Welcome to Morocco, Day One! Once you arrive at Casablanca airport, you can transfer to Asilah, a charming seaside city. The murals that can be found around every corner and the street vendors selling their wares are all examples of the abundance of art in this tiny walled city. Every year, the walls are freshly whitewashed to make room for a new crop of murals, so there is always new art to discover. Visit one of the many artist studios in the medina if you want to take some with you, then try the catch of the day at the nearby seafood stands. Even young children exhibit their work for everyone to see. If you want to see the Atlantic Ocean’s sunset, go to the ramparts in the evening.

Travel to Chefchaouen, Morocco’s “Blue Pearl.” You can make a pit stop en route to see the Hercules Caves in the vicinity of Tangier. According to myth, Hercules rested in these caves before beginning his eleventh labor, which involved the golden apples of the Hesperides. Circular cuts can be attributed to millstone mining, which has been going on since the Phoenicians’ time. After spending some time here, you’ll travel further inland to Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains. In this frequently photographed blue city, locate a tranquil oasis. It’s a quiet place to observe the specifics of its Andalusian-Arab influences despite its popularity. Visit the 17th-century kasbah and its gardens, meander through the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Medina, and stop to admire the Tarik-Ben-Ziad Mosque and its intricately carved octagonal minaret.

The largest old town in the world is in Fes, so take a trip there from Chefchaouen on Day 3 before embarking on a local expert-led tour of the city. Starting at the Royal Palace, you’ll proceed through the historic Jewish District and up to one of the Borj towers for sweeping views of the medina. You will then proceed to a mosaic house where you will witness a demonstration of the traditional pottery techniques used by Fassi artisans. You will witness each process step, from the clay creation to the mosaic assembly. Following the demonstration, the tour will take you into Fes’s Medina, where you can explore the historic streets and neighborhoods, stop by the various artisan neighborhoods (including the tanneries), and view significant historical landmarks like Idriss II’s Tomb and the Al-Qarawaiyin University, the world’s oldest continuously operating university. After your tour, you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon and evening free to explore the medina. If you get lost, don’t worry; it’s all part of the experience.

Depart for the desert from Fes. Along the way, you will pass through the largest cedar forest in Africa, which is also home to the entertaining Barbary apes (also known as Atlas Monkeys). To get to Midelt, which is on the high plains between the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, you will cross the Middle Atlas Mountains. Here, you will stop for lunch. Continue through the Ziz River Gorge to the expansive dunes of Erg Chebbi in the High Atlas Mountains. Before you meet your camels and trek into the dunes to your luxurious camp for the night, take some time to explore the area around the dunes. (If camels aren’t your thing, choose a 4×4 instead.) Once there, you can ascend the closest dune to observe the setting sun and the formation of the stars. Enjoy a traditional meal, music into the night, and stargazing.

Rise early to catch the sunrise over the dunes before mounting your camel and riding back to its edge. The time has come to travel to the Dades Gorge from there. You’ll make stops along the way to see the historic irrigation system that once brought water to the desert from the far-off Saghro Mountains and the oasis town of Tinghir, where you can take a guided tour of the primary and the historic Jewish quarter. Before arriving at the Dades Valley, visit the nearby Todra Gorge and walk through its most stunning section

To get to Ouarzazate, also referred to as the Hollywood of Morocco, take the Road of 1000 Kasbahs. You’ll travel through Ouarzazate and on to At Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore this magnificent ksar before ascending the Tizi n’Tichka path to cross the High Atlas Mountains at almost 7,500 feet (2,286 m) above sea level. Before reaching Marrakech, there will be numerous stops for tea and photos as you take in the breathtaking vistas. The vibrant oasis city of Marrakech offers a maze of old town bazaars filled with Moorish riads, palm trees, and woven carpets that smell of spices and oriental lamps. Make your way through the medina’s narrow, winding alleyways, which are characterized by stairs and vaults. Here, woven carpets, ceramics, parchment lamps, and enormous spice stalls in all colors are stored on the roof.

After breakfast, meet your local private guide, who will show you around Marrakech’s old city. You will encounter bustling souks and confusing alleys as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Displays of djellabas, colorful babouches, intricately pierced lanterns, conical mounds of exotic spices, and the intense commotion of medina life are sure to mesmerize you. Your enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide will enlighten you on the background and legends of the Red City’s medina, souk, and Mellah neighborhoods. You will continue your private tour in the late afternoon by visiting sites like the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia and El Badii Palaces, and the Koutoubia Mosque.