Morocco 12-Day Private Tour: Casablanca, Sahara & Marrakech

Twelve Days Across Morocco: From Coastal Casablanca to the Sahara and Back

You get 12 days moving through Morocco's main regions—coast, imperial cities, desert, and mountains—with a private driver, dedicated city guides, and luxury accommodations throughout. Camel ride and desert camp night are included, as are airport pickup and all breakfasts. You choose activities like wine tasting or city exploration based on your interests, and get a free day in Marrakech to move at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Casablanca highlights

• Arrive at Casablanca airport
• Visit Hassan II Mosque
• Dine at Rick’s café (optional)

Day 2 — Casablanca to Fes via Meknes

• Wine tasting near Meknes
• Visit Dar Jamai museum and Almoravid school
• See Bab Mansour gate
• Visit Sultan Ismail mausoleum
• Panoramic tour of Fes
• Enjoy city view from café

Day 3 — Explore Fes medina and landmarks

• Tour medina de Fes with guide
• Visit Fes tannery
• Visit Medersa Attarine
• View Kairaouine Mosque from outside
• Visit Bou Inania Medersa

Day 4 — Fes to Ifrane via Middle Atlas

• Visit cedar forests of Azrou and Ifrane
• Explore Middle Atlas nature and Berber villages
• Taste homemade cheeses and organic honey

Day 5 — Ifrane to Merzouga Sahara dunes

• Stop in Midelt for mountain views
• Drive through Ziz valley oasis
• Pass Erfoud fossil sites
• Arrive Merzouga and enjoy Moroccan tea
• 4x4 quad bike activities in dunes (optional)
• Camel ride to desert oases
• Watch sunset on dunes
• Dinner and live music under stars

Day 6 — Merzouga to Skoura via Todra Gorges

• Climb dune at sunrise
• Explore Todra Gorges cliffs
• Drive through Dadès Valley
• Visit Kalaat Mgouna, City of Roses
• Visit Skoura oasis and palm forest

Day 7 — Skoura to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Travel Route of One Thousand Kasbahs
• Visit Skoura and El Kelaa des M'Gouna villages
• Explore Ouarzazate kasbah and movie studios
• Visit Ait Benhaddou UNESCO site
• Dinner at Jamaa el Fna square

Day 8 — Full day Marrakech city tour

• Visit Bahia Palace
• Visit Ben Youssef Medersa
• See Koutoubia Mosque
• Walk Majorelle Gardens
• Visit Yves Saint Laurent Museum
• Explore Marrakech souk

Day 9 — Free day to explore Marrakech

• Optional hot air balloon flight
• Visit Saadian Tombs
• Visit La Menara gardens
• Visit La Koubba almoravid
• Visit Palais Dar Bacha Museum

Day 10 — Day trip to Essaouira

• Travel to Essaouira
• Explore medina and local cuisine

Day 11 — Essaouira to El Jadida

• Relax on Essaouira beach
• Travel to El Jadida
• Visit Manueline cistern and chapel
• See Our Lady of the Assumption Church façade

Day 12 — El Jadida to Casablanca departure

• Transfer to Casablanca airport

The Experience

What does a 12-day private tour of Morocco actually look like when you're not rushing between tour bus stops? This one starts at Casablanca airport, where a driver meets you and takes you straight to the Hassan II Mosque—the second-highest mosque in the world and one of the rare ones non-Muslims can enter. Your guide walks you through the religious traditions and architecture, then you're free to explore the medina or book dinner at Rick's Café, the Casablanca-themed restaurant set in an old courtyard mansion near the old city walls. The whole first day is about landing softly, not hitting the ground running.

From there, the itinerary branches into your choice. You can spend a day wine tasting near Meknes—this is Morocco's only DOC wine region, with reds that win international medals—or explore the city with a dedicated guide, visiting the Dar Jamai museum and the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa. Then you move to Fes, where you get a guide specifically for that city. The medina has over 9,000 streets and was a center of knowledge in the 13th century; your guide takes you through the Jewish quarters, the tanneries where leather is still dyed using ancient methods, and the Al-Attarine Madrasa, built in the 14th century. You're not just walking past these places—someone who studied the city is explaining what you're seeing.

The middle of the trip shifts completely. You drive through the Middle Atlas cedar forests near Ifrane, stop at a Berber farm to taste homemade cheese and organic honey, then head toward the Sahara. You pass through the Ziz Valley—one of the world's largest oases—and arrive in Merzouga by afternoon. Here you ride a camel for about an hour through the dunes, watch the sunset from the top of a dune, and sleep in a luxury desert camp under the stars with traditional music and a bonfire. The next morning you climb a dune at dawn, then leave the desert for the Todra Gorges, where 600-meter rock cliffs tower 10 meters apart, and the Dadès Valley with its green terraces and bird sounds.

The return route takes you through the "Route of the One Thousand Kasbahs"—ancient fortified villages that once protected trade caravans. You stop at Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site still inhabited and used as a film set (Gladiator, Game of Thrones), then drive to Marrakech. Here you have a full day with a historian guide visiting the Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Koutoubia Mosque, and Majorelle Gardens. You also get a free day to explore on your own—hot air balloon rides over the palmeraie and the Atlas Mountains are available with advance booking. Then a day trip to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, known for fresh fish and argan oil, followed by El Jadida, a former Portuguese port city with a 16th-century Manueline cistern. The tour ends with a transfer back to Casablanca airport.

Every night you stay in a 5-star riad or hotel with Moroccan décor and breakfast included, except one night in the desert camp. The vehicles are new, air-conditioned, and licensed by the Moroccan government with insurance that covers you. Your driver and guides are with you the whole way—not rotating staff, but people who know their cities deeply.

What’s included

• Private vehicle transport with air conditioning for all 12 days.
• airport pickup and drop-off in Casablanca.
• 5-star riad and hotel accommodations with breakfast daily.
• one night in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom.
• permanent private guide plus dedicated city guides in Casablanca, Fes, and Marrakech.
• camel ride in the Sahara (approximately one hour).
• entry to Hassan II Mosque, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Majorelle Gardens, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Bou Inania Madrasa, Saadian Tombs, Menara Gardens, and Dar el Bacha Museum of Confluences.
• traditional Moroccan tea and dinner with live music in the desert camp.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Siroco Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Morocco's main regions—coast, cities, desert, mountains—without arranging transport, guides, or bookings themselves; the private vehicle and dedicated guides mean you move at your own pace and get deep local knowledge in each city, which is what makes 12 days feel complete instead of rushed.

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Top questions

How long is the camel ride in Merzouga?

About one hour through the desert dunes.

Are meals included in the tour?

Breakfast is included daily at your accommodations. Lunch and dinner are not included, though wine tasting near Meknes and some activities like camel rides are optional add-ons. Dinner at Rick's Café in Casablanca requires prior booking.

Can I visit the Hassan II Mosque if I'm not Muslim?

Yes, it's one of the rare mosques in the world that allows non-Muslim visitors. Your guide will explain the religious traditions and architecture during your visit.

What's included in the desert camp night?

A luxury tent with a private bathroom, traditional Moroccan tea upon arrival, dinner, and live music around a bonfire. You sleep under the stars in Merzouga.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation between cities?

No, private vehicle transport with air conditioning is included for the entire 12 days, along with airport pickup and drop-off in Casablanca.

Is there a guide with me the whole time?

Yes, you have a permanent guide throughout the tour. In each major city—Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech—you also get a dedicated historian guide who specializes in that city's history and secrets.

Can I book a hot air balloon ride over Marrakech?

Yes, hot air balloon flights over Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains are available, but they require prior booking and are not included in the tour price.

What if I'm traveling with children or need wheelchair access?

Specialized infant seats are available, and all areas, surfaces, and transportation are wheelchair accessible. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.