8 Days Desert Tour from Casablanca

Tour Overview

An interesting journey across the most intriguing parts of Morocco: the blue city of Chefchaouen, the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara of Erg Chebbi, with a camel ride and a night in a luxury desert camp.

• Chefchaouen
• Imperial cities
• Sahara camel ride & camp
• Ait Benhaddou

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1. 1
   Day 1

   Arrive in Casablanca

   Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport or be picked up from your accommodation in Casablanca. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, the third-largest mosque in the world, whose minaret dominates the skyline. Drive along the Ain Diab Corniche and stop at Rick's Café before settling into your hotel for the first night.

   Hassan II MosqueAin Diab CornicheRick's Café

   Overnight in Casablanca
2. 2
   Day 2

   Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen

   Drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and visit the Kasbah of the Udayas (12th century, views over the Bou Regreg river and the Atlantic), the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower. Cross the fertile Gharb plain and reach Chefchaouen in the late afternoon: Ras el-Ma spring, the Kasbah, the blue alleys and Uta el-Hammam square.

   Kasbah of the UdayasHassan TowerBlue streets of Chefchaouen

   Overnight in Chefchaouen
3. 3
   Day 3

   Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes

   Leave the Rif Mountains and visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis with a local guide, then explore the imperial city of Meknes (Bab Mansour, El Hedim Square, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail) before arriving in Fes.

   VolubilisMeknesArrival in Fes

   Overnight in Fes
4. 4
   Day 4

   Explore Fes – Ifrane – Midelt

   Enjoy Fes in the morning, then drive through Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Midelt, where you spend the night.

   FesIfraneMiddle Atlas

   Overnight in Midelt
5. 5
   Day 5

   Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

   Cross the High Atlas and the Ziz Valley to the Sahara. Ride a camel at sunset into the dunes of Erg Chebbi and spend the night in a desert camp, with dinner and music under the stars.

   Ziz ValleySunset camel rideDesert camp

   Overnight in Merzouga Desert
6. 6
   Day 6

   Merzouga Desert – Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

   Sunrise over the dunes, then Erfoud and the Todra Gorge, before continuing along the road of the Kasbahs to the Dades Valley for the night.

   Sunrise in the dunesTodra GorgeDades Valley

   Overnight in Dades Valley
7. 7
   Day 7

   Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

   Leave the Dades Valley through the Valley of Roses and the palm grove of Skoura, then cross Ouarzazate, the "Hollywood of Africa" (Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Lawrence of Arabia were filmed here). Take a guided walk around the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou kasbah, then cross the Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m) to Marrakech.

   Valley of RosesOuarzazate studiosAit Benhaddou (UNESCO)Tizi n'Tichka Pass

   Overnight in Marrakech
8. 8
   Day 8

   Full-Day Exploring Marrakech & Transfer to Casablanca Airport

   Explore Marrakech with a local guide, then transfer to Casablanca airport in the evening (or continue your trip).

   MarrakechAirport transfer

Tour route on the map

1. 1CasablancaDay 1, 2, 8
2. 2RabatDay 2
3. 3ChefchaouenDay 2, 3
4. 4VolubilisDay 3
5. 5MeknesDay 3
6. 6FesDay 3, 4
7. 7IfraneDay 4
8. 8MideltDay 4, 5
9. 9Ziz ValleyDay 5
10. 10Merzouga DesertDay 5, 6
11. 11ErfoudDay 6
12. 12Todra GorgeDay 6
13. 13Dades ValleyDay 6, 7
14. 14SkouraDay 7
15. 15OuarzazateDay 7
16. 16Ait BenhaddouDay 7
17. 17MarrakechDay 7, 8

Important Information

• This tour is not suited for wheelchair users.
• We pick you up right at your riad/hotel. Some accommodations inside old medinas are not reachable by car: we then arrange a meeting point in advance, so please give us accurate contact details of your hotel.
• Every itinerary can be customised (dates, hotels, extra nights, stops): contact us and we adapt it to you.
• Looking for more time? See the 10-day Morocco tour from Casablanca.