Casablanca, Marrakesh, Dades, Erfoud, Fez and Rabat
Spiced with North African culture and a soupçon of French flavor, Morocco captivates with its old-world traditions and magnificent landscapes. Our escorted Morocco tour from the U.S. encompasses must-see destinations like Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fez and Rabat. And, if you like, a noble camel will take you on an unforgettable ride during a full-day Sahara Desert excursion. (Cue theme song from Lawrence of Arabia!) You’ll also have time to savor the country’s delightful customs, like the ritual of Moroccan tea, and delectable cuisine—couscous, tagine and pastilla. From ocean to oasis, mountains to mosques and souks to UNESCO World Heritage sites, majestic Morocco will charm you with its vibrant contrasts and warm Mediterranean lifestyle. 5/5 stars on Tripadvisor!
For 2024 departures, see our 12-day Majestic Morocco tour!
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
2023 Tour Itinerary:
- 1 night in Casablanca
- 3 nights in Marrakesh
- 1 night in Boumalne Dades
- 2 nights in Erfoud
- 2 nights in Fez
- 1 night in Rabat
Tour Highlights
- Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)
- Marrakesh city tour with Bahia Palace and Dar El Bacho Museum
- Koutoubia Minaret (Marrakesh)
- Jemaa el-Fna (Old City Medina Quarter) (Marrakesh)
- Essaouira Medina
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Todra Palmeraie Gorge (Erfoud)
- Atlas Mountains
- Erg Chebbi Desert Excursion by 4x4 vehicles
- Camel Ride in the Dunes
- Fez Medina tour with lunch at traditional Riad
- Attarine Medersas (Coranic school)
- Royal Palace (Rabat)
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Morocco ground transportation and transfers
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 18 meals: 10 full buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees
- Experienced English-speaking Tour Director throughout
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Level 2
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Balanced
Expect either half-day or full-day tours most days with a free day or free half-day to explore independently in most cities. There may be a few early mornings or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 3+ nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
In Dades, the accommodation is a riad. Riads are traditional multi-story Moroccan homes that have been converted into hotels. Riads do not have elevators and will require the use of stairs. In the Sahara, there is uneven and bumpy terrain. You may choose to opt out of the camel ride in the desert and stay in a restaurant or enjoy free time at the pool.
There are two long days of driving with sightseeing along the way.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Click the Day by Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.
Apologies to Bogie, but here begins a beautiful friendship with Casablanca and this amazing country. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will have a morning arrival in Morocco’s economic and cultural center, and will be greeted at the airport by your Tour Director. Casablanca’s history—well, it’s complicated. Influences range from French to Spanish to Portuguese to Arab to British. You’ll catch a few of these influences on a guided tour, starting with a visit to the ornate Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret in the world. You’ll see some of Casablanca’s neighborhoods along the way to the city center. Sights include Mohamed V Square, the French-inspired Habous Quarter (also known as the New Medina) and the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral. Your day concludes with an orientation meeting and a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Idou Anfa Hotel Casablanca or similar
Meals: Dinner
Today we’ll experience another medina, which is a historic part of a city, typically walled and with labyrinthine streets. After a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll travel to Marrakesh, home of a UNESCO World Heritage medina. Our afternoon tour starts at the 16th-century Saadian Tombs and continues to the Koutoubia Mosque and a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, Bahia Palace. The highlight will be wandering past palm readers, snake charmers, acrobats, and musicians to the medina’s main square, the famous Jemaa el-Fna. This evening, we'll return to the Medina to enjoy a typical Moroccan dinner with entertainment.
Accommodations: The Savoy Le Grand Hotel Marrakech or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we depart on a full-day excursion is Essaouira, a town on the Atlantic coast with beautifully preserved Moroccan charm. Along the way, we’ll stop at the Marjana Cooperative to see how argan oil, highly in demand for cosmetics and cooking, is extracted. In Essaouira, we’ll walk along a beautiful fortified wall north of Moulay Hassan Square and on to Skala de la Ville for gorgeous views of bright blue fishing boats in the harbor. We’ll have time to explore yet another medina, where artists hone centuries-old crafts and merchants in the many souks (markets) sell spices and jewelry, before returning to Marrakesh for a free evening.
Meals: Breakfast
A free day to explore Marrakesh! Your Tour Director will have plenty of ideas and recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
Our journey through majestic Morocco continues across the High Atlas Mountains and the spectacular Tichka Pass to Boumalne Dades. We’ll stop for a brief tour of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This giant fortification, which showcases a unique example of pise clay architecture, has been a filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You’ll have time for lunch on your own before we continue to our final destination today: Boumalne Dades. Prepare to be wowed by this town set on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Tonight, savor an included dinner at your hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Riad Bahammou or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we’ll marvel at one of Morocco’s most visited natural sights, the lush Todra Palmeraie Gorge with its dramatic 985-foot-high walls. Our walking tour affords plenty of spectacular photo ops! Our travels continue to Erfoud, described as an oasis and “the Door to the Desert.” Enjoy dinner at the hotel and rest up for tomorrow’s once-in-a-lifetime Sahara itinerary.
Accommodations: Kasbah Hotel Chergui or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The only word for today’s full-day excursion is unforgettable! We’ll start in Rissani, a caravan center with a large vibrant souk at its heart, where we’ll hop into a 4x4 caravan to venture into the desert, winding through small villages before stopping in serene Tissardmine for a picnic lunch. As we ascend the peak of Erg Chebbi, prepare to be blown away by the desert vastness. We’ll “trade up” to camels for the real deal: a ride through the Merzouga dunes on camelback! Loaded with memories (and photos) you can’t wait to share, we’ll return to the hotel after sunset for dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After departing Erfoud, we’ll journey through the scenic Middle Atlas mountain range, while admiring its lush forested slopes brimming with cedar and oak trees. You’ll have a chance to see Ifrane, a picturesque ski area, and in the evening, when we reach Fez, catch the magical city lights as we arrive.
Accommodations: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Fez is home to the oldest university in the world, and today we’ll join a local expert to learn more about this 1,200-year-old city, which was Morocco’s capital for 400 years and stands as one of the world’s largest, best-preserved medieval fortified cities. Our full-day exploration includes the Fez el Bali Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where life unfolds as it did centuries ago. We’ll wander the famous souks known for authentic Moroccan carpets and ceramics. After the high energy of the souks, a quiet lunch in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard) will be most welcome. We will also see the Nejjarine Fountains and Museum and the 14th-century Attarine Medersas (a place of education) before visiting Fes Jdid, the modern district of the city, in the afternoon. Here, we’ll explore the Jewish Quarter and the Royal Palace.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, drive to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and fifth largest city. Upon arrival, spend the afternoon touring the many fascinating historic sites in Morocco’s coastal capital of Rabat. You’ll see the 19th-century Royal Palace and the city’s “Gate of the Winds” (also known as Bab Rouah). Visit Hassan Tower, the minaret of an incomplete mosque that was originally intended to be the world's largest. Construction started in 1195 and then came to a halt in 1199 after Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour passed away. Continue on to the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the mid-12th-century, where you’ll walk through the French-colonial gardens and explore the fortress built to shield royalty from attacks. Your tour of the capital city will conclude at Chellah, a necropolis and the site of the ruins of Roman town known as Sala Colonia. The balance of your day is at leisure. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your group.
Accommodations: Tour Hassan Palace Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchase our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight and touch down in the U.S. later today.
Meals: Breakfast
We are working diligently to secure future tour dates and pricing for
this itinerary. Please fill out the "Request a Future Date" form
linked below, and we will notify you once dates are available.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
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$189, light lunch and dinner included
Full-day tour starting at 11:00 AM
This retreat experience will start with a pickup from your hotel at 10:00 AM by our English-speaking driver aboard a deluxe car for a short trip to the Ourika region. Upon arrival at the entrance to the trail, you will switch to a camel ride for transfer to the farm. A welcome drink is served by the farm host, followed by a small tour of the property. Enjoy a light lunch served at 12:30 PM followed by a 20-minute meditation on the roof of the farmhouse (yoga class optional at request). Enjoy your leisure time at the swimming pool, with fresh drinks at your disposal (extra charge for alcoholic drinks, a wine list is available), or enjoy a breathtaking walk around the surroundings. At 4:00 PM, preparation for a cooking class will start. You’ll pick vegetables from the garden and then enjoy a cooking experience with the Chef, followed by a dinner of the meal you prepared! After dinner, enjoy the sunset on the terrace with Moroccan tea before you return to the hotel.
Please Note: This full-day optional experience cannot be paired with any other optional tours as it operates at the same time on Day 4 of the itinerary.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Half-day tour starting at 9:00 AM
Enjoy a morning tour of Majorelle Gardens. It took French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) forty years of passion and dedication to create this enchanting garden in the heart of the “Ochre City”. You will walk along shady lanes, passing exotic trees, plants, and streams as well as pools filled with water lilies and lotus flowers. You will experience the air laden with sugared fragrance and hear the chirping of the numerous birds that take refuge here. Your visit also includes Yves St Laurent and the Berber Museums.
Please Note: This optional experience cannot be paired with the Local Farm Full-Day Excursion & Retreat as it operates at the same time on Day 4 of the itinerary. However, you may pair this morning half-day optional tour with the afternoon half-day Farm to Table Cooking Experience also offered on Day 4 of the itinerary.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Half-day Tour starting at 3:00 PM
Drive to a local farm 20 minutes from Marrakesh. Upon arrival, you will have an exceptional gastronomic experience with an award-winning Executive Chef. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of North Africa’s rich food culture, the chef has curated a custom tour of his culinary world. Join him as he walks you through the mind of a Moroccan chef. From picking out fresh produce in the souks of his hometown of Marrakesh, to sampling spices for the perfect flavor, to watching artisanal fillo dough made from scratch in front of your eyes, the chef will unlock the secrets of the recipes he’s mastered over the years. You’ll leave with an inside perspective on one of the world’s most highly cherished cuisines. This includes dinner with the chef!
Please Note: This optional experience cannot be paired with the Local Farm Full-Day Excursion & Retreat as it operates at the same time on Day 4 of the itinerary. However, you may pair this afternoon half-day optional tour with the morning half-day Majorelle Garden & Yves Saint Laurent Museum tour also offered on Day 4 of the itinerary.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
85 Boulevard d'Anfa, Casablanca, 20000, Morocco
Website
Avenue Prince My Rachid - 40000 Marrakech
Website
More than just a place to stay, Hotel Riad BaHamou is full of incredible corners ready for you to have a unique experience.
Km 26 route des gorges du dades – Douar Ait Ouffi – Boumalne Dades – Maroc
Website
The Chergui Kasbah Hotel is a newly constructed hotel standing on a site that brings together the largest and most spectacular dunes in Morocco.
Carretera de Arfoud a Errachidia, Km 5,5. Erfoud, Morocco
Website
Immersing you in stylish luxury, Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace is a welcoming respite for discerning travelers. Unpack your bags in elegantly appointed accommodations enhanced by refined design elements and bathed in natural light.
8 Avenue Ahmed Chaouki, Fes 30000 Morocco
Website
26, Avenue Chellah BP 14. Rabat – MAROC
Website
Margaret
Great tour with excellent guide, nice traveling companions, safe and excellent driver, very nice hotel accommodations with beautiful pools (always a plus for me) and all at a good price.
Linda
The tour was comprehensive covering the entire country and all the important cities. The group was small and we stayed in quality hotels that other tour companies were staying . The price we paid was about half of what the other tours cost and we got a great experience. We would definitely travel with SmarTours again
Carole M
This was not as well organized as previous Smartour trips I have taken.
Richard
THIS WAS OUR SIXTH TRIP WITH SMARTOURS. All of our guides have been outstanding. They made each vacation memorable.
We had an dynamic guide Aziz who was extremely knowledgeable. Great itinerary.
I highly recommend Smartours.
April S
The tour and our guide Aziz was fantastic. We also had other local guides that gave indepth information about the cities we visited.
Richard
This trip was amazing, Aziz, our tour guide made this a very memorable experience. The itinerary was superb, just the right amount of time spent in each location. Our group was 22 people, just the right size and very compatible.
Bonnie R
Loved the SmarTours Magic Moroccan adventure. We learned so much about the country, its history, culture, products, religion, people, etc. Our group of 22 got along well, and Aziz kept us moving and on track. More taxing than expected, and the weather generally uncooperative, all in all we had a fabulous time, and I would recommend this tour.
Margaret t
Morocco is a beautiful country, and there was so much to see! Really enjoyed the sights ranging from seaside into the Sahara
Brian E
another excellent SmartTours trip.
Robert R
The trip was very nice, informative, well organized, the guide was top notch. A larger bus would have been nice; we were a little cramped. Our hotels were very well run; personnel went out of their way to make us comfortable. Included meals were tasty, and vegetarian dishes were available for those who asked. This trip involved lots of walking, up and down many uneven steps, often in narrow passageways. Travelers should be in
good health to enjoy the many benefits of this wonderful tour.
Marvin L
I highly recommend this tour to get a good sampling of the range of Moroccan geography, it’s people and it’s history!
Angela
We had a wonderful time touring Morocco with our exceptional guide, Mohamed (10/25/22). It's a diverse, colorful and interesting country.
Susi T
What a fantastic trip! It was very well organized and we got got to see so many different places and cultures without it being rushed.
I loved the choice of hotels, beautiful and not so affordable if I booked them myself.
Drs. L
Smart Tours select the best guides to navigate through the history and culture of a country. So many other travelers will miss knowledge, opportunities for growth, and the eradication of myths for not pursuing Smart Tour advantages. We have no regrets for selecting Smart Tours as our guiding light in other countries.
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