Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Coast, Sahara and Imperial Cities
This is our full loop: a private Morocco tour from Casablanca that takes in the imperial cities, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the Sahara at Merzouga, and the Atlantic at Essaouira. Ten days with your own driver and an air-conditioned vehicle is enough to see the north, the desert and the coast without rushing. We build the days around what you want to spend time on.
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 meet you in Casablanca and visit the Hassan II Mosque on its terrace over the ocean, then drive to Rabat for the Oudaya kasbah and the Hassan Tower before continuing to Fes for the night.
Route: Casablanca, Rabat, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 2: Fes medina
A full day in the old medina with a local guide: the tanneries, the Al Quaraouiyine and Bou Inania schools, and the maze of lanes and workshops. There’s time in the afternoon to wander on your own.
Route: Fes city tour. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 3: Fes to Chefchaouen
We drive north into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, the town painted in blues and whites. The afternoon is free to walk the old quarter and climb to the Spanish mosque for the view over the rooftops at sunset.
Route: Fes, Chefchaouen. Night in a Chefchaouen guesthouse.
Day 4: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis
On the way back we stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis, with its mosaics and standing arches, and the holy town of Moulay Idriss nearby. A look at Meknes and its great gate rounds off the day before we return to Fes.
Route: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Meknes, Fes. Night in a Fes riad.
Day 5: Fes to Merzouga
This is the long scenic drive between the imperial city and the dunes. We cross the Middle Atlas past Ifrane and the Azrou cedars, follow the Ziz valley south through Midelt and Erfoud, and reach Merzouga by evening. A camel carries you into Erg Chebbi for the sunset.
Route: Fes, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Ziz valley, Erfoud, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 6: A day around Erg Chebbi
Sunrise over the dunes, then a slower day: the Gnawa musicians at Khamlia, a nomad family for tea, and the old mines and seasonal lake out past the sand. You can add a quad ride or sandboarding.
Route: Merzouga, Khamlia, Erg Chebbi. Night in a kasbah hotel by the dunes.
Day 7: Merzouga to the Dades Valley
We head west along the road of a thousand kasbahs, stopping at Rissani’s market and the Todra gorge with its tall walls, then follow the valley to the Dades and its switchback road.
Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Todra gorge, Dades Valley. Night in a Dades guesthouse.
Day 8: Dades to Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou
Through the Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm groves to Ouarzazate and its film studios, then out to Ait Ben Haddou to walk up through the old earthen kasbah in the afternoon light.
Route: Dades, Valley of Roses, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou. Night in an Ouarzazate hotel.
Day 9: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
We climb the Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas, with photo stops and lunch in a Berber village on the way, and drop into Marrakech in the afternoon for a first look at the Jemaa el-Fna square.
Route: Ouarzazate, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech. Night in a Marrakech riad.
Day 10: Marrakech to Essaouira
We drive out to the Atlantic at Essaouira, past the argan groves where goats sometimes climb the trees. The old port town has ramparts, a fishing harbour and a wide beach; we spend the day here before dropping you off or heading back.
Route: Marrakech, argan country, Essaouira.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver for the full loop
- Pick-up in Casablanca and drop-off at the end
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Nine nights in riads, guesthouses, a kasbah hotel and a desert camp
- Breakfasts and dinners on desert nights
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.