7-day Morocco Imperial Cities tour from Tangier to Marrakech

Roman ruins, blue-washed medinas, and Morocco's four Imperial Cities in a single week

This 7-day tour of Morocco's Imperial Cities begins in Tangier and moves south through Chefchaouen, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, with a guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French. Air-conditioned transport and overnight stays in traditional riads with dinner are included. The route covers UNESCO-listed sites, Roman archaeology at Volubilis, and the country's largest car-free medinas.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tangier and Chefchaouen exploration

• Arrive in Tangier
• Option to explore Tangier or travel to Chefchaouen
• Hike to Cascades d'Akchour waterfalls
• Explore Chefchaouen's blue-washed medina
• Visit Place Outa el Hammam
• Browse shops and dine at local café
• Visit Grand Mosque and kasbah
• Ascend to Spanish Mosque for sunset view

Day 2: Volubilis, Meknes, and Fes journey

• Early morning photos in Chefchaouen
• Travel to Volubilis Roman ruins
• Explore Volubilis archaeological site
• Stop in Meknes to visit Imperial City and medina
• Continue to Fes
• Visit Merenid Tombs for panoramic city view
• Overnight stay in Fes riad

Day 3: Fes Imperial City and medina tour

• Meet guide in Fes
• Explore Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid medinas
• Learn about history and culture
• Visit Ville Nouvelle area

Day 4: Rabat and Casablanca coastal visit

• Morning exploration in Fes
• Visit Ceramics and Tilework Collective
• Travel to Rabat
• Explore Chellah Necropolis
• Visit Kasbah des Oudaias
• Wander white and blue-washed streets
• Visit Andalusian Gardens
• Discover Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V

Day 5: Casablanca mosque and travel to Marrakech

• Tour Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
• Admire mosque artisanship and architecture
• Travel onwards to Marrakech

Day 6: Marrakech city exploration

• Orient around Jemaa el-Fna Square
• Explore souks north of square
• Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens
• Tour Kasbah area with Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace
• Visit Majorelle Gardens in Ville Nouvelle

Day 7: Departure from Marrakech

• Last minute shopping in Marrakech
• Optional visit to Bahia Palace and gardens
• Prepare for departure flight

The experience

The route starts on the Strait of Gibraltar in Tangier, then climbs into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, where blue-washed buildings fill a maze of narrow streets. Before reaching the city, you hike 2 to 3 hours through lush vegetation and small pools to the Cascades d'Akchour, a tucked-away waterfall. Once in Chefchaouen, the itinerary includes the main square (Place Outa el Hammam), the Grand Mosque built in 1560, the kasbah with its museum and old prison cells, and a walk up to the Spanish Mosque for a sunset view over the city.

From there, the tour heads south toward Fes, stopping at Volubilis, a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site of Roman ruins founded in the 3rd century BCE. You'll see merchant homes with visible heating systems underneath, temples, and nearly intact colorful mosaics including the Labors of Hercules. A stop in Meknes follows, where the medina is calmer than Fes and shopkeepers less pushy. The Ville Impériale (Imperial City) and medina are the main areas. Fes itself gets a full day and a half: the guide walks you through the winding streets of Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, the two old medina quarters listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest car-free urban areas. You can also visit a local Ceramics and Tilework Collective to watch tile masters at work.

The tour then moves west to the coast, visiting Rabat's Chellah Necropolis (a mix of Roman and Islamic ruins), the Kasbah des Oudaias with its white and blue-washed streets, the Andalusian Gardens, and the Hassan Tower: a 145-foot red sandstone minaret standing alone from an incomplete 12th-century mosque. In Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque is the centerpiece: its 210-meter minaret is the tallest in the world, and unlike most Moroccan mosques, non-Muslims are permitted inside to see the hand-carved stone and wood, intricate marble floors, and gilded ceilings. The final days are in Marrakech, where you explore the Jemaa el-Fna Square, the souks, the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and the Majorelle Gardens in the Ville Nouvelle. The last morning leaves time for final shopping or a visit to the ornate Bahia Palace before departure.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• live guide in your choice of language.
• overnight stays in traditional riads with dinner included each evening.
• entry to Volubilis, the Chellah Necropolis, the Hassan II Mosque, and other sites mentioned in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (30 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 29 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 47 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Morocco Tour Marrakech

Is this one for you?This 7-day itinerary suits travelers who want Morocco's main Imperial Cities and key sites in one trip without arranging transport or accommodations separately. The fixed route and included guide mean you move through Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech as a coherent journey rather than piecing together separate stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 29 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the hike to Cascades d'Akchour like before Chefchaouen?

The hike to Cascades d'Akchour takes 2 to 3 hours and passes through lush vegetation and small pools on the way to the waterfall. It happens before you arrive in Chefchaouen on the first day.

Can non-Muslims enter the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca?

Yes, the Hassan II Mosque is one of the few mosques in Morocco where non-Muslims are permitted to enter. The tour includes a morning visit to see the hand-carved stone and wood, intricate marble floors, and gilded ceilings.

How much time do you spend exploring Fes?

Fes gets a full day and a half. You meet a guide who walks you through the winding streets of the two old medina quarters, and you have the option to visit a local Ceramics and Tilework Collective to watch tile masters creating mosaics.

What are the riads like, and do they include meals?

You stay overnight in traditional riads (houses built around interior courtyards) in Chefchaouen, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. Dinner is included each night, though lunches are not.