12-Day Luxury Morocco Desert Tour from Casablanca

Arrival in Casablanca

Your driver meets you at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport and takes you to your hotel.

If you arrive early, visit the Hassan II Mosque on the edge of the Atlantic, then see Mohammed V Square, the Corniche and the outside of Rick's Café.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury hotel in Casablanca

Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen

Drive to Rabat, the capital, for the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the Bou Regreg River.

After lunch, continue through the Rif countryside and arrive in Chefchaouen in the afternoon.

🛏 Overnight: Boutique riad in Chefchaouen

A full day in Chefchaouen

Take the day slowly in the blue city: Andalusian-style lanes, artisan shops and Outa El Hammam Square.

Visit the Ras El Maa spring, then walk up to the Spanish Mosque for the best view over Chefchaouen at the end of the day.

🛏 Overnight: Boutique riad in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

Explore Volubilis, Morocco's best-kept Roman site, with its mosaics, temples and triumphal arch.

In Meknes, see Bab Mansour, El Hedim Square, the Royal Granaries and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, then continue to Fes.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury riad in Fes

Private guided tour of Fes

With a licensed local guide, start outside the medina at the Royal Palace gates, the Jewish Quarter, the Borj Sud viewpoint and a pottery workshop.

Then enter Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina, for Al Quaraouiyine, the Al Attarine Madrasa, the Chouara tanneries and the souks.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury riad in Fes

Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga

Cross the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the cedar forest near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques. Continue past Midelt to the viewpoints over the palm-filled Ziz Valley.

In Merzouga, ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. At the luxury camp, enjoy dinner and Berber music under the stars.

🛏 Overnight: Private tent in a luxury Sahara camp, dinner included

Exploring the Merzouga desert by 4x4

Watch the sunrise over the dunes, then explore the area by private 4x4.

Listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia, share mint tea with a nomad family, and see the old M'Fis mines, desert oases and fossil fields. When there is water, stop at the seasonal flamingo lake.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury camp or kasbah hotel in Merzouga, dinner included

Merzouga → Rissani → Erfoud → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley

Visit the traditional market of Rissani and a fossil workshop in Erfoud.

Walk through the Todra Gorge, then drive into the Dades Valley to see the Monkey Fingers rock formations and the winding gorge road from above.

🛏 Overnight: Boutique hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included

Dades → Rose Valley → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech

Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley and the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate.

Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury riad in Marrakech

Private guided tour of Marrakech

With a licensed guide, visit Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian Tombs and the souks, ending at Jemaa el-Fna Square.

Later, see Majorelle Garden (tickets must be booked ahead) and drive through the modern Gueliz district.

🛏 Overnight: Luxury riad in Marrakech

Marrakech → Essaouira

Drive west to the Atlantic, stopping at a women's argan oil cooperative and, with some luck, the goats that climb argan trees.

In Essaouira, explore the UNESCO-listed medina, the harbor, the sea walls and the blue fishing boats, and enjoy fresh seafood.

🛏 Overnight: Boutique hotel in Essaouira

Essaouira → Casablanca

Drive back to Casablanca along the Atlantic coast. Depending on your flight, your driver takes you straight to Mohammed V Airport or to your hotel.

🏁 Tour ends at Casablanca airport or your hotel