11-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca to Marrakesh via Desert

Medieval medinas, desert dunes, and a night under Saharan stars

This 11-day private tour runs from Casablanca to Marrakesh, threading through Morocco's four imperial cities, mountain towns, and the Sahara Desert with a local guide. You'll navigate the maze-like medinas of Fes and Marrakesh on foot, spend a night in a nomad tent by the dunes of Erg Chebbi after a camel trek, and pass through the blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen and the Roman ruins of Volubilis. The route also covers the Dades and Todra gorges, the UNESCO site of Aït Benhaddou, and a day trip to the Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Morning in Casablanca, afternoon in Rabat

• Tour Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
• Travel to Rabat
• Explore Chellah Necropolis ruins
• Visit Kasbah des Oudaias
• Walk Andalusian Gardens
• See Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V

Day 2: The Blue City of Chefchaouen

• Travel north to Chefchaouen
• Explore Chefchaouen medina streets
• Visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam
• Tour Grand Mosque and kasbah
• Ascend to Spanish Mosque for sunset view

Day 3: Roman ruins and imperial cities

• Visit Volubilis Roman ruins
• Explore Meknes monuments and Bab Al Mansour gate
• Drive to Fes
• Visit Merenid Tombs viewpoint
• Check into riad in Fes medina

Day 4: Exploring Fes medina and culture

• Meet guide in Fes
• Walk Bab Boujeloud gate and Talâa Kebira street
• Visit Chouara Tannery
• See Al Attarine Madrasa
• Explore Mellah Jewish quarter
• Optional visit Ville Nouvelle

Day 5: Middle Atlas to Sahara Desert

• Travel through Middle Atlas Mountains
• Stop for lunch in Midelt
• Drive past Oued Ziz and Kasbahs
• Arrive in Merzouga
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 6: Sahara Desert Expedition

• Visit fossils center and Rissani city
• Explore Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim
• Visit Khamlia village for Gnaoua music
• Camel trek at sunset to desert camp
• Overnight in desert tent with Berber music

Day 7: Desert gorges and oases journey

• Sunrise over Erg Chebbi dunes
• Return to Merzouga
• Travel to Alnif and Jbel Saghro
• Walk Todra Gorges
• Drive through Dades Gorge and Tamnalt Hills
• Overnight in Dades Gorge riad

Day 8: Kasbahs and High Atlas to Marrakech

• Drive Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
• Visit Kela'a M'gouna rose farms
• Tour Ouarzazate film studios
• Explore Aït Benhaddou kasbah
• Ascend Tizi n'Tichka Pass
• Arrive in Marrakech and settle in
• Evening at Jemaa el-Fna square

Day 9: Exploring Marrakech medina and sites

• Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens
• Explore Marrakech souks
• Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa
• Tour Saadian Tombs
• See El Badi Palace gardens
• Explore mellah and Bahia Palace

Day 10: Day trip to Essaouira on Atlantic Coast

• Travel to Essaouira
• Explore old Portuguese city and fortifications
• Visit artisan shops and cedar inlay works
• Return to Marrakech in late afternoon

Day 11: Marrakech and airport transfer

• Optional visit Dar Di Said Museum
• Transfer to airport

The experience

You arrive in Casablanca and begin with the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims, its 210-meter minaret rising from the ocean's edge. From there the route moves north to Rabat, the capital, where you explore the Chellah Necropolis and the Hassan Tower before heading into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. The town's blue-hued medina has remained largely unchanged since the 15th century. You'll wander its narrow hillside streets, visit the kasbah and its museum, and climb to the abandoned Spanish Mosque for sunset views over the mountains.

The journey south takes you through Volubilis, a UNESCO-listed Roman archaeological site, then into the imperial cities of Meknes and Fes. In Fes, a guide leads you through the old medina's two quarters (Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid) past the Chouara Tannery with its centuries-old dye pots, the 14th-century Al Attarine Madrasa, and the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter. You cross the Middle Atlas Mountains through cedar forests and Berber villages, descending toward the Sahara with a lunch stop in Midelt, known for fossils. By afternoon you reach Merzouga at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.

The desert days include visits to the fossil center and the ancient city of Rissani, where you can hear Gnaoua music in Khamlia village, then a camel trek across the dunes at sunset to a nomad camp where you sleep in a tent under the stars. The next morning you catch the sunrise before heading west through the Todra Gorges (600 feet high) and the dramatic rock formations of the Dades Gorge. The route then crosses the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, passes through the rose-farming region around Kela'a M'gouna, and reaches the film-industry hub of Ouarzazate before arriving at Aït Benhaddou, an 11th-century kasbah settlement on the trans-Saharan trade route. You climb to the granary for views across the surrounding landscape, then ascend the High Atlas at the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 meters), where Mount Toubkal appears on the horizon.

Marrakesh, the final imperial city, comes alive in the evening at Jemaa el-Fna square with musicians, performers, and food stalls. A full day explores the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, the labyrinth of souks selling spices and traditional slippers, the Ben Youssef Madrasa with its carved cedar ceilings and zellij tilework, and the Saadian Tombs. A separate day trip takes you to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, a former Portuguese fortress with a mild microclimate and a beach protected by offshore islands. You return to Marrakesh in the late afternoon. The tour ends with a transfer to the airport on the final morning.

What’s included

• Accommodation in authentic riads in the old medinas of Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, and Marrakesh, plus one night in a hotel at the foothills of the Erg Chebbi dunes and one night in a tent in the desert camp.
• a local guide throughout the tour.
• camel trek in the Sahara with overnight in the nomad bivouac.
• visits to Volubilis, the Chouara Tannery, the Merenid Tombs, the Todra and Dades gorges, Aït Benhaddou, and Essaouira.
• meals at the riads and camps.
• transport by private vehicle throughout the route.

Options for this experience

2 options

11 Days, starting from MarrakeshGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeOvernight stays in authentic riads, a camel ride, and a private tour lasting 11 days, with breakfast included, running from Marrakesh to Casablanca. Private air-conditioned vehicle: a private A/C 4WD or van for the whole tour, with fuel included, driven by an experienced driver. Pickup is included.

11 Days, starting from CasablancaGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeOvernight stays in authentic riads, a camel ride and a luxury camp, in a private tour lasting 11 days, with breakfast included, running from Casablanca to Marrakech via Fes. Private air-conditioned vehicle: a private A/C 4WD or van throughout the tour, with fuel included, driven by an experienced driver. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Senior (91 and older) · Youth (5 to 10 years) · Child (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Morocco Getaways

Is this one for you?Choose the Casablanca start if you want to move through the imperial cities and mountains before reaching the desert. Choose the Marrakesh start if you prefer to begin with the Sahara and work back toward the coast. Either direction covers the same 11 days and sites. The difference is the sequence and which city you arrive in first.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 10 years); Child (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I start this tour from Marrakesh instead of Casablanca?

Yes. The tour is offered in two directions: starting from Casablanca and ending in Marrakesh, or starting from Marrakesh and ending in Casablanca. You choose which at checkout.

What is the Chouara Tannery in Fes, and what will I see there?

The Chouara Tannery is a centuries-old leather workshop in the Fes medina where artisans still use traditional dyeing techniques. You'll see the many stone pots filled with dyes and watch the men at work treating and coloring hides by hand.

What happens during the desert overnight near Merzouga?

You ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep in a nomad tent at a camp by the sand. The night includes Berber music and views of the stars. You wake early the next morning to catch the sunrise over the dunes before heading back.

Does the tour include entrance fees to monuments and museums?

No. Entrance fees to monuments, studios, and kasbahs are not included and are paid separately. Flights to and from Morocco and personal travel insurance are also not included.

How much walking is involved in the medinas of Fes and Marrakesh?

Both medinas are navigated on foot through narrow, winding streets. In Fes, a guide leads a half-day walk through the old quarters. In Marrakesh, you explore the medina and souks at your own pace over a full day. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.

Is there time to relax in Chefchaouen, or is it a quick stop?

You have a full day in Chefchaouen to unwind. The itinerary includes time to explore the narrow streets and alleyways, visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam and the kasbah, browse shops, and climb to the abandoned Spanish Mosque for sunset: a 20 to 30 minute walk.