10-Day Morocco Tour From Casablanca to Marrakech via Sahara Desert

Upon arrival at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, a representative provides a 30–45 minute transfer to your hotel. After check-in, time is available to rest or walk the neighborhood depending on arrival time. Your guide will meet you at the hotel to review the itinerary and answer questions. If arriving early, a short orientation walk near the hotel is possible. Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city and economic hub, blends modern development with traditional culture. Dinner options include the hotel or local restaurants; your guide will offer recommendations. Overnight in Casablanca.

• Driving Time: 30–45 minutes (airport transfer)
  Accommodation: Hotel in Casablanca
  Meals: Not included (restaurant recommendations available)
  Highlights: Initial overview of Casablanca

Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, notable for its oceanfront location, capacity of 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,000 in the courtyard, and detailed craftsmanship including carved stone, woodwork, mosaics, and a glass floor over the sea. Then drive to Rabat and meet a local guide for a city tour: explore the Kasbah of the Udayas with its Andalusian Gardens and Atlantic views, and visit the 12th-century Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V with its traditional Moroccan design. In the afternoon, continue to Chefchaouen via rural countryside. Arrive by evening, check in, and walk through the medina and Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Dinner at leisure.

Driving Time: ~5–6 hours with stops (340 km)
Accommodation: Hotel or Riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Hassan II Mosque, Rabat’s Kasbah and monuments, Chefchaouen arrival

Spend the morning exploring Chefchaouen’s blue-painted medina. Optional visits include the Kasbah Museum in the main square and a short hike to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views. Mid-morning, depart for Volubilis via Wazzan and Rif villages, passing through olive groves, wheat fields, and vineyards. At Volubilis, tour the well-preserved Roman ruins including the triumphal arch, basilica, capitol, and mosaic-decorated houses an important Roman site dating to the 3rd century BC. Continue to Meknes for lunch and a guided visit to Bab El Mansour and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, showcasing Moroccan tilework and architecture. In the late afternoon, drive to Fes. After hotel check-in, there’s time for a walk and dinner at your riad or a local restaurant.

Driving Time: ~5–6 hours with stops (250 km)
Accommodation: Hotel or Riad in Fes
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Chefchaouen morning walk, Volubilis ruins, Meknes monuments, arrival in Fes

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a full-day (or half-day) tour of Fes, Morocco’s oldest imperial city. The focus is on Fes el Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest car-free urban area. Enter via Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate), then visit Al Quaraouiyine University (founded in 859 CE), viewable from select points. Continue to the traditional tanneries to observe leather processing from a terrace above the dye pits. After lunch in the medina, explore artisan souks with coppersmiths, weavers, potters, and woodcarvers. Visit the Royal Palace’s brass doors and the Jewish Quarter (Mellah). Return to the riad in the evening; dinner at leisure.

Walking Time: Full-day tour with breaks
Accommodation: Hotel or Riad in Fes
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Fes el Bali, Al Quaraouiyine University, tanneries, souks, Royal Palace

Depart Fes and travel south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. First stop is Ifrane, built by the French in the 1930s, with Alpine-style architecture and clean streets. Walk through the town and see the stone lion statue. Continue to the cedar forests of Azrou to observe Barbary macaques in their natural habitat. The route continues over the Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass and along the Ziz Valley with palm groves and panoramic viewpoints. As the terrain becomes more arid, pass through Erfoud and reach Merzouga by late afternoon. Begin a camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, arriving at a desert camp in time to watch the sunset from a high dune. After check-in, have dinner and enjoy Berber music by the campfire under the stars. The camp provides beds, toilets, and basic washing facilities.

Driving Time: ~7–8 hours with stops (460 km)
Accommodation: Desert camp in Merzouga
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Highlights: Ifrane, Azrou forest, Ziz Valley, camel trek, Sahara sunset

Wake early to view the sunrise over the Sahara dunes, then return to camp for breakfast. A 4×4 excursion begins mid-morning, covering remote areas around Merzouga. First, visit Berber nomad families in traditional tents to learn about their lifestyle and desert survival practices. Continue to the ancient Memphis mines for views of the Erg Chebbi dunes and historical context. Then head to Khamlia village to hear live Gnaoua music rooted in African spiritual traditions. Afternoon is free for rest or optional activities such as quad biking, buggy rides, or sandboarding (extra cost). Dinner and overnight at your hotel or camp.

Driving Time: ~4 hours (4×4 excursion)
Accommodation: Hotel or camp in Merzouga
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Highlights: Sahara sunrise, nomad visit, mines, Khamlia music
Optional Activities: Quad biking, buggy riding, sandboarding

Depart the Sahara and head west. First stop is Rissani, historic capital of Tafilalet and origin of the Alaouite dynasty. Visit the traditional souk, especially active on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, offering spices, goods, livestock, and regional dates. Continue through changing terrain to Todra Gorges, where limestone cliffs rise up to 300 m high and narrow to 10 m wide. Walk through the gorge and observe local climbers. After lunch, follow the “way of the thousand kasbahs,” a route lined with fortified villages and palm groves. Arrive in Ouarzazate by late afternoon. Check into your hotel and relax before dinner.

Driving Time: ~5–6 hours with stops (370 km)
Accommodation: Hotel/Riad in Ouarzazate
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Rissani souk, Todra Gorges walk, kasbah route scenery

After breakfast, tour Ouarzazate, starting with Kasbah Taourirt former Glaoui residence featuring narrow corridors, painted cedar ceilings, and tower views. Optional visit to Atlas Film Studios (entry not included), filming site for productions like Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified village of earthen structures used in many films. Walk its narrow alleys and climb for panoramic views while learning its history as a key stop on the old caravan route. After lunch nearby, cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m), stopping at scenic viewpoints. Arrive in Marrakech by late afternoon, check in, and optionally walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa square for evening activity.

Driving Time: ~4–5 hours with stops (200 km)
Accommodation: Hotel or Riad in Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Ouarzazate kasbahs and studios, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka Pass, Marrakech arrival

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a full-day (or half-day) tour of Marrakech. Begin at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, active even during the day with performers, vendors, and food stalls. Visit Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century, showcasing Moroccan craftsmanship. Continue to the Saadian Tombs, rediscovered in 1917, known for detailed tilework and carvings. Explore El Badi Palace ruins and then walk through the medina’s souks with artisans selling leather, textiles, spices, and metalwork. View the Koutoubia Mosque’s 77-meter minaret from outside. Visit Majorelle Garden, known for exotic plants and blue buildings, and optionally see the Berber Museum. Also visit Menara Gardens with its reflecting pool and mountain views. After the guided tour, enjoy free time or return to Jemaa el-Fnaa for evening activity.

Walking Time: Full-day tour with breaks
Accommodation: Hotel or Riad in Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast included
Highlights: Jemaa el-Fnaa, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, souks, Koutoubia Mosque, Majorelle Garden, Menara Gardens

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Marrakech based on your departure schedule. Options include last-minute shopping in the souks, relaxing at your riad, or revisiting key sites. Handicrafts like leather, ceramics, textiles, spices, and argan oil are available; your guide can recommend reliable shops. At the designated time, transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport (15–20 minutes). If departing from Casablanca, transfers (2.5–3 hours) can be arranged at extra cost.

Driving Time: ~15–20 minutes (airport transfer)
Meals: Breakfast included
Optional Activities: Shopping, relaxation