Morocco 10-Day Tour: Sahara Desert & Imperial Cities

Cross the Sahara on camel, then walk the medinas of three imperial cities

A 10-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara Desert, with local guides in Fes and Marrakech, covering Morocco's imperial cities, desert dunes, and mountain passes. You start in Casablanca, travel north to the blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, spend two days exploring Fes's medieval medina and tanneries, cross the Middle Atlas to the Sahara, ride camels across Erg Chebbi's golden dunes with a night in a desert camp, then drive south through gorges and kasbahs to Marrakech for a guided tour of Jemaa el-Fna, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Bahia Palace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Casablanca visit

• Pick up from Casablanca airport
• Drive to hotel
• Visit Hassan II Mosque at sunset

Day 2: Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

• Drive to Rabat
• Visit Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Kasbah of Oudaya
• Free time for lunch
• Drive to Chefchaouen via Ouazzane
• Explore Chefchaouen Medina and markets
• Visit Ras El-Ma waterfall
• Hike to Spanish mosque for sunset

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis

• Free morning in Chefchaouen
• Drive to Roman ruins of Volubilis
• Explore Volubilis archaeological site
• Drive to Fes

Day 4: Guided tour of Fes

• Visit Royal Palace golden gate
• Visit Jewish quarter (Mellah)
• Drive to ancient fortress for panoramic view
• Visit Medina of Fes including Bab Boujloud
• Visit Medrassa Bouanania
• Visit Najjarine Museum
• Visit Tanneries
• Visit Qaraouyine mosque and university
• Free afternoon

Day 5: Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane and Ziz Valley

• Drive to Ifrane (Switzerland of Morocco)
• Visit cedar forest of Azrou and feed monkeys
• Drive through Middle Atlas Mountains to Midelt
• Free time for lunch in Midelt
• Stop at panoramic view of Ziz Valley
• Reach Sahara Desert Erg Chebbi
• Camel ride to desert camp
• Enjoy sunset in desert
• Dinner and Berber music at camp

Day 6: 4x4 Sahara Desert tour

• Watch desert sunrise
• Breakfast at camp
• 4x4 tour to ancient eyeliner mine and old French village
• Visit nomads and have Berber tea
• Visit Khamlia village and enjoy Gnaoua music
• Lunch in local restaurant
• Drive back to Merzouga Riad
• Free afternoon with optional ATV or buggy ride

Day 7: Merzouga to Dades valley via Rissani and Todra Gorge

• Sunrise at desert camp
• Drive to Rissani Souk
• Pass Erfoud city
• Visit Berber clothes cooperative and henna
• Visit Todra Gorge and walk inside canyon
• Drive to Dades valley
• Dinner and overnight in Dades valley

Day 8: Dades valley to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Depart Dades valley
• Visit rose cooperative in Kalaat Magouna
• Visit Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate
• Visit Atlas Film Studios
• Visit Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
• Free time for lunch
• Drive across High Atlas Mountains via Tizi N’tichka pass
• Arrive in Marrakech

Day 9: Guided tour of Marrakech

• Meet local guide
• Explore Djemaa el-Fna square
• Visit Koutoubia Mosque
• Visit Bahia Palace
• Visit Saadian Tombs
• Visit Marrakech souks
• Free afternoon for optional sightseeing

Day 10: Departure from Marrakech or Casablanca

• Transfer to departure airport

The experience

How do you fit Morocco's highlights (the ocean, the desert, the mountains, the old cities) into one trip without rushing? This 10-day route does it by giving each region real time. You pick up at Casablanca airport and head north to Chefchaouen, where blue-painted buildings fill the medina's narrow streets and a waterfall called Ras El-Ma draws locals and visitors alike. A hike to the Spanish mosque rewards you with sunset views over the whole city. The next day takes you through the Rif Mountains to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Roman mosaics and archways still standing, then on to Fes for two nights.

In Fes, a local guide walks you through the medieval medina, another UNESCO site, past the blue gate of Bab Boujloud, the Medrassa Bouanania (an old Islamic school), and the Najjarine Museum, which shows traditional Moroccan woodworking. The tanneries, where leather is still made by hand, occupy their own quarter. You also visit the Qaraouyine mosque and university, the oldest university in the world. After that, the tour heads south through Ifrane (called the Switzerland of Morocco for its alpine-style houses and cedar forests where Barbary monkeys live), crosses the Middle Atlas, and drops into the Ziz Valley before reaching Merzouga and the Sahara Desert. You trade the vehicle for a camel and cross the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi toward a desert camp: a blend of traditional nomad tents and hotel comfort. After dinner and Berber drum music around the campfire under open sky, you wake early to watch the sunrise from a high dune.

The next day is a 4x4 tour of the desert region: an ancient eyeliner mine, a visit to nomads in their handmade tent for Berber tea, and the Khamlia village, where you hear Gnaoua music and watch traditional dancing. Then you drive to Rissani to explore one of Morocco's oldest souks (market days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday), pass through Erfoud (famous for dates and fossils), and reach Todra Gorge: a canyon 10 meters wide and 4 meters high where you walk between the cliffs. The route continues to Dades Valley in the High Atlas, with rock formations and a traditional dinner waiting. On day eight, you head west through Kalaat Magouna (known for rose production), stop at Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate (the "Hollywood of Morocco"), visit the Atlas Studios, and reach Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO kasbah where films like Gladiator and the Mummy were shot. You cross the High Atlas via Tizi N'tichka pass at 2,260 meters, offering views of valleys and Berber villages, and arrive in Marrakech for two nights. On day nine, a local guide takes you through Jemaa el-Fna square (a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage), the Koutoubia Mosque with its 77-meter minaret, the Bahia Palace (built in the late 19th century), the Saadian Tombs (dating to the 16th century), and the souks. Your final day is a drop-off at either Marrakech or Casablanca airport.

What’s included

• Local guides in Fes and Marrakech.
• airport pickup and drop-off (included in the standard option).

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup and drop-off are not includedGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00

A 10-day tour running from Casablanca to Marrakech, passing through the Sahara DesertGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · 10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (7 to 90 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Trips For Morocco

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see Morocco's range (desert, mountains, medinas, and imperial cities) without splitting the trip across multiple bookings. The 10-day length gives each region enough time to walk, explore, and sit with the pace, rather than racing through highlights. If you prefer a shorter loop or a longer journey into the deep south, other durations cover different ground.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 7).

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 Jemaa el-Fna square actually like when you get there?

Jemaa el-Fna is a large public square in Marrakech filled with street performers, food stalls, and a lively atmosphere. It was designated a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001 and has served as a meeting place for traders and locals for centuries, evolving into a cultural hub where Moroccan traditions come alive.

Do you really ride camels across the Sahara, or is it just a short ride?

You exchange the vehicle for camels and cross the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi toward your desert camp. Your camel guide stops at a good vantage point so you can watch the sunset, then continues to the camp where you spend the night in traditional nomad tents combined with hotel comfort.

What happens on the day after the desert camp?

You wake early to watch the sunrise from a high dune, then start a 4x4 tour of the Merzouga region. The day includes a visit to an ancient eyeliner mine, time with nomads in their handmade tent for Berber tea, and a stop in Khamlia village to experience Gnaoua music and traditional dancing, with lunch at a local restaurant.

Which medinas do you actually walk through with a guide?

Fes and Marrakech both have local guides. In Fes, the guide leads you through the medieval medina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the tanneries, the Medrassa Bouanania, and the Najjarine Museum. In Marrakech, the guide shows you Jemaa el-Fna square, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, and the souks.

Can you choose where to end the tour? Marrakech or Casablanca?

Yes, on the final day you are dropped off at either Marrakech or Casablanca airport, depending on your preference and flight schedule.