10 Days Tour from Casablanca through Imperial Cities & Desert
Our 10 days tour from Casablanca is a private crossing of the whole country, from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara and back to the sea. You travel with your own driver in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan, taking in the imperial cities, the Merzouga dunes and the coast at Essaouira. Ten days leaves room to slow down in the medinas and still get a night out on the sand.
Trip highlights
- Private trip with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
- Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the mud-brick ksar from the films
- Walk into the Todra gorge, where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres
- Drive the twisting Dades valley past its old kasbahs
- Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep in a desert camp
- Sunrise over the big dunes at Merzouga
Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca
We meet you at the airport and take you into the city, with a look at the Hassan II mosque out over the ocean if there’s time. The night is in Casablanca.
Route: Casablanca airport, Hassan II mosque. Night in a Casablanca hotel.
Day 2: Casablanca to Rabat
A short drive up the coast to the capital, Rabat, where we see the Hassan Tower, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Chellah ruins.
Route: Casablanca, Rabat. Night in a Rabat hotel.
Day 3: Rabat to Fes
We stop at Meknes and the Roman site of Volubilis on the way east, then reach Fes in the late afternoon.
Route: Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 4: Fes medina
A full day on foot with a local guide through the walled medina, the tanneries and the Al Quaraouiyine mosque. The night is in the same riad.
Route: Fes medina walking tour. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 5: Fes to Merzouga
We cross the Middle Atlas past Ifrane and the cedar forest at Azrou, drop through Midelt and follow the Ziz valley down to the dunes. A camel takes you out to camp for the sunset.
Route: Fes, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Ziz valley, Erfoud, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 6: Merzouga to the Dades valley
After the sunrise we head west through Rissani and the Todra gorge, where the cliffs close in over the river, and finish among the red rock of the Dades.
Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Todra gorge, Tinghir, Dades valley. Night in a Dades guesthouse.
Day 7: Dades to Ouarzazate
We follow the road of a thousand kasbahs through the Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm oasis into Ouarzazate, with a look at the film studios and the Taourirt kasbah.
Route: Dades, Valley of Roses, Skoura, Ouarzazate. Night in a kasbah hotel.
Day 8: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
We stop at Ait Ben Haddou to walk up through the old kasbah, then climb the Tizi n’Tichka over the Atlas and drop into Marrakech by evening.
Route: Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech. Night in a Marrakech riad.
Day 9: Marrakech to Essaouira
A morning in the Marrakech medina, then the drive to the coast at Essaouira, through the argan groves where you often see the goats up in the trees. The night is in the old fishing town.
Route: Marrakech, argan country, Essaouira. Night in an Essaouira riad.
Day 10: Essaouira to Casablanca
Time to walk the ramparts and the harbour before we drive back up the coast to Casablanca for your flight home.
Route: Essaouira, Casablanca.
Included
- Private 4×4 or minivan with air-conditioning and an experienced driver
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Casablanca
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga
- Nine nights in hotels, riads, a kasbah hotel and a desert camp
- Breakfasts and dinners as per the itinerary
Not included
- International flights and airport taxes
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and site entrance fees
- Tips for the driver and guides
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Hotels, standing and route match our operated tour; the exact accommodation and the full list of what’s included are confirmed when you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel with just your own group, your own driver and vehicle. Nobody else joins, so the stops and the pace are yours to set.
Where do we sleep along the way?
You spend a night in a desert camp in the dunes, reached by camel, plus nights in kasbah hotels or guesthouses on the road. The standing is the same as our operated tour, and we confirm the exact places when you book.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable. Summer days get very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring layers whatever the season.
Can we change the itinerary or the pick-up point?
Yes. Because it is private, we can add nights, swap stops, or start from a different city or airport. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the plan.
Book the trip
Price on request. Send us a message on WhatsApp for dates and a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.