13-Day Tour to Casablanca via the Desert
A full 13-day Moroccan loop from Casablanca, taking in the imperial cities, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the Akchour waterfalls, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a luxury Sahara camp in Merzouga and the souks of Marrakech.
Local guide
Small groups
Hotel pickup
13 days / 12 nights
Small group (up to 17)
English / French / Arabic
About Us
- ›This 13-day round trip starts and ends in Casablanca and shows you the very best of Morocco.
- ›You will visit the four imperial cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Marrakech, walk through the famous blue streets of Chefchaouen, and discover the Roman city of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- ›The tour takes you to the cool waterfalls of Akchour in the Rif Mountains, then south across the Middle Atlas with its cedar forests and Barbary monkeys.
- ›You will spend a night in a luxury desert camp at the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, meet a nomad family, and listen to live Gnaoua music under the stars.
- ›On the way back you cross the Ziz Valley, the deep Todra Gorge, and the green Dades Valley with its rose fields.
- ›You also visit the famous mud-brick kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, another UNESCO site, before crossing the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
- ›The trip ends with a guided walk through the busy souks and gardens of Marrakech and a transfer back to Casablanca airport.
Experience Itinerary
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1
Day 1 — Arrival in Casablanca
- ›Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.
- ›Your private driver will be waiting for you with a name sign.
- ›You will be taken straight to your hotel in the city for check-in.
- ›The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight or to take a short walk near the corniche and the famous Hassan II Mosque.
- ›Dinner is on your own.
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2
Day 2 — Casablanca to Rabat
- ›After breakfast you will visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, one of the largest mosques in the world, partly built over the ocean.
- ›Then we drive about 90 km north to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
- ›In Rabat you will see the tall Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the old Kasbah of the Oudayas with its blue and white walls, and the outside of the Royal Palace.
- ›Overnight in Rabat.
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3
Day 3 — Rabat to Chefchaouen
- ›Today we drive north into the Rif Mountains to reach Chefchaouen, the famous Blue City.
- ›The road takes about 4 hours and crosses green hills and small farming towns.
- ›On arrival you check into your hotel in the old medina.
- ›In the evening you can stroll through the narrow streets, all painted in different shades of blue, and stop in one of the small cafés on the main square Plaza Outa el Hammam.
- ›Overnight in Chefchaouen.
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4
Day 4 — Chefchaouen and Akchour Waterfalls
- ›After breakfast we drive about 45 minutes into the Talassemtane National Park to reach the Akchour Waterfalls.
- ›You will follow an easy walking trail along a clear river, past small Berber huts that sell tea and fresh juice, until you reach the big waterfall.
- ›The water is cold and clean and you can swim in the natural pools.
- ›We return to Chefchaouen in the late afternoon for free time in the blue streets.
- ›Overnight in Chefchaouen.
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5
Day 5 — Chefchaouen to Volubilis and Fes
- ›We leave Chefchaouen in the morning and drive south to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- ›With a local guide you will see the well-kept mosaics, the old basilica, and the Triumphal Arch.
- ›Next we stop at Moulay Idriss, the holy white town built on two hills, where the first Arab ruler of Morocco is buried.
- ›In the late afternoon we continue to Fes for check-in.
- ›Overnight in Fes.
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6
Day 6 — Full day in Fes
- ›Today is a full guided day in the medina of Fes el Bali, listed by UNESCO and one of the largest car-free old cities in the world.
- ›With a local guide you will walk through more than 9,000 narrow lanes and see the famous Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 and considered the oldest in the world.
- ›You will also visit the colourful Chouara tanneries from a leather shop terrace, the Bou Inania Madrasa, and several traditional craft shops.
- ›Lunch in a riad restaurant.
- ›Overnight in Fes.
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7
Day 7 — Fes to Merzouga
- ›Leave Fes early in the morning and drive south across the Middle Atlas Mountains.
- ›We pass the ski town of Ifrane, known as the little Switzerland of Morocco, and cross the cedar forests of Azrou where wild Barbary macaque monkeys live.
- ›Stop for lunch in Midelt, a small mountain town.
- ›In the afternoon we follow the green Ziz Valley with its long line of palm trees and old ksars.
- ›Arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel near the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- ›Overnight in Merzouga.
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8
Day 8 — Merzouga, nomads and luxury desert camp
- ›After breakfast we drive in a 4x4 around the Erg Chebbi area.
- ›We visit a real nomad family in their tent, share a cup of mint tea and learn about their daily life in the desert.
- ›We also stop in the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnaoua people of Sub-Saharan origin, for a small live music concert.
- ›In the late afternoon you climb on a camel and ride into the dunes for about an hour.
- ›You spend the night in a luxury desert camp with private tent, dinner under the stars, and music around the fire.
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9
Day 9 — Merzouga to Dades Valley
- ›After sunrise over the dunes you return to the hotel for breakfast and a shower.
- ›We then drive west through the long Ziz Valley and stop at Rissani, the old caravan town.
- ›Next we cross the deep Todra Gorge, where the cliffs rise over 300 metres on each side of a narrow road.
- ›You can walk a short way along the river bottom.
- ›In the afternoon we continue to the Dades Valley, known for its rose fields and strange rock shapes called the Monkey Fingers.
- ›Overnight in a hotel in the Dades Valley.
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10
Day 10 — Dades Valley to Ait Ben Haddou
- ›Today we follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs along the Skoura palm grove and the town of Ouarzazate, often called the Hollywood of Morocco for its film studios.
- ›In the afternoon we reach Ait Ben Haddou, a famous fortified mud-brick village listed by UNESCO.
- ›With a local guide you will cross the small river on stones and walk up through the old ksar all the way to the granary at the top, with great views over the valley.
- ›Overnight in a hotel facing the kasbah.
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11
Day 11 — Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
- ›After a short morning visit to the kasbah we drive up into the High Atlas Mountains.
- ›We cross the famous Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, with many stops for photos of the Berber villages and snow-covered peaks.
- ›We arrive in Marrakech in the early afternoon and check in to your hotel or riad in the old medina.
- ›In the evening you are free to wander in the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square, with its snake charmers, story tellers and food stalls.
- ›Overnight in Marrakech.
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12
Day 12 — Marrakech guided tour
- ›A full guided day in the red city of Marrakech.
- ›You will see the Koutoubia Mosque with its tall minaret, the beautiful Bahia Palace and its painted ceilings, and the colourful Majorelle Garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
- ›We also walk through the lively medina souks where you can see leather, spices, lamps and carpets being made by hand.
- ›Free time in the afternoon to shop or relax.
- ›Overnight in Marrakech.
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13
Day 13 — Marrakech to Casablanca airport
- ›After breakfast you check out of your hotel.
- ›Your private driver will take you on the 3-hour drive from Marrakech to Casablanca Mohammed V airport in time for your departure flight.
- ›The tour ends here.
- ›We hope you take with you many great memories of Morocco.
What's Included
- Private transport in a clean air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
- Local licensed guides in Rabat, Fes, Volubilis, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech
- 11 nights in selected hotels or riads on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night in a luxury private tent in the Erg Chebbi desert camp with dinner and breakfast
- Camel trek into the dunes at sunset and sandboarding on the Erg Chebbi
- Visit to a nomad family and live Gnaoua music in Khamlia village
- All airport transfers from Casablanca and back
Not Included
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Lunches and most dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks, mineral water and personal expenses
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and gardens
- Tips for drivers, guides and camp staff
- Travel and medical insurance
Know Before You Go
| Duration | 13 days / 12 nights |
| Languages | English / French / Arabic |
| Level | Easy — long itinerary |
| Dietary | Vegetarian meals on request |
| Group type | Small group (up to 17) |