From the ochre imperial capital of Marrakech to the blue-washed lanes of Chefchaouen, this five-day journey weaves together Morocco's greatest imperial cities and a night under the Sahara stars. Cross the High Atlas to the UNESCO ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, sleep in a luxury desert camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, explore the medieval labyrinth of Fes, and wander the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Trip at a Glance
Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights
Starts
Marrakech
Ends
Chefchaouen
Where you stay
Dades Valley · Luxury desert camp · Fes
Why You'll Love This Tour
Atlas Mountains Crossing
Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
Erg Chebbi Sahara & Luxury Camp
Fes el-Bali Medina
Chefchaouen Blue City
Meknès & Volubilis
Why choose this itinerary
The imperial cities route — Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech — as one private journey.
Five days allow unhurried medina time with expert local guidance.
Private vehicle and driver-guide throughout.
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech → High Atlas → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Day 2: Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
Day 3: Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Fes
Day 4: Guided Tour of Fes
Day 5: Fes → Meknès → Volubilis → Chefchaouen
What you will experience
Every item below is a stop on this itinerary — not an extra to buy.
High Atlas crossing — The road climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with time to stop where the view opens out.
Aït Ben Haddou — Walk up through the earthen ksar on the far side of the river — a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most striking stop on the road south. Explore Aït Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate — The town where the southern routes meet, with the Taourirt Kasbah on its edge and film studios on the outskirts. Explore Ouarzazate
Skoura oasis — A working palm oasis of kasbahs and gardens rather than a viewpoint you look at from the road. Explore Skoura Oasis
Dades Valley — Red rock, palm gardens and earthen villages along the river — the classic overnight between the mountains and the desert. Explore Dades Valley
Todra Gorge — Walk into the canyon where the limestone walls close to a few hundred metres apart and rise straight up. Explore Todra Gorge
Erg Chebbi dunes — The tall dune sea outside Merzouga — the Sahara most travellers picture, and the landscape this journey is built around. Explore Erg Chebbi
Sunset camel trek — Ride into Erg Chebbi as the light drops, led on foot by a guide from the desert, and reach camp with the dunes still glowing.
Luxury desert camp — A camp with proper beds, private bathrooms and dinner served under the open sky, set among the dunes.
Sunrise over the dunes — Wake early for first light on Erg Chebbi, when the sand changes colour and the ridges throw long shadows.
Ziz Valley — A wide palm valley cut into bare rock on the road south — the viewpoint above it is one of the best stops of the day.
Midelt — The high plateau town between the two Atlas ranges, and the usual break on the long Fes–Merzouga road.
Cedar forest — The cedar woodland of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques live wild beside the road.
Ifrane — The Middle Atlas town of pitched roofs and gardens, built in the 1930s and unlike anywhere else on the route. Explore Ifrane & Cedar Forest
Fes — The oldest of the imperial cities, and the start of the northern route to the desert. Explore Fes
The Royal Palace gates — The brass gates of Dar el-Makhzen in Fes — the palace itself is closed to visitors, but the gates are among the finest metalwork in Morocco.
Fes el-Bali medina — The walled old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the lanes are too narrow for cars.
Al Quaraouiyine — Founded in Fes in 859 and generally described as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
Chouara Tannery — The stone dye pits of the Fes tanneries, worked by hand much as they have been for centuries.
Souks and craft workshops — Workshops where the pottery, metal and leather sold in the souks is actually made.
Meknès — The imperial city of Moulay Ismail — the Bab Mansour gate, the mausoleum and the walls around the old granaries. Explore Meknès
Volubilis — The Roman town near Meknès, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with mosaic floors still in place where the houses stood.
Chefchaouen — The blue-washed town in the Rif, small enough to walk end to end and best seen early. Explore Chefchaouen
Optional, at extra cost
These are not part of the quote. We can arrange them on request, and they are paid separately.
Rissani souk — The market town near Merzouga, and one of the least staged souks on the southern route — busiest on market days.
What's Included
Everything below comes from this itinerary: what the price covers, and what it does not. Nothing is listed that the itinerary does not state.
Transport
Private air-conditioned vehicle
Professional English-speaking driver
Fuel
Accommodation
Riad/kasbah hotel nights as per itinerary (Dades Valley, Fes, Chefchaouen)
Send your request: Free. No payment, no card details, no obligation.
We confirm your trip: We check your dates, group size and availability, then send you the itinerary and the final price in writing.
20% deposit: Paid only after you have approved the confirmed trip. It secures your booking.
80% on arrival: The remaining 80% is paid when you arrive in Morocco.
Cancel more than 7 days before the trip and there is no charge. Within 7 days, 50% is charged.
FAQ
Is this a private tour?
Yes — every departure is fully private for your party alone. You travel with your own dedicated English-speaking driver and set the pace together, with no strangers joining your group.
What is the accommodation like?
Handpicked riads, kasbah hotels and city hotels with private rooms throughout — in the Dades Valley, Fes and Chefchaouen — plus one night in a luxury tented camp on the dunes of Erg Chebbi reached by camel, with dinner and live Berber music.
Where does this tour end?
The tour ends in Chefchaouen, the Blue City, on day 5 after exploring Meknès and Volubilis. We can arrange transport onward — for example to Fes or back to Marrakech — when you book.
How do I confirm my booking?
Message us on WhatsApp or through the contact form to lock in your dates and we'll tailor the details to you. Sending the request is free. Once we have confirmed your dates, itinerary and final price, a 20% deposit secures the booking and the remaining 80% is paid on arrival in Morocco.