-Bali
- A night in a luxury camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi
- The Todra Gorges, Ait Benhaddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Two nights on the Atlantic in Essaouira to close the journey
What is included
- Private modern air-conditioned vehicle with a dedicated professional driver
- Licensed local guides in the key cities, including Fes and Marrakech
- 14 nights in handpicked boutique riads, hotels and a luxury Sahara camp
- Daily breakfast and selected dinners, including dinner at the desert camp
- Camel trek or 4x4 dune transfer in Merzouga
- All airport transfers and ground transport
- Moha as your personal host, on WhatsApp from the moment you land
Not included
- International flights — quoted separately at the current fare
- Travel insurance, lunches and dinners not listed, personal spending