Morocco packs an astonishing variety into one country: imperial cities and thousand-year-old medinas, the High Atlas, the Sahara, the blue streets of Chefchaouen and a long Atlantic coast. After many years of planning private journeys here, these are the experiences our guests remember most – with practical tips to enjoy each one at its best.
At a glance. Best months: March–May and September–November · Ideal first trip: 8–12 days · Must-sees: Marrakech, Fes, the Sahara and the Atlas · Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD) · Getting around: private car with driver.
1. Spend a night in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi
Nothing in Morocco compares with the silence of the dunes. The Erg Chebbi sea of sand near Merzouga rises up to 150 metres, glowing orange at sunset and pink at dawn. Ride a camel to your camp, watch the stars without a single light on the horizon, and wake early for sunrise from the top of a dune. In a private luxury camp you sleep in a proper bed with an en-suite bathroom.
Read our guide to the best luxury desert camps in Merzouga and our Sahara desert trip planner.
2. Get lost (with a guide) in the souks of Marrakech
The Marrakech medina is a maze of covered souks organised by craft – leather, lanterns, spices, carpets and the colourful dyers’ souk. A private licensed guide takes you straight to the best workshops and the hidden courtyards most visitors miss. End the day with mint tea on a rooftop above Jemaa el-Fna as the food stalls light up.
More ideas in our guide to the best things to do in Marrakech.
3. Walk the Fes el-Bali medina
Fes el-Bali is the largest car-free urban area in the world and one of the best-preserved medieval cities anywhere. In a day with a local guide you can see the Chouara tannery, the Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university founded in 859, and the copper-beaters of Seffarine Square. Read more in our guide to the best things to do in Fes.
4. Drive the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
Between Ouarzazate and Tinghir, the road follows rivers lined with palm groves, rose fields and earthen kasbahs. Stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified village seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones, walk the narrow Todra Gorges, and spend a night in the Dades Valley among dramatic rock formations.
5. See Ait Ben Haddou at sunset
Ait Ben Haddou is most beautiful in the late afternoon, when the clay walls turn gold. Cross the river, climb to the granary at the top of the ksar for the view over the valley, and visit one of the families who still live inside its walls.
6. Lunch in a Berber village in the High Atlas
Less than two hours from Marrakech, the High Atlas feels like another world: terraced fields, walnut trees and red-earth villages below snowy peaks. Walk between villages in the Imlil or Ourika valleys, then share a home-cooked tagine on a terrace. Our guide to the best day trips from Marrakech has more ideas.
7. Fly over the desert in a hot-air balloon
Lift off before dawn near Marrakech and float over Berber villages and the plains as the sun rises over the Atlas. Most flights last around an hour and end with breakfast in a Berber tent. Hot-air balloon flights are included in our VIP All-Inclusive package.
8. Wander the blue streets of Chefchaouen
Tucked into the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a small, relaxed town painted in every shade of blue. Climb to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the medina, and give yourself a night here – the town is at its most magical early in the morning. See our Chefchaouen travel guide.
9. Learn to cook a tagine
A private cooking class is one of the best ways to understand Moroccan culture. Shop for spices and vegetables in the souk, then learn to balance ras el hanout, preserved lemon and saffron in a tagine, a salad and a dessert – and enjoy what you cook for lunch.
10. Relax in a traditional hammam
The hammam is a weekly ritual for Moroccans: steam, black olive-oil soap and a vigorous scrub with a kessa glove. For a first time, choose the hammam of a luxury riad or spa, followed by an argan oil massage. It is the perfect way to recover after a day in the souks or a long drive.
11. Explore Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes
Between Fes and Rabat lie the mosaics and triumphal arch of Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, and the monumental gates of Meknes, the imperial capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Both fit easily into a day on the road between Casablanca or Chefchaouen and Fes.
12. Stay in a riad
A riad is a traditional house built around an inner garden courtyard – calm, intimate and often only a few minutes’ walk from the souks. Staying in a beautifully restored riad is one of the great pleasures of Morocco. Discover our favourite addresses in our guide to the best luxury hotels and riads in Morocco.
13. Watch the fishing boats in Essaouira
Essaouira is a breezy, laid-back town on the Atlantic, with a white-and-blue medina, 18th-century ramparts and a busy fishing harbour. Buy fresh sardines straight from the boats, walk the skala at sunset and browse the thuya-wood workshops.
14. Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
Built partly over the ocean, the Hassan II Mosque has one of the tallest minarets in the world and is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on a guided tour. It is the perfect first stop if you land in Casablanca.
15. Spend an evening with nomads and Gnawa musicians
Near Merzouga, visit a nomad family for tea in their tent and listen to Gnawa musicians in the village of Khamlia, whose spiritual music came from West Africa centuries ago. These quiet encounters are often the moments our guests talk about long after their trip. Discover more in 12 unique experiences in Morocco.
Tips for planning your trip
- Allow enough time: distances are long. 7–8 days covers Marrakech and the Sahara; 10–14 days lets you add Fes, Chefchaouen and the coast.
- Choose the right season: spring and autumn are ideal everywhere; see our best time to visit Morocco guide.
- Travel privately: a private driver-guide makes long drives comfortable and lets you stop wherever you like.
- Dress respectfully: light clothing that covers shoulders and knees is comfortable and appreciated in the medinas.
See Morocco privately
Most of these experiences are part of our private journeys. Our 7-day tour pairs Marrakech with two nights in the Sahara, our 10-day tour adds Chefchaouen and Fes, and our 14-day grand tour includes Essaouira. Compare every itinerary on our tours page or tell us your dates – we reply the same day, often within an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one thing to do in Morocco?
For most travellers, a night in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi is the highlight of the trip: a camel ride at sunset, dinner under the stars and sunrise over the dunes.
How many days do you need in Morocco?
We recommend at least 7–8 days for Marrakech and the Sahara, and 10–14 days to include Fes, Chefchaouen, the Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic coast at a comfortable pace.
Is it better to start in Casablanca or Marrakech?
Both work well. Casablanca has the largest airport and suits routes that go north first to Chefchaouen and Fes; Marrakech is ideal for shorter trips focused on the south and the Sahara.
Is Morocco good for luxury travel?
Yes. Morocco has some of the finest hotels and riads in Africa, private desert camps and excellent private guides. Read our complete guide to luxury travel in Morocco.
Continue reading: the best places to visit in Morocco and our 10-day Morocco itinerary.
