9 Nights / 10 Days
A journey across Morocco can lead to some truly incredible things. We’re talking about ancient citadels straight from an epic adventure film. Indigenous tribes that welcome you into their homes and reveal rituals as old as time. And even luxury camps where you can spend the night amid the golden dunes of the Sahara.
Yet what you may not expect to find is a valley filled with millions of pink roses, their fragrance drifting through surrounding palm groves and kasbahs as the High Atlas Mountains frame their bloom.
That is what awaits your travelers on this seasonal pilgrimage from Morocco by Travelive. Centered around the Festival of Roses in Kelaat M’Gouna, this itinerary sees Morocco’s spectacular landscapes and imperial cities burst with even more color, culture, and tradition than before, revealing Morocco as it blossoms like a Damascus Rose.
- 3 Nights in Marrakech
- 1 Night in Ouarzazate
- 1 Night in Erfoud
- 1 Night in Merzouga (Luxury Desert Camp)
- 2 Nights in Fes
- 1 Night in Rabat
Festival Dates: Early to mid-May
Prologue — The Story of the Damascus Rose
Before your journey begins, you must travel back a few centuries to when the Damascus Rose first graced the plains of Morocco. According to lore, it was brought by pilgrims coming home from the Orient, who were so enchanted by its scent that they couldn’t bear parting with it upon return.
Wishing to carry its fragrance on future pilgrimages, they planted its seeds in the valleys of Mgoun and Dadès, whose cool mountain nights, fresh river water, and sun-warmed earth helped it flourish as the symbol of devotion, resilience, and renewal that it is today. And each spring, when it turns the valley into a sea of pink, Morocco itself seems to bloom anew, perfumed by memory and tradition.
Day 1 | Arrival in Marrakech — Growing Anticipation
Now that you’ve traced its origins, it’s time to discover the Damascus Rose on a journey of your own. Start in Marrakech, where warm desert light bathes terracotta rooftops beneath distant Atlas peaks. Upon settling in, ease into the rhythm of the Red City at your own pace, perhaps with a quiet stroll through the medina, or a sip of mint tea on a rooftop terrace. And as the call to prayer drifts through the evening air, you’ll come to realize that your Moroccan adventure is about to unfurl.
Day 2 | Marrakech in Full Bloom
Today, Marrakech unfolds like the first petals of the season: boldly, fragrantly, and most of all, vividly. Wander through the ornate courtyards of Bahia Palace, admire the soaring silhouette of the Koutoubia Mosque, and lose yourself among artisan-filled souks where pigments, lanterns, and spices create a kaleidoscope of scent and color. By evening, step into Jemaa el-Fna, and see storytellers, musicians, and food stalls transform the square into a living stage. Vibrant and theatrical, Marrakech blooms as a fitting prelude to the journey that lies ahead.
Day 3 | A Sense of Taste & Tradition
Even without a Damascus Rose at its heart, a true Moroccan adventure is nothing if not sensory. And what could be more so than a hands-on culinary experience in the kitchens of La Maison Arabe, where saffron, cinnamon, orange blossom, and fresh herbs perfume the air. Follow a professional Moroccan chef as you journey through a kingdom of flavor, letting taste and tradition be your guides, before savoring both in a warm, intimate setting. The afternoon then unfolds at leisure, perhaps with a hammam ritual or quiet exploration of hidden riads, allowing Marrakech to further delight the senses.
Day 4 | Across the Atlas to Ouarzazate
Marrakech may have planted the seeds, but it’s time to see Morocco blossom beyond its walls. Today, you cross the High Atlas via the dramatic Tizi n’Tichka Pass, where peaks rise like silent sentinels above terraced valleys. Pause at the earthen ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, its sunbaked towers sculpted from clay and centuries of caravan lore. From there, you’ll sense the landscape begin to soften as you approach Ouarzazate, where you will settle in and unlock Morocco’s iconic “gateway to the desert.”
The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also one of Morocco’s most iconic filming locations. Its dramatic earthen architecture has served as the backdrop for numerous international productions, from epic historical dramas to globally renowned fantasy series, earning Ouarzazate its nickname: “The Hollywood of Morocco.”
Day 5 | In the Valley of Roses
Today, Morocco blossoms before your eyes. Journey through the Valley of Roses toward Kelaat M’Gouna, where each spring the air turns sweet and the hills blush pink beneath the High Atlas. Witness the Festival of Roses transform this quaint Moroccan town into a vibrant celebration of scent and tradition as parades shower petals into the breeze, Amazigh music pulses through the streets, and artisans present rosewater, oils, and perfumes distilled from the prized damask bloom. Filled with celebration, continue onward through the dramatic Todra Gorge before arriving in Erfoud, the fragrance of the valley still lingering.
What to Expect at the Festival of Roses
For a few extraordinary days each May, Kelaat M’Gouna turns into a fragrant open-air stage of music, color, and tradition. Local Amazigh tribes (including the Aït Atta and Aït Sedrate) gather to celebrate the rose harvest with rhythmic dances, vibrant parades, and showers of fresh petals drifting through the streets. Markets overflow with rosewater, oils, perfumes, and handmade cosmetics, while the crowning of the Rose Queen honors beauty, heritage, and community spirit. It is not merely a festival, but a celebration of an icon that brings together memory, faith, and identity.
Day 6 | Erfoud to Merzouga — Into the Sahara
With the scent of roses still fresh in your memory, journey onward toward Merzouga, where Morocco unfolds across waves of golden dunes stretching endlessly beneath an open sky. There, come sunset, a camelback ride will carry you off across a sea of shimmering sand toward a luxury desert camp beneath a canopy of stars. Upon arriving, settle in, grab a seat by the fire, and let the vastness of the desert reveal Morocco at its most unbridled and breathtaking.
Day 7 | Enlightenment in Fes
Rise early to witness the desert awaken in hues of gold and amber before departing northward through the Middle Atlas. Feel your senses trying to keep up as you watch dunes give way to cedar forests, alpine air, and the unexpected charm of Ifrane, before passing through Midelt’s mountain plains and onward to Fes. If Marrakech bloomed boldly and the Sahara breathed deeply, Fes dives into scholarship, devotion, and centuries of living tradition. It is here that you will check into Morocco’s spiritual and cultural heart.
Day 8 | The Hidden Sides of Fes
Morocco is a country of many layers, and a lot of them can be peeled back in Fes. Start by wandering through quieter quarters of the medina, where artisans hammer brass, dye leather, and carve cedar as they have for generations. Step inside serene madrasas and hidden courtyards where mind, faith, and devotion intertwine. But above all, let Fes guide you not only through its streets, but toward something deeper. For this is a city that reveals itself through subtle, deliberate footprints shaped by scholarship, spirit, and the enduring gift of creativity.
Day 9 | Rabat — Imperial Elegance
It is time to pay a royal visit to Rabat, Morocco’s refined capital. Here, resting along the Atlantic, imperial heritage feels measured and serene. Upon arrival, visit the Hassan Tower and the stately Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then wander through the white-and-blue Kasbah of the Udayas, where ocean breezes drift through Andalusian gardens. Compared to Marrakech’s theatrical flair and Fes’s scholarly depth, Rabat offers composure, a final, graceful petal in a journey that has seen Morocco bloom in every shade.
Day 10 | Departure — A Fragrance That Lingers
It’s time for your budding adventure to come to a close. As you transfer to Casablanca for your departure flight from Mohammed V International Airport, carry with you the scent of roses drifting through mountain valleys, the hush of desert dawns, and the echo of prayer across ancient medinas. Because like the Damascus Rose itself, this fragrant journey was a reminder that Morocco leaves memories blooming long after the petals have fallen.