Private tour · Casablanca round trip
Private 10-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Imperial Cities and the Sahara
A round trip from Casablanca through Marrakech, the High Atlas, the Dadès and Todra valleys, a night at an Erg Chebbi desert camp, Fes, Volubilis, Meknes and Rabat — with your own driver and guided visits in the major cities.
A 10-day loop through Morocco's cities, mountains and desert
This private 10-day Morocco tour from Casablanca loops through the country's imperial cities, the High Atlas and the Sahara before returning to Casablanca. You travel with your own driver, spend guided days in Marrakech and Fes, cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass to the kasbahs of the south, and sleep one night in a desert camp beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. The journey north takes in Volubilis, Meknes and Rabat. It suits couples, families and small groups who want a broad first look at Morocco in one trip and are comfortable with several long road days in exchange.
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Request your private quote
Tell us a little about your trip and we'll send a tailored itinerary and price for your group. To prepare an accurate quote, please include:
- Your travel dates, or the month you're considering
- Number of travellers, and the ages of any children
- Room arrangement (double, twin, family rooms, single rooms)
- Arrival and departure flight times into Casablanca, if booked
- The accommodation level you prefer
- Anything you'd like to add, remove or slow down
Prefer to talk it through? Email culture.moroccotours@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp +212 662 178 227.
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Day-by-day itinerary
Driving times below depend on road conditions, weather and how often you stop. Your driver adapts the pace on the day.
Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to Marrakech
Your driver meets you on arrival in Casablanca and you head south to Marrakech by motorway. The rest of the day is yours to settle in, rest after the flight, or take a first short walk near your accommodation.
Guided sightseeing in Marrakech
A local guide leads you through the medina, including Jemaa el-Fna square with its storytellers, musicians and food stalls, the souks of spices, leather, textiles and woodwork, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Qur'anic school known for its carved cedar and zellige tilework. The guide can adjust the visit to your interests, and the evening is free to return to the square as it fills with food stalls.
Over the High Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Dadès Valley
The road climbs from the Haouz plain through Berber villages to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, one of the highest road crossings of the High Atlas. On the southern side you visit the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified earthen village that UNESCO describes as
"a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco."— UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
You continue through Ouarzazate and past the Skoura palm grove into the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M'Gouna, then on to the Dadès Valley for the night.
Todra Gorge, Erfoud and on to Merzouga
After breakfast you drive east to the Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls close in around a narrow river path that is easy to walk. The road then crosses the open pre-Saharan landscape through Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops, before the first dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon near Merzouga.
Khamlia, the Merzouga area and sunset at Erg Chebbi
With a full day in the area, you visit Khamlia, a village associated with Gnawa music, and explore the surroundings of Merzouga with your driver — depending on time and conditions, this can include the old mining area at Mifis and the Tisserdamine oasis. In the late afternoon you head into the dunes for sunset. Most guests ride a camel to the camp; the ride is optional, and we can arrange a 4×4 transfer instead where access allows. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by an evening under the stars.
Merzouga to Fes via the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas
Wake early if you'd like to watch sunrise over the dunes, then return to the edge of the desert for breakfast and the long drive north. The route follows the Ziz Valley, with its palm groves and gorges, through Errachidia and up into the Middle Atlas via Midelt. Where time allows, you can stop in the cedar forest region around Ifrane before descending to Fes in the evening. Expect most of the day on the road, with regular breaks.
Guided sightseeing in Fes
A local guide takes you into Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free medinas in the world. UNESCO notes that Fes has kept its status as
"the country's cultural and spiritual centre."— UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Medina of Fez
Typical stops include the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Attarine souk, the leather tanneries seen from a terrace, and the exterior of Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in the 9th century. Mosques in Fes are generally closed to non-Muslim visitors, so your guide will show you what can be seen from the entrances. You also see Fes el-Jdid, the district added under the Marinids.
Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes
A short drive brings you to Volubilis, a Mauretanian capital that, in UNESCO's words, became
"an important outpost of the Roman Empire."— UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Archaeological Site of Volubilis
Its floor mosaics and triumphal arch sit in open farmland. Nearby, the hillside town of Moulay Idriss holds the shrine of Idris I, founder of the Idrisid dynasty. In Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, you visit Bab Mansour and El Hedim square.
Meknes to Rabat and Casablanca
You drive west to Rabat, Morocco's capital, to see the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After time for lunch in Rabat, you continue along the coast to Casablanca for the final night.
Casablanca sightseeing and airport transfer
If your flight leaves later in the day, you can visit the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic seafront and, time permitting, drive along the Corniche. The mosque's exterior and esplanade can be seen at any reasonable hour; guided interior visits run to a schedule set by the mosque and are not available during prayer times, so they cannot be guaranteed. With an early flight, you transfer straight to Mohammed V Airport after breakfast.
Accommodation and the desert camp
You stay in traditional riads in the old cities of Marrakech and Fes, and in hotels elsewhere on the route, including a hotel in Merzouga on the fourth night. The exact properties and room types are confirmed in your quote and can be matched to the level of comfort you prefer.
Night five is spent in a tented camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes, with dinner, a campfire and a clear view of the night sky. We work with more than one standard of camp, from traditional Berber tents to private tents with their own bathroom; tell us which you'd like and we'll confirm availability. You can read more on our Merzouga desert camp page.
The camel ride to the camp is optional. If you'd rather not ride, let us know in advance and we'll arrange a 4×4 transfer to the camp where access allows.
What's included and what's not
Included
- Private 4×4 vehicle for the full 10 days, with fuel
- Your own driver throughout the tour (tell us your preferred language when you enquire)
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Casablanca
- 9 nights' accommodation with breakfast and dinner
- Local guides for the city visits in Marrakech, Fes and Meknes
- 1 night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi
- Camel ride to the desert camp (optional)
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and sites
- Tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff
Why choose this 10-day journey?
Guided days in Marrakech and Fes
Both cities get a full day with a local guide rather than a drive-through, so you see the medinas, madrasas and souks with someone who knows the lanes.
A full day around Merzouga
You reach Merzouga the evening before the camp night, which leaves a whole day to visit Khamlia and the surrounding desert before sunset at Erg Chebbi.
Six World Heritage sites on one route
The medinas of Marrakech and Fes, the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, Volubilis, historic Meknes and Rabat are all inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. See the sources below.
Morocco's regions side by side
In ten days you move from the Atlantic cities to High Atlas passes, pre-Saharan valleys, the dunes and the Middle Atlas — a clear sense of how varied the country is.
One airport in and out
Starting and finishing in Casablanca keeps flights simple, and the final day leaves room for the Hassan II Mosque if your departure time allows.
Private and adjustable
Only your group travels in the vehicle. Stops, hotel level and the number of nights in each place can be changed when we prepare your quote.
Practical planning information
Long travel days
Days 3, 4 and 6 involve several hours on the road, with Day 6 from Merzouga to Fes the longest. Your driver builds in stops, but if you prefer a gentler pace, we can add a night on the route or extend your time in the cities.
Luggage
A soft bag or medium suitcase is easiest to load in a 4×4. For the desert camp, pack a small overnight bag; the main luggage can stay at the hotel or in the vehicle.
Desert temperatures
The Sahara can be hot by day and cold at night, especially from late autumn to early spring. Bring a warm layer for the camp evening and sun protection for the dunes.
How customisation works
Send us your dates and preferences and we'll return an itinerary and price for your group. You can change the hotel level, add nights, or adjust stops before you confirm.
Sources and further reading
- Medina of Marrakesh — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Medina of Fez — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Archaeological Site of Volubilis — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Historic City of Meknes — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, with your own driver for the whole trip. There are no other passengers and no fixed group departures.
Where does the tour begin and end?
It starts and ends in Casablanca. Your driver meets you at Mohammed V Airport or your Casablanca hotel on Day 1 and drops you at the airport on Day 10.
How many nights are spent in the Sahara region?
Two: one night in a hotel in Merzouga on Day 4 and one night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes on Day 5.
Is the camel ride required?
No. The camel ride to the camp is optional. Tell us in advance and we'll arrange a 4×4 transfer to the camp where access allows.
How long is the Merzouga-to-Fes travel day?
It's the longest day of the tour, with most of the day spent on the road through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas, broken up by regular stops. We can split it with an extra night if you prefer.
Are guided visits included?
Yes. Local guides lead the city visits in Marrakech, Fes and Meknes. Entrance fees to monuments and sites are not included.
Can hotels or the route be customised?
Yes. We can change the accommodation level, add nights, adjust stops or reorder parts of the route. Share your preferences when you request a quote.
Can we visit Casablanca before an early flight?
Only if your flight time allows. With an early departure you transfer straight to the airport after breakfast; you can add a night in Casablanca if seeing the Hassan II Mosque matters to you.
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Plan your 10-day Morocco tour from Casablanca
Send us your dates, group size, room preferences, flight details and preferred accommodation level. We'll reply with a tailored itinerary and a private quote for your group.