7-Day Sahara & Imperial Cities Tour from Fes
One private week that loops from Fes through Morocco's imperial cities and the Sahara: Roman Volubilis, blue Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, then over the High Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou and a night among the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- Duration7 days / 6 nights
- StartFes (hotel or airport)
- EndFes
- Tour typePrivate, 4×4 or minibus
- CitiesMeknes, Rabat, Marrakech
Tour Overview
Morocco in One Week: Imperial Cities, Mountains and Desert
This private seven-day tour is a complete first look at Morocco in a single loop from Fes. It combines the country's imperial cities and its most famous landscapes — the Rif Mountains, the Atlantic coast, the High Atlas and the Sahara — so you see both the historic heart and the wild south in one week.
The first days head north and west: the monumental gates of Meknes, the Roman mosaics of Volubilis and a night in Chefchaouen, the blue town of the Rif. From there you reach the capital, Rabat, and follow the coast to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca before two nights in Marrakech, including a full day with a local guide.
The second half crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses and the Todra Gorge to Merzouga. A sunset camel trek leads to a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and the final day returns to Fes via Rissani, the Ziz Valley, the cedar forest and Ifrane.
Highlights
What Makes This Tour Special
- 01
Four Imperial Cities
Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech on one route, starting and ending in Fes.
- 02
Volubilis & Chefchaouen
Roman mosaics at a UNESCO site, then a night in the blue-washed town of the Rif Mountains.
- 03
Hassan II Mosque
One of the largest mosques in the world, set over the Atlantic in Casablanca.
- 04
Guided Day in Marrakech
Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the souks, Majorelle Garden and Jemaa el-Fna.
- 05
Aït Ben Haddou & Todra Gorge
The UNESCO-listed ksar of Gladiator and Game of Thrones, and the high canyon walls of Todra.
- 06
A Night in the Sahara
Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi, Berber drums at a luxury camp and sunrise over the dunes.
Day by Day
7-Day Itinerary: Fes, Imperial Cities & the Sahara
Your driver collects you in the morning from Fes airport or your accommodation and heads west to Meknes, the imperial capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail. See the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the vast royal granaries and stables, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
A short drive brings you to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where floor mosaics, the basilica and the triumphal arch still stand among olive groves. The road then winds north into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, where you spend the night in the blue town.
Take the morning to explore Chefchaouen: its blue-washed lanes and stairways, the Outa el Hammam square and the old kasbah with its garden and small museum. For a view over the whole town, walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hillside.
Drive through the Rif foothills and the plains of the Gharb to Rabat, Morocco's capital. Visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then walk through the white-and-blue lanes of the Kasbah of the Oudayas, overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg river and the Atlantic.
Follow the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean, with its 210-metre minaret and richly decorated interior, then drive along the Corniche.
Continue south across the plains to Marrakech and check in to your riad or hotel. In the evening, head to Jemaa el-Fna square as the food stalls, musicians and storytellers take over.
Spend the day with a licensed local guide in the Red City. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, the carved and painted rooms of the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, then wander the souks of the medina, where each lane specialises in a different craft.
After lunch near Jemaa el-Fna, visit the Majorelle Garden with its cobalt-blue villa and cactus collections. The evening is yours to enjoy the square, a rooftop café or a hammam.
Leave Marrakech early and climb into the High Atlas through Berber villages and walnut groves to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres the highest road pass in the range, with stops at the best viewpoints.
On the southern side, visit Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar that has appeared in Gladiator, The Mummy and Game of Thrones. Cross the river and climb to the old granary at the top for views over the valley, then continue to Ouarzazate for the night.
After a morning visit to the film studios of Ouarzazate, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs east through Skoura and Kelaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses. In Tinghir, walk into the Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls rise up to 300 metres above a clear stream.
Continue across the desert plains to Merzouga. At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, meet your camels and ride into the sand to watch the sunset from the top of a high dune, then continue to the luxury camp for dinner, Berber drums around the campfire and a night under the stars.
Wake before dawn to watch the sunrise over the Sahara, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. Visit the souk of Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalet, and a fossil-marble workshop in Erfoud.
Head north along the Ziz River, stopping at the panoramic viewpoint over the Ziz Valley, then cross the Middle Atlas via Midelt. In the cedar forest near Azrou, look out for Barbary macaques, and pass through the alpine-style town of Ifrane before arriving in Fes in the evening for drop-off at your accommodation or the airport.
Tour Details
What's Included & Not Included
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off in Fes (hotel, riad or airport)
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus with fuel
- English / Spanish-speaking driver
- 5 nights in hotels and riads (Chefchaouen, Rabat, Marrakech ×2, Ouarzazate)
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Camel trek into the dunes
- Local guide for the Marrakech city tour
- 6 breakfasts and 2 dinners (Ouarzazate and desert camp)
Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and film studios
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Tailor-made on request. This itinerary is a suggestion. Every tour is private, so we can add a guided day in Fes, a second night in the desert, stay longer in Chefchaouen or end the tour in Marrakech or Casablanca instead. The price depends on group size and accommodation — send us your dates for an exact quote.
Book This Tour
Request Your Private 7-Day Tour
Tell us your dates, group size and preferred accommodation. We reply within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and price — no payment needed to enquire.
- Private tour — only your group in the vehicle
- Free itinerary changes before departure
- Local team based in the south of Morocco
Booking Enquiry
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is a loop from Fes: north to Chefchaouen, along the Atlantic coast to Marrakech, over the High Atlas to the Sahara and back to Fes. We can also finish in Marrakech or Casablanca on request.
It is fully private. Only you and your travel companions are in the vehicle, and the pace and stops can be adjusted to suit you.
The full loop is about 2,000 km. Most days have 4 to 5 hours of driving with plenty of stops; the two desert days (Ouarzazate to Merzouga and Merzouga to Fes) are longer, at 7 to 8 hours including visits.
Yes. Adding a day lets you spend a second night in Merzouga, explore the region by 4×4 and split the long drive back to Fes. Just tell us when you enquire.
The luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes has spacious tents with proper beds and en-suite bathrooms. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by Berber music around the fire.
Yes, camels are led on foot by a guide at a slow pace. If you prefer not to ride, a 4×4 transfer to the camp can be arranged.
Yes. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, through guided visits at set times (except Friday mornings). Modest dress is required.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. Winter is sunny but nights in the desert and mountains are cold, and summer days in the south are very hot.
The price depends on the number of travellers and the accommodation level, since vehicle costs are shared by the group. Send us your dates and group size for an exact quote within 24 hours.
Gallery
Moments from the Journey
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