8-Day Morocco Tour: Chefchaouen, Fes, Desert, Marrakech

You ride camels across golden dunes and sleep in a Berber tent under stars.

This is an 8-day private tour of Morocco departing from Casablanca, visiting Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara Desert near Merzouga, Aït Ben Haddou, and Marrakech with a private driver, hotel pickups and a customizable itinerary. You pass through the blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen, walk the tanneries and medina of Fes, ride camels at sunset and overnight in a Berber camp, cross the Atlas Mountains, and explore Marrakech's mosques, palaces and gardens over a full day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

• Pick up from Casablanca hotel
• Visit Hassan Tower and Kasbah of the Udayas
• Lunch in Rabat
• Drive to Chefchaouen
• Drop off at accommodation

Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

• Depart Chefchaouen in morning
• Visit Volubilis ruins
• Visit Meknes mosque and mausoleum
• Lunch in Meknes
• Drive to Fes
• Overnight at accommodation

Day 3: Full day sightseeing in Fes Medina

• Visit Madrasa Bou Anania
• Explore Tanneries
• Visit La Medersa Attarine and Nejjarine fountain
• See mosques El Karaouyine and Baba Jloud
• Return to accommodation

Day 4: Fes to Merzouga desert adventure

• Drive from Fes to Ifran
• Photo stop in Ifran
• Visit Azro monkeys
• Lunch in Medilt or on road
• Arrive Merzouga
• Camel ride at sunset
• Dinner and overnight in Berber tent

Day 5: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorges

• Sunrise camel ride and return to hotel
• Breakfast
• Drive to Ouarzazate via Erfoud and Jorf
• Visit Todra Gorges
• Lunch on road or in Tingher
• Pass Dades and Roses valleys
• Visit Kasbah Taourirt
• Overnight at accommodation

Day 6: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Breakfast
• Visit Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou
• Drive across High Atlas to Marrakech
• Lunch on the road
• Drop off at accommodation

Day 7: Full day sightseeing in Marrakech

• Visit Koutoubia Mosque
• Visit El Bahia Palace
• See Saadian Tombs
• Visit Menara Gardens
• Explore Djemaa el Fna
• Visit Yves Saint Laurent Museum
• Shopping time
• Return to accommodation

Day 8: Marrakech to Casablanca departure

• Breakfast
• Drive to Casablanca
• Drop off at Casablanca airport

The experience

The tour leaves Casablanca at 9am on day one and heads north through Rabat, stopping at Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas before reaching Chefchaouen by evening. Day two moves east through Volubilis (a partly excavated Berber and Roman city), and Meknes, where you see the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and Bab al-Mansour gate, then arrives in Fes. A full day in Fes covers the UNESCO-listed medina: the 14th-century Madrasa Bou Anania, the tanneries on the Oued Fes riverbank, La Mederssa Attarine, the Nejjarine fountain, and the mosques of El Karaouyine and Baba Jloud.

Day four turns south toward the desert. The drive passes Ifran, known as the Switzerland of Morocco for its mountain scenery, then continues through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. On arrival you ride camels across the dunes to watch the sunset, then sleep in a Berber tent under the open sky with dinner included. The next morning you climb the dunes by camel again to catch sunrise, return for breakfast and a shower, then drive south through the Toudra Gorges and across the Dades Valley and Roses Valley to Ouarzazate, stopping at Kasbah Taourirt. Day six takes you to Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah, before crossing the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.

Your final full day in Marrakech covers the red city's main sites: the Koutoubia Mosque, El Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, Menara Gardens, Djemaa el-Fna square, and the Yves Saint Laurent garden, with time for shopping in the souks. On day eight the driver takes you back to Casablanca, dropping you at the airport. Throughout the tour you stay in riads and hotels chosen by the operator, and a private driver handles all transport. The itinerary can be customized to your interests, and guides speak English, French or Arabic.

What’s included

• Your package includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Casablanca and all other cities.
• private transportation with a driver throughout the eight days.
• accommodation in riads and hotels each night.
• a guide who speaks English, French or Arabic.
• and dinner in the Berber tent on the night you spend in Merzouga.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Starry Morocco Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private driver and customizable stops through the north and desert. Choose it over the group version if you prefer to set your own pace and skip what doesn't interest you.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (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.

What is the Fes medina like, and how much time do you spend there?

The Fes medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site enclosed by unbroken ramparts and gates, and you spend a full day exploring it. You visit the 14th-century Madrasa Bou Anania, walk the tanneries on the Oued Fes riverbank (noted as one of the most picturesque souks despite the strong smell), see La Mederssa Attarine, the Nejjarine fountain, and the mosques of El Karaouyine and Baba Jloud.

Do you actually ride camels in the desert, or just see it from a vehicle?

You ride camels across the golden sands of Merzouga. On day four you ride out to watch the sunset, and on day five you ride again at dawn to see the sunrise before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

Where do you sleep in the desert?

You overnight in a Berber tent in Merzouga with dinner included, sleeping under the open sky. The next morning after sunrise you return to a hotel for a shower and breakfast before continuing the drive south.

What is Aït Ben Haddou, and how long do you spend there?

Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah (fortified village) in the Atlas foothills. You visit it on day six in the morning after leaving Ouarzazate, exploring the site before driving on to Marrakech across the High Atlas Mountains.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunches and drinks are not included in the tour. The itinerary notes lunch stops in towns along the route, so you choose where and what to eat.

Can you customize the itinerary, or is it fixed?

The itinerary can be customized to your interests. Because this is a private tour with a personal driver, you have the freedom to choose specific destinations and activities that align with what you want to see and do.