In Two Weeks

Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech

Marrakech's weather can be energy-sapping hot or surprisingly cold, depending on the time of year. Either way, give yourself time today to get used to the temperature as well as the city's general hustle and bustle. An afternoon ride on the double-decker City Sightseeing bus is a perfect, hassle-free way to get your bearings and absorb the atmosphere, passing the city's iconic sights such as the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el Fna. Later this afternoon, make your way to the incomparable cuisine and entertainment spectacle taking place on Jemaa el Fna.

Day 2: Discover the Medina

Today's the day to "enter the fray" and discover this city's heart and soul. Hire a guide for a morning walking tour, taking in one or two historical sights, a visit to a herboriste and some of the souks, and a stop along the way for a mint tea. You'll no doubt be led to a few shops along the way, so make the most of the situation by taking mental notes of each item's general price and quality, preparing yourself for a return visit should you be seriously interested in something. If you haven't already done so, be sure to head to Jemaa el Fna for the late afternoon and evening show. Perhaps treat yourself tonight with dinner at one of the city's many romantic and ambience-filled restaurants in the medina such as Café Arabe or Narwama, or Le Grand Café de la Poste in Guéliz.

Day 3: Over the High Atlas & toward the Saharan Sands

Leave the plains behind and travel up and over the mighty Western High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Stop off at the very picturesque, mud-walled kasbah at Aït ben Haddou before spending the night in Morocco's very pleasant movie capital, Ouarzazate.

Day 4: Valleys & Gorges

Enjoy the beautifully scenic drive along the Dadès Valley, also called The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Reach Tinerhir by afternoon and make your way up the Todra Valley, following the path of the Oued Todra to where it bubbles up from the earth below at the foot of the 300m-high (984-ft.) Todra Gorge. If the weather's warm, sleeping on a hotel rooftop within the gorge allows for some excellent star gazing.

Day 5: The Saharan Sands

Reach your accommodation at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes -- near the small villages of Merzouga and Hassi Labied -- by mid-afternoon. If you're up for it, board your trusty camel for a 1- to 2-hour trek into the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Sunset and sunrise on top of your own dune is an almost spiritual experience for some.

Day 6: Over the Atlas Mountains to Fes

This is a long day's journey traveling up and over both the High and Middle Atlas mountain ranges, and will take some perseverance and planning if traveling by public transport. If you're staying within the Fes el Bali medina, prearrange your accommodation and ask for clear directions to their front door, or arrange an escort to guide you.

Day 7: Ancient Fes

With more than 9,500 lanes and alleys within Fes el Bali's walls, it may be best to arrange a guide to show you the major sights for half a day, followed by some of your own exploration and shopping.

Day 8: The Rif to Chefchaouen

If you have your own transport, depart Fes early and visit the nearby sights of Meknes, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and Volubilis. Today's final destination is the Rif mountain village of Chefchaouen. Enjoy an evening of excellent people-watching on place Outa el Hammam, the village's heart.

Day 9: From Mountains to Ocean

Rise early for a short hike up to the Spanish Mosque or take a morning stroll through the luminous blue streets of Chefchaouen. Travel down the Rif mountains by afternoon, arriving in Tangier with enough time to continue on to the popular seaside village of Asilah. If you've traveled in good time, you'll be sitting on the medina's ramparts by sunset, gazing out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 10: Heading South along the Coast

A morning arrival in Rabat will give you enough time to visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the burial shrine of the current king's father and grandfather, and the adjoining Hassan Tower before continuing on to nation's "other" capital, Casablanca. Wander through the city's small medina, arriving at Rick's Café in time for early-evening aperitifs or late evening for a cocktail and some tunes from resident piano man Issam Chaaba.

Day 11: Essaouira

Visit the monumental Hassan II Mosque -- one of the world's largest and open to non-Muslims -- before setting out for the seaside town of Essaouira, a long-standing traveler's favorite. Enjoy dinner at the fresh seafood grills between the medina's main square and the port.

Day 12: Beach & Shopping

Take your time today to enjoy Essaouira's beach and medina. In between sessions of sunbathing and shopping, enjoy more fresh seafood at the basic restaurants located within the medina's fish market, or find a cozy, warm restaurant for an intimate, candle-lit meal.

Days 13 & 14: Back to Marrakech

Arrive back in Marrakech by afternoon to seek out some last-minute shopping in the medina's souks or at one of the specialist boutiques in the ville nouvelle. Splurge tonight on a romantic dinner at one of the city's fine restaurants, or be in the thick of the action on Jemaa el Fna before flying out tomorrow morning.