Morocco Family Adventure: From Casablanca to the Sahara

Welcome to Morocco. Your journey begins in Casablanca, the country’s economic capital. Your first stop is the Hassan II Mosque, which features a minaret standing 690 feet (210 meters) tall, the tallest in the world. The mosque is set on a stunning site overlooking the ocean and is one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors. Take a morning tour to admire the hand-carved stone and wood, intricate marble floor inlay, and gilded ceilings that showcase masterful craftsmanship.

Next, you travel north to Rabat, Morocco’s imperial city and the current capital. Explore the medieval fortifications of the Chellah Necropolis and wander among the Roman and Islamic ruins. Enter Rabat’s old city through the grand door of the Kasbah des Oudaias and visit the tranquil Andalusian Gardens. Discover the Hassan Tower, which remains as a minaret and over 200 columns of an abandoned 12th-century mosque project, and visit the Mausoleum of Mohamed V.

It is noteworthy that the Hassan Tower introduced in the 12th century was intended to be the world’s largest minaret but was left incomplete.

After breakfast, you head north into the Rif Mountains to reach Chefchaouen, famed for its blue-hued buildings in the historic medina. This city has remained mostly unchanged since the 15th century and offers a peaceful atmosphere along with some of the friendliest locals in Morocco. Explore its narrow streets and alleyways that cling to the northern hillside.

You can wander Plaza Outa el-Hammam, the city’s central square, named for the public baths that once surrounded it. Before browsing shops filled with traditional goods, visit the Grand Mosque and the kasbah, which features a garden, museum, and former jail cells. Later, choose to climb the road leading to the abandoned white Spanish Mosque, a 20 to 30 minute walk, for panoramic views of Chefchaouen.

The city’s unique blue color is believed to have originated when Jewish refugees settled here in the 1930s, using blue dye as a religious symbol and to repel insects.

Get up early to capture photos of Chefchaouen’s empty streets before your journey continues toward Fes. Stop at the UNESCO-protected Volubilis ruins, where you explore merchant homes featuring still-intact heating systems, ancient temples, and numerous mosaics at the site. Travel onward to Meknes for a taste of your second imperial city. In Meknes, visit the Ville Impériale, the medina, the Royal Stables, the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, and the Bab al-Mansour Gate.

Head east to Fes, your third imperial city. Before entering the medina, drive up to the Merenid Tombs just north of the city for panoramic views over Fes and the nearby countryside. Continue on to your riad, a traditional Moroccan residence with an inner garden, where you can relax for the evening and enjoy a nice meal. Overnight in Fes.

Volubilis once marked the farthest extent of the Roman Empire in Africa and is renowned for its well-preserved mosaics.

Start your day in Fes, the oldest of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities and home to the largest, most complete medina in the Arab world. Meet your guide for a half-day exploration focused on the rich history and vibrant culture of the city’s ancient districts. Enter Fes el Bali at Bab Boujeloud gate and follow the main road of Talâa Kebira, observing Spanish and Tunisian architectural influences as you pass through lively shops and local souks.

Visit Chouara Tannery to witness stone dye-filled pots and artisans using centuries-old leather-making techniques. Continue on to admire the detailed zellij tiles of the 14th-century Al Attarine Madrasa. Then, travel to Fes el Jdid to see the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter and cemetery. If time allows, venture into Ville Nouvelle to view its striking French colonial-era architecture. Overnight in Fes.

Fes’s medina is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting over a thousand years of continuous urban life.

After breakfast, set out early on your journey southeast toward Merzouga. Ascend over the Col du Zad pass, reaching an elevation of 7,146 feet (2,178 meters) as you travel through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas mountains. Watch for Barbary Macaque monkeys along the way before pausing for lunch in Midelt, also known as the 'apple city.' Continue your route over the Tizi n'Talremt pass and into the Ziz Valley, famous for its hidden oases and clusters of palm trees, where you spot many fortified houses known as ksars.

Your journey takes you onward to Erfoud, a city famous for its date festival and fossil mining industry. Here, you have the opportunity to visit a local collective, learn about fossil processing, and meet artisans. Proceed to Erg Chebbi, where an expansive sea of sand dunes shifts and transforms with the wind. Upon arrival in Merzouga, your camel is ready for a ride through the dunes to your prepared desert camp. Climb a nearby sand dune to watch the sunset before returning to camp for dinner and a campfire. Overnight in Merzouga.

The Ziz Valley’s vast network of palm groves has served as an essential oasis on Saharan trade routes for centuries.

After breakfast in the riad, you begin an explorative journey through the Merzouga area. Visit the Gnawa people, originally brought from Sudan as slaves, to experience their music and cultural traditions. Continue the drive into the desert, where you meet nomad families still living in Berber tents and learn about their way of life. Enjoy a local lunch of Berber pizza with a host family. Afterwards, visit the souk in Rissani, a traditional town once serving as the origin of the ruling Moroccan family and a major meeting place for caravans trading as far as Timbuktu. Observe the local traditions, where many men are hooded and women veiled. In the afternoon, return to your accommodation in Merzouga. Overnight in Merzouga.

Rissani is famous for its bustling market and is considered an important trading hub in southeastern Morocco.

Early in the morning, your camel guide wakes you to witness what may be the best sunrise of your life over the sand dunes. After sunrise, you trek back to the village of Merzouga. Take in the unique beauty of the changing Erg Chebbi dunes as the daylight shifts. Following breakfast at your riad, you leave for the Dades Valley, stopping to visit the impressive Todra Gorges, which are the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco.

After lunch in the valley, you have an optional one-hour hike through the fields, where you visit an old mud village, meet locals, and learn about their daily lives. Continue your journey through the Dades Valley, where you view majestic sand castles and striking rock formations known as "monkey toes." Overnight in a hotel overlooking the Dades Valley.

The Todra Gorges are renowned among rock climbers for their vertical limestone canyon walls, which reach up to 525 feet (160 meters) high.

After breakfast, you hike along the scenic paths that line the cliffs of Dades Valley, also known as "the Monkey Fingers," taking in the unique landscape of rounded ocher rocks. Venture through the area’s Berber villages, where some traditional houses blend into green oases within the rocky valley.

Drive through the vibrant Rose Valley, journeying off-road to visit the nomads of Boutaghrar before arriving at the Boutghrar Valley. Continue toward Kalaat M'gouna and then Skoura. The route through Dades Valley is called the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, and along the way, you have many opportunities for photography. Stop in Kela'a M'gouna, renowned for its annual roses festival celebrating the harvest of the region’s blossoms, which draws around 20,000 people. In Skoura, visit the Amridil Kasbah, a well-maintained 17th-century structure originally built as an Islamic school and still managed by descendants of its founder.

Continue your journey to Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa.” Overnight in Ouarzazate.

The Amridil Kasbah is prominently featured on the Moroccan 50 dirham banknote, symbolizing its cultural importance.

After breakfast, your first stop is the Atlas Film Studio in Ouarzazate, where popular blockbusters have been filmed. You can take a guided tour of the studio, which features both indoor and outdoor sets and may still be active with film crews at work. Next, travel to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou, believed to date from the 11th century. This site once held a crucial position along the trans-Saharan trade route connecting Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert. Navigate the narrow streets and make your way up to the Granary for panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes.

From Aït Benhaddou, begin your journey through the High Atlas mountain range and spot Mount Toubkal, the highest peak at 13,671 feet (4,167 meters). Stop near the summit of the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which rises to 7,415 feet (2,260 meters), to enjoy dramatic mountain views.

As you descend from the High Atlas, you’ll observe a significant change in climate and scenery before reaching Marrakech, where you enter the lively ambiance of your final imperial city. Overnight in Marrakech.

Aït Benhaddou has been featured in several famous movies and television series because of its striking earthen clay architecture.

After breakfast in your riad, you begin a comprehensive exploration of Marrakech, known as “the Red City of Morocco.” Your guide ensures you visit sites of historical and cultural significance. Discover the bustling Jemaa El Fna square, the towering Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, and the intricate Bahia Palace. Visit the Ben Youssef Coranic School to see its notable architecture. Lunch is provided at a restaurant near the main square.

In the afternoon, explore the lush Majorelle Gardens before taking a brief visit to the new city area of Marrakech. After a day immersed in the city’s sights and sounds, return to your accommodation. Overnight in Marrakech.

The Koutoubia Mosque’s minaret, at 253 feet (77 meters) high, is a landmark visible throughout Marrakech.

After breakfast, depart Marrakech for a day trip to the Atlantic coast city of Essaouira. As you journey, pass through lush valleys featuring orange groves, ancient olive trees, and working farms. Pause in Chichaoua for a coffee or snack, then continue on to see the region’s unique Argan trees, valued for their nutritional, cosmetic, and medicinal qualities. These ancient trees are protected due to their endangered status and importance to southwestern Morocco.

Arriving in Essaouira, wander the ancient streets and appreciate the city’s historic atmosphere. The city’s name means “wall” in the Berber language, reflecting its famous fortifications. Explore the port and feel the Portuguese influence remaining from the 16th century, when they renamed and governed the city. In the afternoon, return to Marrakech for the night. Overnight in Marrakech.

Essaouira’s medina is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional blend of North African and European architecture.

After breakfast in your riad, you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Your tour concludes with a drive to either Marrakech Airport or Casablanca Airport, according to your itinerary and flight arrangements. 

Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport is Morocco’s busiest and primary gateway for international travelers.