Morocco Destinations Guide
A guide to the Morocco destinations on our private tours, from the medina of Fes to the Erg Chebbi dunes: what to see, when to go, how long to stay, and which tours take you there. Each section covers one of the main destinations in Morocco on our routes.
IMPERIAL CITY
Fes
Fes el-Bali, the old medina of Fes, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. Its lanes are too narrow for cars, so goods still move by mule and handcart, and craftsmen work the way they have for centuries.
Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859, is often cited as the oldest university in the world still working. Around it are the Bou Inania and Attarine medersas, the Chouara tannery and the souks of the dyers, coppersmiths and weavers.
More about Fes el Bali on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
March to May and September to November
- HOW LONG
1 to 2 days, with a local guide
- DON'T MISS
Chouara tannery, Bou Inania Medersa, the Nejjarine fountain
Tours that visit Fes
ERG CHEBBI DUNES
Merzouga & the Sahara
Erg Chebbi, next to the village of Merzouga, is a sea of orange dunes that rise to about 150 metres. Most visitors arrive in the late afternoon, ride a camel into the dunes for the sunset and spend the night in a desert camp.
Around the dunes you can visit the Gnaoua musicians of Khamlia, nomad families, oases with old khettara irrigation tunnels and the seasonal lake of Dayet Srij, where flamingos gather when it holds water.
More about Erg Chebbi on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
October to April; summer days are very hot
- HOW LONG
At least 1 night, 2 to explore the area
- BRING
A warm layer: desert nights are cold, even in spring
Tours that visit Merzouga & the Sahara
THE RED CITY
Marrakech
The medina of Marrakech is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its main square, Jemaa el-Fna, is listed by UNESCO for its storytellers, musicians and food stalls, which take over the square every evening.
Within walking distance are the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Medersa. Outside the walls, the Majorelle Garden is a quieter place to spend an hour.
More about Jemaa el-Fna on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
October to May
- HOW LONG
2 to 3 days
- DON'T MISS
Jemaa el-Fna at dusk, Ben Youssef Medersa, Bahia Palace
Tours that visit Marrakech
RIF MOUNTAINS
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 as a small fortress in the Rif Mountains. Today its medina is known for its blue-washed walls and stairways, and it is far calmer than the big imperial cities.
Walk up to the Ras El Ma spring for a view over the town, sit in Outa el-Hammam square below the red walls of the kasbah, and try the local goat cheese. The drive from Fes takes about four hours each way.
More about Chefchaouen on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
All year; spring is green and mild
- HOW LONG
A full day from Fes, or one night
- DON'T MISS
Ras El Ma, the kasbah garden, the Spanish Mosque viewpoint
Tours that visit Chefchaouen
THE KASBAH ROAD
Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar, a fortified village of earthen houses on a hill above the Ounila river, on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.
Nearby Ouarzazate is home to large film studios where Gladiator and many other films and series were shot. Both sit on the road between Marrakech and the desert, after the Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas.
More about Ait Ben Haddou on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
September to May
- HOW LONG
Half a day, as part of a desert route
- DON'T MISS
The view from the granary at the top of the ksar
Tours that visit Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
VALLEYS OF THE SOUTH
Todra & Dades Gorges
Near Tinghir, the Todra Gorge narrows to a few metres between red limestone cliffs up to 300 metres high, with a river running at the bottom. It is an easy and spectacular place for a walk.
The Dades Valley to the west is known for its rock formations, its winding road and the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M’Gouna, where a rose festival is held every May. Many routes spend a night here between the desert and Marrakech.
More about the Todra Gorge on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
March to May and September to November
- HOW LONG
One night in the Dades Valley
- DON'T MISS
A walk in the narrowest part of the Todra Gorge
Tours that visit Todra & Dades Gorges
CEDAR FORESTS
Ifrane & the Middle Atlas
South of Fes the road climbs into the Middle Atlas. Ifrane, at about 1,650 metres, is a town of Alpine-style houses and gardens, often called the Switzerland of Morocco, and it sometimes sees snow in winter.
The cedar forests around Azrou are home to Barbary macaques, an endangered species found only in Morocco and Algeria (and Gibraltar). Nearby lakes such as Dayet Aoua are good for a walk or a horse ride.
More about Ifrane National Park on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
All year; snow possible in winter
- HOW LONG
A day trip, or a stop on the way to the desert
- DON'T MISS
The cedar forest near Azrou
Tours that visit Ifrane & the Middle Atlas
ROMAN RUINS & IMPERIAL CITY
Meknes & Volubilis
Volubilis was a Roman city on the edge of the empire, and its mosaics, triumphal arch and capitol are the best-preserved Roman remains in Morocco. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.
Close by is Moulay Idriss, one of the holiest towns in the country, and Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, with the Bab Mansour gate and the royal granaries. All three fit easily into one day from Fes.
More about Volubilis on Wikipedia.
- BEST TIME
All year; early morning in summer
- HOW LONG
A full day from Fes
- DON'T MISS
The mosaics of the House of Orpheus, Bab Mansour
Tours that visit Meknes & Volubilis
Plan a route through these Morocco destinations
Tell us which destinations in Morocco you want to see and how many days you have. We will suggest a private route.