5-day Casablanca to Marrakech tour: Sahara Desert and Fès

Five days crossing Morocco: ancient cities, Sahara dunes, and a night under stars in the desert

A 5-day private tour from Casablanca to Marrakech via Fès and Merzouga Desert, with a guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French, hotel pickup included, and accommodation in local riads and a desert camp. The itinerary moves through Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat, then Fès, before a camel trek into the Sahara, stops at Dades Gorge and Todgha Gorge, the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou, and a full day in Marrakech exploring the Koutoubia Mosque, Menara gardens, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca to Fes via Rabat

• Pick up from Casablanca hotel
• Drive to Rabat, Morocco's capital
• Visit Hassan Tower, Kasbah of Udayas, Mausoleum of Mohammed V
• Continue to Fes and check in hotel

Day 2: Fes to Merzouga Desert

• Depart for Merzouga via Ifrane and Cedar Forest
• Stop for lunch in Midelt
• Continue to Erfoud, gateway to Sahara
• Meet camel caravan and ride to desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga Desert to Dades Gorges

• Watch sunrise over dunes and have breakfast
• Ride camel back to Merzouga
• Visit Todgha Gorge in Tinghir
• Drive to Dades Gorges for dinner and overnight

Day 4: Dades Gorges to Marrakech

• Depart for Marrakech via Ouarzazate and Valley of Roses
• Visit UNESCO site Ait Benhaddou kasbah
• Continue to Marrakech and check in hotel

Day 5: Marrakech guided tour and optional transfer

• Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Menara gardens
• Visit Saadian Tombs
• Explore Bahia Palace
• Visit Jemaa el-Fnaa square and souks
• Optional transfer to Casablanca

The experience

Your driver collects you from your Casablanca hotel on Day 1 and heads north to Rabat, where you'll walk through the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas before moving on to Fès for the night. Day 2 takes you south through the Cedar Forest of Azrou toward the Sahara, stopping in Midelt for lunch and arriving at Merzouga by late afternoon, where you meet a camel caravan and ride out to a desert camp. You wake early on Day 3 to watch the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga and continue to Tinghir to visit the Todgha Gorge before settling into a guesthouse in the Dades Gorges.

Day 4 moves west toward Marrakech, passing through Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses, with a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage kasbah of Ait Benhaddou before you reach your hotel in Marrakech. On Day 5, a guide leads you through the city: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Menara gardens (a 12th-century irrigation system), the Saadian Tombs (a royal necropolis rediscovered in 1917), the 19th-century Bahia Palace, and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square with its maze of souks selling spices, textiles, ceramics and jewelry. An optional transfer back to Casablanca closes the tour.

Accommodation throughout is in local riads except for one night in a desert camp. The guide speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Italian or French, and the entire route (from hotel pickup in Casablanca through all transfers between cities) is arranged for you.

What’s included

• Accommodation in local riads and a desert camp.
• private round-trip transport from your Casablanca hotel through all five days.
• a camel trek into Merzouga Desert with an overnight stay at the camp.
• a guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Before you book

Lasts 5d, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 776 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

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.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Morocco Tours Toubkal Trek

Is this one for you?Book this if you want one continuous itinerary that moves you through Morocco's major cities, desert, and gorges. Your transport and route are locked in, so you travel as a single journey rather than piecing together separate bookings.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens on the camel trek in Merzouga Desert?

You meet a camel caravan in Merzouga on Day 2 afternoon and ride out to a desert camp where you stay overnight. On Day 3 you wake early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, have breakfast at the camp, then ride the camel back to Merzouga to continue toward the Dades Gorges.

Which cities and landmarks do I visit on this 5-day tour?

The tour covers Casablanca, Rabat (Hassan Tower and Kasbah of the Udayas), Fès, Merzouga Desert, Tinghir (Todgha Gorge), Dades Gorges, Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou kasbah, and Marrakech (Koutoubia Mosque, Menara gardens, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the souks).

Is hotel pickup included from Casablanca?

Yes, your driver picks you up from your hotel in Casablanca on Day 1 and handles all transport between cities throughout the tour. You arrange your own arrival in Casablanca before Day 1 begins.

Where do I sleep on this tour?

You stay in comfortable local riads in Casablanca, Fès, Dades Gorges and Marrakech. On Day 2 you sleep in a desert camp in Merzouga.