From fully organized trips to the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the ancient imperial cities, to guided day excursions. The trip starts in Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, takes in white imperial Rabat and the Rif mountain town of Chaouen, gives Fez a full day of Medersas, mausoleums and tanneries, then crosses Ifrane, Azrou and Midelt to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes. It returns by way of Rissani, the Todgha Canyons and the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate, and ends with a full day in Marrakech, the Pearl of the South.
Designed by Kenza Local trip designer
Highlights
Chefchaouen
Fez medina
Ziz valley
Erg Chebbi
Todgha Canyons
Marrakech
Overview
10
days
9
nights
14
Destinations
10
Breakfasts
9
Dinners
Guided group
Group size
Route
Casablanca
→Rabat
→Chefchaouen
→Fes
→Ifrane
→Azrou
→Midelt
→Erfoud
→Merzouga
→Rissani
→Tinghir
→Ouarzazate
→Ait Benhaddou
→Marrakech
Itinerary
Day 1Casablanca▾
Welcome to a unique experience! From fully organized trips to the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the ancient imperial cities, to guided day excursions.
Dinner
Day 2Casa - Rabat - Chefchaouen▾
Our magic trip will start in Casablanca - largest city in Morocco. Embark on an orientation tour of the economic capital of Morocco, driving through Mohammed V Square, residential district of Anfa & Ain Diab. Visit Hassan II Mosque, part of the mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea (for Royals only, off-limit to tourists). It is also home to the tallest minaret in the world. Embark drive to Rabat. City tour the white imperial city and the administrative capital of the kingdom. Visit the blue & white washed Oudaya Kasbah, the splendid Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Hassan tower. Leave Rabat northwards to Chaouen (Chefchaouen in the Berber language) - one of the most beautiful towns of the Rif mountains. It is a mountains massif and the last rampart before the Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula, famous for its shady valleys Medina, its white houses with blue doors and wrought iron windows and tile roofs. Overnight Chefchaouen.
Breakfast · Dinner
Day 3Chefchaouen - Fes▾
Morning free, and drive Chefchaouen to Fes by the Rif mountains. Overnight Fes.
Breakfast · Dinner
Day 4Fes▾
Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Fez, the most ancient of the Imperial cities founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idriss II. Explore Fez el-Bali (Old Fez), as we stroll through the labyrinthine old medina, admiring the beautiful architecture of the Hispano-Moorish Al-Attarine and Bou Inania Medersas (Koranic University), the Nejjarine Fountain Square and Moulay Idriss Mausoleum. Visit the Karaouine Mosque. Enjoy a Moroccan lunch in a traditional restaurant in the medina. In the afternoon continue to explore the Medina, visiting copper smith shops, carpets shops & leather shops where you can ask to visit their tannery.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Merzouga▾
Depart to Erfoud via the mountains and the cedar woods of the middle Atlas passing by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou, an important handy craft center. Stop at Midelt for lunch. Continue to Erfoud via Errachidia and the Ziz valley which is dotted with palm trees and is the source for the yearly date festival in Erfoud (a three-day carnival held in Erfoud town every October, just after the date harvest). Transfert to a 4x4 land cruiser (4-5 person in one) and proceed to Merzouga. Check in to your hotel by the sand dune for dinner and the overnight. Overnight Merzouga.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 6Merzouga▾
Full-Day Experience in Merzouga. Enjoy a full-day adventure in Merzouga, at the edge of the magnificent Erg Chebbi dunes, one of the most beautiful desert landscapes in Morocco. This full-day experience offers a perfect mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation in the heart of the Moroccan desert.
Breakfast · Dinner
Day 7Merzouga - Todra gorges - Ouarzazate▾
In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty, is buried. Visit the 17th-century Kasbah and the ruins of Ksar Abbar. Continue towards Tinghir and stop for lunch, then proceed to visit the magnificent Todgha Canyons, where the cliffs rise up to 250 meters. Continue towards Ouarzazate via the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs, with a photo stop in the Dades Valley. Continue to Ouarzazate via Kelaat M'Gouna, known for its annual Rose Festival, held at the beginning of May.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 8Ouarzazate - Ait benhaddou - Marrakech▾
Start our day with a drive towards Marrakech, reaching the Red city, enjoy time at leisure. Overnight Marrakech.
Breakfast
Day 9Marrakech▾
Enjoy a full day tour of Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city, known as the Pearl of the South. Visit Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the majestic Koutoubia Minaret and Dar Si Said Museum, officially called the Museum of Moroccan Arts, which features antiques, arms and some of the oldest object in Marrakech. Overnight Marrakech.
Breakfast
Day 10Return▾
At the indicated time, you will take your flight back home. Wishing you a pleasant and memorable journey in MOROCCO.
Breakfast
Included activities
Orientation tour of Casablanca & city tour of Rabat
Day 2 Full day Moderate
Mohammed V Square, the residential districts of Anfa & Ain Diab and the Hassan II Mosque, then Rabat for the blue & white washed Oudaya Kasbah, the splendid Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Hassan tower.
Full day sightseeing tour of Fez
Day 4 Full day Active
Fez el-Bali and its labyrinthine old medina, the Hispano-Moorish Al-Attarine and Bou Inania Medersas, the Nejjarine Fountain Square, the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum and the Karaouine Mosque, with a Moroccan lunch in a traditional restaurant in the medina.
Middle Atlas cedar woods, Ifrane & the Ziz valley
Day 5 Full day Moderate
The mountains and cedar woods of the middle Atlas, Ifrane the charming ski resort, Azrou the handy craft center, then Errachidia and the palm-dotted Ziz valley, finishing with a 4x4 land cruiser transfer to Merzouga.
Full-Day Experience in Merzouga
Day 6 Full day Moderate
A full-day adventure at the edge of the magnificent Erg Chebbi dunes, offering a perfect mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation in the heart of the Moroccan desert.
Rissani, the Todgha Canyons & the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs
Day 7 Full day Active
The holy city of Rissani with its 17th-century Kasbah and the ruins of Ksar Abbar, the magnificent Todgha Canyons where the cliffs rise up to 250 meters, and the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs with a photo stop in the Dades Valley.
Full day tour of Marrakech
Day 9 Full day Moderate
The Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the majestic Koutoubia Minaret and the Dar Si Said Museum, officially called the Museum of Moroccan Arts, which features antiques, arms and some of the oldest object in Marrakech.
Accommodation
These are our featured stays for this tour. Hotel allocation depends on availability and seasonality, so you may be assigned any hotel from our selection.
Featured riad · Marrakech
Charm
From $1,800
9 nights' accommodation in Charm-category hotels.
At Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi: 1 night at a hotel by the sand dune and 1 night in a desert camp.
Hotel allocation depends on availability and seasonality — you may be assigned any hotel from our selection, always of the same or a higher category.
All hotels rated 4+ by our travellers
Where you sleep
CasablancaOum Palace or similar
ChefchaouenParador or similar
FesHotel Escale or similar
Merzouga · 1st nightHotel
Merzouga · 2nd nightCamp
OuarzazatePerle du Sud or similar
MarrakechHotel Meryem or similar
What's included
✓9 nights' accommodation, including a hotel by the sand dune at Merzouga
✓10 breakfasts and 9 dinners, plus a Moroccan lunch in a traditional restaurant in the Fez medina
✓Airport transfers on arrival and departure
✓Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles and a 4x4 land cruiser transfer to Merzouga
✓Visits and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
✓English-speaking guide during the whole trip
Not included
✕International flights to and from Morocco
✕Personal expenses
✕Drinks and the lunches not listed in the itinerary
✕Tips for driver and guides (USD 10 per person per day)
✕Entrance to sights not expressly listed in the itinerary
Choose your departure
Pick a date below and reserve your place. No payment is taken now — we confirm availability and send your invoice within 24 hours.
Personalization options
Private groups
Travel exclusively with your own party, with private services throughout the trip.
Extra nights
Extend your stay with additional nights before or after the tour, in Casablanca or Marrakech.
Additional information
Important notes
The 4x4 land cruiser transfer to Merzouga on day 5 is shared, with 4-5 people in one vehicle.
For operational reasons, the order of the activities in the itinerary may change without prior notice; every activity will nevertheless be carried out.
Some monuments or sites may occasionally be closed for national, local or religious holidays.
During Ramadan and the Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha), every planned activity goes ahead as usual, but some shops, restaurants and local services may close or keep reduced hours as many people take time off to celebrate. These holidays follow the lunar calendar, so their exact dates change every year.
In July and August Morocco is an extremely popular destination for local and international visitors: intense traffic can affect schedules, and temperatures remain consistently high.
Because of the nature of the excursions and the terrain, this trip is not suitable for travellers with reduced mobility. It can however be taken privately, with a dedicated guide, an itinerary designed around easier-access routes and a pace dictated by you; the traveller must be accompanied at all times by a dedicated companion who can assist in situations such as getting in and out of the vehicle and on excursions.
Offer conditions
Accommodation is at the hotels indicated; if a change is ever necessary, the replacement will always be of the same or a higher category. Hotel classification is not standardised across all countries, so criteria may differ depending on the destination's own standards.
In adverse weather conditions, for safety reasons or for any other reason deemed appropriate, the order and duration of the excursions in the itinerary may be changed or cancelled without prior notice.
If you have reduced mobility, require the use of a wheelchair, or would prefer this tour as a private experience for you and your group, contact us before booking to ensure your needs can be met.
While on the road, the vehicle is unlikely to be equipped with Wi-Fi or bathroom facilities, though rest stops are made on long journeys. We recommend buying a new SIM card at the airport or setting up an eSIM before travel to guarantee an internet connection.
Why travellers book with us
Best Price Guarantee
Unbeatable fares as standard — and if you find a better price for the same trip elsewhere, we'll match it within 24 hours.
Extraordinary experiences
Our local trip designers work hand in hand with partners on the ground to build perfectly balanced itineraries, full of authentic experiences for small groups.
Everything taken care of
Every detail of your trip is planned and booked by experts, with support on hand throughout your journey.
Real stories from travellers who fell in love with Morocco
Mohamed guides our journeys through Morocco. He has also led Morocco itineraries for international tour operators, where travellers named him personally in five-star public reviews. Their words, not ours:
The best tour guide I have ever traveled with. His deep knowledge of Moroccan history, culture and geography made every day both educational and enjoyable.
JJingUS · May 2025
He added texture and depth to our experience with his heartfelt personal stories, which both educated and brought meaning to many of the sites we visited.
RRobyn HinnantUS · May 2025
He not only showed us this beautiful country, he made sure we were safe, welcomed us as warmly as a family member and ensured that we had a fully immersive experience. He was knowledgeable, accommodating and patient.
TToni AaronUS · September 2025
He went out of his way to show us places that gave us the flavor of Morocco, not just the tourist spots. I highly recommend this tour, but it wouldn't have been the same with a different guide.
AAngelika MarchelloUS · September 2024
Mohamed rose to the occasion in dealing with a difficult situation, although it was completely outside of his control — he took it upon himself to rectify it, often on his own personal time.
DDilhan KamalendaranCA · May 2025
When I asked Mohammed for recommendations for hammams, hot air balloon experiences and famous hotels in Marrakech, he was very nice, kind and patient in responding and suggesting different places.
CCristina VargasUS · September 2025
The tour guide Mohamed Mahfod, with his extensive knowledge of his country and culture, made the best he could to make us feel welcomed to his country and to leave with the desire to come back for more.
AAna PinheiroCA · June 2023
Excerpts from public Trustpilot reviews of tours Mohamed guided, quoted with his permission.
Frequently asked
Where do I sleep in the desert?▾
On day 5 you transfer to a 4x4 land cruiser (4-5 person in one) at Erfoud and proceed to Merzouga, checking in to a hotel by the sand dune for dinner and the overnight. Day 6 is then a full day at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Are international flights included?▾
No — this is a land-only package. The trip starts in Casablanca and ends when you take your flight back home from Marrakech, and you book your own flights. We're happy to advise on which arrival and departure times work best with the itinerary.
How many meals are covered?▾
Ten breakfasts and nine dinners. A Moroccan lunch in a traditional restaurant in the Fez medina is part of the day 4 tour, and lunch stops are made at Midelt on day 5 and Tinghir on day 7; other lunches and drinks are at your own expense.
Can I go inside the Hassan II Mosque?▾
Yes, the mosque is visited on day 2. Part of the mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea — that area is for Royals only and off-limit to tourists. It is also home to the tallest minaret in the world.
Can the itinerary change?▾
For operational reasons the order of activities may change without prior notice, though every activity still takes place. Some monuments may occasionally close for national, local or religious holidays, and in adverse weather or for safety reasons the order and duration of excursions can be adjusted or cancelled.
What about travellers with reduced mobility?▾
Because of the terrain and the nature of the excursions, the group departure isn't adapted for reduced mobility. A private version is possible, with a dedicated guide, easier-access routes and a pace set by you; a travelling companion must accompany the traveller at all times to help with vehicles and excursions. Contact us before booking so we can confirm your needs can be met.
When is the best time to travel?▾
Spring and autumn are ideal. Erfoud holds its date festival every October, just after the date harvest, and Kelaat M'Gouna its Rose Festival at the beginning of May. In July and August Morocco is extremely popular with local and international visitors, traffic can affect schedules and temperatures stay consistently high.
Will I have internet on the road?▾
The vehicle is unlikely to have Wi-Fi or on-board toilets, though rest stops are made on long stretches. We recommend buying a local SIM at the airport or installing an eSIM before travelling to stay connected.