8-Day Marrakech, Essaouira, Sahara & Fes

Day 1 · Marrakech: gardens, palaces and souks

A guided day in the Red City. Stroll through the Majorelle Garden, visit the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, and admire the Koutoubia minaret. In the afternoon get lost in the souks of the medina before the magic of Jemaa el-Fna square comes alive at sunset.

Overnight: Marrakech

Day 2 · Day trip to Essaouira

Drive west through argan forests (look out for the famous goats in the trees) to Essaouira, the relaxed blue-and-white port on the Atlantic. Walk the ramparts of the Skala, the fishing harbour and the art galleries of the medina, and enjoy fresh fish by the sea before returning to Marrakech.

Overnight: Marrakech

Day 3 · Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate

A relaxed journey across the High Atlas through the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Stop at the ancient Kasbah of Telouet and explore the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous film location. Overnight in a traditional kasbah near Ouarzazate.

Overnight: Ouarzazate

Day 4 · Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades Gorges

Visit the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, then follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Skoura oasis and the Valley of Roses. In the afternoon drive into the spectacular Dades Gorges, with their winding road and red rock formations.

Overnight: Dades Valley

Day 5 · Dades – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga: night in the desert

Walk between the 300-metre walls of the Todra Gorge and the palm groves of Tinghir. Continue via Erfoud, known for its fossils, to Merzouga. At sunset ride a camel into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to your desert camp. Dinner, Berber drums around the fire and a sky full of stars.

Overnight: Sahara desert camp

Day 6 · A full day in the Sahara

Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes. Explore the area around Erg Chebbi by 4×4: the village of Khamlia and its Gnawa music, a nomad family, the old mines and the seasonal lake. Free time for optional quads, buggies or sandboarding, then a second night at the camp.

Overnight: Sahara desert camp

Day 7 · Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

After sunrise in the dunes, drive north through the palm-filled Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas. Lunch in Midelt, then cross the cedar forests of Azrou, home to Barbary macaques, and pass through Ifrane, the 'Switzerland of Morocco', before arriving in Fes.

Overnight: Fes

Day 8 · Fes: the medieval medina

A guided tour of Fes el-Bali, the largest car-free medina in the world. Visit the Bou Inania madrasa, the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university, the Chouara tannery and the artisans' quarters, the gates of the Royal Palace and the panoramic view from the Merinid tombs.

Overnight: Fes