10-Day Morocco Desert Tour from Agadir

Embark on an unforgettable 10-day adventure from Agadir, exploring Morocco’s most captivating cities, mountains, valleys, and deserts. This immersive journey will take you from the tranquil Atlantic coast to the vibrant streets of Marrakech and Fez, and from the peaks of the Atlas Mountains to the vast dunes of Merzouga. Along the way, you’ll discover ancient kasbahs, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, charming Berber villages, and bustling souks.

Highlights include a magical camel ride at sunset, a night camping in the desert under the Milky Way, and the opportunity to explore Morocco’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

• Experience the magic of the Sahara with a camel ride through the dunes of Erg Chebbi and a night in a traditional camp.
• Admire the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, an architectural masterpiece facing the Atlantic Ocean.
• Stroll through the impressive Todra Gorge, a canyon with imposing vertical walls.
• Lose yourself in the medieval medina of Fez, home to the oldest university in the world.
• Explore the charms of Rabat: Hassan Tower, Royal Palace, and the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas.
• Relax in Essaouira, a coastal city with a fishing port, blue boats, and Portuguese fortifications.
• Cross the Middle Atlas, passing through Ifrane, the cedar forests of Azrou, and Midelt.
• Visit the legendary Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage Site and movie set.
• Discover Taroudant, the “Little Marrakech,” and Taliouine, the Moroccan capital of saffron.
• Return to Agadir after a scenic tour of southern Morocco.

Day by Day Day 1: Agadir → Essaouira

Your adventure begins in the coastal city of Agadir, famous for its golden sand bay, fishing port, and kasbah ruins with panoramic views of the Atlantic. After a leisurely stroll and perhaps a visit to its central market, you will embark on a scenic journey along the Atlantic coast. Along the way, you can stop at wild coves and fishing villages before arriving in Essaouira, known as the “City of Wind.” This charming walled city offers an artistic atmosphere with galleries, woodworking workshops, and painters. Upon arrival, explore its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina, stroll along the harbor with its blue boats, sample freshly grilled fish, and admire the Portuguese ramparts at sunset.

Day 2: Essaouira → Marrakech

Have breakfast in Essaouira overlooking the sea before heading inland, crossing vast argan fields. If you’re lucky, you’ll see goats climbing trees, a unique sight. Stop at a women’s cooperative that produces artisanal argan oil and learn about its importance to the local economy. Continue on to Marrakech, where you’ll have free time to stroll around the hotel or immerse yourself in the bustling medina for the first time.

Day 3: Full Day in Marrakech

This day is entirely dedicated to discovering the “Red City.” It begins with a guided tour of the main monuments:

• The Saadian Tombs, decorated with Italian marble.
• The Bahia Palace, an example of 19th-century Moroccan architecture.
• El Palacio El Badi, hoy en ruinas pero impresionante en su magnitud.
• The Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Koranic school with a beautiful tiled courtyard.
• The Koutoubia Mosque, emblem of Marrakech with its 70-meter minaret.

After lunch, relax in the Majorelle Gardens, designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent, and in the Menara Gardens with their large pond reflecting the Atlas Mountains. In the evening, the experience culminates in Jemaa El Fna Square, declared an Oral Heritage of Humanity, where snake charmers, musicians, storytellers, and food stalls create a magical atmosphere.

Day 4: Marrakech → Casablanca

After breakfast, depart for Casablanca, the economic heart of the country. Here you will find the spectacular Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and the only one in Morocco open to non-Muslims during guided tours. Its 210-meter minaret is the tallest on the planet. Afterwards, you can stroll along the Corniche de Ain Diab, a seafront avenue lined with cafés and terraces, and explore the Art Deco district in the city center.

Day 5: Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Fez

Leave Casablanca behind and visit Rabat, the political and administrative capital. Here you will see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Royal Palace (from the outside), and the Kasbah of the Udayas, with its blue and white houses. Continue on to Meknes, an imperial city surrounded by walls. Discover the monumental Bab Mansour Gate, El Hedim Square, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the old royal granaries. Finally, you will arrive in Fez, the spiritual city of Morocco, where you will spend the night in a traditional riad.

Day 6: Fez → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Imilchil

After breakfast, cross the Middle Atlas Mountains. First stop in Ifrane, known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine houses and fresh air. Then visit the cedar forest of Azrou, home to Barbary macaques. Continue to Midelt, famous for its apple production, where you can have lunch with views of the mountains. The journey continues through remote valleys to Imilchil, a traditional Berber village known for its Festival of the Bride and Groom and its mountain lakes, Tislit and Isli.

Day 7: Imilchil → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Sahara Desert)

After breakfast, drive to the impressive Todra Gorges, a canyon with walls up to 300 meters high, ideal for walking along the river. Continue to Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara. Here you will swap your vehicle for camels to venture into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset, enjoying an unforgettable natural spectacle. Spend the night in a nomad camp, with a traditional dinner, Berber music, and an incomparable starry sky.

Day 8: Merzouga → Rissani → Draa Valley → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate

Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the desert. After breakfast, return by camel to Merzouga and depart for Rissani, an ancient caravan city and birthplace of the Alawite dynasty. Stroll through its traditional market before continuing through the fertile Draa Valley, famous for its endless palm groves. Further on, visit the legendary Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting for films such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Arrive in Ouarzazate, known as “the gateway to the desert” and the center of the Moroccan film industry.

Day 9: Ouarzazate → Taliouine → Taroudant

After breakfast, departure for Tazenakht, famous for its hand-woven Berber carpets. Continue to Taliouine, the saffron capital, where you will visit a cooperative to learn about the cultivation and harvesting of this precious spice. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Taroudant, a city surrounded by red earth walls, nicknamed “Little Marrakech.” Enjoy its lively souks and traditional atmosphere.

Day 10: Taroudant → Agadir

Last day of the trip. In the morning, explore Taroudant a little more, famous for its leather crafts, ceramics, and silver jewelry. Then, depart for Agadir through a landscape of changing mountains and valleys. Arrival in Agadir to conclude this 10-day tour full of contrasts: from Atlantic beaches to Saharan dunes, passing through historic kasbahs and imperial cities. End of the 10-Day Tour of the Moroccan Desert from Agadir.