Imperial Cities Tour Casablanca: 10-Day Private Journey

A private guide and driver stay with you through all ten days, from the Hassan II Mosque to a night under stars in the desert.

A 10-day private tour of Morocco's Imperial cities starting in Casablanca, with a dedicated guide and driver throughout. You visit Rabat, Fes, and Marrakech; cross the Atlas Mountains at Tizi n'Tichka Pass; explore Roman ruins at Volubilis; ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi Dunes; and sleep one night in a desert tent. Hotel stays, meals at accommodations, and ground transport are included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German. Children from age 2 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca sightseeing and dinner

• Pick-up at Casablanca airport or hotel
• Visit Hassan II Mosque courtyard and terrace
• Dinner at accommodation in Casablanca

Day 2: Rabat tour and travel to Chefchaouen

• Tour Rabat: King's Palace, tomb, Hassan Tower, walls
• Lunch in Rabat (on your own)
• Drive from Rabat to Chefchaouen with photo stops
• Panoramic view of Chefchaouen
• Dinner and relax at accommodation in Chefchaouen

Day 3: Chefchaouen exploration and travel to Fes

• Morning stroll in Chefchaouen and visit main square
• Drive to Volubilis with lunch stop
• Tour Roman ruins of Volubilis
• Arrive and settle in Fes accommodation
• Dinner at accommodation in Fes

Day 4: Full day tour of Fes medina

• Drive around Fes city walls and panoramic stops
• Walking tour of Fes medina and artisan workshops
• Dinner at special restaurant in Fes

Day 5: Atlas Mountains travel to Merzouga

• Visit Ifrane city and stone lion
• Visit cedar forest and feed Barbary macaques
• Lunch in Midelt town
• Arrive and welcome at hotel in Merzouga
• Dinner at hotel in Merzouga

Day 6: Merzouga and Sahara Desert experience

• Tour Merzouga area and visit nearby lake and Rissani market
• Free time for rest or shopping in Merzouga
• Camel ride to desert camp and watch sunset
• Dinner and music around campfire in desert

Day 7: Merzouga to Ouarzazate journey

• Sunrise and breakfast at desert camp
• Camel ride back to Merzouga hotel
• Drive through Todra Gorge
• Visit Skoura Palm Groves oasis
• Stop at Kalaat Mgouna, City of Roses
• Explore Ouarzazate film studios and casbahs
• Dinner at hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 8: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains

• Visit Ait Benhaddou kasbah
• Drive through Tizi n’Tichka Pass
• Stop at mountaintop village of Imlil
• Arrive and settle in Marrakech hotel
• Dinner at hotel in Marrakech

Day 9: Full day in Marrakech

• Explore Djemaa El Fna market square
• Visit museums and palaces in Marrakech
• Dinner at specialty restaurant in Marrakech

Day 10: Departure from Casablanca

• Breakfast at hotel in Marrakech
• Transfer to Casablanca airport

The experience

The route moves through Morocco's most significant cities in sequence, each one a stopping point on the centuries-old trade routes between the Sahara and the coast. You start in Casablanca with the Hassan II Mosque (the second-largest mosque in Africa, one of the few in Morocco that admits non-Muslims), then drive north to Rabat to see the King's Palace walls and Mohammed V's tomb. From there the itinerary turns inland to Chefchaouen, the blue-painted mountain town, before heading to the Roman ruins at Volubilis and the ancient medina of Fes, where a full day of walking takes you through the tannery, craft workshops, and markets that have operated for centuries.

The middle section crosses the High Atlas Mountains, passing through Ifrane (known as the Switzerland of North Africa) and the cedar forests where Barbary macaques live, then descends into the Sahara at Merzouga. Here you trade the vehicle for a camel at 4 pm and ride for 45 minutes to an hour across the Erg Chebbi Dunes, arriving at a desert camp in time to watch the sunset. You sleep in a comfortable tent under the stars, share a Moroccan tagine dinner, and listen to music around the campfire before riding back to town the next morning. The return journey climbs back through the High Atlas via the Todra Gorge (described as the world's most spectacular river canyon), passes through the Skoura Palm Groves and the rose-growing region of Kalaat Mgouna, and reaches Ouarzazate, Morocco's film studio hub, before the final push to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Your last two days in Marrakech are yours to spend at the Djemaa El Fna market square, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, the Bahai Palace, or the Saadian Tombs.

Your guide and driver remain with you throughout, handling all navigation and logistics. Hotel rooms are private with ensuite bathrooms or air-conditioning. Dinners and breakfasts are served at your accommodations, featuring Moroccan specialties. Lunch stops are arranged but paid separately. The guide can point out optional paid tours (the Hassan II Mosque interior, Volubilis with a specialist, or Marrakech museums), but these are your choice. Pickup is included from Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca or from your hotel if you arrive separately.

What’s included

• Hotel stays with private rooms and ensuite bathrooms or air-conditioning.
• breakfasts and dinners at accommodations featuring Moroccan dishes.
• ground transport by vehicle throughout the 10 days.
• a dedicated guide and driver who speak English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.
• a camel ride across the Erg Chebbi Dunes and one night in a desert tent.
• pickup from Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca or your hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 16:00, the last at 10:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (19 to 90 years) · Child (2 to 18 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Berrada travel

Is this one for you?This is a private tour with the same guide and driver for all ten days, so you move at a consistent pace and build a working relationship with the people showing you the country. Choose it if you want someone who knows the stops, handles the driving, and can answer questions as you go, rather than navigating on your own or joining a group that changes daily.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 18 years).

What is the Hassan II Mosque like, and can I go inside?

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the second-largest mosque in Africa with the second-tallest minaret in the world, holding 105,000 worshippers. Non-Muslims can enter on a guided tour (offered Saturday through Thursday at 9, 10, and 11 am, and 2 and 3 pm, Friday at 9 and 10 am, and 2 and 3 pm) at an additional cost. If you skip the interior tour, you can still walk the huge courtyard and terrace, enjoy views over the Atlantic Ocean, and watch children playing in the waves.

How long is the camel ride in the Sahara, and where do I sleep?

The camel ride across the Erg Chebbi Dunes lasts 45 minutes to an hour, departing at 4 pm from Merzouga. You arrive at a desert camp in time to watch the sunset, sleep in a comfortable tent under the stars, and ride back to town after breakfast the next morning. Dinner is Moroccan tagine, and you can join the guides and camel drivers for music around the campfire.

What happens in Fes, and how much time do I spend walking?

Fes gets a full day: you start with a drive around the city walls to see the old cemetery, forts, and panoramic views, then walk inside the medina to visit the famous tannery, watch artisans making carpets, pottery, brass and silver work, and explore the fresh food markets. Your guide shows you lunch options along the way. The walking tour covers the main architectural sites and craft quarters of the ancient medina.

Which cities do I visit, and how long do I stay in each?

You visit Casablanca (1 day), Rabat and Chefchaouen (1 night in Chefchaouen), Volubilis and Fes (2 nights in Fes), Merzouga (2 nights with one in the desert tent), Ouarzazate (1 night), and Marrakech (2 nights). The route also passes through Ifrane, the Todra Gorge, Skoura Palm Groves, and Kalaat Mgouna on driving days.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfasts and dinners at your hotels are included, featuring Moroccan specialties. Lunch stops are arranged by your guide, but you pay for your meal separately. Drinks are not included. The camel camp dinner in the Sahara is Moroccan tagine.