Morocco: Private 10-day tour from Marrakech

Summary

My 10 days across Morocco: medinas, desert nights & mint tea

You’ll wander Morocco’s medinas with local guides, ride camels into Erg Chebbi’s dunes for a night under Saharan stars, taste fresh bread in Fes, and cross mountain passes where roses bloom wild. With private transport and all meals included, you’ll get close to Morocco’s rhythms — moments you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the echo inside Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca — shoes squeaking on marble, my scarf slipping as I tried to take it all in. Our guide, Youssef, had this way of pausing for questions just when I was about to ask them. He pointed out tiny details in the tilework that I’d never have noticed. Later, in Rabat, we wandered through Kasbah Oudaya’s blue alleys and watched two old men playing cards under an orange tree. The air smelled like sea spray and something sweet — maybe pastries? I still don’t know.

By the time we reached Fes, my head was spinning with names and stories. The medina there is a maze — honestly, I’d have been lost in five minutes without our local guide (Fatima). She led us past stalls piled high with spices and leather goods; at one point she handed me a piece of bread dipped in olive oil and grinned, “This is breakfast here.” There was a moment in Volubilis where the wind picked up and you could hear storks clacking on ruined columns. It felt ancient but alive.

I didn’t expect to love the desert so much. Erg Chebbi at sunset looks unreal — gold dust everywhere, camels snorting quietly while our group tried (and mostly failed) to tie turbans properly. Dinner at the bivouac camp was tagine under stars so bright it almost hurt your eyes. Someone played drums late into the night; I lay awake listening and thinking about how far we’d come from Marrakech already. In Dades Gorge, we walked between red walls that made me feel tiny — kids waved from above and shouted “bonjour!” until we waved back.

The last days blurred together: roses blooming in Rose Valley (I kept one pressed in my notebook), photos at Tizi-n’Tichka Pass with wind whipping my hair sideways, Essaouira’s seagulls arguing over fish scraps by the port. Our driver stopped for coffee whenever someone needed it — sometimes that was me just wanting to watch people go by. By the end, Marrakech felt almost familiar; I found myself haggling for dates like I knew what I was doing. Still not sure if I got a good deal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Casablanca to Rabat

• Visit Hassan II Mosque

Day 2 — Rabat to Fes via Meknes & Volubilis

• Visit Kasbah Oudaya and Hassan Tower
• Visit old Medina of Meknès and Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
• Visit Roman ruins of Volubilis

Day 3 — Explore Fes Medina

• Explore Medina of Fes with local guide

Day 4 — Fes to Erg Chebbi Desert

• Walk and coffee stop
• See monkeys at Cedar Forest
• Drive through Midelt to Errachidia
• Cross Errachidia to Erfoud
• Drive from Erfoud to Erg Chebbi
• Overnight and explore Erg Chebbi

Day 5 — Desert trip and bivouac camp

• Explore Merzouga by 4x4 and camel trekking

Day 6 — Erg Chebbi to Dades Valley

• Drive through Tinghir Oasis and Todra Gorges walk
• Drive through Dades Valley and Gorges

Day 7 — Dades Valley to Marrakech

• Drive through Rose Valley and photo stops
• Photo stops at Kasbah Tourirte and Atlas Estudios
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Drive Tizi n'Tichka Pass to Marrakech with photo stops

Day 8 — Free day in Marrakech

• Explore old Medina of Marrakech with local guide

Day 9 — Day trip to Essaouira

• Day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech

Day 10 — Marrakech to Casablanca

• Transfer to airport based on flight departure

Top questions

Is pickup included for this Morocco tour?

Yes, private transportation with pickup is included throughout the 10-day tour.

Are meals provided during the trip?

All dinners and breakfasts are included each day of the tour.

Will there be a local guide in each city?

Yes, local guides lead visits in cities like Fes and Marrakech as part of the itinerary.

Does this tour visit Volubilis?

Yes, there is a stop at Volubilis to explore the Roman ruins on day two.

Is this Morocco tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the information provided.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Service animals are allowed during this private Morocco tour.

What’s included

Your journey includes private transportation with pickup and drop-off throughout Morocco, guided visits with local experts in cities like Fes and Marrakech, all dinners and breakfasts each day, plus overnight stays ranging from riads to desert camps — so you’re always looked after while exploring medinas or crossing mountain passes together.