12 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Casablanca via the desert

Day 1: Marrakech Airport – Hotel / Riad

Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) you’ll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel or traditional riad in the heart of the medina. Settle in enjoy your first glass of mint tea on a rooftop terrace and soak in the atmosphere of the Red City. In the evening venture out to Jemaa el-Fna Square by day it’s orange juice stalls and snake charmers by night it transforms into a vibrant open air theatre of storytellers, musicians and food stalls.

Meals: breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Marrakech

Day 2:  Marrakech City tour with Local Guide

After breakfast  meet your licensed local guide for a full-day exploration of Marrakech. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque (the city’s iconic 77-metre minaret) the magnificent Bahia Palace with its intricate mosaics and courtyards, and the Saadian Tombs with their stunning Hispano Moorish carvings. Explore the Majorelle Gardens the stunning blue garden designed by Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and the UNESCO-listed Medina with its vibrant souks. Visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) before culminating at Jemaa el-Fna Square where your guide will leave you to explore the evening spectacle at your own pace.

Meals: breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Marrakech

Day 3: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Valley

After breakfast depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m) the highest paved road in Morocco. Stop at the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddoua UNESCO World Heritage site and famous film location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Continue through Ouarzazate (“Hollywood of Africa”) with a stop at the Taourirt Kasbah. Travel through the Skoura Oasis and the fragrant Valley of Roses. Arrive in the dramatic Dades Valley in the late afternoon, with a stop at the famous “monkey fingers” rock formations. Enjoy dinner at your hotel surrounded by the mountain landscape.

Driving distance: Approximately 390 km | Driving time: Approximately 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Dades Valley

Day 4: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga (Sahara Camel Trek)

After breakfast we drive to the spectacular Todra Gorges towering limestone cliffs rising 300 metres on either side. Walk along the riverbed and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Continue through the palm groves of Tinghir and Tinjdad to Erfoud a desert town famous for its fossils and black marble. Stop at a local fossil workshop before arriving in Merzouga at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Take out your overnight luggage and mount your camel for a sunset trek across the golden dunes (1–1.5 hours). Arrive at a traditional Berber desert camp  enjoy dinner and gather around the campfire for Berber drumming and music under the starry sky.

Driving time: Approximately 4–5 hours (plus camel trek)
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: LUXURY desert camp in Erg Chebbi

Day 5: Explore Merzouga Desert and EXPLORE the Nomads Life

Wake up early for a magical sunrise over the Sahara dunes. After breakfast return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. Today is a full-day 4×4 excursion exploring the desert region  visit nomadic families in their tents, experience authentic Gnawa music in Khamlia village discover hidden desert oases visit the seasonal flamingo lake  explore old mines and fossil areas and enjoy panoramic viewpoints over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Free time for lunch in a local restaurant and optional activities like sandboarding or quad biking. Spend your second night in the camp.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: camp in Merzouga

Day 6: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes

After breakfast, bid farewell to the Sahara and drive north toward Fes. Pass through the spectacular Ziz Valley with its lush palm groves. Stop for lunch in Midelt nestled between the Middle and High Atlas mountains. Cross the Middle Atlas and visit the Cedar Forest of Azrou home to wild Barbary macaques (you can stop to see these playful monkeys)  Continue through Ifrane, the alpine “Little Switzerland” of Morocco before arriving in Fes in the evening. Check into your hotel or riad.

Driving time: Approximately 8–9 hours
Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Fes

Day 7: Dive into Fes City with Local Guide

After breakfast, meet your licensed local guide for a full-day exploration of Fes. Start with a panoramic view from Borj Nord over the sprawling Fes el-Bali (Old Medina). Enter the UNESCO-listed medina through the iconic Bab Boujloud gate. Visit the famous Chouara Tannery leather has been produced here since the 11th century. See the Karaouine Mosque and University  the oldest continuously operating university in the world (exterior view). Explore the exquisite Bou Inania Madrasa with its intricate stucco and cedar woodwork. Wander through the vibrant souks and visit the Nejjarine Square. Your guide will leave you to explore the medina at your own pace in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Fes

Day 8: Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen

After breakfast, depart Fes and drive to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilisa UNESCO World Heritage site with remarkably preserved mosaics and columns. This is one of the best preserved Roman sites in North Africa. Continue to Meknes one of Morocco’s four imperial cities with a stop at the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch drive through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen the enchanting “Blue Pearl” of Morocco. Arrive in the late afternoon and wander through its blue-washed alleyways. The town is famous for its relaxed atmosphere and photogenic streets. Spend the night in a traditional riad in the heart of the medina.

Driving time: Approximately 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Chefchaouen

Day 9: Full Day in Chefchaouen

Today is yours to explore Chefchaouen at your own pace one of the most beautiful and relaxing towns in Morocco. The blue-washed city is a photographer’s paradise Spend the day:

• Wandering the medina – Lose yourself in the maze of blue alleyways each corner revealing a new shade of blue from powder to indigo.

• Visiting the Kasbah Museum – Explore the 15th-century fortress with its ethnographic museum and peaceful Andalusian gardens.

• Climbing to the Spanish Mosque – Hike up the hill overlooking the city for the best panoramic views especially at sunset.

• Shopping in the souks – Chefchaouen is famous for its hand-woven blankets, wool garments, and unique handicrafts.

• Trying local goat cheese – The region is known for its delicious fresh goat cheese a must-try.

• Relaxing at a rooftop café – Enjoy mint tea while soaking in the relaxed atmosphere.

Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Chefchaouen

Day 10: Chefchaouen – Tangier

After breakfast, depart Chefchaouen and drive north to Tangier Morocco’s gateway to Europe. This historic port city has inspired writers and artists for centuries. Upon arrival  explore the city highlights:

• The Medina and Kasbah – Wander through the narrow streets of the old town, visit the Dar el Makhzen (the Sultan’s palace) and explore the Kasbah Museum.

• The American Legation Museum – The first American public property outside the United States, a fascinating museum showcasing Moroccan-American relations.

• Cap Spartel – Visit the dramatic cape where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.

• The Caves of Hercules – Explore the legendary caves with the famous “Map of Africa” opening.

Enjoy dinner overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and the Spanish coast.

Driving time: Approximately 3–4 hours
Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Tangier

Day 11: Tangier – Asilah – Rabat – Casablanca

After breakfast we depart Tangier and drive south along the Atlantic coast. Stop at Asilah—a charming whitewashed town with Portuguese ramparts and a laid-back artistic vibe. Visit the old medina, surrounded by 15th-century walls covered in colourful murals painted by local artists. Continue to Rabat Morocco’s capital to visit the Hassan Tower an incomplete 12th-century minaret standing at 44 metres—and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V an exquisite example of modern Alaouite architecture. Continue to Casablanca in the evening and check into your hotel at late afternnon.

Driving time: Approximately 6– 7hours
Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Casablanca

Day 12: Casablanca Airport Drop-off

After breakfast, enjoy free time in the morning for last minute exploration in Casablanca perhaps a visit to the Hassan II Mosque one of the largest mosques in the world with its 210-metre-high minaret rising over the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque is open for guided tours (excluding prayer times). Depending on your flight schedule your driver will transfer you to Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in time for your departure.

Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight:  (airport drop-off)