7-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Sahara Desert & Riads

Casablanca to Marrakech in seven days: cities, canyons and a night under desert stars

A 7-day private tour from Casablanca to Marrakech with an English-speaking guide and private 4x4 transport, visiting Fes, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and the Sahara. Includes hotel and riad stays, camel riding into the dunes, a night in a luxury desert camp, entrance fees and all transport. Meals are on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Casablanca city tour

• Pick up from airport or accommodation
• Visit Hassan II Mosque
• Lunch break
• Explore Casablanca Corniche
• Overnight at hotel

Day 2: Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

• Breakfast
• Travel to Rabat
• Visit Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
• Visit Kasbah of the Udayas
• Lunch break
• Drive through Rif Mountains and Ouazzane
• Arrive in Chefchaouen
• Overnight at local hotel

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

• Free time in Chefchaouen
• Depart for Volubilis ruins
• Visit Volubilis Roman ruins
• Continue to Meknes
• Visit Bab Al-Mansour and Royal Stables
• Visit Sahrij Souani and Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
• Travel to Fes
• Overnight at traditional riad

Day 4: Guided tour of Fes city

• Visit Royal Palace gates
• Visit ceramic village and school
• Explore Fes Medina
• Visit Blue Gate and Bou Inania Madrasa
• See Najjarine Fountain and tanneries
• Visit University of Al Quaraouiyine
• Explore Mellah Jewish Quarter
• Panoramic city view
• Return to riad

Day 5: Fes to Merzouga Desert via scenic stops

• Breakfast
• Visit Ifrane town
• Visit Azrou Cedar Forest
• Lunch in Midelt
• Drive through Ziz Valley and Tizi n’Talghamt pass
• Arrive Merzouga
• Camel ride into Sahara dunes
• Sunset on dune
• Dinner and Berber music at desert camp
• Overnight in luxury desert camp

Day 6: Merzouga to Dades Valley via gorges

• Sunrise in desert
• Breakfast
• Camel ride back to Merzouga
• Visit Rissani market town
• Visit fossil workshop in Erfoud
• Drive through Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves
• Visit Todra Gorges
• Free time to walk in canyon
• Lunch
• See monkey fingers rock formations
• Arrive Dades Valley hotel
• Dinner and overnight

Day 7: Dades Valley to Marrakech via historic sites

• Breakfast
• Drive through Rose Valley
• Visit Skoura palm groves
• Visit Ouarzazate film studios
• Explore Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Travel High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka Pass
• Photo stops and lunch
• Arrive Marrakech
• Drop off at accommodation or airport

The experience

The route starts in Casablanca with the Hassan II Mosque, perched on the Atlantic coast, then moves north along the coast to Rabat before climbing into the Rif Mountains to reach Chefchaouen, the blue-washed city where you have free time to walk the narrow streets. From there the tour heads inland to Volubilis, a Roman site with mosaics and preserved ruins, then to Meknes and Fes, where a local guide takes you through the UNESCO-listed Medina, the ceramic village, the historic tanneries and the University of Al Quaraouiyine: the oldest existing university in the world.

The second half turns south toward the Sahara. You pass through Ifrane, known for its alpine architecture, and the cedar forest of Azrou before reaching Merzouga at the edge of the dunes. Here you switch to camels and ride into the golden sands for sunset, then spend the night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms and traditional Berber music. The next morning brings an early sunrise ride and a visit to Rissani's market and a fossil workshop in Erfoud, followed by the towering cliffs of Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley, where you stop to see the distinctive "monkey fingers" rock formations.

The final leg crosses the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, passing through the Rose Valley and the palm groves of Skoura, with a stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed kasbah featured in films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Transport is a private 4x4 or air-conditioned minivan with your driver throughout. You stay in riads and hotels chosen for comfort, and sand boards are available at the desert camp if you want them instead of a camel ride.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 or air-conditioned minivan with driver for all seven days and fuel.
• English-speaking guide and a local guide in Fes.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• seven nights in riads and hotels plus one night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms.
• camel ride into the Sahara or 4x4 transfer as an alternative.
• sand boards available at the camp.
• airport or accommodation pickup in Casablanca.

Options for this experience

2 options

Seven-day Morocco tour from Casablanca to MarrakechUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French · No fixed time

Private tour for 2 to 3 travelersUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French · No fixed timePrivate tour for 2 to 3 travelers, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Moroccan Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you prefer a private vehicle and guide for the entire week, with a set itinerary covering cities, desert, and gorges rather than building your own route.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What is the Hassan II Mosque and why is it on the first day?

The Hassan II Mosque is Morocco's largest mosque, built on the Atlantic coast in Casablanca. It's the opening stop because it's one of the country's most recognizable landmarks and sets the tone for the week's mix of architecture, culture and landscape.

Do I ride a camel into the Sahara, or can I skip it?

Camel riding is the main way into the dunes for sunset and the desert camp night, but a 4x4 transfer is available as an alternative if you prefer not to ride.

Where do I sleep during the seven days?

You stay in riads and hotels in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes and the Dades Valley, plus one night in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga with private bathrooms and views of the dunes.

What happens on the day I arrive in Merzouga?

You travel through the scenic Ziz Valley and the Tizi n'Talghamt mountain pass, arriving in Merzouga in the late afternoon. You then switch to camels, ride into the dunes to watch the sunset, and continue to the desert camp for dinner and an overnight stay under the stars.