7-day Casablanca to Marrakech tour: Sahara camel trek

A week crossing Morocco's mountains, medinas and desert on camelback

This 7-day guided tour runs from Casablanca to Marrakech, passing through the blue medina of Chefchaouen, the imperial city of Fes, and the Sahara Desert near Merzouga, where you spend a night in a desert camp and trek by camel. A guide in English, Spanish, French or Arabic leads the group through each stop, and hotel pickup is included. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca to Chefchaouen

• Pick up from hotel or airport
• Visit Hassan II Mosque (optional)
• Drive to Chefchaouen in Rif mountains
• Explore Chefchaouen medina and market
• Visit Ras El Maa Waterfall
• Overnight in Chefchaouen

Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes

• Free morning in Chefchaouen
• Drive to Fes (4 hours)
• Explore Medina of Fes on your own
• Overnight in Riad in Fes

Day 3: Fes sightseeing with guide

• Visit King's palace exterior
• Tour Medina and Jewish quarter
• See ceramic manufactories
• Overnight in Riad in Fes

Day 4: Fes to Sahara Desert

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Ifrane and Azrou
• Stop to see wild monkeys
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive through Ziz Valley canyon
• Reach desert by evening
• Enjoy desert sunset
• Overnight in hotel near Merzouga

Day 5: Explore Merzouga area

• Visit nomads and wild mines
• Visit flamingo lake (seasonal)
• Lunch with Berber pizza
• Camel trekking to desert camp
• Enjoy desert sunset
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 6: Merzouga to Todra Gorges

• Visit traditional market with donkey parking
• Stop at fortified village
• Visit Todra Gorge and Berber cooperative
• Overnight in hotel in Dades Valley

Day 7: Dades Valley to Marrakech

• Explore Roses Valley and take pictures
• Visit old Kasbahs including Amridil
• Visit Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
• Take panoramic photos at Tizi-n'Tichka Pass
• Arrive in Marrakech and end services

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Casablanca hotel or airport and heads south into the Rif Mountains toward Chefchaouen, a medina built centuries ago as a Berber post and painted in shades of blue and white. You have time to walk the main square (ringed by the 18th-century Kasbah, a central mosque and cafes), and visit Ras el-Maa Waterfall before spending the night there. The next morning is free to explore on your own before the four-hour drive to Fes, Morocco's oldest imperial city.

In Fes, a local guide takes you through the medina to see the outside of the King's palace, the Jewish quarter and ceramic workshops where artisans still work by hand. You stay in a traditional riad. From there, the route turns south toward the Sahara: you'll stop in Ifrane (known as the Swiss of Africa), watch wild monkeys in Azrou, and drive through the Ziz Valley's dramatic canyon before reaching the desert by evening. The next day is spent exploring the Merzouga area (visiting nomad settlements and, depending on the season, taking a hike) before camel trekking to a desert camp where you sleep under the stars. The flamingo lake (Lake Dayet Sriji) is a possible stop if water levels allow.

On the return north, you leave the desert and head to Todra Gorges, a 1,000-foot limestone canyon often called Morocco's Grand Canyon, with a possible stop at a Berber cooperative selling handmade rugs and carpets. The final two days take you through the Dades Valley, famous for its pink roses and old kasbahs, then to Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah (a fortified village used as a film set) before crossing the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass for panoramic views on the way to Marrakech. The tour ends in the red city, known for its medina and busy central square.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Casablanca.
• accommodation in riads in Chefchaouen and Fes, a hotel in Dades Valley, and a desert camp near Merzouga.
• a guide fluent in English, Spanish, French or Arabic.
• all transport between stops.
• camel trekking in the Sahara.
• visits to the medinas of Chefchaouen and Fes, Todra Gorges, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, and the Dades Valley.
• stops at Ras el-Maa Waterfall, Lake Dayet Sriji (seasonal), and the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass for panoramic views.

Options for this experience

2 options

Seven-day trip from Casablanca through Chefchaouen, then on to Fes and the Sahara Desert, including a camel trekGuide in 4 languages · 08:00Pickup is included

Low-season special packageGuide in 4 languages · 08:00Seven-day discounted package; pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 7d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 2,275 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Infant (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sahara Riders

Is this one for you?Choose this seven-day itinerary if you want one continuous journey through mountains, medinas, desert, and kasbahs rather than piecing together separate regional trips: the overnight Berber tent stay anchors the desert portion instead of being a brief detour.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

55 verified traveler reviews

5 ★55

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

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's included in the 7-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech?

The tour includes hotel pickup, accommodation in riads and a desert camp, a guide in your choice of English, Spanish, French or Arabic, and transport throughout the seven days. Meals are partly included. Dinner in Chefchaouen and Fes is on your own, and lunch stops are arranged during driving days.

Do I need experience to go camel trekking in the Sahara?

No experience is required. The camel trek happens on day five near Merzouga and is part of the guided experience. The guide leads the group and adjusts the pace to the group's comfort level.

What is Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and why is it on this route?

Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified clay village in the Atlas foothills that has been used as a film location for major movies. It sits on the route between the Dades Valley and Marrakech and offers a stop for photos and exploration of the traditional architecture.

How much time do I spend driving each day?

Driving varies by day. The longest drive is the four-hour stretch from Chefchaouen to Fes on day two. Other days include shorter drives between stops, with time built in for sightseeing, meals and rest.

What happens if I arrive in Casablanca early?

If you arrive a day before the tour starts, the operator advises visiting the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Africa, located in Casablanca. This is optional and arranged separately.