Morocco Itinerary 12 Days: Slower Imperial, Sahara & Coast

Day 1 starts at Casablanca where our English-speaking Berber driver collects you from your hotel or airport in a private, air-conditioned 4x4 or comfortable minibus. From here, the road climbs through Casablanca, Morocco's economic heart, where the colossal Hassan II Mosque rises directly above the Atlantic waves and Art Deco facades line the boulevards. You then continue toward the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, its 210-metre minaret rising directly over the Atlantic. Lunch is served en route in Rabat, the discreet royal capital, whose Hassan Tower, Kasbah of the Oudayas and royal Chellah necropolis combine Andalusian elegance with Atlantic light. Overnight in a carefully selected riad or kasbah hotel with traditional dinner included.

Day 2 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Rabat, the discreet royal capital, whose Hassan Tower, Kasbah of the Oudayas and royal Chellah necropolis combine Andalusian elegance with Atlantic light. The afternoon takes you to the Hassan Tower, the unfinished 12th-century minaret of red sandstone facing the royal Mausoleum of Mohammed V. As the light softens you reach the Chellah, the romantic Merinid necropolis where Roman ruins, Islamic tombs and storks' nests share the same garden. The route winds on through Tangier, the white city on the Strait of Gibraltar where Europe and Africa nearly touch and the souk smells of mint and Atlantic salt. You sleep tonight in a charming guesthouse hand-picked for character, location and breakfast quality.

Day 3 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Tangier, the white city on the Strait of Gibraltar where Europe and Africa nearly touch and the souk smells of mint and Atlantic salt. The afternoon takes you to Cap Spartel, the windswept lighthouse cape where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, with the Caves of Hercules carved into the cliffs below. As the light softens you reach Chefchaouen, the famous Blue City — a tangle of indigo stairways, doorways and rooftop cats that has become Morocco's most photographed medina. Tonight's accommodation is a boutique riad with a courtyard pool, fresh towels and Berber breakfast at dawn.

Day 4 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl of the Rif mountains — every wall, door and step painted in shades of cobalt and powder blue. The afternoon takes you to Volubilis, the wonderfully preserved Roman provincial city of the 1st-3rd centuries, with mosaics of Bacchus and Hercules still in situ under the open sky. As the light softens you reach Meknes, the fourth imperial city, with the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the colossal stables built by sultan Moulay Ismail for his 12,000 horses. The route winds on through Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco and home to the world's oldest continuously operating university, with a medieval medina that has not changed its rhythm in nine centuries. Overnight in a carefully selected riad or kasbah hotel with traditional dinner included.

Day 5 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through a full guided day inside the Fes medina — Bou Inania medersa, Chouara tanneries, Karaouine university and the artisan quarters of brass, pottery and textile. The afternoon takes you to the Chouara tanneries of Fes, working since the 11th century with limestone vats, pigeon droppings and mineral dyes — a guild that has not changed its methods in 900 years. You sleep tonight in a charming guesthouse hand-picked for character, location and breakfast quality.

Day 6 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco and home to the world's oldest continuously operating university, with a medieval medina that has not changed its rhythm in nine centuries. The afternoon takes you to Ifrane, the alpine-style town nicknamed the 'Switzerland of Morocco', with chalet roofs and a stone lion guarding the central square. As the light softens you reach Midelt, the high-plateau town between the Middle and High Atlas, famous for apple orchards and Berber tribal carpets. The route winds on through Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara and capital of black marble fossils where ancient ammonites and orthoceras are still mined from the surrounding hills. Tonight's accommodation is a boutique riad with a courtyard pool, fresh towels and Berber breakfast at dawn.

Day 7 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara and capital of black marble fossils where ancient ammonites and orthoceras are still mined from the surrounding hills. The afternoon takes you to Merzouga, the tiny Berber village on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes where the Sahara properly begins and the silence is so deep you hear the sand shift. As the light softens you reach a sunset camel trek across the dunes, riding in a slow caravan with our Berber team toward the luxury desert camp. The route winds on through luxury Sahara camp. Tonight you sleep in a private luxury Berber tent on the Erg Chebbi dunes — real beds, ensuite bathroom, candle-lit dinner and one of the darkest night skies in Morocco for stargazing.

Day 8 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through the sunrise dune walk — barefoot and silent on the cold morning sand, watching the desert blush apricot then gold. The afternoon takes you to Rissani, the ancient caravan town and former capital of the Filala dynasty, with one of Morocco's most authentic Berber markets. As the light softens you reach the Todra Gorge, where 300-metre red limestone walls narrow to just ten metres apart and the river runs ice-cold even in summer. The route winds on through the rose-pink Dades Valley with its cliffs sculpted by erosion into the Monkey Fingers and a string of fortified kasbahs. You sleep tonight in a charming guesthouse hand-picked for character, location and breakfast quality.

Day 9 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through the rose-pink Dades Valley with its cliffs sculpted by erosion into the Monkey Fingers and a string of fortified kasbahs. The afternoon takes you to Valley of Roses. As the light softens you reach Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara and home to the Atlas Film Studios where dozens of Hollywood productions are shot every year. The route winds on through Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen kasbah whose fortified walls have starred in Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. Tonight's accommodation is a boutique riad with a courtyard pool, fresh towels and Berber breakfast at dawn.

Day 10 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen kasbah whose fortified walls have starred in Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. The afternoon takes you to Tichka. As the light softens you reach the Marrakech medina — Jemaa el-Fnaa square, the maze of souks, Bahia Palace, Saadian tombs and the Koutoubia minaret rising above the date palms. Overnight in a carefully selected riad or kasbah hotel with traditional dinner included.

Day 11 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through a full guided day visiting Marrakech's monuments — Koutoubia gardens, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Madrasa Ben Youssef and the souk artisans. You sleep tonight in a charming guesthouse hand-picked for character, location and breakfast quality.

Day 12 is your return day. You travel through Marrakech, the Red City, where palm-fringed gardens meet the dusty noise of the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the labyrinth of the medina souks. The afternoon takes you to Essaouira, the breezy walled fishing port on the Atlantic, with its ramparts designed by a French military engineer and a thriving kitesurf scene. As the light softens you reach Chichaoua. The route winds on through Casablanca, Morocco's economic heart, where the colossal Hassan II Mosque rises directly above the Atlantic waves and Art Deco facades line the boulevards. You arrive at your Marrakech hotel or airport in the late afternoon, with photo memory cards full and a head full of Berber drumming.