9 Day Morocco Tour: Best Imperial Cities & Atlantic Coast
A private, custom-paced loop from Marrakech — down the Atlantic coast through Essaouira, El Jadida & Casablanca, up to imperial Meknes, UNESCO Volubilis, medieval Fes, and back via the Ouzoud waterfalls. Local guide, private 4WD, on your own dates.
Why our 9 day Morocco tour is different
Looking for the perfect 9 day Morocco tour? This one swaps the Sahara desert for the Atlantic coast — Essaouira, Safi, Oualidia, El Jadida and Casablanca — and pairs it with the imperial cities of Meknes and Fes, the UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis, and a spectacular day at the Ouzoud waterfalls.
It's the ideal choice for travellers who want the deep culture of the imperial medinas plus the sea breeze and seafood of Morocco's Atlantic side — without the long inland drive to Merzouga. Premium accommodation throughout, private driver-guide, and a starting-and-ending loop in Marrakech so you don't retrace steps.
This 9 day Morocco tour is 100% private — your own bilingual driver-guide, your own 4WD, your own dates. Local city guides join in Meknes, Volubilis, Fes and Marrakech so the history comes alive from someone who lives it.
Your 9 day Morocco tour route at a glance
Places you'll wake up in
Your full 9 day Morocco tour itinerary
Warm welcome at Menara airport in Marrakech and transfer to your riad. After checking in, explore the Red City on foot — the ancient ramparts, the Koutoubia Minaret, the ornate Bahia Palace, and the historic Saadian Tombs. Wander into Jemaa el-Fna as it comes alive with snake charmers, storytellers and food stalls.
After breakfast, drive west to Essaouira, the picturesque whitewashed town on the Atlantic. Along the way you may spot goats climbing argan trees. Explore the working fishing port, walk the sea-facing ramparts (a Game of Thrones location), and browse the airy blue-and-white medina where craftsmen work with fragrant thuja wood. Overnight at a riad inside the medina.
A full day along the stunning Moroccan Atlantic coast. Stop first in Safi, known for its blue-and-green ceramics and its 16th-century Portuguese sea castle. Continue to the tranquil lagoon of Oualidia for a fresh seafood lunch — this stretch is famous for its oysters. In the afternoon visit El Jadida, a beach town whose UNESCO-listed Portuguese cité includes an eerie underground cistern used in Orson Welles' Othello. Arrive in Casablanca for the night.
Morning tour of Casablanca — the Place des Nations Unies, the tree-lined Boulevard Mohamed V, the leafy residential district of Anfa, and the vast Hassan II Mosque rising from the Atlantic. Its 690-foot minaret is the world's tallest, and — unusually for Morocco — non-Muslims can visit inside. Free afternoon along the Corniche.
Drive to Meknes, the quiet imperial city. Visit its famous gates Bab al-Mansour and Bab al-Khamis, and the elegant Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. After lunch, step 2,000 years back at Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa (UNESCO), with intricate mosaics still on the floors where they were laid.
Nearby, visit Moulay Idriss, Morocco's holy city, cascading white down a mountainside. Overnight back in Meknes.
Today you explore Fes — the intellectual, religious and artistic heart of Morocco. With your local Fes guide, walk into Fes el Bali, the old city, and visit the 14th-century Medersa Attarine, the historic Karaouine Mosque (home to the world's oldest continuously operating university), the ornately-carved Nejjarine Fountain, and the maze of specialised souks — coppersmiths, dyers, leather-workers.
Lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant inside the medina, then afternoon in Fes el Jedid, the "new" 13th-century royal quarter. Overnight in Fes.
Return to Marrakech via the cedar-forest health resort of Ifrane — a mountain town with alpine architecture that locals call "Morocco's Switzerland" — and the agricultural centre of Beni Mellal. Stop for lunch and to see the Aïn Asserdoun spring bubbling out of the rock. Arrive in Marrakech for the night.
Full-day excursion south-east through the pine forests of the Middle Atlas to the Cascade d'Ouzoud. A dramatic three-tiered waterfall drops 110 metres to the river below — rainbows in the spray in the afternoon light. Optional easy hike to the base of the falls; watch for Barbary macaques in the trees. Return to Marrakech for the night.
After breakfast, your driver-guide transfers you to Marrakech airport for your onward flight. End of tour.
Included & not included
Included in your tour
- Airport meet & greet + departure transfer (Marrakech)
- Private experienced bilingual driver-guide
- Private 4WD, minivan or minibus (fuel & driver's expenses)
- Local city guides for Meknes, Volubilis, Fes & Marrakech
- 8 nights premium / 5-star accommodation
- Daily breakfasts + selected dinners
- Ouzoud Waterfalls full-day excursion
- 24/7 WhatsApp support during your trip
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Lunches on the road
- Monument entry fees (Volubilis, Bahia Palace, etc.)
- Drinks (including bottled water)
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities (hammam, cooking class, hot-air balloon)
- Tips (optional, at your discretion)
- Personal shopping & extras
Transparent private tour pricing
Based on 4 travellers on a 9 day Morocco tour sharing premium riads and hotels in low season, excluding international flights. Solo, couple, larger groups and full 5-star luxury upgrades quoted on request.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
100% private. Every departure is just for you and your group — your bilingual driver-guide, your 4WD, your pace. No strangers, no fixed dates. You pick the days you want to travel.
How much does the 9 day Morocco tour cost?
Prices start from about $1,150 per person, based on 4 travellers sharing premium accommodation in low season. Solo, couple, family and full 5-star luxury pricing quoted on request within 24 hours.
What makes this different from the 7 day Morocco tour?
This route swaps the Sahara desert for the Atlantic coast — Essaouira, Safi, Oualidia and El Jadida — and adds the Ouzoud waterfalls. It's the perfect choice for travellers who want the imperial cities and coast without a long inland desert drive.
Is this the luxury option?
Yes — this tour is built around premium and 5-star accommodation in each city. If you'd rather stay mid-range and save, we can price both options in your quote.
When is the best time to travel?
March–May and September–November are ideal — warm days, cool nights, mild along the Atlantic, comfortable in the imperial cities. Summer is beautiful on the coast (breezy and cool) but hot inland in Marrakech and Fes.
Can we customise the itinerary?
Absolutely. This route is a starting point, not a contract. Add a night in Chefchaouen, swap Ouzoud for a Sahara detour, upgrade to boutique riads, add a cooking class in Fes — just tell us what you'd love.
How do we book — and how much is the deposit?
Message us on WhatsApp or fill the quick form on this page. We reply within 24 hours with your full itinerary and price. Once you're happy, a 30% deposit secures your dates. The balance is paid on arrival in cash or card.
Other ways to see Morocco
If you'd rather visit the Sahara desert instead of the Atlantic coast, our 7 Day Morocco Tour: Imperial Cities to Sahara covers the same imperial cities plus a night in a Merzouga desert camp. If you want both — imperial cities, desert and coast — see our 10 Day Morocco Tour: Berber Trails. Same private team, same standards.
Ready to book your 9 day Morocco tour?
Tell us your dates and what you'd love to see. We reply within 24 hours — free, no obligation, no pressure.
