11-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert

DAY 01 - Casablanca – Arrival & City Tour

Upon landing at Casablanca airport, you will be introduced to the biggest city in Morocco. Your trip will start with a visit to the beautiful Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, known for its striking architecture and located on the Atlantic coast. Lunch is up to you, so you can pick a local café or restaurant. In the afternoon, you will get a chance to walk in the energizing Corniche area, a bustling promenade along the water with cafés and shops. Then you will spend your first night in a nice hotel to prepare for the next day.

DAY 02 - Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen

After breakfast, you will take the northern route along the Atlantic coast to Rabat, Morocco's political and cultural capital. You will stop at some iconic sites like Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret from the 12th century, the well-preserved Tomb of Mohammed V, where the royal family is buried, and the Oudaya Kasbah, a historic fortified area with shops and beautiful Andalusian gardens. After lunch in Rabat, you will continue to Chefchaouen, a mountain town known for its stunning blue-painted streets and buildings at the foot of the Rif Mountains. Chefchaouen has a tranquil vibe and beautiful views of the mountains. You will spend the night in a riad.

• Drive: Casablanca to Chefchaouen - approx. 200 km (around 4-5 hours)

DAY 03 - Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

You will begin your day by walking through the narrow, colorful alleyways of Chefchaouen, taking in the mixture of Moroccan and Andalusian influences. After that, you will travel east to Volubilis—Morocco’s most well-preserved Roman ruins—to see ancient mosaics, triumphal arches, and temples dating back to the 3rd century AD.

After that, you will continue to Meknes, another imperial city, home to some of the grandest historic sites in Morocco, including Bab El Mansour—an imposing monumental gate decorated with intricately carved zellige tiles—Sahrij Souani, which is a large ancient water reservoir, royal stables, granary, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, Morocco's most famous ruler and one of its greatest. Later in the evening, you will arrive in Fès, known for its Medieval medina, where you will stay overnight in a traditional riad for a Moroccan experience.

• Drive: Chefchaouen to Fes - approx. 259 km (around 4-5 hours)

DAY 04 - Fes City Tour with Local Guide

Your guided tour will take you to the cultural and spiritual heart of Fes, Morocco. You will start your day relaxing by the Royal Palace gate, then visit the famous Blue Gate, the main entrance to the city's UNESCO-listed Medina. Once in the old medina, you will visit several historical sites as you wind your way through the narrow streets, including the Medrasa Bouanania, Najjarine Fountain, Moulay Idris Mausoleum, traditional tanneries, and the ancient Quaraouin Mosque and University, which is the oldest in the world.

You will also stroll through the Jewish Quarter, known as the Mellah, to learn about Fes' excellent Jewish heritage. You will end your day climbing up to an old fort for a magnificent view of the entire Medina before returning to your riad for the evening.

DAY 05 - Fes → Ifrane → Middle atlas mountains → Erfoud → Merzouga

After breakfast, leave from Fes and travel south toward the Middle Atlas Mountains. Your first stop is Ifrane – called the “Little Switzerland” of Morocco – because of its distinctive alpine architecture, cooler climate, and beautiful setting. They say it is also home to the famous Barbary macaque monkeys, so we will visit the nearby cedar forest to see them in their natural habitat.

Continue on to Midelt, a beautiful town famous for its apple orchards and mountainous location, where we will stop and enjoy a leisurely lunch. After lunch, we will continue our drive through the stunning green Ziz Valley, an oasis distinguished by its lush palm groves and traditional kasbahs. These features lead the way to and from the greenery, leaving you with an awe-inspiring view and a great photo opportunity.

Continue on to Merzouga, which is on the outskirts of the vast Sahara Desert. We will then take an unforgettable camel trek across the dune of Erg Chebbi to catch the sunset, giving you yet another chance for spectacular desert views and photo opportunities. As fun during the evening, we will have a traditional Berber dinner and listen to music by firelight. You can spend the night in our desert camp under the stars. It will truly be a night to remember.

• Drive: Fes to Merzouga - approx. 490 km (around 7-8 hours)

DAY 06 - Sahara Desert, Erg Chebbi Dunes, and Camel Trekking

This morning, wake up early to enjoy one of the Sahara Desert's spectacular sunrises over the Erg Chebbi dunes. After breakfast, enjoy a camel ride back to Merzouga, then you will have time to relax at your accommodation.

Today is a cultural day; you will begin with a visit to an ancient eyeliner mine where the local minerals were extracted. Then visit the nearby village of Khamlia, famous for its Gnaoua music history. The people of Khamlia are descendants of sub-Saharan African communities and have maintained a powerful cultural tradition of music that embodies deep spiritual traditions and consists of fascinating rhythm and soul-filled singing. Spending some time in the nomads' tents drinking tea and experiencing close live performances of true Gnaoua music will give you a connection to this living tradition.

After lunch, you will visit a palm oasis nearby, followed by a visit to Flamingos Lake, a habitat for migratory flamingos and other birds during seasonal times.

This evening will conclude with your own accommodations in a comfortable hotel or riad in Merzouga, including dinner, as you reflect on and recount a beautiful day of desert landscapes and cultural opportunities.

• Drive: Merzouga area - approx. 65 km (around 4-5 hours)

DAY 07 - Merzouga → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley

Leave the Sahara Desert today to visit Rissani, the former capital of the Tafilalet region, known for its bustling traditional souk marketplace filled with spices, textiles, and beautiful local artifacts. Next, you're off to Erfoud, another small town that specializes in fossil marble, where you will see ancient marine fossils in stone remnants of Morocco's prehistoric landscape.

You will continue through small towns like Touroug and Tinjdad on your way to Todra Gorge. This is a spectacular gorge carved by the Todra River, featuring limestone cliffs that, in some places, rise up to 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet). In some areas, the gorge is as little as 30 meters wide. Todra Gorge has become a favored destination for hikers and climbers alike. Beautiful hiking trails along the riverbed lead to Berber villages and palm groves, offering panoramic views from trails at the top of mountains or, if preferred, leisurely walking along the base of the towering cliffs.

After a good lunch, you will travel to the Dades Valley, known for its spectacular rock formations often called the "monkey fingers" because of their peculiar shape. There will be opportunities along the way to stop at gutted lookout points on top of cliffs for good pictures, and just take in the stunning landscapes carved from the winds of time. Your day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay in a comfortable hotel or riad overlooking the dramatic gorge, providing a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature’s grandeur.

Leave the Sahara Desert today to visit Rissani, the former capital of the Tafilalet region, known for its bustling traditional souk marketplace filled with spices, textiles, and beautiful local artifacts. Next, you're off to Erfoud, another small town that specializes in fossil marble, where you will see ancient marine fossils in stone remnants of Morocco's prehistoric landscape.

You will continue through small towns like Touroug and Tinjdad on your way to Todra Gorge. This is a spectacular gorge carved by the Todra River, featuring limestone cliffs that, in some places, rise up to 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet). In some areas, the gorge is as little as 30 meters wide. Todra Gorge has become a favored destination for hikers and climbers alike. Beautiful hiking trails along the riverbed lead to Berber villages and palm groves, offering panoramic views from trails at the top of mountains or, if preferred, leisurely walking along the base of the towering cliffs.

After a good lunch, you will travel to the Dades Valley, known for its spectacular rock formations often called the "monkey fingers" because of their peculiar shape. There will be opportunities along the way to stop at gutted lookout points on top of cliffs for good pictures, and just take in the stunning landscapes carved from the winds of time. Your day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay in a comfortable hotel or riad overlooking the dramatic gorge, providing a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature’s grandeur.

• Drive: Merzouga to Boumalne Dades - approx. 312 km (around 5-6 hours)

DAY 08 - Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → High Atlas → Marrakech

We depart the Dades Valley and head to Kalaat Mgouna, popularly known as the "Valley of Roses." This town, situated on the bank of the Mgoun River, is noted for its extensive fields of Damask roses that bloom beautifully during the spring. It also hosts the Rose Festival each year in early May, which features vibrant parades, Berber music and dancing, and the selection of a Rose Queen. In addition to the beauty of the roses, the region is an important producer of rose water and rose-based products, which are significant to both the local culture and the economy. Visitors will also find local cooperatives where they can learn how rose oil is distilled and purchase locally produced products made from roses.

From there, the tour leads into the palm grove area of Skoura, where we will pass numerous traditional kasbahs that sit within the palms. From Skoura, we will arrive in Ouarzazate, often called the "gateway to the Sahara," which is the center of Morocco's film industry and home to a famous film studio behind many Hollywood productions. You will also see the spectacular Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a remarkable red-colored clay fortification, which has been used as a film backdrop in many movies, including Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia.

Then we will head over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, which rises to an altitude of 2,260 meters, the highest pass in the Atlas Mountains. During your stop here, there will be opportunities for panoramic photos and lunch. Essentially, you'll arrive in Marrakech late in the afternoon, where you will spend the evening at a traditional riad.

• Drive: Boumalne Dades to Marrakech - approx. 348 km (around 6 hours)

DAY 09 - Marrakech – Full Day Guided Tour

Following breakfast, you will participate in an organized excursion to Marrakech, one of the storied imperial cities of Morocco, known for its long historical past. We will first visit the glorious Bahia Palace, an incredible structure built by the grand vizier Si Moussa in the late 19th century, and later enlarged by his son Ba Ahmed. This extraordinary construction is famously referred to as "the brilliant palace." The Bahia Palace is an outstanding example of Moroccan craftsmanship with decorative tile work, painted wood ceilings, peaceful courtyards, and gardens. The enormous complex, which was created for leisure and comfort, exemplifies part of Morocco's royal history.

Next, we will continue to the Saadian Tombs, a secret treasure rediscovered in 1917. These lavish mausoleums, built by the Saadian dynasty, feature stunning zellij tile and carved ornamentation. Afterward, we will travel to the historic Ben Youssef Madrasa, once the largest Islamic school (Quranic school) in North Africa, praised for its amazing Islamic architecture, spectacular carved cedar, and enclosed courtyard.

We will wander through the souks, the largest traditional markets in Morocco, and experience shopping for crafts, spices, textiles, and gifts in the colorful, lively corridors. Afterwards, you will have some free time for lunch near Jemaa El-Fna square, a vibrant central square filled with musicians, storytellers, food stalls, and performers.

After lunch, we will walk to the Koutoubia Mosque, well-known for its impressive 77-meter minaret, visible from anywhere in the city and a defining symbol of Marrakech’s spirituality and architecture. End your sightseeing at the beautiful Majorelle Garden, a garden of exotic plants and vibrant blue colors, formerly owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent.

Return to your riad with leisure time to explore the Jemaa El-Fna square by night for dinner.

DAY 10 - Marrakech → Essaouira → Marrakech

Depart after breakfast today as you drive west from Marrakech to the lovely coastal city of Essaouira. While driving, you can see scenic views of argan trees, some of which have goats grazing high up in the branches, one of the iconic and unique sights of this region. Upon arriving in Essaouira, you will be able to visit the lively fishing port and stroll along the ramparts with their old cannons, which face the Atlantic Ocean. You can also explore the UNESCO-listed Medina, known for its artisan workshops that offer crafts and vibrant markets. Enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant and have some time to relax at the beautiful sandy beaches of Essaouira. Overnight in a Riad in Essaouira.

• Drive: Marrakech to Essaouira - approx. 178 km (around 2-3 hours)