Embark on a 9-day journey through Morocco: the energy of Marrakech, the dramatic landscapes of the Atlas Mountains, two nights in the Sahara, the historic coastal town of Essaouira, and a return to Marrakech to explore its vibrant medina more deeply. A rich blend of natural beauty, culture and history.
Accommodation: 6 nights in well-rated hotels, kasbahs and riads and 2 nights in a Berber desert camp with a private tent.
Guidance and transport: a qualified multilingual local guide-driver and an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle or minivan.
Marrakech airport (we meet you on arrival) · Transfer to Marrakech airport on the last day
On your arrival in Marrakech
A private tour with your own multilingual driver-guide. Every itinerary can be adjusted to your dates, pace and choice of hotels, and we send you a personal quote when you get in touch.
Arrive at Marrakech Airport, where your guide greets you and transfers you to your hotel or riad. Take the afternoon to relax and explore at your own pace: wander the souks, sit in a local café or simply unwind in your riad.
Approx. 15 km · 20–30 min transfer driving
After breakfast, meet your expert local guide for a full day of sightseeing. Visit Jemaa el-Fna Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its food stalls, street performers, musicians and fortune tellers. Explore the hidden alleyways and gardens of the medina and see the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech.
Walking tour, no long drive
Entrance fees to cultural sites are not included, so you can choose what interests you. After the tour, you have free time to keep exploring, shop in the souks or relax at a local spa.
Route: Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura Oasis → Dades Valley
Approx. 320 km · 6–7 h driving
Leave Marrakech and drive through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest mountain pass in North Africa. Visit UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village famous for its mud-brick architecture.
Continue through the Skoura Oasis, where palm groves and kasbahs dot the landscape, then into the Roses Valley and on to the Dades Valley and its “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” for the night.
Route: Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
Approx. 300 km · 5–6 h driving
After breakfast, drive to the Todra Gorge and walk between its narrow rock walls, then continue to the edge of the Sahara at Merzouga. Leave your luggage at the kasbah and set off on a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes.
As the sun sets, enjoy a Moroccan dinner at your desert camp with traditional music around the campfire, and spend the night under the stars.
Rise early for sunrise over the dunes before returning to the kasbah for breakfast. Then visit nearby nomadic communities to share traditional tea and listen to the soulful rhythms of Gnawa music.
Approx. 100 km · 4×4 day, short drives driving
In the afternoon, continue exploring the desert with a camel trek into the Sahara’s sands. As the day ends, relax at your desert camp with a Moroccan feast, live music and stargazing.
Route: Merzouga → Rissani → N’Kob → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate
Approx. 370 km · 6–7 h driving
After an early breakfast, head back across the dunes and journey through the Draa Valley, one of Morocco’s most picturesque landscapes, with palm groves and ancient kasbahs. Stop in N’Kob for lunch and an optional visit to a fossil workshop before continuing to Ouarzazate.
Known as “the Hollywood of Morocco”, Ouarzazate has been the setting for films such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia and for Game of Thrones. Night in Ouarzazate.
Route: Ouarzazate → Telouet Kasbah → Salt Mine → Essaouira
Approx. 430 km · 7–8 h driving
After breakfast, head to the Telouet Kasbah, a striking example of traditional Berber architecture, and visit a salt mine to learn about traditional mining techniques.
Continue to Essaouira, a coastal city known for its historic medina, arts scene and beaches. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon in its markets and galleries, and spend the night by the Atlantic Ocean.
Route: Essaouira → Marrakech
Approx. 190 km · about 3 h driving
After breakfast, return to Marrakech for a day at leisure: revisit Jemaa el-Fna, shop for souvenirs or enjoy a hammam. In the afternoon, explore more of the city’s hidden gems, from the Majorelle Garden to the Bahia Palace.
In the evening, relax at a café overlooking Jemaa el-Fna, with the option of dinner at one of Marrakech’s finest restaurants.
Your final day is free for last-minute exploring, shopping or relaxing: perhaps a cooking class or a traditional hammam.
Approx. 15 km · Transfer to the airport
Your guide helps with any arrangements and transfers you to the airport for your departure.
