9 Days Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert
Overview
The 9-Day Imperial Cities and Sahara Desert Tour immerses you in the living heritage of one of the world’s oldest kingdoms. Shaped by Berber, Arab, and Jewish influences, Morocco reveals a deep artistic tradition and layered history at every stop. This itinerary connects the country’s most emblematic imperial cities with cinematic landscapes and timeless desert culture for a journey that balances discovery, comfort, and authenticity.
Your adventure begins in Marrakech, the vibrant ochre city of monuments, gardens, and bustling marketplaces. As you wander Jemaa el-Fnaa, the city unfolds in a whirlwind of storytellers, aromas, and music, while landmarks like the Majorelle Garden and the Koutoubia Mosque showcase architectural elegance and the city’s creative soul.
From Marrakech you travel to Fes, where a guided exploration of the UNESCO-listed old medina reveals a labyrinth of history. You’ll trace scholarly footsteps at Al-Quaraouiyine University, watch age-old craft at the tanneries, and glimpse the city’s devotion to learning and artisanship in intimate madrassas and hidden caravanserais.
The route also brings you to Meknes, where the monumental Bab Mansour gate recalls the grandeur of Moulay Ismaïl, and to Rabat, the capital, where the elegant Hassan Tower and the serene Mausoleum of Mohammed V bridge past and present. In Casablanca, the soaring Hassan II Mosque sits at the ocean’s edge, marrying contemporary ambition with exquisite craftsmanship.
Turning south, the landscapes shift dramatically toward the Sahara Desert. With Berber cameleers you ride into the golden waves of Erg Chebbi, the dunes glowing in the changing light as the sun sinks on the horizon. The stillness and scale of the desert offer space to reflect, wander, and simply be.
Nights among the dunes are spent in comfortable tents that pair desert simplicity with warmth and hospitality. Around a campfire under a canopy of stars, you’ll share stories, savor traditional cuisine, and listen to local rhythms carried by the night air—a quintessential Moroccan memory.
Across the journey you’ll encounter fortified kasbahs, green oases, and caravan towns that have sustained trade for centuries, gaining insight into Berber culture and the nomadic lifeways that endure. This Imperial Cities & Sahara route beautifully blends cultural depth with natural grandeur, crafting an unforgettable voyage through Morocco’s heart and soul.
Included/Exclude
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Pick-up & drop-off service
- Professional English-speaking driver
- Accommodation in A/C private rooms
- Daily breakfast
- 2 dinners (as per itinerary)
- Licensed guides in Fes & Marrakech
- All local taxes
- Meals not specified
- Drinks with meals
- Monument entrance fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide/driver
- Travel insurance (*)
Tour Plan
Your private driver meets you at Marrakech airport and transfers you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free to settle in, stroll the nearby streets, or add an optional orientation walk with a licensed guide to get your bearings in the red city.
After breakfast, set out on a guided visit to Marrakech’s highlights. Explore the ornate Saadian Tombs and Ben Youssef Madrasa, wander the courtyards and salons of the Bahia Palace, then experience the energy of the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa. The afternoon is yours to relax, shop, or add an optional garden or hammam experience.
Depart at 08:00 toward the Atlantic and arrive in Casablanca to visit the awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque, crowned by the world’s tallest minaret. Enjoy lunch along the Ain Diab seaside promenade before continuing to Rabat. On arrival, stroll the UNESCO-listed Oudaya Kasbah and the old medina, then see the Chellah necropolis and the Hassan Tower complex. Overnight in Rabat.
Travel inland to Meknes, the 17th-century capital of Moulay Ismaïl. Explore El-Hedim Square, Bab Lakhmiss, and the monumental Bab Mansour, with time for the Royal Stables and Moulay Ismaïl’s Mausoleum. After lunch, continue to Fes, where you check into your riad and enjoy a free evening in Morocco’s cultural capital.
Meet your local guide at 09:00 for a deep dive into Fes el-Bali, the oldest living medina. Begin at the Royal Palace gates and Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate), then weave through spice-scented alleys to Bou Inania, Nejjarine Fountain & Museum, and the vibrant Chouara Tannery. The afternoon is free to revisit favorite corners, shop for crafts, or unwind at your riad.
Head south via alpine-styled Ifrane and pause in the cedar forests near Azrou to spot Barbary macaques. After a lunch break in Midelt, cross Tizi n’Talghamt into the palm-studded Ziz Valley, passing ksars that once guarded precious caravan goods. Continue through Erfoud, famed for fossils, and reach Merzouga, where camels await. Luggage goes by 4×4 while you ride across the dunes at sunset to a desert camp, dine beneath the stars, and enjoy Berber music before retiring to your ensuite tent.
Catch sunrise over Erg Chebbi, breakfast in the open air, then return by camel or 4×4 to meet your driver. Travel via Rissani, with its traditional souk, and on to the oasis of Tinghir. Walk between the sheer walls of the Todra Gorge, then continue into the picturesque Dades Valley, pausing for the famous “monkey-feet” rock formations and kasbah-lined vistas. Dinner and overnight in Dades.
Follow the Road of 1000 Kasbahs, crossing the fragrant Valley of Roses toward Kelaat M’Gouna, then pass the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate for an optional studio visit and lunch. Continue to the fortified ksar of Aït Ben Haddou for a guided walk through its earthen lanes and citadel views. By late afternoon, climb into the High Atlas and cross Tizi n’Tichka (2,260 m) with panoramic photo stops before arriving in Marrakech for the night.
Enjoy free time for last-minute visits—perhaps the Majorelle or ANIMA gardens—before your private transfer to Marrakech airport. Departure and end of services.
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