
8 Days / 7 Nights
8 Days Tour from Casablanca
Discover Morocco from Casablanca to Marrakech with historic cities, mountain landscapes and a deeper two-night experience in the Merzouga Sahara.
Private Morocco Desert Tour
Explore Morocco in 8 Days from Casablanca
This 8 days tour from Casablanca combines Morocco's historic cities with mountain scenery, southern valleys and a deeper Sahara Desert experience. Travel from Casablanca through Rabat and Chefchaouen before spending two nights in Fes and continuing south toward Merzouga.
One of the main differences on this 8 days desert tour from Casablanca is the additional time in Merzouga. After crossing the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley, spend your first night near the Erg Chebbi dunes before dedicating the following day to exploring the surrounding desert by 4×4.
The journey continues with a camel ride and Sahara camp, followed by Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou. Cross the High Atlas to Marrakech, where your final day is dedicated to exploring the historic city with a local guide before your airport transfer.
Tour Highlights
Highlights of Your 8 Days Tour from Casablanca
Chefchaouen & Northern Morocco
Experience the blue-painted old medina of Chefchaouen and the mountain scenery of northern Morocco.
Full-Day Guided Fes Experience
Discover historic Fes with a local guide, including the Mellah, Royal Palace gates, traditional craftsmanship, souks and old medina.
Middle Atlas to Merzouga
Travel through Ifrane, the Cedar Forest and Ziz Valley as the landscapes change from mountain country to the Sahara.
Full Merzouga Desert Experience
Explore the Merzouga region by 4×4, meet local communities and experience landscapes beyond the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Camel Ride & Sahara Camp
Cross the Erg Chebbi dunes by camel and spend the night at a Sahara desert camp with dinner beneath the desert sky.
Guided Marrakech Discovery
Complete your journey with a local guide in Marrakech, visiting Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the old Medina, Jemaa el-Fnaa and the Koutoubia area.
Tour Itinerary
8 Days Tour from Casablanca Itinerary
Day 1
Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
Your 8-day Morocco journey begins with pickup from your accommodation in Casablanca. Travel north toward Rabat, Morocco's capital, for your first cultural stops of the tour.
Discover the Oudaya Kasbah overlooking the Bou Regreg River, then continue to Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. These landmarks provide an introduction to Rabat before the journey continues north.
Leave the Atlantic region behind and travel toward the Rif Mountains. Arrive in Chefchaouen, where the blue-painted streets and compact old medina create a completely different atmosphere from Casablanca and Rabat.
Check into your hotel or riad and enjoy the rest of the day in Chefchaouen.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2
Chefchaouen → Fes
After breakfast, enjoy time in Chefchaouen before continuing your journey. Walk through the old medina at your own pace, discovering its blue-painted lanes, small squares, local shops and mountain atmosphere.
Later, meet your driver and leave the Rif Mountains for Fes. The journey takes you through the landscapes of northern Morocco toward one of the country's most historic cities.
Arrive in Fes and check into your hotel or riad. The evening is free, giving you time to relax before the dedicated guided sightseeing planned for the following day.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Fes
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Full-Day Fes City Tour with Local Guide
Meet your local guide after breakfast for a full day dedicated to discovering Fes. Begin around the Mellah, the historic Jewish Quarter, and see the impressive exterior gates of the Royal Palace.
Continue to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the city and its extensive old medina. From here, you can appreciate the scale of the historic center before exploring its streets on foot.
Discover traditional Moroccan ceramic and zellige craftsmanship before entering the medina with your guide. Follow its narrow streets through souks and artisan quarters, where traditional workshops remain part of daily life.
During the visit, see different areas of the old city and view the famous tanneries from the surrounding terraces. Your guide provides historical and cultural context while helping you navigate the medina.
Entrance fees to monuments and attractions are not included and are paid separately where applicable.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Fes
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Leave Fes after breakfast and travel south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop in Ifrane before continuing through the mountain landscapes toward the Cedar Forest.
Enjoy a short stop among the cedar trees, then continue toward southeastern Morocco. As the road descends from the mountains, the landscape gradually becomes drier and more open.
Continue through the Ziz region and stop for views over the palm-filled Ziz Valley. From here, travel toward Erfoud and the desert landscapes surrounding Merzouga.
Arrive near the Erg Chebbi dunes and settle into your hotel or riad. Unlike shorter Casablanca itineraries, you do not need to rush directly into the desert camp. The following day is reserved for exploring the Merzouga region.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Merzouga
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Merzouga Desert Exploration → Camel Ride → Desert Camp
After breakfast, begin a 4×4 exploration of the landscapes surrounding Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes. This dedicated desert day gives you time to experience more than the camel ride alone.
Visit Khamlia village and discover its local atmosphere before continuing through the desert surroundings. Explore the Merzouga oasis and, when seasonal conditions allow, see the desert lake.
Continue across the desert terrain to meet nomad families and learn about life in this remote environment. The exploration also takes you toward an old mining area, offering another perspective on the landscapes around Merzouga.
Return toward Khamlia for a lunch stop, where traditional Berber pizza is a local specialty. Lunch is not included and is paid separately.
Later in the afternoon, prepare for your camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes. Travel by camel toward your Sahara desert camp, where dinner is included and you spend the night in the desert.
Overnight: Sahara Desert camp
Meals: Dinner and breakfast
Day 6
Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
Wake in the Sahara and enjoy breakfast before leaving Merzouga. Travel west through the changing landscapes of southeastern Morocco toward Tinghir and Todra Gorge.
At Todra Gorge, take time to walk between the impressive canyon walls and enjoy the contrast between the rocky gorge and the surrounding palm-filled valley.
Continue toward Dades Valley through traditional villages and dramatic rock formations. The route offers a different side of southern Morocco after your time in the Sahara.
Arrive at your accommodation in Dades Valley, where dinner is included.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Dades Valley
Meals: Dinner and breakfast
Day 7
Dades Valley → Rose Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → High Atlas → Marrakech
After breakfast, continue through the Rose Valley toward Ouarzazate, traveling across the distinctive landscapes of southern Morocco.
Continue to Ait Ben Haddou and take time to discover the historic fortified ksar with its traditional earthen architecture.
Leave Ait Ben Haddou and begin the journey across the High Atlas Mountains. The mountain road provides changing views of valleys, villages and high-altitude landscapes before descending toward Marrakech.
Arrive in Marrakech later in the day and check into your hotel or riad. Enjoy the evening at your own pace before the guided Marrakech city tour on the final day.
Overnight: Hotel or riad in Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Marrakech City Tour → Marrakech Airport Transfer
After breakfast, meet your local guide and begin exploring the historic center of Marrakech.
Visit Bahia Palace and discover its courtyards and traditional Moroccan decorative details. Continue to Ben Youssef Madrasa, one of the historic monuments of the old city.
Walk through the old Medina and its traditional souks with your guide, passing narrow lanes, local shops and artisan workshops that form part of daily life in Marrakech.
Continue to Jemaa el-Fnaa at the heart of the old Medina and explore the Koutoubia area, one of Marrakech's most recognizable landmarks.
Entrance fees to monuments and attractions are not included. The city tour and airport transfer can be adjusted according to your departure time. Your journey finishes with transfer to Marrakech Airport.
What's Included
- ✓Pick-up from your accommodation in Casablanca
- ✓Private air-conditioned transportation
- ✓Professional English-speaking driver
- ✓7 nights accommodation in selected hotels, riads and desert camp
- ✓Breakfasts during the overnight stays
- ✓Dinner at the Merzouga desert camp and in the Dades Valley
- ✓Local guide for the Fes city tour
- ✓4×4 Merzouga desert exploration
- ✓Camel ride in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- ✓Overnight stay in a Sahara Desert camp
- ✓Local guide for the Marrakech city tour
- ✓Transfer to Marrakech Airport on the final day
What's Not Included
- ×Lunches
- ×Dinners in Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga hotel and Marrakech
- ×Drinks
- ×Entrance fees to monuments and attractions
- ×Personal expenses
- ×Tips and gratuities
- ×Anything not specifically listed under Included
Tour Route
Casablanca to Marrakech 8-Day Tour Route
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this 8-day Casablanca tour different from the shorter tours?
The eight-day itinerary includes a dedicated day in the Merzouga region. Instead of reaching the Sahara and immediately continuing the journey, you have more time to explore the desert surroundings before the camel ride and overnight desert camp.
Is the Merzouga desert exploration private?
Yes. The Merzouga exploration is part of your private tour and is completed by 4×4, allowing you to discover areas around the dunes that are not reached during the camel ride.
Do we spend two nights in the Merzouga area?
Yes. The first night is spent at a hotel or riad in the Merzouga area. The following day is dedicated to exploring the desert before the camel ride and overnight stay at the Sahara camp.
Can the tour be adjusted for our arrival or departure flights?
The itinerary can be discussed around your travel schedule. In particular, the final Marrakech sightseeing and airport transfer should be coordinated with your departure time.
How much walking should we expect during the tour?
There is walking during the guided city visits in Fes and Marrakech, as well as stops such as Todra Gorge and Ait Ben Haddou. The amount of walking can vary depending on your pace and the places you choose to visit.
What should we pack for the desert portion of the trip?
Comfortable clothing, walking shoes, sun protection and layers are useful. Desert temperatures can change considerably between daytime and nighttime, especially outside the warmer months.
Can children join this 8-day Morocco tour?
Families can take this private tour. If you are traveling with young children, let us know when arranging the trip so the daily schedule and desert experience can be planned appropriately.
Can we customize accommodation during the 8-day tour?
Accommodation options can be discussed when arranging your tour. The itinerary uses hotels or riads along the route together with a Sahara desert camp near Merzouga.