STAY

Fly direct from New York to Casablanca and transfer by car or high-speed train to Tangier. Alternately, land in Tangier via a connecting flight in Europe. Just 20 miles from Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier blends European and Moroccan cultures. Check into Villa Mabrouka, an intimate 12-room hideaway in the former home of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. The hotel is a completely private sanctuary with two pools and a small spa just steps from the kasbah.

DINE

Villa Mabrouka houses the best restaurant in the city. Decadent breakfasts and lunches are served on the veranda, and evenings in the mirror-paneled dining room are unparalleled. The menu keeps to classic French and Italian dishes, plus a few Moroccan staples such as a salad of smoked eggplant and tomato and a variety of tagines.

EXPLORE

The gritty yet fashionable Mediterranean city is home to a historic kasbah, a medina filled with shops and cafés, a dynamic contemporary art scene and the fascinating American Legation Museum, the former location of the first U.S. Embassy in Morocco. Tangier’s art scene is thriving. Your guide can arrange visits to Fondation pour la Photographie, set in a modernist villa, and creative new galleries and art spaces, including Kiosk, a shop selling affordable prints. Villa Harris, in a stunning Moorish villa outside of town, features modern and contemporary paintings by Moroccan artists.

STAY

In Rabat, the underrated capital of Morocco, check into the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr al Bahr, set in a former sultan’s summer palace. The 200-room resort deftly combines contemporary design with ancient Moorish heritage. The lobby resembles the courtyard of a modern riad, with palm trees and comfortable seating areas under a glass ceiling.

DINE

Enjoy updated French classics at the hotel’s fashionable Brasserie Marie, or dine on lobster tagine and a perfectly spiced trio of Moroccan salads at Flamme, the casual all-day restaurant.

EXPLORE

Rabat has much to offer visitors. Start a full-day tour with a visit to the ruins at Chellah, first settled by Phoenicians in the third century B.C. Next, you’ll see the Kasbah des Oudayas, home to the delightful Andalusian Gardens and the fascinating National Museum of Jewelry. Your guide can arrange stops at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Museum of History and Civilizations, and the National Photography Museum.

STAY

Fly from Rabat to Errachidia, where you’ll transfer to Merzouga, two hours away. A ride atop a camel will take you into the Sahara to Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp. Tents are equipped with wood floors, king beds and running water. Alternatively, Dar Ahlam’s private desert Dune Camp has a single tent that’s ideal for couples (two hours from the main hotel).

DINE

Both camps serve all meals in the rustic tents. You can expect lentil soup with hominy, vegetarian pastas or vegetable and beef tagines served at low candlelit tables. After dinner, wander outside to marvel at the Milky Way without light pollution.

EXPLORE

The scenery is never less than mesmerizing. Even in cloudy conditions, the desert sunsets take your breath away. Spend a full day “dune bashing” in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, exploring the dreamy landscape. Your tour will take you to ruined desert castles and overlooks where the dunes stretch to the Algerian border and beyond.

STAY

Depart the desert for Skoura. Now a small town, this palm-filled section of the Dadès Valley was a major ancient caravan crossroads, as evidenced by the numerous crumbling kasbah towers rising above the treetops. Check into Dar Ahlam, an impressively restored rammed-earth kasbah amid well-maintained Mediterranean gardens. Dar Ahlam’s intoxicatingly mysterious atmosphere and high level of service make it worth the splurge.

DINE

Food and house beverages are included in the nightly rate. Each meal feels like a special occasion and may be set up in different parts of the property, including the library or the garden. Dishes may include chicken-filled warqa (a phyllo-like dough) pockets, lamb couscous or a salad of orange and carrot topped with cardamom ice cream.

EXPLORE

Take two days to enjoy Dar Ahlam and Skoura, exploring olive and palm groves dotted with abandoned kasbahs. The staff can arrange picnics in scenic settings in a romantic tent. Back at Dar Ahlam, take time to relax by the inviting garden pool.

EN ROUTE

Between Skoura and the Atlas Mountains, take in the jaw-dropping scenery. Make a short detour to Ait-Ben-Haddou, a magnificent ksar built on the side of a dramatic mesa. It’s touristy, but it’s so beautiful that it still merits a visit. The views from inside are splendid, but even if you see this ksar only from afar, it’s worth the detour.

STAY

Kasbah Tamadot, a castlelike Mediterranean villa, has awe-inspiring views of the Atlas Mountains, a glamorous infinity pool fringed by cypresses and a fine restaurant. Many of the lodgings, including the new three-bedroom units, have mountain-view patios, antique woodwork, handpainted ceilings and contemporary Moroccan art.

DINE

Enjoy dinner at Asayss Restaurant, a pretty space with fireplaces and comfortable seating. Dishes may include langoustine ravioli in a lemongrass-and-ginger broth or lamb tagine with prunes, confit apricots and roasted sesame seeds.

EXPLORE

Take a full day to enjoy Kasbah Tamadot. The guided hikes can be a bit steep, but you’re rewarded with panoramic views and access to untouristed Berber villages. When you return, the pool and spa await, as do well-maintained mountain-view tennis courts.

STAY

It’s an hour-long drive from the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Check into the palatial Royal Mansour, which ranks among our favorite hotels anywhere in the world. It stands a 10- to 15-minute walk from the center, and this property, the beneficiary of the king of Morocco’s essentially unlimited budget, is reason alone to come to Marrakech.

DINE

While Royal Mansour’s casual restaurants are excellent, be sure to have one dinner at La Grande Table Marocaine, a fine-dining Moroccan restaurant that’s one of the best in the country.

EXPLORE

Split your time between guided visits to Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said Museum and Dar el Bacha palace and exploring the medina on your own. Wander the souks; visit other museums, like the Orientalist Museum and the Maison de la Photographie; take a cooking class; and head into the Guéliz neighborhood to visit Musée MACMA and shop. Make time to relax at the hotel’s extravagant spa and arrange for a hammam treatment. This traditional exfoliation and massage ritual is an ideal way to prepare for a long flight home.