Morocco 10-Day Tour: Sahara Desert & Imperial Cities

Ten days crossing Morocco's deserts, medinas, and mountain passes with one guide

You get a private guide for ten days, airport pickup, nine nights in 4-star riads plus one night in a desert camp, all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, a camel ride through Merzouga dunes, entry to major sites like the Hassan II Mosque and Bahia Palace, and meals at local spots like Jamaa el Fna. The fixed itinerary means you don't arrange transport, book hotels separately, or negotiate timing. The guide handles the route and the logistics.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Casablanca to Rabat

• Arrive at Casablanca airport
• Visit Hassan II Mosque
• Visit Rick’s café
• Travel to Rabat

Day 2: Rabat sightseeing and travel to Chefchaouen

• Visit Hassan Tower
• Visit Mausoleum of Mohammed V
• Visit Kasbah of the Udayas
• Travel to Chefchaouen
• Explore Chefchaouen medina and Hamman Square

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

• Depart Chefchaouen after breakfast
• Visit Roman ruins of Volubilis
• Visit Meknes main attractions
• Arrive in Fes and panoramic city tour

Day 4: Full day in Fes

• Visit Fes medina with guide
• Visit palaces and Jewish quarters
• Visit Madrassa and coranic school
• Visit leather tannery and handicraft shops

Day 5: Fes to Merzouga Desert via Ifran and Erfoud

• Visit cedar forests of Azrou and Ifran
• Stop in Midelt for mountain views
• Pass Ziz Valley and Erfoud fossil site
• Arrive Merzouga and enjoy traditional Moroccan tea

Day 6: Merzouga desert activities and local visits

• Participate in desert activities and workshops
• Visit Rissani market and souk
• Visit Khamlia nomadic village and enjoy Gnawa music
• Camel ride in desert and visit dunes
• Watch sunset and enjoy dinner with live music

Day 7: Merzouga to Dades Valley via Todra Gorges

• Climb dune at sunrise
• Travel to Todra Gorges and explore cliffs
• Arrive and relax in Dades Valley

Day 8: Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Travel Route of the One Thousand Kasbahs
• Visit Kalaat Mgouna and Skoura villages
• Visit Ouarzazate kasbah and movie studios
• Visit Ait Benhaddou UNESCO site
• Dinner at Jamaa el Fna square

Day 9: Full day in Marrakech

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

Day 10: Departure from Marrakech

• Optional morning shopping in souk
• Optional hot-air balloon ride
• Transfer to airport and farewell

The experience

Your guide is already waiting at Casablanca airport when you land, ready to walk you through the Hassan II Mosque: the second-highest in the world and one of the few mosques open to non-Muslims. From there, the 10-day private tour in Morocco unfolds across nine nights in 4-star riads and one night in a luxury desert camp. You'll move through Rabat's three historic walls, the blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen, Roman ruins at Volubilis, and the labyrinthine medina of Fes, which has over 9,000 streets and was a center of learning in the 13th century. The guide speaks fluent English, French, and some Spanish, and the itinerary adjusts to your pace, not the other way around.

The desert section arrives on day five. You'll reach Merzouga after passing through cedar forests near Ifran, the Ziz Valley (famous for its dates), and Erfoud, where you can workshop with actual fossils. In the Sahara, the day splits between visiting Rissani's medieval souk (where gold, spices, and fabrics once traded hands), spending time with the Gnawa people in Khamlia, and riding a camel for an hour through dunes that are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dinner happens around a bonfire under stars, with traditional live music. The next morning you climb a dune at dawn, then head toward the Todra Gorges (rock cliffs 600 meters high separated by just 10 meters of width) before settling into the green Dadès Valley.

The return to the coast takes you through the "Route of the One Thousand Kasbahs," past rose-growing villages and the movie studios of Ouarzazate (used for Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator). Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site still inhabited and still used as a film set, marks the final major stop before Marrakech. There, a dedicated guide walks you through the Bahia Palace (19th-century, extravagantly decorated), the Ben Youssef Medersa (12th-century Islamic faculty), the Majorelle Gardens (botanical, with plants from around the world), and the Koutoubia Mosque. Your last evening is in the Jamaa el Fna square, where street vendors sell tagine, couscous, and Moroccan tea at local prices, and locals and tourists eat side by side.

All vehicles are air-conditioned, government-licensed, and insured. Accommodations have typical Moroccan decoration and are described as high-quality throughout. The guide becomes a real person over ten days (the reference material notes he's "funny, responsible and kind"), and the tour is built around seeing the Morocco that isn't on the standard postcard route. If you want to add a hot-air balloon ride over Marrakech on the final morning, that's an option before heading to the airport.

What’s included

• Your 10-day tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned, government-licensed vehicle with insurance.
• nine nights in 4-star riads with Moroccan decoration.
• one night in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom and dune views.
• a private guide fluent in English, French, and some Spanish.
• entry to the Hassan II Mosque, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Medersa, Majorelle Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque, and other major sites.
• a camel ride through the Merzouga dunes (UNESCO World Heritage site).
• visits to Rissani's souk, the Gnawa village of Khamlia, the Todra Gorges, Ait Benhaddou, and the medinas of Fes, Marrakech, and Chefchaouen.
• and meals at local venues including the Jamaa el Fna square in Marrakech. Airport pickup and drop-off are included.
• the starting point and first day can be adjusted to your schedule.

Before you book

Lasts 10d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 2,908 per person, with live guides in 7 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 89 years) · Senior (90 and older) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Siroco Tours

Is this one for you?This tour works for travelers who want to see Morocco's major imperial cities, the Sahara, and mountain landscapes without arranging transport, booking hotels separately, or managing a shifting itinerary: the private guide and fixed schedule handle all of that, and ten days is long enough to move slowly through each region instead of rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3).

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 10-day Morocco tour?

Private transportation, 4-star hotels and riads, one night in a luxury desert camp, air-conditioned vehicle, camel ride in the desert, and a private guide fluent in English. Entry fees to major attractions and some meals are included. Specific meal inclusions depend on the operator's package.

How long is the desert portion?

Two full days and nights. You arrive in Merzouga on day five, spend day six doing desert activities (camel ride, visiting Rissani and Khamlia, watching the sunset on the dunes, sleeping under stars), and depart on day seven toward the Todra Gorges.

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

Yes. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of the rare mosques in the world open to non-Muslims, and it's included in the tour.

What's the accommodation like?

Nine nights in 4-star riads with typical Moroccan decoration and high quality finishes. One night is in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom overlooking the dunes.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, with all areas and surfaces accessible and transportation options available for wheelchairs.

Do I need a visa for Morocco?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Check with the Moroccan embassy for your country before booking.