6 Days from Casablanca to the Desert and Marrakech

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We meet you in Casablanca and work our way down to the Sahara, finishing in Marrakech rather than backtracking. Our 6 days Casablanca to desert trip is private, with a driver and an air-conditioned vehicle, and it takes in the north before the dunes. You get Rabat and Fes, a night on the sand at Merzouga with a camel ride, the Todra and Dades gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou on the way into Marrakech.

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: Casablanca to Fes

We start in Casablanca with a look at the Hassan II mosque out over the water, then drive to Rabat for the Oudayas kasbah and the Hassan tower. On to Meknes and its big gates, and a first night in Fes.

Route: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.

Day 2: Fes

A full day in the old city with a local guide: the tanneries, the Qaraouiyine, the medersas and the covered lanes of the medina. Second night in Fes.

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

Day 3: Fes to Merzouga

South through Ifrane and the cedar forest at Azrou, then Midelt and down the Ziz valley to Erfoud. By evening we reach Merzouga, and a camel carries you into Erg Chebbi for sunset and a night at camp.

Route: Fes, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Ziz valley, Erfoud, Merzouga. Camel ride, night in a desert camp.

Day 4: Merzouga to Dades

Sunrise on the dunes, then west through Rissani and Tinghir to the Todra gorge and its narrow walls, and on to the Dades valley for the night.

Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Tinghir, Todra gorge, Dades. Night in a Dades kasbah hotel.

Day 5: Dades to Marrakech

The Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm oasis, then Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, before the Tizi n’Tichka carries us over the Atlas into Marrakech.

Route: Dades, El Kelaa M’Gouna, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka pass, Marrakech. Night in a Marrakech riad.

Day 6: Marrakech

A morning in Marrakech with a guide, the Koutoubia, the Bahia palace and the souks, then we drop you at your hotel or run you to the airport.

Route: Marrakech city tour, drop-off or airport transfer.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan with an experienced driver
• Pick-up in Casablanca and drop-off in Marrakech
• Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga
• Five nights: two in Fes, a desert camp, Dades and Marrakech
• 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.