Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). Collect luggage, pass through passport control, and pick up a prearranged private transfer or taxi to your hotel in central Casablanca (approx. 30-45 min).
Check in or drop bags at your hotel — recommended: Hotel Barcelo Casablanca or Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche. Freshen up, grab a light breakfast at the hotel café, and prepare for a relaxed morning.
Walk to the Corniche in Ain Diab for a brisk seaside stroll. Enjoy Atlantic views and take photos of early morning fishermen and surfers to get a feel for Casablanca's coastal vibe.
Visit the Hassan II Mosque (open for guided tours). Join the 9:45 AM guided tour if available to see the stunning marble floors, intricate woodwork, and the mosque's impressive ocean-side setting.
Coffee break at Café Maure on the Corniche or try Café Benimadje for mint tea and pastries. Use this time to rest and review the day's route with your guide or maps.
Head to the Habous Quarter (New Medina) to browse bookshops, artisanal stores, and the Royal Palace exterior. Explore Rue des Consuls for leather goods, brassware, and traditional Moroccan handicrafts.
Lunch at Restaurant La Sqala — a charming garden restaurant in an old fortress near the port, serving couscous, tagines, and fresh salads in a relaxing courtyard setting.
Visit the Morocco Mall for a quick look at upscale shops, the aquarium (Aquadock), and the ocean-facing promenade; ideal if you want modern contrast to the historic sights.
Explore the Old Medina of Casablanca: wander narrow alleys, meet local vendors, and stop at Place Mohammed V to admire the 20th-century French colonial architecture and fountains.
Afternoon break and pastries at Pâtisserie Bennis Habous (in the Habous Quarter) — sample traditional chebakia or almond briouats with a cup of Moroccan mint tea.
Visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism (Musée du Judaïsme Marocain) or the Villa des Arts for contemporary Moroccan art, depending on your interest and opening hours.
Return to your hotel to rest and change for the evening. If time allows, enjoy the hotel's spa or a quick rooftop view of the city skyline.
Dinner at Rick's Café (an atmospheric restaurant inspired by Casablanca film) — reserve in advance and enjoy Moroccan and international dishes, live piano some evenings.
After dinner, take a relaxed walk along the Corniche or enjoy a nightcap at Sky 28 (Twin Center) for panoramic city views, or return to your hotel to pack for an early departure to Rabat the next morning.
Back at the hotel: finalise tomorrow's pickup time for your transfer to Rabat, set alarms, and get a good night's rest to start Day 2 refreshed.
Early wake-up in Casablanca; enjoy a quick hotel breakfast and meet your private transfer or join the prearranged train to Rabat (approx. 1-1.5 hrs by train or 1 hr by private car). Confirm your meeting point and keep passports and tickets handy.
Arrive in Rabat and start at the Kasbah of the Udayas — stroll its blue-and-white alleys, visit the Andalusian Gardens, and take photos from the terrace overlooking the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic.
Walk down to the nearby Oudayas Museum (Dar al-Bahr) or relax at Café Maure within the Kasbah for mint tea and Moroccan pastries while soaking in the peaceful morning views.
Head to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V; admire the unfinished 12th-century minaret and the beautifully tiled mausoleum housing the royal tombs.
Stroll across to the nearby Chellah necropolis (Roman and medieval ruins) — wander among ruined walls, storks' nests, gardens, and atmospheric ancient stones.
Lunch at Dinarjat in the medina for classic Moroccan tagine and couscous in a traditional riad setting, or try Le Ziryab for a modern twist on local cuisine.
After lunch explore Rabat's medina: browse souks for ceramics, leatherwork, and Berber textiles, and stop by Rue des Consuls for local crafts and friendly haggling.
Visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (if open) or the Archaeological Museum to see artifacts from Morocco's rich history and get cultural context for the sites you've seen.
Take a short drive or walk to the Royal Palace (Dar el-Makhzen) exterior to view the impressive gates and the surrounding official district — note that the palace is not open to the public, but the exterior is photogenic.
Enjoy an afternoon coffee or mint tea at La Kaskada with views over the Bouregreg Marina, or try El Medina Café for rooftop people-watching and a relaxed pause before returning to Casablanca or continuing on.
If traveling back to Casablanca this evening, board your prebooked train or transfer (allow 1-1.5 hrs). If you plan to overnight in Rabat, check into a riad such as Riad Meftaha or the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses.
Arrive back in Casablanca (or settle into your Rabat hotel). Freshen up and rest briefly before dinner; use this time to sort through photos and confirm logistics for tomorrow’s travel to Fes.
Dinner suggestion in Casablanca: return to Rick's Café or try Le Cabestan for seafood with ocean views; in Rabat: dine at Le Dhow for a unique boat-restaurant experience or L'Oliveraie for refined Moroccan fare.
Evening stroll along the Corniche (Casablanca) or along Rabat’s Bouregreg promenade; enjoy the lit monuments and relaxed waterfront atmosphere while reflecting on the day's imperial sights.
Back at your hotel: pack essentials for tomorrow's early transfer to Fes, set alarms, and get a good night's rest to be ready for the longer drive/train on Day 3.
Early wake-up in Casablanca (or Rabat if you stayed there); enjoy a quick hotel breakfast and confirm your transfer or train details for the journey to Fes. Gather passports, tickets, and a small daypack for the first hours in Fes.
Private transfer departs (approx. 4-4.5 hrs) or board the early ONCF train if you chose rail; use the trip to watch changing landscapes, nap, or review your Fes walking map and highlights. Expect a brief stop for coffee/restroom if traveling by car.
Arrive in Fes and check in or drop bags at your riad (recommended: Riad Fes, Riad Laaroussa, or Palais Amani). Freshen up quickly and meet your local guide (if prebooked) in the riad’s courtyard.
Begin your introduction to Fes with a short orientation walk to Place Seffarine and the edge of Fes el-Bali, taking in the call to prayer, metalworkers at the coppersmiths, and the energy of the medina.
Visit the Bou Inania Madrasa (if open) to admire the intricate zellij tilework, carved plaster, and cedar wood—one of Fes’s finest examples of Marinid architecture. Spend time photographing the courtyard and the students’ study niches.
Walk to a nearby traditional restaurant such as Café Clock for a relaxed lunch—try the camel burger or a classic tagine and mint tea while enjoying rooftop views over the medina. Use this break to ask your guide about the afternoon route.
Enter deeper into Fes el-Bali with your guide to explore the famous Chouara Tannery viewpoint; watch tanners at work from the terrace and learn about leather production traditions, then browse nearby leather shops for quality poufs and bags.
Stroll through the labyrinthine souks—visit the dyers’ quarter, the weavers’ area, and the Metalworkers’ Souk on Rue Talaa Kebira; stop at cooperative stalls to see artisanal ceramics, woodcarving, and hand-bound leather journals.
Coffee and pastry break at Pâtisserie Bennis or a rooftop café such as Café́ Clock rooftop or the terrace at Riad Fes to rest and take in panoramic views of the medina’s rooftops. Sample traditional sweets like gazelle horns (kaab el ghazal).
Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts and its scenic rooftop café for a deeper look at woodworking traditions and a pleasant vantage point over the medina.
Continue exploring to Al-Attarine Madrasa and the bustling spice shops nearby, soaking up mosaic-decorated courtyards and the rich aromas of cumin, saffron, and ras el hanout.
Return to your riad to rest and change for the evening; enjoy a short rooftop tea and sort through purchases and photos from the day. If you arrived tired from the journey, take 30-45 minutes to relax before dinner.
Dinner at The Ruined Garden or Dar Roumana for an atmospheric riad meal—savor traditional Fassi dishes such as pastilla (savory-sweet pigeon or chicken pie) and a Moroccan salad starter. Reserve ahead for the best table in the courtyard.
After dinner, take a gentle post-prandial walk to Place Boujloud to see the Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) lit up at night and enjoy the lively evening atmosphere outside the medina. Stop for a final mint tea at a nearby café if you like.
Return to your riad for a good night’s rest in preparation for tomorrow’s longer drive toward the Sahara; lay out warm layers for the desert leg and confirm pickup time for early departure on Day 4.
Early wake-up at your riad in Fes; enjoy a light breakfast prepared by the riad (tea, bread, fruit) and double-check luggage for the desert (warm layers, toiletries, camera, and any medication). Confirm pickup with your private driver/guide for the long drive to Merzouga.
Meet your private driver/guide in the riad’s courtyard and depart Fes heading southeast; settle in for the scenic 7-9 hour drive with planned stops en route, keeping passports and water within easy reach.
Quick comfort stop at Ifrane (the 'Switzerland of Morocco') to stretch, take photos of the cedar-style architecture, and grab coffee at a local café such as Café Sidi Ahmed or a roadside service station.
Drive through the Middle Atlas cedar forests and Azrou area; brief stop to see Barbary macaques near the cedar trees and browse the local market stalls for small souvenirs or fresh fruit.
Arrive in Midelt for a mid-morning break and early lunch at Restaurant Taddart or a local auberge; try a hearty tagine or grilled lamb to fuel the remainder of the drive across the high plains.
Depart Midelt and continue through the Ziz Valley, enjoying dramatic landscape changes from mountains to arid plateaus; your driver will likely stop at scenic viewpoints for photos of date palm oases and the meandering Ziz River.
Short stop in Erfoud to visit a fossil shop or cooperative and stretch your legs; consider a brief visit to a local workshop to see how ancient ammonite fossils are prepared and sold.
Arrive in Merzouga and check in at your prebooked desert camp or a desert-edge auberge such as Riad Madu or Hotel Xaluca Erg Chebbi to drop off main luggage and freshen up before the camel trek.
Meet camel handlers and begin a 60-90 minute camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes; ride at a relaxed pace while the sun lowers, listening to the desert silence and observing the changing colors of the sand.
Reach your desert bivouac (luxury camp or nomad-style camp) as the sun begins to set; climb a nearby dune for iconic golden-hour photos and watch the sky turn pink and purple over the horizon.
Return to camp for hot mint tea and light snacks as the camp staff prepare a traditional Moroccan dinner—enjoy communal seating by a fire under a vast star-filled sky.
Savor a multi-course dinner at the camp featuring dishes such as slow-cooked lamb tagine, vegetable couscous, salads, and sweet pastries; soak up live local music (ahwach or Berber drums) if offered by the hosts.
After dinner, join a guided stargazing moment around the campfire: your guide explains constellations and desert folklore while you sip mint tea or a nightcap and enjoy the quiet of the Sahara.
Retire to your private tent or sleeping area where beds are prepared with warm blankets; if staying in a luxury camp, enjoy the camp’s comfortable amenities—set your alarm if you plan to rise for sunrise.
Final rooftop or dune-side look at the brilliantly dark desert sky before sleep; rest well — tomorrow you’ll begin the return journey toward Todra Gorge and Marrakech.
Wake before dawn in your Merzouga camp; dress in warm layers and enjoy a quick mint tea and light snack while guides prepare the camels or 4x4 for the return journey toward Todra Gorge.
Begin the camel ride back to the edge of the dunes (if you rode in) or board your 4x4/mini-bus to depart Merzouga — relish the cool desert morning and last views of the Erg Chebbi sands.
Arrive in Merzouga village; stop at a local café such as Café Restaurant Journey for a proper breakfast of msemen, eggs, and strong Moroccan coffee before leaving the area.
Depart Merzouga heading west toward Tinghir/Todra Gorge; your driver will cross the Ziz Valley and stop at scenic viewpoints and palm oases for photos and short breaks.
Short stop in Erfoud or Rissani (depending on route) to stretch legs and browse fossil shops or the Rissani market stalls — pick up a fossil keepsake or locally roasted almonds.
Arrive in Tinghir and have lunch at a recommended local auberge such as Auberge Yasmina or Restaurant Maison d’Ailleurs; enjoy tagine or grilled trout (seasonal) and fresh salads overlooking the palm groves.
Drive a short distance to Todra Gorge; take a guided walk into the canyon — admire the towering limestone walls, photograph the dramatic narrow passages, and feel the cooler, shaded air in the gorge.
Enjoy tea at a terrace café near the gorge or with a local Berber family if arranged; sample sweet mint tea while learning about traditional life in the Todra valley.
Depart Todra Gorge to begin the long scenic drive toward Marrakech via Ouarzazate and the High Atlas foothills (route depending on road conditions), watching the landscape shift from canyon to desert plains to mountain vistas.
Stop in Ouarzazate for a brief photo opportunity at Taourirt Kasbah or to stretch; if time allows, grab a light dinner or snack at Le Jardin des Aromes before continuing over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
Begin the ascent over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (if this is the planned route); enjoy dramatic twilight views of the High Atlas as the road winds down toward Marrakech — be prepared for winding mountain roads.
Arrive in Marrakech and check in at your riad or hotel (recommended: Riad Kniza, La Mamounia, or Riad BE Marrakech). Freshen up and relax briefly after the long day of travel.
Dinner at Al Fassia or Le Tobsil for an elegant late meal; sample refined Moroccan classics like couscous, lamb mechoui, and a sweet dessert while reflecting on the desert and gorge.
Take a short post-dinner walk to Jemaa el-Fna (if still lively) to experience the evening buzz of storytellers and food stalls, or return to your riad to rest and prepare for a full day exploring Marrakech tomorrow.
Early wake-up at your riad to maximize the morning market energy; enjoy a light breakfast in the riad courtyard (fresh orange juice, Moroccan pancakes or msemen, and mint tea) and gather your luggage for check-out if required.
Walk to Jemaa el-Fna to soak in the brisk morning atmosphere before the full crowds arrive; photograph the square’s preparations, snake-charmers packing up, and early food stall vendors setting out spices and produce.
Head into the adjoining souks via Rue Riad Zitoun el-Kedim with your guide or map, browsing leather goods on Rue Bab Debbagh and admiring brassware and lamps on Rue Souk Smata while vendors arrange their wares for the day.
Stop at Café des Épices for a rooftop coffee or mint tea and a pastry while watching artisans in the spice and fabric souks below; use this vantage to plan any last-minute shopping and photograph the medina rooftops.
Visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and walk to Place des Ferblantiers to see metalworkers at work, then continue to the spice stalls near the Souk Semmarine to sniff saffron, cumin, and ras el hanout and buy small spice sachets for gifts.
Make a focused shopping stop for quality souvenirs: visit a reputable leather shop such as Tanneries Mouassine for a leather pouf, and the cooperative at Cooperative Talmest for argan oil and local cosmetics.
Take a short taxi to the Majorelle Garden and Yves Saint Laurent Museum; stroll the tranquil blue gardens, photograph cacti and fountains, and visit the museum for a quick cultural interlude (prebook tickets to save time).
Lunch at Le Jardin (near the souks) or Nomad (roof terrace near Place des Épices) to enjoy modern Moroccan plates and a relaxed setting; savor a light tagine or salad while reviewing departure logistics.
Return to your riad to collect checked luggage and complete check-out formalities; confirm airport transfer timing with the riad or arrange a private taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).
If your flight departs late, visit the Bahia Palace for a quick guided walkthrough of its ornate riads and peaceful gardens — otherwise use this time to relax in the riad and finish packing.
Depart for the airport allowing 30-45 minutes for the ride (or 15-30 minutes depending on traffic and location); keep passports and boarding passes accessible and expect routine security checks at RAK.
Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport: check luggage, pass through security and passport control, and use any spare time to buy last-minute gifts or snacks at the duty-free shops.
Boarding window for many international flights—use this time to settle in, charge devices, and savor a final Moroccan pastry or mint tea from the airport café while reflecting on your six-day highlights.
Flight departure (example time) — depart Marrakech with memories of bustling medinas, the Sahara’s silence, and Morocco’s varied landscapes; if your flight is earlier or later, adjust the airport arrival time above accordingly.
If you have a later evening flight, return to Jemaa el-Fna for one last stroll and light dinner at a recommended stall (try a bowl of harira or grilled skewers) before heading back to the airport; otherwise rest on the plane and review photos from your trip.