12 Day Tour From Casablanca to
Marrakech

Overview:

Welcome to Morocco ayour travel’s grand 12 Day Tour from Casablanca holiday. Starting in the modern city of Casablanca, this tour offers the most complete and relaxing journey through our beautiful country. With twelve days at your disposal, you will never have to rush.

You will explore imperial cities, walk through the famous blue mountain town, spend two incredible nights in the heart of the Sahara Desert, discover vast rocky canyons, experience Marrakech, and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze in Essaouira. This is the perfect itinerary for travellers who want to see everything at a relaxed pace.

Quick Facts

Duration

12 Days / 11 Nights

Departure

Daily from Casablanca

Languages

English, Spanish

Difficulty

Easy · Family friendly

What you’ll experience

Top Highlights

Hassan II Mosque

Marvel at the giant beautiful mosque built right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Blue Pearl

Walk through the famous bright blue and white streets of Chefchaouen.

Fes Medina Magic

Explore the ancient historic streets and traditional markets with a local guide.

Sahara Starry Night

Sleep in a traditional luxury camp under the clear desert sky.

Authentic Berber Culture

Drink mint tea with local nomads and watch traditional dances.

Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah

Explore the ancient mud brick village famous for Hollywood movies.

Through the lens

Photo Gallery

Day by day

Your Itinerary

Day 1

Casablanca ➔ Rabat ➔ Chefchaouen

Our grand travel adventure through Morocco begins in the morning, when your private driver will collect you from your hotel or the airport in Casablanca. Our first stop is the magnificent Hassan II Mosque. One of the largest mosques in the world, it features a spectacular tower and beautiful traditional artwork overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After taking photos of this amazing building, we will drive north to Rabat, the capital city.

Here, we will explore the historic Hassan Tower and the beautiful marble tombs of the royal family. We will also take a peaceful stroll through the beautiful fortress neighbourhood of the Oudayas Kasbah with its clean blue and white walls. After enjoying a delicious lunch, we will drive into the beautiful Rif Mountains until we reach Chefchaouen. You will check into a comfortable local riad and enjoy a quiet evening in this famous blue city.

Day 2

Chefchaouen ➔ Volubilis ➔ Meknes ➔ Fes

You will have the whole morning to explore Chefchaouen’s beautiful blue streets at your own pace. This peaceful town is the perfect place to take amazing, colourful photos, shop for handmade mountain crafts, or sit in a local café. You can also walk up to the old Spanish mosque on the hill to enjoy beautiful views of the entire valley.

After enjoying some fresh mountain air and lunch, we will drive south towards the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. You can walk through the giant stone gates and admire the beautiful ancient floor art that has survived for thousands of years. We will also make a brief stop in the royal city of Meknes to see the impressive Bab Mansour gate. In the late afternoon, we will arrive in the ancient city of Fes, where you will check into a traditional riad.

Day 3

Fes City Sightseeing

Your tour will continue in the heart of Fes. After breakfast at your riad, a friendly local guide will meet you for a full day of exploring Morocco’s spiritual capital. Fes is home to the world’s oldest working medina, a vast network of narrow streets brimming with life, colour and history.

You will visit the famous leather tanneries, where workers still use natural dyes to colour animal skins in the same way as they did hundreds of years ago. You will also see beautiful historic Islamic schools and incredible mosques, as well as bustling local markets where people sell fresh produce and handicrafts. You will then enjoy a delicious tagine for lunch in a peaceful riad tucked away in the old city. In the late afternoon, your guide will take you back to your riad to relax in the evening.

Day 4

Fes ➔ Ifrane ➔ Azrou ➔ Midelt

We will leave Fes in the morning and drive south towards the beautiful Middle Atlas Mountains. Our first stop is Ifrane, a clean and quiet town with alpine architecture and cool weather that makes it look just like a small village in Switzerland. From there, we will drive into the deep cedar forests near Azrou.

This forest is home to the wild Barbary macaque monkey. You can walk amongst the enormous trees and take photos of the monkeys playing in the branches. After the forest, the road takes us higher up into the mountains. We will pass small Berber farming villages and large green valleys. We will arrive in the peaceful town of Midelt in time for a relaxing evening and a fresh dinner at a nice local hotel.

Day 5

Midelt ➔ Ziz Valley ➔ Erfoud ➔ Merzouga

Today, the landscape changes completely as we leave the mountains behind us. After breakfast, we drive through the spectacular Ziz Valley. This massive green oasis is home to thousands of tall palm trees and lies within a deep, dry canyon. It is one of the most beautiful places in Morocco for photography, and we will make a special stop at a panoramic viewpoint.

We then continue driving through the fossil town of Erfoud until we finally reach the giant sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga. A team of local desert guides will be waiting for us with their camels. You will ride your camel over the golden sand dunes as the sun sets. Your destination is a luxury desert camp, where you can enjoy a sumptuous dinner and listen to traditional music around the campfire before sleeping in a comfortable private tent under the stars.

Day 6

Sahara Desert Exploration ➔ Nomad Visit ➔ Khamlia

Your camp hosts will wake you up early so that you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of the desert sunrise from the top of a high sand dune. After enjoying a warm shower and a hearty breakfast at the camp, you will meet your driver and set off on an exciting day of exploring the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert in a comfortable four-wheel-drive vehicle. We will leave paved roads behind to travel across wild desert landscapes.

Our first stop is with a traditional nomadic family living in a tent made from woven goat hair. You will sit with them, share a cup of hot mint tea and learn about their way of life in this vast desert environment. Next, we will explore an old mining area where local people used to work many years ago.

We then travel to the small village of Khamlia for lunch, where the locals are famous for their unique Gnawa music. You will enjoy a private performance full of deep drumbeats and spiritual dancing while eating a traditional desert pizza. During your time in the desert, you will also experience the beautiful traditional Ahidous dance, performed proudly in two straight lines, one for men and one for women. In the afternoon, you can check into a beautiful hotel next to the dunes, where you can swim in the pool and relax.

Day 7

Merzouga ➔ Rissani ➔ Todra Gorge ➔ Dades Valley

After breakfast at your hotel, we will say goodbye to the dunes of the Sahara. We will then drive straight to the traditional town of Rissani, where we will visit its large, authentic local market. We will take a short walk through the bustling streets, where locals trade fresh spices, sweet dates and handmade crafts.

Next, we will drive to the spectacular Todra Gorge. This massive natural canyon features perfectly straight red stone cliffs that reach hundreds of metres into the air, with a cool mountain river flowing along the bottom. You will have plenty of free time to safely walk along the riverbank, enjoy the fresh air and take amazing photos of the giant walls.

After enjoying a nice lunch near the canyon, we will continue our journey to the lush Dades Valley. The route will take us past some amazing rock formations that resemble giant fingers and are known locally as ‘monkey fingers’. We will arrive at our lovely hotel in the valley just in time for a warm dinner and a peaceful night’s sleep surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.

Day 8

Dades Valley ➔ Roses Valley ➔ Ouarzazate ➔ Ait Ben Haddou

After a good night’s sleep, we set off on our drive along the famous Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. We will travel through the beautiful Valley of the Roses, where local farmers cultivate millions of pink roses each spring. We will stop at a local shop to see how sweet-smelling rose water and beauty creams are produced naturally.

Continuing our drive, we will reach the city of Ouarzazate, often called the ‘Hollywood of Africa’. Here, you will visit the vast Atlas Film Studios, which have been used to film many famous international movies and television shows. You will also see the impressive Taourirt Kasbah, located right in the centre of the city.

In the afternoon, we will drive a short distance to the legendary Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. This vast, ancient, mud-brick village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is beautifully situated on the side of a hill. We will then check into a charming local hotel nearby, where you can enjoy a peaceful dinner while watching the sun set over the ancient fortress.

Day 9

Ait Ben Haddou ➔ High Atlas Mountains ➔ Marrakech

After breakfast, we will explore the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou in detail. You will walk through its narrow, historic streets and climb to the very top to enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding river and valley. The experience is like stepping back in time or onto a movie set.

After enjoying a tasty local lunch, we will begin our spectacular drive over the High Atlas Mountains. We will carefully make our way up the winding roads of the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, the highest mountain road in the country. You will enjoy incredible views of tiny stone villages perched on steep green cliffs. In the early evening, we will drive down the mountains and arrive in the vibrant city of Marrakech, where we will drop you off safely at your beautiful riad.

Day 10

Marrakech city sightseeing

After a lovely breakfast, a professional local guide will meet you at your riad to begin a guided walking tour of Marrakech. Your first visit is to the stunning Majorelle Garden, a massive botanical space full of exotic plants and bright colorful painted walls. We will also visit the Bahia Palace to see the incredible traditional tile work and carved wooden ceilings created for past royalty.

In the afternoon, you will explore the historic medina and walk through the busy and colorful market streets. You will see talented locals making leather shoes, beautiful lamps, and soft carpets. Your guide will show you the best spots to shop and help you understand the deep history of the city.

The day ends at the famous Jemaa el Fna square. This huge public space comes alive in the evening with food stalls, storytellers, musicians, and performers. You can enjoy a fresh orange juice while watching the wonderful energy of the city from a high rooftop cafe before heading back to your riad for the night.

Day 11

Marrakech ➔ Essouira

In the morning, we will leave Marrakech and travel west towards the ocean to visit the beautiful coastal city of Essaouira. En route, we will pass large fields of argan trees. We will stop briefly to observe local women extracting precious argan oil using traditional methods. You might even see goats climbing the trees to eat the argan nuts!

Once we arrive in Essaouira, you will notice how much calmer and more relaxed the atmosphere is compared to the big cities. You can explore the old fishing port, which is full of bright blue boats, and watch the local fishermen bringing in their daily catch. You will also walk along the huge stone walls that protect the city from the powerful ocean waves.

In the afternoon, you will have free time to wander through the bright white and blue streets of the old medina. Many small shops are selling beautiful wooden crafts and colourful traditional clothing. In the evening, enjoy a delicious, freshly caught fish dinner near the sea, before sleeping in a comfortable riad in the heart of Essaouira.

Day 12

Essouira ➔ Casablanca

On your final morning, you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast in Essouira and take one last walk by the ocean. We then start our drive back to Casablanca. We will be taking the fast and smooth inland highway to ensure a comfortable journey for you.

We drive directly through the beautiful countryside, enjoying the open views as we travel safely toward the biggest city in the country. We will stop along the highway to rest and have a light lunch.

We arrive in Casablanca in the afternoon. Your driver will safely drop you off at the international airport for your flight home, or at your hotel if you are staying longer, bringing your amazing twelve-day holiday with Exciting Morocco Travel to a perfect end.

Transparent pricing

What's Included

Pick up in Casablanca and drop off at your hotel or the airport
Private air conditioned comfortable vehicle for the whole trip
Friendly English speaking professional driver and guide
Local professional guides for Fes and Marrakech city walks
One night in a luxury Sahara desert camp under the stars
Private sunset and sunrise camel rides in the sand dunes

Frequently Asked Questions

How much driving is involved in this ten day trip?

Because this tour spans ten days, the driving is spread out very comfortably. While some days involve traveling between major cities, we always break up the journey with plenty of scenic stops, tea breaks, and interesting monument visits so you never feel stuck in a car.

Are the ATV rides in the desert safe for beginners?

Yes absolutely. If you choose to add an ATV off-roading experience, professional instructors will provide a full safety briefing and guide you through the dunes. You do not need any previous experience to enjoy this thrilling ride safely.

What should I pack for a trip covering the desert and the mountains?

Packing layers is the best strategy. Bring a light jacket for cool desert nights and mountain breezes, comfortable walking shoes for the ancient medinas, sunscreen, and a small overnight bag for your desert camp stay, so your main luggage can stay safely in the vehicle.

Can we customize this itinerary if we want to add or remove a city?

Of course! This is a private tour, which means the schedule is entirely flexible. If you want to spend more time in a specific city or add a different stop, we can easily adjust the itinerary to perfectly match your travel dreams.

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12 Day Tour From Casablanca to Marrakech