I’ve put together some itinerary outlines for you below that we can iterate on. Based on our conversation, I think you’ll really like Fez for authentic Morocco and Dades Valley (Skoura) for an out of the way place. They are tricky to connect, so it doesn’t fit into every itinerary. Marrakech is totally fun and with great hotels, so I think you’ll love it, but it’s more touristy. I also think you’ll appreciate driving to see more of the country.
Depending on your arrival time in Casablanca, you can spend the afternoon exploring the city or relaxing at your hotel. If you get in on the direct flight from NYC, you’ll have enough time to drive to Marrakech or Fez because it gets in at 8:30am.
1. Marrakech: Across the Atlas (6-8 Days)
This is a well rounded short itinerary that mixes both town and city that is based around Marrakech.
- Day 1: Arrival at Casablanca & transfer to your hotel—afternoon tour of the French Quarter.
- Day 2 (Any day but Thu): Flight to Ouarzazate in the morning. Transfer to Skoura and explore the town. (optional extra day in Dades Valley)
- Day 3: Drive to Marrakech (approx 5hr) with a stop at Ait Ben Haddou.
- Day 4: City tour of Marrakech.
- Day 5: Garden tour of Marrakech.
- Day 6: Day trip or overnight to the Atlas Mountains with valley trekking & lunch with local family (optional)
- Day 7: Transfer to Marrakech airport for flight to Mallorca
3. Two Cities and an Oasis (8-9 Days)
This is my favorite itinerary, which mixes both Fez and Darshan Valley.
- Day 1: Arrive on the morning flight from New York to Casablanca. Drive Casablanca to Fez via Meknes with a stop at Volubilis ruins. (3hr)
- Day 2: Explore Fez Markets and Architecture
- Day 3: Fez Food Tasting
- Day 4: Fly to Marrakech
- Day 5: Marrakech City Tour
- Day 6: Marrakech Garden Tour or Atlas Mountains Day Trip
- Day 7: Drive to Skoura with stop a stop at Ait Ben Haddou
- Day 8: Dashan Valley
- Day 9: Transfer to Ourzazate airport for flight Casablanca and onward to Mallorca
Morocco: Royal Cities (7-9 Days)
This is a classic itinerary has a good amount of time in both Fez and Marrakech. You can shorten it by flying between cities if you like, but I think you’ll appreciate the drive.
- Day 1: Arrival at Casablanca & transfer to your hotel—afternoon tour of the French Quarter.
- Day 2: Drive Casablanca to Fez via Meknes with stop at Volubilis ruins.
- Day 3: Explore Fez Markets and Architecture
- Day 4: Fez Food Tasting
- Day 5: Fez to Rabat Drive
- Day 6: Rabat To Marrakech with afternoon visit of the old city
- Day 7: Day in the Atlas Mountains
- Day 8: Morning Visit to Majorelle Gardens
- Day 9: Transfer to Marrakech airport for flight to Mallorca
Classic Morocco (9-10 Days)
This is an alternate take on the above that includes Chefchaouen. You can cut a day if you can find a flight into Tangier.
- Day 1: Arrival at Casablanca and transfer to your hotel.
- Day 2: City tour of Casablanca and drive to Chefchaouen (5h drive approx)
- Day 3: City tour of Chefchouen and, in the afternoon, drive to Fes (4h drive approx)
- Day 4: City tour of Fes & in the afternoon, a tasting food tour.
- Day 5: Drive from Fes to Rabat with a stop to visit Meknes & Volubilis, enjoy a local wine tasting & lunch (4h drive approx)
- Day 6: City tour of Rabat and in the afternoon, drive to Marrakech (4h drive approx)
- Day 7: City tour of Marrakech
- Day 8: Garden tour of Marrakech & drive to Atlas Mountain overnight
- Day 9: Full day in the Atlas with trekking & lunch with local family
- Day 10: Transfer to Marrakech airport for flight to Mallorca (1h drive approx)
North to South with Sahara (10 Days)
This is a great tour of the whole country that involves the Sahara if you want to consider it. Lots of moving around, but I thought I’d include it.
- Day 1 (Monday): Arrival in Casablanca and transfer to your hotel
- Day 2 (Tuesday): City tour of Casablanca. Drive to Fes with a stop for wine tasting and lunch (approx. 4 hours)
- Day 3 (Wednesday): Full-day city tour of Fes
- Day 4 (Thursday): Drive to Rabat with a visit to Volubilis (approx. 4 hours)
- Day 5 (Friday): Early morning departure to Errachidia at 8:00 AM via domestic flight (this flight operates only on Fridays & Wednesdays). Full day at the desert camp, including a camel ride and a picnic lunch in the oasis
- Day 6 (Saturday): Drive to Dades with a stop to visit Tinghir and Dades (approx. 5 hours)
- Day 7 (Sunday): Drive from Dades to Marrakech (approx. 5 hours). En route, stop to visit Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou (approx. 5 hours)
- Day 8 (Monday): City tour of Marrakech
- Day 9 (Tuesday): Garden tour of Marrakech
- Day 10 (Wednesday): Transfer to Marrakech airport for flight to Mallorca
