Morocco · 7 days · Private and tailor-made
Blue City and Imperial Fez
Walk Chefchaouen's blue lanes with your guide on the road to Fez, then dine at the home of a Fez family.
Suggested length
7 days
Price guide
From $6,188 per person, excl. international flights, based on two sharing. Family rates for 2+ children under 21.
Includes hotels, private guiding, experiences and transfers
When
March to early June and late September to early November
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American precision with local expertise · Planned from Europe since 2002 · 17,000+ American travelers · Never cancelled a journey
Seven days through the imperial cities and medinas of the north, from Casablanca north to Tangier with your private driver, south through the Rif to three nights in Fez, and back to Casablanca for the last night.
- Begin, if you like, with a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque, its minaret rising 210 meters above the Atlantic
- Take mint tea at Café Hafa on its terraces above the Strait of Gibraltar
- Walk the blue lanes of Chefchaouen with your guide on the road to Fez
- Look down on the stone dye vats of the Chouara Tannery in Fez
- Walk the Roman city of Volubilis, under the Arch of Caracalla
- Spend the last night in Casablanca, about 45 minutes from the airport
“Hi from Europe. After planning luxury travel from Iberia since 2002, we have key relationships across our destinations and the judgment to tailor trips wisely for our discerning clients. Get our experience, relationships and insider savvy on your side. See our reviews and request a custom itinerary.”
Dan O’Beirne, American Founder · Iberia-Based Travel Specialist · Travel Leaders Network member. As featured in USA Today, & Euro Business News · Game of Thrones location consultant.
A Journey Designed Just for You
Our resident experts wrote this itinerary as a starting point, and your planner shapes every day around your interests, pace and travel style.
What do our American travelers say?
“Our trip was very smooth, organized from start to finish, excellent guides, comfortable transfers, luxury hotels in good locations, well chosen experiences, and all the details handled.”
“We also really appreciated the suggestion and planning of a winery visit. We did not even know that was an option in Morocco, and it turned out to be a wonderful treat and one of the special surprises of the trip.”
The 7-day northern Morocco itinerary at a glance
The route uses three bases and six nights: two in Tangier, three in Fez and one in Casablanca. It lands at Casablanca, where a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque opens the trip if you like, and your private driver takes you north by motorway to Tangier in about 3 hours 45 minutes. From there the route runs south through the Rif to Fez, then west by way of Rabat to a last night in Casablanca, about 45 minutes from the airport.
Day three holds the longest road day, about 6 hours in all, with a guided half day in Chefchaouen between Tangier and Fez. Day five runs short loops to Volubilis and Meknes, and day six about 4 hours from Fez to Casablanca with the Rabat stop.
March to early June and late September to early November suit the route best, with mild days for the medinas. You stay in a choice from our vetted luxury five-star or deluxe four-star boutique hotels and riads.
Why the route starts in the north
The north is the part of Morocco closest to Europe, and its history shows it. The Portuguese built the ramparts of Asilah in 1471, families from Spain settled Chefchaouen, and from 1923 to 1956 Tangier ran as an International Zone. The first day carries you straight up the coast, so the touring days begin where the history does, in Tangier, and reach Fez, the oldest of the imperial cities, before the coast road home.
Journey at a glance
Length
7 days
From
$6,188 per person, double occupancy
Family rates for 2+ children under 21
Route
Casablanca, Tangier, Asilah, Chefchaouen, Fez, Volubilis, Meknes, Rabat
Your planner adjusts every day to your dates.
Day One
Arrival, the Hassan II Mosque and the Road North
Your private driver meets you at Casablanca airport. If you like, stop first at the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, for a guided visit. Then the motorway runs north along the Atlantic to Tangier, where you check in for two nights. On the road: about 3 hours 45 minutes from the airport to Tangier, plus about 1 hour 30 minutes with the mosque visit.
Day Two
Tangier and Asilah
Your licensed guide leads you through the kasbah and the medina to the Tangier American Legation, the first property the United States owned abroad and a National Historic Landmark. Take mint tea at Café Hafa, on its terraces above the Strait, then drive out to Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules. In the afternoon, walk the Portuguese ramparts of 1471 and the painted murals of Asilah.
Day Three
Chefchaouen and the Road to Fez
Drive into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, founded in 1471 and settled by families from Spain. Your licensed guide spends the morning with you in the blue lanes of the medina, the Outa el Hammam square and the red-walled kasbah, and lunch is in the town. In the afternoon, your private driver continues south to Fez, where you check in for three nights. On the road: about 2 hours to Chefchaouen, then about 4 hours to Fez.
Day Four
Fes el-Bali and Dinner with a Fez Family
Your licensed guide leads you into Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina where donkeys still carry the loads. Visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, carved in cedar, stucco and zellige, look down on the stone dye vats of the Chouara Tannery and hear the coppersmiths' hammers in Place Seffarine. Where available, meet Omar, a leather artisan we work with, and dine at the home of a Fez family.
Day Five
Volubilis and Meknes
Walk Volubilis, a Roman city of mosaic floors and the Arch of Caracalla, with the holy town of Moulay Idriss on the hillside opposite. Continue to Meknes, the city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, where the gate of Bab Mansour glows with green zellige and the vaulted royal granaries stretch on in long arcades. Return to Fez for the evening. On the road: about 1 hour 15 minutes to Volubilis, 40 minutes to Meknes and 1 hour back to Fez.
Day Six
Rabat and Casablanca
Your private driver takes you west to Rabat, the capital, for the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth and the Hassan Tower. Continue down the coast to Casablanca and check in for your last night, close to the airport for the flight home. On the road: about 2 hours 45 minutes to Rabat, then about 1 hour 15 minutes to Casablanca.
Day Seven
Departure from Casablanca
After breakfast, your private driver takes you to Casablanca airport for your flight home. On the road: about 45 minutes.
Getting around
- Day 1: Casablanca airport to Tangier by motorway, about 3 hours 45 minutes, plus about 1 hour 30 minutes with the optional Hassan II Mosque visit.
- Day 2: Tangier to Cap Spartel, about 20 minutes, and Tangier to Asilah, about 45 minutes each way.
- Day 3: Tangier to Chefchaouen, about 2 hours, then on to Fez, about 4 hours. This is the longest road day of the journey.
- Day 4: A walking day in the Fez medina, with your private driver for the transfers.
- Day 5: Fez to Volubilis, about 1 hour 15 minutes, on to Meknes, about 40 minutes, and back to Fez, about 1 hour.
- Day 6: Fez to Rabat, about 2 hours 45 minutes, then on to Casablanca, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Day 7: Casablanca hotel to the airport, about 45 minutes.
- In Morocco, a licensed guide leads the visits and a private driver handles every road.
What is a good 7-day northern Morocco itinerary?
A good 7-day northern Morocco itinerary drives north to Tangier on the first day, then moves south through the Rif to Fez and back to Casablanca. Two nights in Tangier give a full day for the city and Asilah. A half day in Chefchaouen on the road to Fez shows the blue town with your guide. Three nights in Fez leave a full day for the medina and a day for Volubilis and Meknes. A last night in Casablanca, after a stop in Rabat, puts you about 45 minutes from the airport on the morning of your flight home. You unpack three times in seven days.
How does this route connect with Spain?
Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, about 14 kilometers from Europe at the narrowest point. The fast ferry from Tarifa docks at the port of Tanger Ville, in the heart of the city, after a crossing of about 1 hour. Travelers coming from Seville, Granada or the rest of Andalusia cross by ferry and begin this week in Tangier. Our Spain and Morocco private journey shows how the two countries fit together.
This northern route or a Morocco journey with Marrakech and the Sahara?
Choose this route if you have a week and want the medinas and imperial cities of the north. Travelers who want the dunes in the same week choose the 7-day Morocco Sahara tour, and travelers who want Marrakech, the mountains and the ocean choose the 7-day Marrakech, High Atlas and Essaouira journey. The 10-day Imperial Cities of Morocco journey adds Marrakech, and the 10-day Morocco journey links Fez, the Sahara and Marrakech. Every route starts from our Morocco destination page.
Who this journey suits
Travelers combining Morocco with Seville, Granada or the rest of Andalusia, since Tangier sits a short ferry ride across the Strait. Travelers who love history, architecture and artisans. Returning visitors who already know Marrakech and the Sahara. Couples and friends who want the great medinas without long desert drives. Your guide is glad to advise on suitability before booking for anyone who prefers a gentler pace.
The people behind the route
Licensed guides we work with on this route include Mehdi and Youssef, who guide travelers across Morocco. Each is a highly educated local expert who cares about the people in their group. We request your guides by name, and your planner confirms who leads each day once your dates are set.
What the 7-day journey costs
This 7-day route starts from $6,188 per person, double occupancy. Four things move the price: the season, the hotel category, the size of your private party, and the experiences you add, such as a cooking class in Fez or a winery visit near Meknes.
What your journey price includes
- Six nights in a choice from our vetted luxury five-star or deluxe four-star boutique hotels and camps, with daily breakfast, accommodation taxes and service charges
- Custom itinerary design and planning, with quality control and vetting of every provider
- Private sightseeing with licensed, English-speaking local guides, and admission fees during private guided touring
- A private driver and vehicle for every road day, and private airport, train station and port transfers as specified
- VIP assistance on arrival at the airport
- 24/7 support before and during your trip, including your private WhatsApp group with Dan or Rachel
- Pre-trip travel documents
- Dinner with a Fez family, where available
International flights, travel insurance, gratuities and meals not listed in the itinerary are not included. Our booking terms set out the full details.
To shape this week around your dates and your party, speak with our team about your 7 days in northern Morocco.
Frequently asked questions about the 7-day northern Morocco itinerary
How much does a private 7-day northern Morocco tour cost?
This 7-day route starts from $6,188 per person, based on two people sharing a room. The season matters most, since hotel rates rise and fall through the year. Five-star hotels raise it, and larger private parties pay less per person because the driver and guide serve the whole party. Our team sends a written quote for your dates and party before you commit.
How long is the drive from Casablanca to Tangier?
About 3 hours 45 minutes by motorway from Casablanca airport. Your private driver meets you as you land and stays with you to Tangier, so there is no change of vehicle and no luggage to move between stations. The guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque on the way adds about 1 hour 30 minutes and is your choice.
Why visit Chefchaouen on the way to Fez instead of staying the night?
Chefchaouen is a small town, and a guided half day covers the blue medina, the main square and the kasbah. Its hotels are small riads and guesthouses set on steep stairs, without elevators, so the route keeps your nights in Tangier and Fez and visits the blue town on the drive between them.
Why spend the last night in Casablanca?
Flights home to the United States leave from Casablanca airport. A night in the city puts you about 45 minutes from the airport on the morning of your flight, instead of a drive of almost 4 hours from Fez, and leaves time for Rabat on the way. Our note on flying into Casablanca or Marrakech compares the two airports in more detail.
Why does this route leave out Marrakech and the Sahara?
A week gives the north its due or the south its due, and rarely both. Marrakech lies far to the south of this route, and the Sahara further still, so adding either turns a relaxed week into long road days. Travelers who want the dunes choose the 7-day Morocco Sahara tour, and travelers who want both halves of the country choose the 10-day Morocco journey through Fez, the Sahara and Marrakech.
When is the best time to visit northern Morocco?
March to early June and late September to early November suit this route best, with mild days for the medinas and green hills in the Rif in spring. Summer works with early starts, and Tangier on the Strait stays fresher than Fez. Winter brings cooler days and the quietest hotels of the year. Hotels, like airlines, price by demand, so peak weeks cost more.
Is Chefchaouen worth visiting?
Yes, for a few hours. Chefchaouen, founded in 1471 in the Rif Mountains, is a small town, and a guided half day covers the blue lanes of the medina, the Outa el Hammam square and the red-walled kasbah. This route visits it on the drive from Tangier to Fez, so you see the blue town without a hotel change for a single night.
Can we start with the ferry from Tarifa?
Yes. The fast ferry from Tarifa crosses the Strait of Gibraltar to the port of Tanger Ville, in the heart of the city, in about 1 hour. Travelers coming from Seville, Granada or the rest of Andalusia begin this week in Tangier, and your private driver meets you at the port. The route then runs as written, ending with a night in Casablanca for the flight home. Travelers timing the trip to the August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse, which crosses both Tarifa and Tangier, will find where to watch in our guide to the 2027 eclipse in Spain and Morocco.
Are the driver and the guide the same person?
In Morocco they are two different people. A private driver handles the vehicle and the road, and a licensed guide leads the visits. This split lets your driver focus on the road and your guide focus on the place, its history and its people. Both work for your own party only, and they set the pace around you.
Do non-Muslim visitors enter the Hassan II Mosque?
Yes. The Hassan II Mosque ranks among the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, on guided visits only, at set times outside prayer, with fewer visits on Fridays and during Ramadan. Your guide times the stop around your arrival flight and advises on what to wear. The mosque opened in 1993 on a platform partly over the ocean, and its minaret rises 210 meters.
How flexible is the 7-day route?
The route works as a starting point, and your planner shapes it around your party. Common changes include starting in Tangier after a ferry from Tarifa, a stop in Tetouan on the way to Chefchaouen, or a fourth night in Fez. You receive a revised day-by-day plan and price before you commit.
Who do we contact if something goes wrong or we want a change?
Your planner designs your journey with you and stays in touch after you land. For the fastest response at any hour, message your private WhatsApp group, where our 24/7 support team works alongside Dan or Rachel. Because we begin no more than five journeys per country each week, peak spring and fall dates fill early, and that limit is what lets us stay this close to every trip.
We keep a list of vetted four- and five-star hotels, well located and enjoyed by our past travelers and by our own team.
Examples for each overnight stop on this route. Choose a deluxe boutique hotel or a five-star stay, and your travel advisor matches each night to your wishes, the season and availability.
Tangier
Boutique: Villa Mabrouka. Yves Saint Laurent’s former home, turned into a 12-room hotel by Jasper Conran, facing the Strait.
Five-star: Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier. A 1926 palace built for Ahmad Tazi on the Jbel Kebir hillside, with Andalusian gardens.
Fez
Boutique: Dar Bensouda. A traditional riad in the Fes medina, with a spa, pool and roof terrace.
Five-star: Riad Fès, Relais & Châteaux. A restored medina palace with tiled patios, a contemporary 14-meter pool and a bar.
Casablanca
Five-star: Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca. On the ocean at Anfa, beside the corniche.
Five-star: Royal Mansour Casablanca. A palace hotel in the city center, from the group behind Royal Mansour Marrakech.
What's Included
A personalized itinerary, built around you and your schedule
Hand-picked luxury and boutique hotels
Insider experiences, inspiring sightseeing and magical upgrades
Private touring with your own personal expert guide
Private luxury transfers from airports and train stations
Full breakfasts, plus food and wine tasting options
Your choice of activities on “Design Your Days”®
Expert advice, restaurant ideas and reservations
24/7 support and concierge service from Spain, Portugal and Morocco
Magical is an award-winning luxury travel agency
Private journeys with soul & stories
Excellent independent reviews
Your private WhatsApp group with our 24/7 team and Rachel or Dan
Hidden gems, insider fun & vetted hotels
Your private guide, deluxe vehicle & flexible pace
24/7 concierge-style support
Life is short, vacation memorably
American Precision, Local Soul
Our Unforgettable Trips Are Tailored Just For You
Hi from Europe,
Along with our local partners across Portugal, Spain, Morocco and beyond we believe that our clients deserve the truly tailor-made private luxury trips, not generic "one-size-fits-all" plans.
Get inspired with our sample trips then get in touch about an expert-made personalized custom luxury itinerary, just for you.
Kind regards,
Dan O'Beirne & the MPT team
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