The Desert and the Imperial Cities
Do you need to unplug from your daily routine for a while?
The Imperial Cities of Morocco invite you to travel through time — from the past to the present and into the future of this fascinating country. A crossroads of civilizations since ancient times, Morocco has long connected Europe with Africa, culturally and historically.
Its ancient cities, some more than a thousand years old, are alive with narrow alleys and bustling souks where you can feel the vibrant pulse of life north of the Sahara. It is often said that Africa is born, lives, and breathes on the streets — a place of meeting, sharing, and exchange. Visiting Morocco’s cities is a unique experience, where the maze-like streets of Marrakech contrast with the modern boulevards of Rabat and the skyscrapers of Casablanca.
Upon arrival at the airport, our driver will take you to your Riad for dinner and overnight stay.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, meet your local guide for a full-day exploration of Marrakech—the beating heart of Morocco, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life. After the visit, your guide will return you to your Riad. Take time to relax, then rediscover the Medina’s fascinating alleys on your own.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, begin your journey through the magnificent High Atlas Mountains—a labyrinth of peaks, waterfalls, and centuries-old forests. Discover mountain villages built from mud and straw, still preserving the proud Berber culture. The communal building method known as adobe (from the Arabic “cotto”) is still used today for restoring Morocco’s traditional architecture.
Continue to the Ksar Ait-Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified village made entirely of clay—a setting for famous works such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Prison Break. Enjoy lunch in Ouarzazate, then journey through the Valley of Roses toward the scenic Dades Gorges.
Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight stay included.
After breakfast, travel toward the Todra Gorges, a breathtaking canyon carved into the Atlas Mountains with cliffs reaching up to 160 meters. This site is a favorite among rock climbers, offering more than 150 different routes. Continue toward Merzouga in the afternoon and check in to your Riad for dinner and overnight stay.
Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight stay included.
After breakfast, explore the tracks once used by the Paris-Dakar Rally. Visit nomadic families in the desert to learn about their traditions, lifestyle, and hospitality. Continue to the village of Khamlia, home to people of Malian and Sudanese descent, and enjoy traditional Berber pizza accompanied by rhythmic drum music.
Visit the old Mifiss mines before switching to camels (or 4x4s) for a sunset ride to your desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Enjoy a traditional Berber dinner and an evening of music by the campfire under a sky full of stars.
Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp included.
After breakfast, depart northward to Rissani, famous for its centuries-old donkey market and souk. Visit Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops, then continue to Midelt, a small mountain town famed for apple production.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, head toward Fes with a stop in Ifrane, a charming town built by the French in 1929 in a European Alpine style. Known as the “Little Switzerland of Morocco,” Ifrane is one of the cleanest cities in the world. Arrival in Fes in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, you’ll discover one of Morocco’s most iconic cities—the oldest of the Imperial Cities and the cradle of Moroccan history. Accompanied by a local guide, visit the ancient Medina, its artisan workshops, spice stalls, and carpet shops. Don’t miss the famous Chouara Tannery, known for its colorful dyeing basins.
Continue to the Karaouine Mosque, considered the world’s oldest existing educational institution, originally founded as a Madrasa. Then explore the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and the city’s traditional blue ceramic factories.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, depart for the Blue City, Chefchaouen. Visit the Imperial City of Meknes, once the capital of Morocco, then continue to the holy city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, which only opened to non-Muslims in 1916. Stop at the Roman site of Volubilis, beautifully preserved, before arriving in Chefchaouen to explore its enchanting blue streets with your guide.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, travel toward Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Begin your guided visit with the Hassan Tower and the unfinished mosque, then continue to the Oudayas Kasbah—a picturesque white-and-blue fortress overlooking the ocean and the river. Stroll through its Andalusian gardens and alleys before returning to your Riad in Rabat.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, enjoy free time before traveling to Casablanca to visit the Hassan II Mosque, also known as the White Mosque. Then continue onward to Marrakech for your overnight stay in a Riad.
Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight stay included.
After breakfast, free time before your return flight. Three hours prior, transfer from your Riad to the airport for departure.
Return home with the unforgettable memory of a country of colors, rhythms, and contrasts—where Berber traditions blend with modern skylines, and desert sunlight meets the lively energy of the Medinas. Morocco will remain a timeless wonder in your heart.