Guided Morocco Tours
Best of Morocco
Road Trips
For over 20 years we've created affordable, hassle free travel in Morocco that starts any day. Because your tour will be private, it's unique, so we can't show your exact route on the map or quote exact prices here.
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Our sample Best of Morocco Tour below will give you an idea of what you might include in your own Morocco itinerary.
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Throughout you will be immersed in Berber and Arab cultures flavored with African ways and ancient traditions.
You will visit nomads, markets, imperial cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, kasbahs, palaces, Berber villages, and Roman ruins and travel along ancient caravan routes.
Upgrades to four and five star luxury hotels and desert camps may be added any time, even when you're on the road. We're flexible and do our best to make it happen when and where possible.
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Hotels may include riads, ancient kasbahs, a desert camel trek camp in the Sahara dunes, and small local inns. Off road routes in the Sahgro massif or High Atlas mountains can be included.
To learn more go to About Tours.
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Sample Itineraries
Casablanca to Marrakesh 14 Days (pdf)
Marrakesh to Marrakesh 10 Days (pdf)
Tangier to Marrakesh 8 Days (pdf)
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Best of Morocco
Sample Road Trip
14 Days
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Day 1
From Casablanca to North Central Morocco
Your driver will meet at your hotel with the waiting car. Visit the magnificent King Hassan II Mosque before leaving the city to drive to Rabat, the newly built capital of Morocco. Ancient settlements from the 3rd century BC were located near the Chellah. The Romans abandoned this site around 1150 to build Volubilis, where it was more profitable for olive oil production. Mystical springs became a cemetery for the Sultans added gardens to the outer walls and inner sanctum, are still cared for. The site overlooks a broad river plain where herds of elephants once roamed during Roman times. Back on the road, Chefchaouen is your next stop. Your hotel is near the central square in the heart of the old town.
Day 2
The Blue City of Chefchaouen
100 years ago Chefchaouen was forbidden to non-Muslims and if one did manage to enter, it was risking their life to do so. Today the walkable medina is welcoming to anyone who wanders the narrow passages throughout this charming town, known as the Blue City. The houses and mosques are painted blue to mirror the sky and remind of god. Photographic opportunities are endless, especially in the mid day sunlight. Chefchaouen or Chaouen as it's known locally, is claimed to have 100 workshops where fine woolens are made. Visit the 15C kasbah and museum in the heart of the old town. Fine views of the lush Rif mountains can be seen from the high ramparts. And don't miss the dungeon.
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Day 3
The Ancient Roman City of Volubilis
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Transfer to Fez after breakfast. Along the way you can visit the ancient ruins of Volubilis, the furthest outpost of the Roman Empire. For 200 years it was the trade route into 2nd and 3rdC Africa. Beautiful mosaics and carved columns are notable, and an replicated olive press operates as it did in Roman times.
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Nearby is a town named after Moulay Idriss I, who in 789 arrived with the teachings of Islam. It created a dynasty that changed Morocco. In addition to founding the town, he initiated construction of a university in Fez. As a result, the learning center devoted to the study of Islam became famous, drawing seekers of truth from all corners of civilization.
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Day 4
Take a Walking Tour of the Fez Medina
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With your local Fez specialist guide you'll explore this fascinating storybook medina to learn about her secrets and charms. The endless labyrinth of narrow streets is like no other, with hundreds of tiny shops, a dyers souk, and craft manufacturers who ply their trade in narrow medieval grottoes. Visit the famous leather tanneries, still using techniques from ancient times to produce fine leather in beautiful colours. Fez is also famous for its robust and beautiful pottery, brass and copper trays and tea services, regional cuisine and ancient medersas (schools of Islam).
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Day 5
To the Gateway of Sahara
Today you'll travel into the Middle Atlas mountains to visit Azrou where there are opportunities to see wild Barbary apes in native cedar forests. As you travel onward, the landscape changes dramatically. Midelt on the edge of the Sahara, presents another world in contrast. Every Sunday, desert dwellers and nomads travel into town to sell their goods and resupply at the local market. The striking abstract carpet designs here are worth a look.
Day 6
Camel Trek to a Tented Camp
Today you will finally arrive in the Sahara desert! Traveling south, red dunes appear on the horizon. Along the route the Ziz date palm oasis stretches all the way to Erfoud. In Erfoud you’ll have time to stop to visit the (Saturday) date market, and resupply for anything you need at the local super market. Your destination is the desert camp beyond the town of Merzouga, far from hotels lining the dunes. Have tea or a drink by the pool before meeting your camel guides and after mounting your camel, ride to a camp deep in the dunes. Dinner is served under the the star filled sky (vegetarians welcome). Climb the massive dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed.
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Read all about camel trekking.
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Day 7
Local Markets,
Fossils and Donkey Parking
Leaving the desert dunes you'll travel through the remote volcanic Saghro Massif towards Tinehir. Along the way you can visit fossil mining workshops and admire the amazing varieties of ancient sea life cut from stone. Stop to hunt for fossils in the rocks, explore any local markets at your leisure, and learn about Berber life in an ancient mud walled village. Rissani has a lively souk selling many goods, animals and spices brought from surrounding villages. It's fun to explore, try camel milk, see the largest donkey parking lot, and people watch. Arrive in Tinehir, where your home for the night is a 100 year old kasbah.
Day 8
Dades Kasbahs and Todra Gorge
This morning a short drive from Tinehir takes you to Todra gorge, a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains. Sheer rock walls rise 300 m in the narrowest part. Wander along the river, or hike with a Berber guide through desert hills for a closer look at Berber ways of life. Back in the car you'll drive into Dades valley, where people claim there are a thousand kasbahs. Many villages, riverside gardens and towering mud fortresses house families and their livestock. Aside from kasbahs, Dades is noted for odd shaped hills, called the Monkey Fingers.
Day 9
Visit Nomads and Ait Ben Haddou Kasbahs
Your destination today is the unprecedented Ait Benhaddou UNESCO world heritage site. Along the way (weather permitting), drive off road across mountains to the remote village of Boutaghrah to visit nomads in the area, then pass through the Skoura oasis and Valley of the Rose, famous for elegant Persian rose oil. Back on the main road, in Ouarzazate you’ll have time to stop at a kasbah museum and explore around the inner sanctum of a sultan’s private home. Next is the magnificent Ait Benhaddou kasbahs. Arrive to an overlook view, then settle into your riad with views of the famous fortress.
Day 10
High Atlas Valleys, Telouet, Salt Mines and Marrakesh
This morning you'll have time to explore the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou before the day trippers from Marrakesh arrive. The village of clustered Berber Kasbahs has been used as a backdrop for countless adventure films. In its prime it was one of the most powerful fortress strongholds on the Salt Road, protecting camel caravans plagued by thieves and raiders. You'll follow the ancient caravan route to Telouet to explore inside the once beautiful Glaoui palace. It stands, crumbling in ruins because no one wants to remember "the vulture" sultan and his son who lived, played and schemed here until the 1950's. After lunch descend the winding High Atlas route to where the mystical city of Marrakesh resides.
Day 11 & 12
The Red City Called Marrakesh
Marrakesh is a wonderful maze of back streets with history that must first be introduced with a guide. Visit Ben Yousef Medersa, the Koutoubia mosque, and the Marrakesh Museum or the Saadian tombs. Afterward, you'll be free to explore the many restaurants and shops in this most iconic city. The vast souks (market) are comprised of many specialist crafts e.g. metalwork, carvers, dyers, weavers: where you can watch them at work. Carpets sellers might entice you into their shop with a glass of of mint tea. Search hidden shops for treasure, old Berber jewelry, silver and African beads; or fresh spices, olives, fresh herbs,; or traditional apothecaries where you can buy all manner of potions to heal or cast spells of love or revenge. Marrakesh is also called the Paris of Africa for the numerous flower lined boulevards and gardens. The Majorelle estate garden and museum was previously owned by Yves Saint Laurent. Visit early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the line ups.
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Day 13
Tree Goats, Seafood, Artists and the Beach
Transfer to Essaouira, a laid back town west of Marrakesh set on the Atlantic coast peppered with Argan trees (yes - there are goats in the trees). Staying in Essaouira on the Atlantic coast is a perfect way to finish a tour of Morocco. The expansive beach is great for long walks. The town is famous for fresh seafood, thuja wood crafts and artists colony. Old Portuguese ramparts guard the walled city where you can watch silver crafters and wood carvers at work in one of the most charming medinas in all of Morocco. Visit a traditional pharmacy and learn about natural medicines and cures, and a Women's cooperative where Argan nuts are processed by hand into healthful oils. In winter Essaouira is generally warmer and wetter than Marrakech, and in summer pleasantly cool and breezy, rarely going beyond high 20's (78 F). Celcius.
Day 14
Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast
Wander around the old grotto shops and markets filled with spices, African trade goods, wooden carvings and masks, colorful textiles and carpets, and discover unique artists galleries. Essaouira is also an active fishing port where fish is bought and sold right on the docks. Fresh seafood is served in the simple beachside cafes and market lanes in this most fascinating medina. Swim, kite sail, ride horses or camels or just relax on the golden seaside sands. A perfect finish to your Morocco experience. Depart the tour from Marrakesh.
Making Your Private Tour is Easy
Your trip outline will be unique, personalized (custom made) to start any day, for any length of time, for any number of explorers, tailored at a price point you can afford. We offer four or five star luxury travel options. Your English speaking driver and guides will be yours and yours alone. He will introduce you to Morocco's beautiful landscapes, expansive history, soulful sunsets, and storybook ancient cities, often taking the roads less traveled. You'll discover delicious food, welcoming people, African music and art, tribal traditions and so much more. We invite you to travel with us and discover authentic Morocco as you like.​
Contact Us with how many days you'd like, as well as how many explorers will be in your group. Based upon your interests, budget, and timeline, we can advise where to start and end your trip.
We’ll send sample trip ideas that match your requests and will confirm the price. When you're ready to book your tour, our Payment page helps you get started step by step. It's easy!
To help you with trip ideas, sample tours can be found at Day Tours Starting from Marrakech, Morocco Road Trips, or Sahara Desert Camel Treks.
FAQs answers questions about visas, safety, weather, guides, what to wear, tipping, how to buy a carpet, changing money, and a lot more that will help you become a well informed traveler. Or contact us with any questions or requests you may have.
What People Say About Us
About Morocco Explored Tours
For over 20 years Morocco Explored has created safe, mid-priced, small group tours as an alternative to packaged excursions. Each tour can be tailored to your interests without breaking your budget. All tours are private - custom made (bespoke), and combine cultural immersion with unique itineraries, often along routes less traveled by many Morocco visitors.
We are a fully registered and insured Moroccan tour operator, and our transport vehicles and drivers are licensed as required by law.
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Our work is diversified among many regions and families. When you choose Morocco Explored you'll be supporting our Moroccan partners who's services are dedicated to providing the best experience for our Morocco explorers.
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Read more about traveling in Morocco at
Our Awards
Between 2013 and 2019 Morocco Explored Tours won Certificate of Excellence awards for receiving 5 star reviews year over year. In 2020, 2023 and 2024 we've won the Traveler's Choice Award, only given to the top 10% travel providers who consistently receive 5 star reviews year over year on TripAdvisor.