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Overview

If you are visiting Morocco for the first time, this is one of our most rewarding tours of Morocco from Casablanca — a private 9-day itinerary that stitches together imperial cities, mountain passes and the Sahara. Like all our tours from Casablanca Morocco, you travel with an excellent English-speaking driver-guide and stay in well-reviewed hotels chosen for service and safety. We work with local owners and staff wherever possible, so your tourism money goes directly to hard-working Moroccans.

Highlights

Rabat to Chefchaouen Chefchaouen Fes Fes guided tour Merzouga Rissani Todra Gorges Private driver-guide

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Casablanca arrival and Rabat

Welcome to Morocco. After your driver meets you at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport, we head straight to the Atlantic seafront for a short stop at the Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Africa and one of the few in the country open to non-Muslim visitors. We then drive north along the coast to Rabat, the kingdom's modern capital, where we visit the Hassan Tower and the mausoleum of Mohammed V, walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas overlooking the river mouth, and pass through the old medina. Overnight in a hotel in Rabat.

Day 2

Rabat to Chefchaouen

After breakfast, we drive to Chefchaouen over the Rif Mountains. A guided tour of the Chefchaouen blue city will be conducted. You will spend the night in Chefchaouen.

Day 3

Chefchaouen Fes

After breakfast, we journey via the Rif Mountains to Fes. We will stop at Volubilis, the Roman ruin city, and tour the surrounding walls of Meknes before arriving in Fes. Overnight stay in a nearby, pleasant hotel.

Day 4

Fes guided tour

After breakfast, we explore Fes and enjoy the city's main attractions. The medina of Fes el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is regarded as one of the world's largest urban pedestrian zones (car-free districts). The University of Al-Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, is the world's oldest continually operating madrasa. Overnight at a nearby, pleasant hotel.

Day 5

Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane, the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley

After breakfast we leave Fes and head south through the Middle Atlas. Our first stop is Ifrane, a Moroccan town with steep tiled roofs and a distinctly European feel, followed by the cedar forest of Azrou — keep an eye out for the Barbary macaques in the branches. The road climbs over the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and descends to Midelt, where we stop for lunch. We continue along the dramatic Ziz Valley, with its endless palm groves carved between red sandstone walls, and reach the edge of the Sahara at Merzouga in the late afternoon. A short camel trek takes us across the Erg Chebbi dunes to a desert camp, where dinner is served around the fire under Berber drums. Overnight in a Sahara desert tent.

Day 6

Merzouga Rissani Todra Gorges Dades Gorges

The camel guide will wake you up early to catch sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. We return to the hotel by camel. Then we travel on to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge. We continue to the Dades Valley, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Day 7

Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, Aït Benhaddou and Marrakech

After breakfast we leave the Dades Valley and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs westwards, passing the rose-water town of Kelaa M'Gouna and the Skoura palm grove. We stop at Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified earthen kasbah that has featured in films from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator, and walk through its alleys with a local guide. After lunch we cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with panoramic stops along the way, and descend to Marrakech. Your driver drops you at your riad in the medina. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 8

Sightseeing trip of Marrakech

Today we have a guided tour of the city's finest attractions. You will see the Saadian Tombs, the Majorelle Garden, and the Koutoubia minaret. Our tour also takes you to the Bahia Palace, the city's souks, and then to the iconic Jemaa el-Fna square in the medina. Overnight in a Marrakech riad.

Day 9

Marrakech Casablanca

Our journey concludes today in Casablanca, where we will transfer you to your hotel. Local Morocco Tours would happily organise an authentic private Morocco tour for you and your friends, family, or any group departing from Casablanca.

What's included

  • All hotel pick-up transfers with local drivers
  • Comfortable and private travel from Casablanca in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Camel trek in the Sahara desert
  • Overnight in riads/hotels and desert camp
  • Dinners and breakfasts

Not included

  • Lunches and soft drinks
  • Admission fees and Gratuities

Guide languages

English, Spanish, French, and more languages are available upon request.

Departure

We departure from your hotel at your request, but usually at 8 a.m.

Route map

Departing from Casablanca

Nine days from Casablanca covers Morocco’s essential contrasts without feeling rushed. Your driver-guide collects you from Casablanca’s city centre or Mohamed V International Airport on Day 1 and heads north to Rabat’s Hassan Tower and Kasbah of the Udayas, before cutting east toward the imperial city of Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

By Day 4 you’re in Fes, Morocco’s spiritual capital, with the labyrinthine 9th-century medina and the world’s oldest continuously operating university. The route then pivots south: Ifrane’s alpine village, the cedar forests of Azrou, Midelt, and the descent toward Erfoud and the Sahara. Two nights in a private desert camp at Merzouga gives full sunrise, sunset and stargazing time in Erg Chebbi.

The return leg west follows the ancient caravan road through Ouarzazate — Morocco’s Hollywood of Africa — and the Draa Valley before ascending to Marrakech for the final nights. Casablanca-to-Casablanca circular routing is available on request. All accommodation, breakfast, dinner and private vehicle are included. Request a quote for availability on your dates.

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