8-Day Morocco Tour: Sahara Camel Trek & Kasbahs
Fès medina, Sahara dunes by camel, and the earthen fortress of Aït Benhaddou
This 8-day tour of Morocco starts in Casablanca and moves through Fès, the Sahara and Marrakech with a live English-speaking guide. You'll walk the medieval medina of Fès with a local guide, ride camels for roughly 80 minutes into the dunes near Merzouga for an overnight in a Berber camp, explore the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, and tour Marrakech's Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs. The itinerary mixes guided stops at major sites with free time to wander on your own.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in Casablanca
- Arrive at hotel anytime
- Meet tour leader at 6pm
- Review trip details
- Optional local dinner with group
Day 2: Casablanca to Fes via Meknes
- Drive early to Meknes
- Guided visit of Meknes Medina
- Lunch in Meknes
- Afternoon tour of Volubilis ruins
- Drive to Fes for overnight
Day 3: Exploring Fes Medina
- Breakfast at hotel
- Half-day guided Medina walking tour
- Visit ancient tannery viewpoint
- Visit Quranic school
- Free afternoon to explore
Day 4: Fes to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains
- Drive through Middle and High Atlas
- Arrive Merzouga
- Camel ride to desert camp
- Dinner under stars with Berber stories
Day 5: Sunrise camel ride and Todra Gorges
- Early camel ride to watch sunrise
- Return to Merzouga for breakfast
- Drive to Todra Gorges
- Short walk in Berber villages
Day 6: Todra to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou
- Drive along route of 1000 Kasbahs
- Visit Ouarzazate and Atlas Studios
- Guided tour of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
- Lunch at Kasbah
- Drive to Marrakech for overnight
Day 7: Marrakech city exploration
- Guided tour of Marrakech Medina
- Visit Bahia Palace
- Visit Saadian Tombs
- Free afternoon for shopping or tea
Day 8: Departure day
- Departure or book extra activities
The experience
The tour opens in Casablanca with a 6pm briefing from your guide, then heads south through rolling hills toward Fès. Day two covers Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis before you reach Fès for the night. The next day is devoted to Fès itself: a half-day guided walk through the medina with stops at the leather tanneries and a Quranic school, then free time in the afternoon to explore the artisan quarters and sample street food. The itinerary names this as one of the world's largest medieval medinas and a UNESCO site.
Day four is the longest drive: eight to nine hours through the Middle and High Atlas mountains to Merzouga. You'll meet your camels there and ride for around 80 minutes into the Sahara dunes to a Berber camp, where local guides teach drumming and tell stories around a bonfire under the stars. The next morning you rise early to watch the sunrise from camel-back, return for breakfast, then drive four hours to Todra Gorges for a short walk through Berber villages and the deepest gorge in North Africa.
Day six takes you west along the "route of 1000 Kasbahs" through Ouarzazate, where you'll see the Atlas Studios film location, then to Aït Benhaddou kasbah for a guided tour and lunch. The walls and interior here are the most intact of Morocco's remaining earthen fortresses. The site has been used for Gladiator, Babel and Game of Thrones. You'll cross the High Atlas mountains to Marrakech for the night. Your final full day in Marrakech includes a guided medina tour visiting Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and Jemaa el-Fnaa square, with a free afternoon to shop, rest over Moroccan tea, or visit Majorelle Gardens if your guide can arrange it.
What’s included
- Local guides for the medinas of Meknes, Fès and Marrakech.
- private transportation throughout.
- entry tickets to Volubilis, the Quranic school in Fès, and the music museum in Meknes.
- Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs in Marrakech.
- camel riding in Merzouga.
- accommodation in hotels and a Berber camp.
- and hotel pickup from Casablanca.
Information
Lasts 8d, runs every day at 08:00 and 09:00, from US$ 840 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated 7 days ago
Operated by Omar Adventures
Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want to cover Morocco's main highlights in a single trip and don't mind a full itinerary with long driving days. The 8-day span lets you spend meaningful time in Fès and Marrakech rather than rushing through, and the overnight in a Berber camp gives you the Sahara experience without adding extra days to the journey.
Traveler reviews
More experiences you might like
- 593 reviews
- 4.89★
- Duration
- 6h–8h
- start times · Every day
- 13
- 51 reviews
- 4.63★
- Duration
- 2h
- start times · Every day
- 2
Top questions
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 Medina of Fès like when you walk through it?
The Medina of Fès is one of the world's largest medieval medinas and a UNESCO site. Your local guide leads a half-day walk through its winding alleys, stopping at the leather tanneries where you view the dye pits from above, and at a Quranic school in the old medina. You'll see artisan quarters and sample treats from street carts. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.
How long is the camel ride in Merzouga and what happens after?
The camel ride from Merzouga into the Sahara dunes lasts around 80 minutes. You'll arrive at a Berber camp where local guides teach drumming and share stories in the evening. Dinner is served under the stars, and you stay overnight at the camp. The next morning you ride camels again to watch the sunrise before returning for breakfast.
What is Aït Benhaddou kasbah and why visit it?
Aït Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah: an earthen fortress with the most intact walls and interior of any remaining in Morocco. It has been used as a filming location for Gladiator, Babel and Game of Thrones. Your guide leads a tour of the kasbah, and lunch is included at the site before you drive on to Marrakech.
Which sites do you visit in Marrakech?
In Marrakech you'll tour Bahia Palace, an 18th-century building; the Saadian Tombs, a cemetery for the Saadian dynasty that ruled Morocco in the 16th century; and Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square. A guided medina walk connects these sites, and you have a free afternoon to shop, relax or visit Majorelle Gardens with your guide's help.
Is there time to explore on your own during the tour?
Yes. You have a free afternoon in Fès after the guided medina walk, and a full free afternoon in Marrakech after the morning city tour. On the first night in Casablanca, dinner with your group is optional. Your guide can help arrange additional activities if you want to explore further.
8-Day Morocco Tour: Sahara Camel Trek & Kasbahs
8d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 840 per person