Casablanca to Marrakech With Essaouira

Arrive in Casablanca and transfer from the airport to your hotel in the city. After check-in, the remainder of the day is free for you to relax after your journey.

Casablanca - Rabat. See the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world and a defining landmark of Casablanca. Set partly over the Atlantic Ocean, it is renowned for its intricate craftsmanship, marble floors and the tallest minaret in Africa.

Continue onwards to Rabat, Morocco’s capital city, where historic sites sit alongside a more relaxed, refined atmosphere. You visit the Chellah, an ancient necropolis where Roman and medieval ruins lie within peaceful gardens, offering insight into the city’s long and layered history. You also see the Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century minaret that stands as one of Rabat’s most iconic monuments, surrounded by the remains of what was intended to be a grand mosque.

Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes. Travel towards Fes, with visits en route to Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities, you see the historic heart of the city, known for its monumental gates, grand walls and legacy of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made Meknes his capital in the 17th century.

Continue to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco. Here, you can explore extensive ruins set among rolling hills, with impressive mosaics, columns and remnants of grand villas that offer a vivid glimpse into Roman life in North Africa.

Enjoy a half-day guided tour of Fes, one of Morocco’s most historic and culturally rich cities. You explore the ancient medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its labyrinth of narrow streets, traditional workshops and centuries-old way of life. The tour offers insight into Fes as a former imperial capital and a centre of religion, education and craftsmanship.

The afternoon is free for you to explore further at your own pace, revisit areas that interested you most, or relax at your riad after a morning of sightseeing.

Fes - Merzouga. Set out on a longer journey across Morocco’s changing landscapes, travelling over the Middle Atlas Mountains and through cedar forests, home to ancient trees and occasional wildlife. Continue southwards as the scenery becomes more dramatic, crossing the High Atlas range before descending towards the edge of the Sahara.

Arrive in Merzouga, where the desert begins, and take a camel ride into the dunes, a traditional way to experience this vast landscape of rolling sand. As the light changes, the colours of the dunes deepen, creating a striking and memorable setting. Overnight at a Touareg desert camp, with dinner included.

Merzouga - Ouarzazate. An early start gives you the chance to watch the sunrise over the dunes, when the desert light gradually transforms the landscape. After leaving the Sahara behind, continue westwards to the Gorge of Todra, a dramatic canyon where sheer limestone cliffs rise high above a narrow riverbed, creating one of Morocco’s most striking natural sights.

Travel onwards along the Valley of Roses, an area known for its fertile valleys and rose cultivation, particularly in spring when the fields are in bloom. The journey continues to Ouarzazate, often referred to as the gateway to the Sahara and known for its kasbah architecture and film history.

Ouarzazate - Taroudant. Travel past the saffron-growing fields of Tazenakht, an area known for its traditional agriculture and carpet weaving, before continuing to Taroudant, once an important Berber capital and often referred to as a smaller, more traditional version of Marrakech.

On arrival, you have time to explore the town, including its well-preserved ramparts that encircle the old city, the lively souks, and the compact city centre, where daily life unfolds at a relaxed pace. Taroudant’s mud-brick walls and markets offer a strong sense of local character and history.

Taroudant - Agadir - Essaouira. Travel through fertile countryside dotted with fruit orchards and banana plantations as you approach Agadir, an important coastal city in southern Morocco. You stop to see Agadir, which is known for its wide bay, modern layout and role as a major fishing and resort centre, rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake.Continue north along the Atlantic coast towards Essaouira, with changing coastal scenery and sea views along the way. Arrive in Essaouira, a relaxed harbour town known for its historic medina, ocean breezes and artistic atmosphere.

Today is free for you to enjoy Essaouira at your own pace. You can explore the UNESCO-listed medina, enclosed by 18th-century ramparts and laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid, with whitewashed buildings, blue shutters and small artisan shops. A visit to the harbour offers a glimpse of daily fishing life, with colourful boats and the historic seafront fortifications.

Essaouira - Marrakech. Visit an argan oil producing cooperative near Essaouira, where you can learn about the traditional methods used to extract this valuable oil, which is unique to southwest Morocco and widely used in both cooking and cosmetics. The cooperative also highlights the importance of argan production to local communities and the surrounding landscape.

Continue onwards to Marrakech, travelling inland from the Atlantic coast. On arrival, settle into your riad and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Enjoy a half-day tour of Marrakech’s medina, exploring its historic lanes and key areas that reveal the city’s rich past as an imperial capital. You discover the atmosphere of the old city, with its bustling souks, traditional architecture and everyday life unfolding within the ancient walls.

The afternoon is free for you to explore further at your own pace, revisit favourite spots, or relax back at your riad after a morning of sightseeing.

Marrakech - Casablanca. Your tour comes to an end today. A private transfer takes you back to Casablanca and the airport - if you prefer to be dropped at Marrakech airport, please contact us.