Explore Morocco Charms & Desert Nights in 8 Days

After your long flight, you will be welcome at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. A private driver will take you to your hotel, to check-in and to rest. In the afternoon, an introductory orientation drive through the city of Casablanca will give you a first impression of Morocco. The rest of the day is reserved for you to relax, for a short walk in the neighborhood of your hotel or to get gradually into the atmosphere of the White City as you prefer.

Your first day in Morocco starts with a guided tour of Casablanca’s sights. You will visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s only mosque that is open to non-Muslims. The mosque is a masterpiece of Moroccan art and is situated right next to the sea. The afternoon is spent in the Quartier des Habous (Habous Quarter), a beautiful area with markets and old as well as modern architecture. There are lots of places to sit and relax. Later on, you will continue on the scenic route through the orchards with argan trees, followed by a leisurely drive through the countryside to the relaxed coastal town of Essaouira. In this beautiful town, the Atlantic coast meets relaxation. The rest of the day is spent exploring Essaouira.

This morning enjoy your breakfast before commencing an official guided tour of the historic town of Essaouira, a fantastic and full of life coastal town in Morocco. Then, explore the medina and its variety of interesting spice stalls and markets selling lots of jewelry, followed by a stroll through the historic Mellah. There, you will be able to see all the remnants of local heritage in the form of the old architecture and the way the local people live today. In the afternoon, visit the working harbor of Essaouira, where you can see the local blue fishing boats pulled up onto the beach. There is nothing better than sitting on the front and having some grilled sardines or freshly caught fish, which can be prepared for you in a local restaurant. The alternative is to have lunch in one of the many cafes and restaurants found in the medina and after have the opportunity to do as you like. You can for example walk along the top of the old ramparts, visit some of the local artisan shops or take a coffee in a quiet square. The light is soft and the atmosphere is relaxed, allowing you to follow Essaouira’s chilled rhythm.

Enjoy your morning in Essaouira as you wish. Return to the medina or go for a walk on the beach. Watch the windsurfers and kitesurfers or return to the harbor. After lunch, head off inland to Marrakech (approx. 170kms). On the way, keep an eye out for the famous goats climbing the argan trees. Arriving in Marrakech in the late afternoon, check into your hotel and take the rest of the day off. In the evening, enjoy a dinner of local cuisine at a restaurant and then take a walk around the Red City when it’s all lit up and bustling in the evening.

Today is dedicated to Marrakech with an official local guide. Begin at the Majorelle Gardens, famously associated with Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, where vivid blue walls, exotic plants and tranquil pathways offer a peaceful contrast to the medina’s energy. Continue to some of the city’s most important landmarks, including the Koutoubia Mosque and the elegant Bahia Palace. In the modern Gueliz district, you may choose to pause for lunch. In the afternoon, enter the medina’s trade quarters, where artisans, spice sellers and shopkeepers keep Marrakech’s creative traditions alive. Your day ends near Jemaa El Fna, the city’s legendary square. Settle into a terrace cafe with mint tea and watch as the square transforms at sunset into a lively theater of food stalls, music, storytellers and movement.

After breakfast you set off for a day of slow-paced desert adventures. You start the day with a visit to the Agafay Stone Desert, some 35km outside of the city of Marrakech. Instead of the hectic Marrakech streets, surrounded by busy shops and souks, you find yourselves surrounded by pale rocky hills extending out in all directions. You arrive at your luxury Berber-style tented camp in the late afternoon, just in time to see the sun set over the beautiful desert landscape. Under the starry night sky, you can enjoy a delicious traditional Moroccan dinner of tagine. Each tent is equipped with a basic private bathroom and shower with running water to make your desert adventure as comfortable as possible.

Return to Marrakech this morning and enjoy breakfast in the inviting atmosphere of your riad. The day is deliberately flexible, giving you time to shape your final hours according to your mood. You might explore the medina’s narrow lanes in search of last souvenirs, sip fresh orange juice at a sidewalk cafe or return to a favorite corner of the souks. For a more immersive finale, add a Moroccan cooking class to learn the secrets of tagine or unwind with a traditional hammam experience before your last evening in the city.

The end of your stay in Morocco is approaching. For your departure, you will have breakfast and then be picked up at the agreed time to head back to Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca where you will take your international flight. You will leave Morocco with the beautiful memories of the ocean air and the colors of the medina of Marrakech as well as the soft light of the Agafay Desert. A wonderful trip and so very different from the many other trips that you could have had in Morocco.