Our Grand Tour brings together the sights and sounds of Morocco, far beyond the well-trodden paths around Marrakech. So you travel from Casablanca to Fez, into the Sahara and back via the coast. Throughout, you stay in lovely boutique hotels and riads. As ever, the whole tour is private, with your own car and driver.
This is Morocco in full. So you weave together imperial cities, desert dunes and the Atlantic coast. Having the same driver throughout is a real advantage. Meanwhile, the scenery changes dramatically day by day. As a result, you return with a rounded picture of the country.
You begin in Casablanca, Morocco’s most cosmopolitan city, for a night. Then drive to Fez, about 3.5 hours, stopping at Volubilis, a Roman town with superb mosaics. Along the way, you also visit Meknes, once the heart of the sultanate, and the holy town of Moulay Idriss. You stay in a beautifully restored riad, the Riad Fes.
Fez has one of the oldest medinas in the world, steeped in history and less discovered than Marrakech. So you tour the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania, famed for its stucco and zellij tiles. Then explore the 13th-century tanneries and the spice souks. Along the way, you wind through a labyrinth of streets to hidden squares. As a result, the city slowly reveals itself.
Next, drive south through dramatic scenery, crossing the Middle Atlas to the desert. So you descend through the palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Erg Chebbi, where dunes rise to 800 feet. After freshening up at your luxury desert camp, ride into the Saharan sunset by camel. Then return to a hearty dinner under the stars before retiring to your tent.
The next day, head west via Rissani, a former caravan post with a medieval ksar. Then continue through Berber villages and the sheer cliffs of the Todra Gorge. Afterwards, the Dades Valley leads to the oasis of Skoura. So you spend two nights at the boutique Les Jardins de Skoura, or the deluxe Dar Ahlam nearby.
Then, on the road to Marrakech, pause at the sumptuous kasbahs of Taourirt and Ouarzazate, and the fortified Aït Benhaddou. Crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, you reach the Ourika Valley for two nights at Kasbah Bab Ourika. There, a leisurely walk visits Berber villages for mint tea.
Next, drive to Essaouira on the Atlantic, where the trade winds blow. This artsy walled town is well worth exploring, with its pocket-sized souk. You stay at the stylish Dar Maya. Then drive to Marrakech for three nights at Dar Zemora, exploring the souks, the Saadian Tombs and the gardens.
Naturally, the hotels add real character throughout. The Riad Fes in Fez and Les Jardins de Skoura in the south. Then Kasbah Bab Ourika in the Atlas and Dar Maya on the coast. Finally, Dar Zemora in Marrakech.
Generally, spring and autumn are ideal for this long route. By contrast, high summer is very hot inland and in the desert. Winter, meanwhile, is mild on the coast but cold in the dunes. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
The variety is the whole appeal. First come the imperial cities of the north. Then the dunes of the deep south. Soon after, gorges, oases and kasbahs. Finally, the breezy Atlantic coast. So the country unfolds in full.
Above all, this suits travellers with time to see it all. For example, it is ideal for a first, comprehensive visit. Equally, it rewards those happy to cover some distance. Couples and small groups enjoy it most.
As ever, this is only a starting point. So we shape the pace, the route and the hotels to suit. In the end, the tour is entirely your own.
In the end, few trips show Morocco so completely. So you see cities, desert, mountains and coast. Meanwhile, the same driver makes it all flow. As a result, you leave feeling you have truly travelled the country.
For all its variety, the trip feels easy. So the overnights break the longer drives. Meanwhile, your guides handle every detail. As a result, you simply enjoy the road.
In the end, this grand loop lingers in the memory. So the cities, dunes and coast all leave their mark. Meanwhile, the comforts make the distances a pleasure. As a result, it is Morocco seen properly, from end to end.
It runs to around two weeks, taking in the whole country. Of course, it can be shortened. We will shape the length to suit you.
There are some long but scenic days, broken by stops and overnights. Helpfully, you keep the same driver throughout. So the journey becomes part of the experience.
Generally, spring and autumn are most comfortable. We will advise on timing for your dates.
Entirely. The pace, the route and the hotels are all shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
| £3195P.P |
|---|
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Casablanca | Four Seasons Casablanca |
| Day 2-3 | Fez | Riad Fes |
| Day 4 | Merzouga | Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp |
| Day 5-6 | Skoura | Les Jardins De Skoura |
| Day 7-8 | Ourika Valley | Kasbah Bab Ourika |
| Day 9-10 | Essaouira | Dar Maya |
| Day 11-13 | Marrakech | Dar Zemora |
| Day 14 | Farewell | Fly Home |
Begin in Casablanca, with a fast-track VIP service. We meet you and transfer you to the Four Seasons Casablanca, then take a short afternoon tour of the city with a private guide.
Drive through the countryside to Meknes, a cultural centre for over ten centuries, with its fascinating medina and carved Bab el-Mansour. Continue to Moulay Idriss, Morocco’s holiest town, and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, before reaching Fez and Riad Fes.
Fez el-Bali is one of the world’s most beautiful living medieval cities. Tour the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania, famed for its stucco, zellij tiles and carved wood. Explore the 13th-century tanneries and the spice souks as you wind through the labyrinth of alleys.
Drive through the cedar forests and lakes of the Middle Atlas, with a picnic lunch at Midelt. Descend through the palm groves of the Ziz Valley, then head into the desert by 4×4 and camel to watch the sunset over Erg Chebbi. Stay at a luxury desert camp.
Depart for Rissani, a former caravan post, to see the My Ali Cherif Mausoleum and a medieval ksar. Continue through Berber villages and the canyons of the Todra Gorge, then the Dades Valley, to the oasis of Skoura and Les Jardins de Skoura.
Step back in time and explore the groves and mountains around Skoura. Travel by 4×4, camel or even donkey to nearby villages.
On the way to the Atlas, visit the kasbahs of Taourirt and Ouarzazate, and the fortified Aït Benhaddou. Cross the breathtaking Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to the Ourika Valley and Kasbah Bab Ourika, about four to five hours.
Spend the day relaxing, or head out on a short or longer day-walk in the Ourika Valley.
Drive to the fishing town of Essaouira, about four hours, set on a windswept peninsula. Everyone from the Phoenicians to the French has left their mark; Orson Welles filmed Othello among its ramparts. Stay at Dar Maya.
Enjoy a leisurely time in Essaouira. We can arrange a half-day walking tour of the medina and souk, leaving the afternoon to explore under your own steam.
Drive to Marrakech, about three hours, then spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Tour the Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace and the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. Meander through the medina and souks, then reach the Djemaa el-Fna before sunset, alive with food stalls, snake charmers and storytellers.
Today is tailored to you. Relax, or head out to the quirky museums, hidden souks and gardens of Marrakech, a hot-air balloon flight or mountain biking.
Take a private transfer to the airport for your flight home. Any element of the Grand Tour can be tailored to your interests.
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
If you want to add another mountain experience in Morocco, then Chefchaouen will be perfect. It generally fits in between Casablanca and Fez. We would suggest about two nights here, so you can explore the Medina. We can also arrange a series of day treks in the local area.
We can include both Rabat and Tangiers in your itinerary. You would firstly visit Rabat, before continuing onto Tangiers before heading south to Fez. We would suggest this would add three to four nights onto the itinerary. Chefchaouen (above), would fit in between Tangiers and Fez.
Zagora is an equally impressive section of the Sahara Desert, and you could potentially link Merzouga and Zagora. The adventurous way is to link them is along the Dakar Rally route - all over the sand and stopping for a fly-camp midway. You could drive south from Skoura, but you would need to stop back in Ouarzazate on your return journey. Adding Zagora would take about three to four extra nights.
There is something impossibly romantic in delving into the great dunes of the Saharan Desert. Nights under canvas, sunsets and camel rides; experiences that undoubtedly make you feel like you have escaped.
A trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains allows you to walk through timeless Moroccan Berber villages and along dramatic scenic valleys overlooked by the towering peaks. You’ll be staying in the best possible lodges and boutique hotels.
Explore the bustling souks of Marrakech, the breathtaking scenic beauty and Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains and the sleepy fishing town of Essaouira. In short, this brief taste of Morocco is an ideal first visit to this vibrant country.
Fez and Marrakech are undeniably Morocco’s most iconic and evocative cities, packed with all the magical charm that makes Morocco so mesmerising. This itinerary allows you an immersive experience of both, and additionally, some gentle R&R in the mountains to conclude your trip.
Combine the bustling souks of colourful Marrakech before experiencing the timeless Berber culture and stunning views in the High Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech makes for a beautiful long weekend from any European city. With five days, you will have plenty of time to both explore and relax. The weather is perfect in the winter, and you can also immerse yourself in a fascinating culture.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.