3-day Casablanca to Fes tour: Roman ruins and desert camp

Cross Morocco in three days: from coastal cities to Sahara dunes

A 3-day tour from Casablanca to Fes via Rabat, Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, with two nights in a traditional riad and one night in a nomadic Berber tent in Merzouga Desert. Day one covers the imperial cities and arrives in Fes by evening. Day two heads south through cedar forests and Berber villages to the Sahara, where you ride camels at sunset and sleep in the desert. Day three returns west through the Dades oasis and High Atlas to Marrakech.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca to Fes via Rabat and Meknes

• Leave Casablanca in the morning
• Visit important places in Casablanca
• Drive to Rabat, visit key sites
• Drive to Meknes and Volubilis
• Explore Roman Ruins at Volubilis
• Head to Fes
• Overnight in traditional local riad

Day 2: Fes to Merzouga Desert Adventure

• Breakfast in Fes
• Visit Berber village near cedar forest
• See Barbary apes
• Travel through Ziz valley and Berber villages
• Stop at Erfoud and Rissani
• Arrive Merzouga Desert for tea
• One-hour camel ride to desert camp
• Watch sunset behind dunes
• Enjoy Moroccan dinner and tea
• Sleep in nomadic Berber tent

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains

• Early camel ride at sunrise
• Breakfast and shower at ksabah
• Travel through Sarhro volcanic mountains
• Visit oasis of Dades palm groves
• Reach Ouarzazate
• Cross High Atlas Mountains
• Arrive in Marrakech evening/night

The experience

The route leaves Casablanca in the morning and moves east through Rabat, the capital, stopping at key sites before reaching Meknes. From there, a detour to Volubilis lets you walk the Roman ruins on their hillside before the road turns south toward the desert. You arrive in Fes by evening and stay in a traditional local riad with breakfast included.

Day two is the pivot: after breakfast in Fes, the tour heads toward Merzouga through cedar forests where Barbary apes live, then down the Ziz valley past Berber villages to the desert edge. At Merzouga, tea comes first, then a one-hour camel ride into the dunes to watch the sunset from the heart of the Sahara. Dinner and music happen in the nomadic Berber tent where you sleep, and the night sky fills with stars.

Day three starts early on camels at sunrise, returns to the camp for breakfast and a chance to shower, then takes a long southern route back west. The drive crosses the volcanic Sarhro mountains and passes through the Dades oasis with its palm groves, then climbs the High Atlas to Marrakech, arriving in the evening. A live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French travels with the group, and private air-conditioned transport covers the entire route.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• two nights' accommodation in a traditional riad in Fes and a nomadic Berber tent in Merzouga.
• bed and breakfast on days one and two.
• camel trekking in the desert.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• hotel pickup in Casablanca.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesUp to age 90

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marrakech Camel Trips - Day Trips

Is this one for you?The three-day span is long enough to reach the Sahara and spend a night in the desert, but short enough to fit into a longer Morocco trip without dominating it. If you want to see the imperial cities and the desert in one journey, this route covers both. If you need to stay based in one city, a shorter tour may suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

What are the Roman ruins at Volubilis like?

Volubilis is a hilltop site of ancient Roman remains in northern Morocco, near Meknes. The tour includes a stop to explore the ruins, which date back centuries and sit in an open landscape with views across the surrounding plains.

What happens during the camel trekking in Merzouga?

You ride camels for about one hour into the dunes at sunset, moving deeper into the Sahara to watch the sun drop behind the Great Dunes. After the ride, you return to the desert camp for a Moroccan dinner, tea and music, then sleep in a nomadic Berber tent.

Where do I stay on each night of the tour?

Night one is in a traditional local riad in Fes with bed and breakfast included. Night two is in a nomadic Berber tent at a desert camp in Merzouga. Night three is not included in the tour. You arrive in Marrakech in the evening and arrange your own accommodation.

How much driving happens each day?

Day one is a full morning and afternoon drive from Casablanca to Fes via Rabat and Meknes, with stops at important sites along the way. Day two is a shorter drive to Merzouga with village visits, then the camel ride and camp. Day three is a long drive back west through the mountains and oasis, arriving in Marrakech by evening.

Is the tour private or shared with other travelers?

The tour uses private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle for your group. A live guide in your chosen language travels with you throughout the three days.