Camel Ride Trips9-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to the Imperial Cities via the Sahara
The whole of Morocco in one loop from Marrakech. Cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, sleep in the Sahara after a camel ride over Erg Chebbi, then head north for a guided day in Fes, Meknes and Roman Volubilis, the blue city of Chefchaouen, Tangier, Asilah, Rabat and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, before returning to Marrakech.
What is the 9-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to the Imperial Cities via the Sahara?
It is a private, round-trip tour of Morocco by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts at Marrakech Menara Airport and returns to Marrakech after 9 days and 8 nights. The route goes south over the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Dades Valley, then the Todra Gorge and a night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. It then heads north through the Ziz Valley and Ifrane to Fes for a guided day, Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Tangier, and back south along the Atlantic through Cape Spartel, Asilah, Rabat and Casablanca. It visits all four imperial cities: Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Rabat.
- 1 night Marrakech
- 1 night Dades Valley
- 1 night Sahara desert camp
- 2 nights Fes
- 1 night Chefchaouen
- 1 night Tangier
- 1 night Casablanca
How much driving is on a 9-day Morocco loop from Marrakech?
This full loop of Morocco covers about 2,000 km, starting and ending in Marrakech. The longest days are the drive into the Sahara and the drive from Merzouga to Fes. The north is easier, with shorter drives to Chefchaouen and Tangier and a full guided day in Fes. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival at Marrakech airport | — | Short transfer |
| Day 2 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Skoura → Dades Valley | about 320 km | 7–8 hours with visits |
| Day 3 | Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga | about 280 km | 5–6 hours with stops |
| Day 4 | Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes | about 470 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
| Day 5 | Guided day in Fes | — | No long drive |
| Day 6 | Fes → Meknes → Volubilis → Chefchaouen | about 230 km | 4–5 hours with visits |
| Day 7 | Chefchaouen → Tetouan → Tangier | about 120 km | 2–3 hours |
| Day 8 | Tangier → Cape Spartel → Asilah → Rabat → Casablanca | about 360 km | 5–6 hours with visits |
| Day 9 | Casablanca → Marrakech | about 240 km | 3 hours |
👑 4 imperial cities
Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Rabat in one trip.
⛺ Sahara night
Sunset camel ride and a desert camp in Erg Chebbi.
🌊 North & coast
Chefchaouen, Tangier, Asilah and the Atlantic coast.
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
9-Day Morocco Itinerary from Marrakech
- Day 1
Arrival in Marrakech
Your driver meets you at Marrakech Menara Airport and takes you to your riad or hotel. Depending on your arrival time, walk through the medina, see Jemaa el-Fna Square or enjoy your first Moroccan dinner.
🛏 Overnight: Riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Day 2
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with stops at Berber villages and viewpoints, then explore Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco's most famous fortified village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pass through Ouarzazate, the 'Hollywood of Morocco', the palm groves of Skoura and the Valley of Roses, arriving in the Dades Valley among its cliffs and rock formations.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 3
Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga
Walk between the high walls of the Todra Gorge, then continue through the oasis towns of Erfoud and Rissani.
In Merzouga, swap the car for a camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. At the desert camp, enjoy dinner, Berber music and a night under the stars.
🛏 Overnight: Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 4
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes
Watch the sunrise over the Sahara, have breakfast and return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4.
Drive north through the Ziz Valley palm groves, have lunch in Midelt, see the Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou and stop in Ifrane before reaching Fes.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Fes
- Day 5
Guided tour of Fes
With a licensed local guide, see the Royal Palace gates, then enter the UNESCO-listed medina for the Chouara tanneries, Al Quaraouiyine, the old madrasas, artisan workshops and souks, ending with a view over the old city.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Fes
- Day 6
Fes → Meknes → Volubilis → Chefchaouen
In Meknes, the city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, see Bab Mansour and El Hedim Square. Then explore Volubilis, a Roman city with fine mosaics and columns.
Cross the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen and spend the evening in its blue streets.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
- Day 7
Chefchaouen → Tetouan → Tangier
Enjoy a slow morning in Chefchaouen's blue lanes and artisan shops, then drive through the Rif and the white city of Tetouan.
In Tangier, explore the medina, the kasbah or the seafront, depending on the time.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Tangier
- Day 8
Tangier → Cape Spartel → Hercules Cave → Asilah → Rabat → Casablanca
Visit Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the Hercules Cave. Continue to Asilah, a whitewashed seaside town known for its murals.
In Rabat, the capital, see the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then continue to Casablanca.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Casablanca
- Day 9
Casablanca → Marrakech
Visit the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic shore, one of the largest mosques in the world, then drive back to Marrakech.
🏁 Drop-off at your Marrakech hotel, riad or Menara Airport
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 8 nights in riads, hotels and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in the Dades Valley and the desert camp
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Licensed local guide in Fes
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Marrakech airport, hotel and riad transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Dinners not listed above
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Questions About the 9-Day Tour from Marrakech
Can you see all of Morocco in 9 days from Marrakech?
You can see the main highlights: the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the Sahara at Merzouga, Fes, Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Tangier, Asilah, Rabat and Casablanca. It is a full loop, so some days have long drives, but it is the most complete trip you can do in 9 days.
Which imperial cities does this tour visit?
All four: Marrakech, where the tour starts and ends, Fes with a guided day, Meknes, and Rabat, the capital.
How many nights are in the Sahara?
One night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes after a sunset camel ride, with sunrise over the dunes the next morning. Ask us to add a second desert night if you want more time there.
Does the tour start and end in Marrakech?
Yes. It starts at Marrakech Menara Airport and ends at your Marrakech hotel, riad or the airport, so it works well with round-trip flights to Marrakech.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in the Dades Valley and at the desert camp. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
Can I make this tour longer?
Yes. The tour is private, so we can add a guided day in Marrakech, a second night in the desert or Chefchaouen, or a stop in Essaouira.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
Related tours: 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga, 5-day Marrakech to Fes and 9-day Imperial Cities & Sahara from Casablanca.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.