10 Day Marrakech to Fes Adventure

Founded in the 11th century and renowned for its treasure trove of mosques, palaces, and museums, Marrakesh is the most visited of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities. At its heart is the medina, the original walled settlement around which the rest of the city was built. A maze of narrow streets and magical souks, its cobblestone streets are traversed by pedestrians and donkey carts instead of cars, and have changed very little in the hundreds of years since they were first laid out. Feel like you have stepped back in time!

Today you will enjoy a walking tour of some of Marrakech medina’s historical and cultural sites with a private guide, including the Koutoubia Minaret, the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Quranic School.

This afternoon, wander around the souks for a shopping experience like no other, relax on your terrace, or go for a traditional Moroccan spa treatment such as hammam or massage.

Overnight in your riad.

Step far beyond the tourist trail and into the heart of Amazigh (Berber) life with this unforgettable day in the High Atlas Mountains. Just 65km from Marrakech, yet a world away, this immersive experience offers a rare opportunity to connect with a remote village community that few visitors ever see.

Accompanied by a local guide—an inspiring young woman who was the first in her village to finish high school—you’ll journey by 4×4 through stunning mountain landscapes to her family home, where you’ll be welcomed with traditional tea and warm hospitality.

From there, venture deeper into the Azzaden Valley, near majestic Mount Toubkal, and settle into a peaceful mountain lodge. Take part in a hands-on cooking class with village women, learning how to prepare authentic Moroccan tagine and salad. After lunch, explore the village on foot, visit local fields and rivers, and learn to make tannourt, traditional Amazigh bread, in the home of a local woman.

This is more than just a day trip—it’s a meaningful cultural exchange. Every part of the experience is rooted in and run by the community: from your guide and driver to the cooks and host families. By joining, you’re directly supporting education, women’s empowerment, and sustainable rural tourism in the Atlas Mountains.

Overnight in Ouirgane.

You will be picked up from your accommodation in the mountains around 8 o’clock in the morning. We will then depart for the Southeast, going through the Tizi N´Tichka pass with stops for panoramic views and taking pictures of the small Amazigh villages that dot the landscape.

Then, we will continue south to the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986).

After lunch, we will continue to Ouarzazate, also known as “The Gate of the Desert.” Here, we will see the Taourirt kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars in Morocco. In Ouarzazate, we will have the chance to take a guided tour of the Atlas Studios. Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Sahara with Penélope Cruz and Game of Thrones.

Overnight in Ouarzazate.

After breakfast we will depart for the Draa Valley where you can see one of the longest rivers in Morocco. On the way we will make a few stops to take pictures and enjoy the view of the spectacular kasbahs and berber villages that dot the road, as well as the beauty of the Draa valley.

We will have lunch in Nkob or Alnif and then continue driving to reach the wonderful Merzouga dunes. Here, we will swap our motorized transportation for a 4-legged one (camel!) to enter inside the heart of the desert. Your camel ride will last around 1.5 hours, during which you will stop on top of a big dune to catch the sunset. Here you can also have a go at sandboarding (included).

When you reach the camp, you will find your luggage waiting for you and enjoy dinner before spending the night in the dunes, listening to traditional Amazigh music, or stargazing. Our luxury desert camp has cosy beds, hot water, showers and private bathrooms in each tent.

This is a complete ‘desert day.’ This morning you have a ‘date with the sunrise.’ When you are in the middle of the desert, waking up early is a must to watch the spectacular sunrise from the top of a dune close to the camp. After breakfast we will return to Merzouga. Then, we will skirt Erg Chebbi, a great extension of sandy desert where we can find the Big Dune of Morocco, more than 250m high.

We will continue by the former ‘Paris-Dakar Rally Road,’ stopping at the Tissardmin oasis where we can find fossil quarries still present in the area. We will continue by road, passing nomad settlements, where we can stop and enjoy tea with the families living there to learn more about their way of life. The next stop will be a high viewpoint where you can see the whole of Erg Chebbi.

Next we will reach Kamilia Village. The inhabitants of Kamilia came to Morocco from Mali, and we will take a relaxing cup of tea whilst listening to some of their traditional Gnawa music. In the afternoon, we will head to your Merzouga desert hotel, where you have free time to enjoy the town or the dunes next to the hotel to see the sunset. Dinner and night in the hotel.

We will leave the desert, heading north through the Tafilalet palm grove, the biggest in the world. You will see thousands of palm trees along this 20km of road. The way leads us to the Ziz Valley, whose river comes down from the High Atlas and feeds the palm grove. Here we will make a stop and from this high viewpoint, enjoy a magnificent view of the valley and the town of Aoufous.

We make another stop in Midelt, in the heart of the Atlas, where you will have free time for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon we continue our way to the Middle Atlas and the beautiful mountain town of Azrou.

Overnight in a beautiful chalet-style lodge in Azrou, with stunning countryside views.

Today you have a chance to take a guided walk through the Cedar Woods of Azrou with our mountain guide Salah, where, if we are lucky, we will see the native Barbary apes.

Leaving Azrou, we will continue through the mountains to Ifrane. Situated in the northwestern slope of the Middle Atlas at 1630 meters above water level. With its broad avenues, wooden ski-style chalets and manicured gardens, this city is called ‘the Switzerland of Morocco.’ It was built by the French during the colonial period to mimic the ski resorts back in Europe.

After some time to explore Ifrane, we will continue to Fes, where you will spend the night. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world.

Breakfast in your riad, before your day of exploration in the old medina of Fez where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world.

Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will also view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah,” where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes.

Overnight in Fes.

After breakfast this morning we will head through the stunning Rif mountains to the ‘Blue Pearl’ of Chefchaouen. Uniquely located in a natural reserve high in the Rif Mountains, this blue and white painted village is a haven of peace and serenity.

We will spend today exploring this mountain village in the heart of the Rif, known for its Moorish architecture and blue and white painted homes. You will have a wonderful local guide.

We will visit the medina to enjoy its cultural and historical heritage, wander the streets, see the picturesque Uta el Hammam square, the Rass el Maa Waterfall and, of course, the colorful shops filled with local crafts.

We can also walk to the Spanish Mosque that offers a very good view of the town and perhaps drink traditional mint tea at a cafe terrace while relaxing and watching people come and go.

Overnight in Chefchaouen, breakfast and dinner included.

After breakfast this morning we will head down through the Rif to discover Volubilis. The archeological roman site includes remains of astonishing mosaics, hundreds of Latin inscriptions and artistic materials.

After visiting Volubilis, we will arrive back to Fes, where our journey ends.