12 Days in Morocco: Fes, the Sahara, Marrakech and Rabat

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We build these 12 days in Morocco around one long private loop, with your own driver and an air-conditioned vehicle from the first morning to the airport run. You start in Marrakech, cross the Atlas to the Sahara for a camel ride and a night on the dunes, then swing north through Fes, Rabat and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen. It’s a lot of country, but the pace stays yours.

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 Marrakech

We meet you at the airport and settle you into your riad. If there’s time, an easy first walk to the Jemaa el-Fna as it fills up for the evening.

Route: Airport pick-up, Marrakech. Night in a Marrakech riad.

Day 2: Marrakech

A guided day around the old city: the Koutoubia, the Bahia palace, the Saadian tombs and the souks, with the Majorelle garden if you want it.

Route: Marrakech city tour. Night in a Marrakech riad.

Day 3: Marrakech to Dades

Over the Tizi n’Tichka to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then the road of a thousand kasbahs past Skoura to the Dades valley.

Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura, Dades. Night in a Dades kasbah hotel.

Day 4: Dades to Merzouga

The Dades and Todra gorges in the morning, then Tinghir and Erfoud, reaching Merzouga by late afternoon. A camel takes you into Erg Chebbi for sunset and dinner at camp.

Route: Dades, Todra gorge, Tinghir, Erfoud, Merzouga. Camel ride, night in a desert camp.

Day 5: Merzouga to Midelt

Sunrise on the dunes, a look at a nomad family and the music at Khamlia, then north up the Ziz valley to Midelt for the night.

Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Ziz valley, Midelt. Night in a Midelt hotel.

Day 6: Midelt to Fes

Across the Middle Atlas to the cedar forest at Azrou and its macaques, through Ifrane, and down into Fes for the evening.

Route: Midelt, Azrou, Ifrane, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.

Day 7: Fes

A full guided day in the medina: the tanneries, the Qaraouiyine, the medersas and the covered lanes that run for miles.

Route: Fes medina walking tour. Night in a Fes riad.

Day 8: Fes to Rabat

West to Meknes for its gates and granaries, then on to the capital, Rabat, for the Oudayas kasbah and the Hassan tower by the river.

Route: Fes, Meknes, Rabat. Night in a Rabat hotel.

Day 9: Rabat and Casablanca

Down the coast to Casablanca to see the Hassan II mosque on the water, then back up to Rabat for a second night in the capital.

Route: Rabat, Casablanca, Rabat. Night in a Rabat hotel.

Day 10: Rabat to Chefchaouen

North through the hills into the Rif to Chefchaouen, the blue town, with the afternoon free to wander the painted lanes.

Route: Rabat, Chefchaouen. Night in a Chefchaouen guesthouse.

Day 11: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis

Down to the Roman ruins at Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss, then into Fes for the last night.

Route: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.

Day 12: Fes and departure

We run you to the airport whenever your flight leaves, with time for a last coffee if the day allows.

Route: Fes, airport drop-off.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan with an experienced driver for all twelve days
• Airport pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes
• Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga
• Eleven nights in riads, kasbah hotels, guesthouses and a desert camp
• Breakfasts and dinners as per the itinerary

The hotels, the standing and the route are the same ones we run on our operated tour. We’ll confirm the exact places and the full list of what’s included 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 with your dates and we’ll come back with a quote, and you can hold your spot online with a deposit.