10 Day Morocco Tour from Rabat to Marrakech: Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert

Welcome to Morocco! Your 10 day Morocco tour from Rabat begins the moment you land at Rabat-Sale Airport. Your private driver will be waiting to greet you and transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of the capital.

After your journey, the rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in. If you arrive early enough, you can take a gentle walk along the Bouregreg River, explore the charming streets of the old medina, or simply enjoy a quiet evening at your hotel or riad.

This first night in Rabat is the perfect introduction to Moroccan culture and the starting point of your Morocco itinerary from Rabat to Marrakech, designed by locals to show you the very best of the country.

After breakfast, start the day by discovering some of Rabat's most beautiful landmarks. Visit the iconic Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century minaret that dominates the city skyline, and the elegant Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of modern Moroccan architecture.

Continue to the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, a UNESCO-listed fortress overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with narrow blue-and-white streets, Andalusian gardens and sweeping views of the coast. These three sites make Rabat a fitting start to any imperial cities Morocco tour from Rabat.

From there, leave the capital behind and travel north through Morocco's green countryside and toward the Rif Mountains. By the afternoon, you will reach Chefchaouen, one of the most photogenic towns in the world. Wander through its famous blue-washed streets, browse small artisan shops, and soak in the relaxed mountain atmosphere as the light changes over the peaks.

Enjoy a little more time in Chefchaouen in the morning, perhaps watching the town wake up from a rooftop terrace with a cup of mint tea, before continuing your journey south through the rolling hills of northern Morocco.

Your first stop is Volubilis, one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Walk among ancient columns, triumphal arches and beautifully preserved floor mosaics depicting mythological scenes, all set in a peaceful countryside that has barely changed in centuries. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers a fascinating window into Morocco's Roman past.

Afterwards, continue to Meknes, another of Morocco's four imperial cities. Visit the monumental Bab Mansour gate, El Hedim Square and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, built for the sultan who once made Meknes his capital. Later in the afternoon, travel on to Fes and settle into your riad for the evening.

After breakfast, meet your local guide and spend the day getting to know Fes from the inside. Begin with a visit to the Royal Palace, the historic Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and a panoramic viewpoint looking over the ancient Fes el-Bali Medina, one of the world's largest car-free urban areas.

Then step into the medina on foot and follow your guide through its maze of over 9,000 narrow streets. Visit Bou Inania Madrasa with its intricate stucco and cedar woodwork, the University of Al Quaraouiyine - the oldest existing university in the world - and the beautifully restored Nejjarine Square with its ornate fountain and museum of wood arts and crafts.

The highlight for many visitors is the Chouara Tannery, where leather has been dyed using the same methods for centuries. Watch from the terraces above as workers treat hides in stone vats filled with natural dyes. Along the way, explore artisan workshops, traditional souks and hidden corners that reveal the everyday life and deep traditions that make Fes such an extraordinary city.

Today the scenery begins to change completely as you leave Fes and head south toward the Sahara on this Rabat to Sahara desert tour. Stop first in Ifrane, a peaceful mountain town known for its Alpine-style houses and clean air, often called the 'Switzerland of Morocco'.

Continue to the cedar forests near Azrou in the Middle Atlas Mountains, where Barbary macaques can often be seen playing among the ancient trees. This is one of the few places in North Africa where you can observe these endangered primates in the wild, and they are usually very friendly with visitors.

The road then takes you through the Middle Atlas and down toward the beautiful Ziz Valley, filled with one of Morocco's largest oases - a vast palm grove stretching for miles along the valley floor, dotted with traditional villages and fortified kasbahs. By late afternoon, arrive in Merzouga, where your camels await. Cross the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset before spending the night in a desert camp under a canopy of stars.

Wake up early if you would like to watch the sun rise over the dunes, one of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments of your entire Morocco 10 day private tour. The play of light and shadow across the sand at dawn is something no photograph can truly capture.

After breakfast, set off by 4x4 to explore the landscapes and small communities around Erg Chebbi. Visit a nomadic family in their traditional tent to learn about their way of life, their crafts and how they have adapted to the harsh but beautiful desert environment. You will also discover Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa music - a hypnotic blend of African rhythms and spiritual chants brought by former slaves from sub-Saharan Africa.

Later, enjoy some free time to relax, walk through the dunes or try sandboarding before another beautiful evening in the Sahara. As night falls, gather around the campfire for traditional music, stories and perhaps a glass of Moroccan mint tea while the desert sky fills with countless stars.

After breakfast, say goodbye to the Sahara and continue toward Rissani, a historic desert town with deep roots in Morocco's past as the ancestral home of the Alaouite dynasty and a major stop on the old trans-Saharan caravan routes. Visit the lively traditional market, one of the most authentic in southern Morocco.

From there, pass through Erfoud, a town well known for its date festival and remarkable fossil discoveries - the entire region was once covered by a prehistoric sea. Continue toward the dramatic landscapes of the Todra Gorge, where towering canyon walls rise up to 300 metres on either side of a crystal-clear river.

Take some time to walk between the impressive rock walls and enjoy the fresh air beside the river. You may see local climbers scaling the cliffs, as Todra is one of Morocco's premier rock climbing destinations. The journey then continues through small Amazigh villages and mountain scenery until you reach the beautiful Dades Valley for the night.

Leave the Dades Valley after breakfast and follow one of southern Morocco's most scenic roads. Pass through the Valley of Roses in Kelaa M'Gouna, famous for its rose water distilleries and the annual Rose Festival. The road weaves through landscapes dotted with old kasbahs, traditional villages and dramatic rock formations known locally as 'monkey fingers'.

Continue through the Ouarzazate region, often called the Hollywood of Africa for its film studios, before reaching Ait Ben Haddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Morocco's most iconic landmarks - a stunning fortified village built in traditional earthen architecture that has served as the backdrop for films such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones.

Take time to explore its narrow paths, climb to the top of the hill for panoramic views and appreciate the traditional building techniques that have endured for centuries. After your visit, head north into the High Atlas Mountains and cross the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260 metres before descending toward Marrakech, the Red City, arriving in the evening.

After breakfast, meet your local guide and spend the day exploring Marrakech, the vibrant final stop of your Morocco itinerary from Rabat to Marrakech. Visit the beautifully decorated Bahia Palace, a 19th-century masterpiece of Islamic and Moroccan architecture with serene courtyards and intricate tile work.

See the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech and a landmark visible from across the city, with its distinctive 77-metre minaret that later inspired the Giralda in Seville. Walk deep into the old medina, where colourful souks, small workshops and traditional neighbourhoods bring the city to life.

Your guide will help you discover quieter corners as well as the famous sights, giving you a better feel for the history and everyday character of Marrakech. Visit the Saadian Tombs, the Secret Garden or the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Finish the day around Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where food stalls, musicians, snake charmers and storytellers create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the world.

Enjoy your final morning in Marrakech with no rush. Depending on your flight time, you might return to the souks for some last-minute shopping, enjoy a leisurely Moroccan tea at a rooftop café overlooking the medina, or simply take one last walk through the vibrant streets you have come to know.

When it is time to leave, your private driver will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to Marrakech Menara Airport. As you reflect on the past ten days - from the coastal elegance of Rabat and the blue streets of Chefchaouen to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the spiritual medina of Fes, the golden dunes of the Sahara and the energy of Marrakech - you will carry with you a deep appreciation for Morocco's extraordinary diversity.

Your 10 day Morocco tour from Rabat to Marrakech comes to an end, but the memories of imperial cities, desert nights and genuine Moroccan hospitality will stay with you long after you return home.