Hassan II Mosque
Stand inside one of the world's largest mosques — its minaret rises 210 metres above the Atlantic, a breathtaking fusion of Moroccan craftsmanship and modern engineering by 30,000 artisans.
Signature Private Tour · 9 Days · 8 Nights
Imperial Cities of Morocco —
four crowns, one journey.
Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes and Fes — Morocco's four imperial capitals — woven through the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, the thundering Ouzoud Waterfalls and the intoxicating colour of Marrakech.
9
Days
8
Nights
4
Imperial
cities
cities
3
UNESCO
sites
sites
✦ Free 48-hour proposal. No deposit until your itinerary is exactly right.
Duration9 days · 8 nights
PaceRelaxed · 1 free day
GroupPrivate · 1–8 guests
SeasonYear-round · any month
FromUSD $2,385 / pp
The journey
Four imperial capitals, one continuous story.
Morocco has not one royal capital but four — Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes and Fes — each built by a different dynasty, each radiating its own layered identity. This 9-day private tour strings them together in a single seamless journey, weaving in the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, the misty cedar forests of the Middle Atlas with their famous Barbary apes, the thundering 110-metre Ouzoud Waterfalls, and the intoxicating colour and chaos of Marrakech.
Your private guide brings every site to life with stories you won't find in any guidebook. Your luxury SUV carries you in comfort between destinations. Every detail — hotels, timing, pacing — is tailored to you. This is Morocco the way it deserves to be experienced: at the heart of its imperial story, slowly, with depth.
Start and finish anywhere. The route below is the most popular Casablanca-to-Marrakech routing — but every itinerary is built around your flights. Reverse it, start in Marrakech, or fly into Fes. Just tell us your dates and arrival/departure cities, and we'll resequence the days.
Fes el-Bali · Morocco's spiritual capitalSix unmissable moments
Tour Highlights
From Africa's largest mosque to the tallest waterfalls in North Africa — six experiences that make this journey unforgettable.
Volubilis — Rome in Africa
Walk a 2,000-year-old Roman city covering 40 hectares — colourful floor mosaics, triumphal arches and olive presses still visible across the UNESCO archaeological site.
Fes el-Bali — UNESCO Medieval Medina
Lose yourself (safely, with your guide) inside the world's largest car-free urban zone — a medieval city of 9,000 alleyways, ancient madrasas and the famous Chouara tanneries.
Cedar Forests & Barbary Apes
Drive through the cool Middle Atlas highlands near Azrou and meet the only wild primates native to Africa north of the Sahara — an unexpected delight for travellers of all ages.
Ouzoud Waterfalls
Hike down to the tallest waterfalls in North Africa — a 110-metre cascade surrounded by olive trees and wild macaques, with a permanent rainbow arching through the mist.
Djemaa el-Fna at Sunset
As dusk falls, Marrakech's great square transforms into the world's greatest open-air theatre — snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats and a hundred sizzling food stalls.
Suggested route · fully flexible
The Route
Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Volubilis → Fes → Middle Atlas → Ouzoud → Marrakech. The Casablanca-to-Marrakech direction below is the popular default — every itinerary can be reversed or reordered around your flights.
Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Volubilis → Fes → Middle Atlas → Ouzoud → Marrakech · approximately 1,400 km · all transfers in private SUV
✦ Itinerary fully flexible — direction can be reversed
Nine days through four imperial cities
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Below is the suggested 9-day sequence — Casablanca to Marrakech. Every day is private, paced for enjoyment, and fully adjustable around your flights and interests.
01Day
Casablanca arrival
Welcome to Morocco — Your Journey Begins
Your private driver meets you at Mohammed V International Airport with a name sign and whisks you to your hotel in Casablanca. After a long flight, the afternoon is yours to rest, explore the chic Maarif neighbourhood, or take a gentle walk along the Ain Diab corniche with the Atlantic at your side. Tonight, you're in Morocco.
- Private airport transfer
- Hotel check-in
- Ain Diab Corniche
- Casablanca overnight
02Day
Casablanca → Rabat
Two Capitals in One Day
Begin with an awe-inspiring guided tour inside Hassan II Mosque — one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Your guide explains the extraordinary craftsmanship: 30,000 artisans spent six years creating the hand-carved cedar ceilings, zellige tile floors and intricate stucco walls. Stroll through Place Mohammed V and visit Beth-El Synagogue, a reminder of Morocco's layered religious heritage. In the afternoon, drive north to Rabat — Morocco's elegant tree-lined capital. Visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum (white Carrara marble and hand-painted cedar), the unfinished Hassan Tower, and the blue-and-white Udayas Kasbah overlooking the Bou Regreg river.
- Hassan II Mosque (interior)
- Place Mohammed V
- Beth-El Synagogue
- Mohammed V Mausoleum
- Hassan Tower
- Udayas Kasbah
03Day
Rabat → Meknes → Volubilis → Fes
Roman Ruins & Imperial Gates
Drive to Meknes — the imperial city built by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century to rival Versailles. Stand before the colossal Bab el-Mansour gate, widely considered the most beautiful gateway in Morocco, and explore the sprawling royal grounds. Continue to Moulay Idriss, the hillside holy town where Morocco's founder is buried beneath a gleaming green-tiled shrine. Then comes the day's centrepiece: Volubilis, a UNESCO Roman city dating from the 3rd century BC. Walk wide stone-paved streets past triumphal arches and remarkably preserved mosaic floors still vivid in blues and ochres. Arrive in Fes — Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital — by evening.
- Meknes Bab el-Mansour
- Royal stables & granaries
- Moulay Idriss holy town
- Volubilis Roman ruins (UNESCO)
- Fes arrival
04Day
Full day in Fes
Inside the World's Oldest Living City
Fes el-Bali was founded in 789 AD and has barely changed since. Today your licensed local guide — born in the medina — takes you deep into its 9,000-alley labyrinth. Visit the Attarine Medersa, a 14th-century theological college whose courtyard is among the most beautiful enclosed spaces in the Islamic world. See the Nejjarine Fountain and its ornate cedar-wood museum. Peer down from a leather merchant's terrace onto the Chouara Tanneries, a rainbow of dye vats unchanged since the 11th century. Walk through the Mellah, admire the gates of the Royal Palace, and finish at the Moulay Idriss II mausoleum. As evening approaches, find a rooftop café in the medina, order mint tea, and watch the ancient city glow gold in the setting sun.
- Attarine Medersa
- Chouara Tanneries
- Nejjarine Museum
- Al-Qarawiyyin University
- Royal Palace gates
- Mellah (Jewish Quarter)
05Day
Fes → Middle Atlas → Ben El Ouidane
Into the Mountains — Cedar Forests & Barbary Apes
Leave Fes behind and climb into the Middle Atlas, Morocco's cool, forested highland. Near the alpine town of Azrou, stop in a cedar forest to meet the Barbary macaques — the only wild monkeys in Africa north of the Sahara — who move freely through the ancient trees. Continue through Khenifra to the sapphire-blue Ben El Ouidane Lake, a stunning reservoir cradled by mountains where you'll spend the night in a lakeside hotel with spa facilities. Sunset over the lake is one of the quiet pleasures of this tour.
- Middle Atlas drive
- Azrou cedar forest
- Barbary apes
- Khenifra highland town
- Ben El Ouidane Lake
06Day
Ben El Ouidane → Ouzoud → Marrakech
North Africa's Tallest Waterfalls
A short morning drive brings you to Ouzoud, where three separate cataracts plunge 110 metres into a natural gorge lush with olive trees, fig palms and the constant mist of falling water. Hike the well-maintained trail to the base of the falls — a favourite picnic spot for local Berber families — and keep an eye out for Barbary macaques swinging through the trees overhead. A permanent rainbow hangs in the spray. After this refreshing morning, continue south to Marrakech, the Red City, arriving in the late afternoon to settle into your riad.
- Ouzoud Waterfalls (110m)
- Gorge hike
- Barbary macaques
- Marrakech arrival
07Day
Marrakech guided tour
The Red City — Tombs, Palaces & the Grand Square
Your licensed Marrakech guide takes you through a city that defies easy description. Begin at the Saadian Tombs — rediscovered in 1917 after centuries of deliberate concealment — where intricately carved marble chambers hold the remains of 16th-century sultans. Continue to the ruins of El Badi Palace, once so opulent it was stripped of its gold and marble by a later sultan. Visit the Bahia Palace, with its 8 hectares of sculpted gardens and tiled halls, and wander the colour-coded souks of the medina. As evening falls, head to Djemaa el-Fna — UNESCO's first Intangible Cultural Heritage site — where the square erupts into a festival of storytellers, musicians, acrobats and sizzling food stalls.
- Saadian Tombs
- El Badi Palace
- Bahia Palace
- Medina souks
- Djemaa el-Fna at night
08Day
Marrakech free day
Your Marrakech, Your Way
Today is entirely yours. Sleep in at your riad, sip coffee on a rooftop terrace with views of the Koutoubia minaret, or dive into one of the optional experiences below — a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the palm groves, a hands-on cooking class with a local chef, a restorative hammam at a historic bathhouse, or a quiet morning at the cobalt-blue Majorelle Gardens. Your guide and driver remain on call for anything you need.
- Optional: hot-air balloon
- Optional: cooking class
- Optional: hammam & spa
- Optional: Majorelle Gardens
- Free time at your riad
09Day
Marrakech departure
Farewell — Until Morocco Calls You Back
Enjoy a final Moroccan breakfast — fresh msemen flatbread, argan oil, honey and strong coffee — before your private driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport for your flight home. You leave having experienced four imperial cities, ancient Roman ruins, the cedar highlands, the tallest waterfalls in North Africa, and the most magical square in the Islamic world.
- Riad terrace breakfast
- Private departure transfer
- Menara Airport
Where you'll stay
Hand-picked riads & hotels
Every property selected for character, comfort, and location. Choose your tier — we'll match you to the right rooms in every city.
Comfortable · 3–4★
Comfortable riads & hotels
Authentic 3–4★ medina riads and brand-name properties with rooftop terraces, traditional tilework and warm hospitality. Comfortable lakeside lodging in the Atlas with spa facilities.
Examples: Movenpick (Casablanca), Riad Kalaa (Rabat), Riad Mazar (Fes), Widiane Suites (Ben El Ouidane)
Boutique · 5★
Boutique heritage riads
Storied riads with plunge pools, restored 18th-century courtyards and award-winning restaurants. Refined Atlas retreats overlooking the lake.
Examples: Palais Faraj (Fes), Riad Fès Relais & Châteaux, La Maison Arabe (Marrakech), Riad Kniza (Marrakech)
Elevated · ultra-luxury
Elevated palaces & private villas
Iconic palace hotels — La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, Villa des Orangers — with full butler service, private hammams and Forbes-listed dining.
Examples: La Mamounia (Marrakech), Royal Mansour (Marrakech), Villa des Orangers (Marrakech), La Sultana (Marrakech)
Transparent · No surprises
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- 8 nights in premium hotels & riads (daily breakfast)
- Private luxury SUV with English-speaking driver
- Licensed local guides in Casablanca, Rabat, Fes & Marrakech
- All entrance fees for included sites (Hassan II, Volubilis, Fes monuments, Marrakech palaces)
- Ouzoud Waterfalls hike with local guide
- Private airport transfers (Casablanca arrival & Marrakech departure)
- All fuel and toll-road costs
- 24/7 concierge support during your trip
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Lunches and dinners (apart from daily breakfast)
- Beverages
- Driver & guide gratuities
- Optional experiences (balloon, cooking, hammam, Majorelle)
- Personal travel insurance
USD / per person
Tour Investment
Per-person pricing based on two travelers sharing. Solo and group rates available — request a custom quote for your exact dates and party size.
★★★ – ★★★★
Budget
$265
per person / day
From $2,385 total
Entry-level — comfortable 3–4★ hotels & medina riads. Excellent value for a complete imperial-cities journey.
★★★★
Premium
$300
per person / day
From $2,700 total
Curated 4★ riads & boutique stays — heritage charm with refined modern comforts.
★★★★★
Luxury
$350–$450
per person / day
From $3,150 total
5★ properties with a dedicated private guide & driver. Signature riads & refined Atlas lodging.
★★★★★ ✦
Ultra Luxury
$650+
per person / day
From $5,850 total
Exclusive estates — fully bespoke VIP service. La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, palatial private villas.
Add to your free day
Optional Experiences
Quick answers
Frequently Asked
Yes, 100%. Every Gateway2Morocco tour is exclusively private. You will have your own vehicle, your own driver, and your own licensed local guide in each major city. You will never share a vehicle or a tour with strangers. The itinerary is built around you, not a fixed-departure schedule.
Absolutely — the 9-day itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed menu. We can extend it to include the Sahara desert, shorten it for a tighter schedule, add a day in Chefchaouen, or swap the Ouzoud Waterfalls for Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. Tell us your dream trip and we'll build it.
Very much so. The Barbary apes near Azrou, the Ouzoud waterfall hike, and the storytellers and acrobats of Djemaa el-Fna are especially popular with kids. Our guides adapt their pace and stories for younger travellers, and our drivers always have snacks, comfort stops and shade breaks built in for families.
Gateway2Morocco operates this tour year-round and we build amazing trips every month. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) bring the most temperate weather across the imperial cities. Winter is mild in the lowlands (Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech) and atmospheric in the Atlas. Summer is hot in the interior but easily managed with early starts, riad pools and afternoon rest.
We handle everything. Once you confirm your tour we book all hotels and riads to match your chosen accommodation tier, handle special requests (anniversary rooms, early check-in, dietary needs), and confirm every reservation before you leave home. You arrive to a fully arranged journey.
Morocco is one of the safest travel destinations in Africa and the Arab world. The Global Peace Index consistently ranks it among the most stable countries in the region, and millions of North American and European tourists visit every year without incident. As a Canadian-Moroccan company, we know the country intimately and take every precaution to ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
Nine days. Four imperial crowns.
Send us your dates and group size. We'll send a personalised itinerary and quote within 48 hours — no obligation, no pressure.
100% private toursBPCPA Lic. #804604.9★ on TripAdvisor25+ years experience