Exclusive 12 Days Grand Morocco Tour from Marrakech
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Our grand Morocco tour is a private twelve-day loop from Marrakech that takes in the imperial cities, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the Sahara at Merzouga and the Atlantic coast at Essaouira. You travel with your own driver in an air-conditioned vehicle and sleep in riads, hotels and a desert camp. This is the trip for people who want to see the whole country in one go rather than pick a single corner of it.
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: Marrakech
We meet you in Marrakech and spend the first day in the old city, taking in the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia palace, the Saadian tombs and the Jemaa el-Fna square as it fills up in the evening.
Route: Marrakech medina. Night in a Marrakech riad.
Day 2: Marrakech gardens and souks
An easier second day for the Majorelle garden, the Menara and the souks, or a run out to the Ourika valley in the Atlas foothills if you’d rather have some green.
Route: Marrakech, Majorelle, Menara. Night in a Marrakech riad.
Day 3: Marrakech to the Dades valley
We head south over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, stop at Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then follow the road of a thousand kasbahs east through Skoura to the Dades valley.
Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura, Dades. Night in a Dades hotel.
Day 4: Dades to Merzouga
The morning is for the Todra gorge and the walk beneath its cliffs, then we drive through Tinghir and Rissani to Merzouga, where a camel takes you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset.
Route: Dades, Todra gorge, Tinghir, Rissani, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 5: A day in the dunes
A full day around Merzouga: sunrise over the sand, the Gnaoua village of Khamlia, the oasis and old mines, and a second night under the stars.
Route: Merzouga, Khamlia, Erg Chebbi. Second night in a desert camp.
Day 6: Merzouga to Fes
A long, good driving day out of the desert, up the Ziz valley and over Midelt, past the cedar forest at Azrou and the mountain town of Ifrane, reaching Fes by evening.
Route: Merzouga, Ziz valley, Midelt, Azrou, Ifrane, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 7: A full day in Fes
A day on foot in the Fes medina with a local guide, taking in the tanneries, the Al Quaraouiyine, the medersas and the covered souks of the oldest part of the city.
Route: Fes medina walking tour. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 8: Fes to Chefchaouen
We stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial gate of Meknes before climbing into the Rif to Chefchaouen, the blue town built up a hillside.
Route: Fes, Volubilis, Meknes, Chefchaouen. Night in a Chefchaouen guesthouse.
Day 9: Chefchaouen to Rabat
A morning to wander the blue lanes, then we drive to the coast and the capital, Rabat, for the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower.
Route: Chefchaouen, Rabat. Night in a Rabat hotel.
Day 10: Rabat to Marrakech via Casablanca
We visit Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque on the seafront, then take the motorway south and reach Marrakech in the evening.
Route: Rabat, Casablanca, Hassan II Mosque, Marrakech. Night in a Marrakech riad.
Day 11: Marrakech to Essaouira
We drive west to the Atlantic and the walled town of Essaouira, past the argan groves, with the afternoon free along the ramparts and around the fishing port.
Route: Marrakech, argan groves, Essaouira. Night in an Essaouira hotel.
Day 12: Essaouira back to Marrakech
After a last morning by the sea we drive back to Marrakech and drop you at your hotel or the airport.
Route: Essaouira, Marrakech.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver for twelve days
- Pick-up and drop-off in Marrakech
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp
- Local guides for the Fes and Marrakech medinas
- Eleven nights in riads and hotels along the route
- Daily breakfast
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; 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 with your dates and group size for a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.