8 Day Tour from Casablanca: Imperial Cities and Sahara Desert
A private 8-day journey from Casablanca through Morocco's most iconic destinations. Walk the ancient medinas of Fes and Marrakech, discover Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes, visit Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains, and ride a camel into the Sahara for a night in a luxury desert camp under the stars.
- Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
- Starts: Casablanca. Ends: Marrakech airport
- Route: Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Fes → Ifrane → Merzouga → Todgha Gorge → Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
- Comfort level: Luxury hotels, riads and desert camp
- Price: from $1,300 per person (see Prices)
- Tour code: ICD87
Highlights
- Casablanca's magnificent Hassan II Mosque and the seafront Corniche
- The imperial cities of Fes and Marrakech: medinas, royal palaces and souks
- The Roman ruins of Volubilis and the grand architecture of Meknes
- Berber villages of the Atlas and the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
- A camel ride over golden dunes and a night in a luxury Sahara camp
- The canyon of the Todgha Gorge and the lush Dades Valley
Day by Day
Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca
Welcome to Morocco's largest city. After a private transfer from Mohammed V International Airport to your hotel, take time to relax. If time permits, stroll along the Corniche or visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Dinner at Rick's Café, inspired by the film Casablanca, is a fun option.
Overnight in Casablanca.
Day 2: Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Fes
Drive to Rabat, Morocco's capital, to see the Kasbah of the Udayas above the Atlantic, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Continue to Meknes, famed for the Bab Mansour gate, the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the Heri es-Souani granaries and stables, then on to Fes.
Dinner and overnight in Fes.
Day 3: Exploring Fes
A full-day guided tour of Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Al Quaraouiyine University, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Nejjarine Fountain and the Chouara Tanneries, where leather is still dyed by hand. Free time follows for shopping in the souks, with an optional dinner and live music in the evening.
Overnight in Fes.
Day 4: Fes → Ifrane → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane, the "Switzerland of Morocco", and cedar forests where wild monkeys live. Follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, then ride a camel at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Your luxury desert camp offers Berber music around the fire and a dazzling starlit sky.
Overnight in a luxury desert camp, Merzouga.
Day 5: Merzouga → Todgha Gorge → Dades Valley
Watch the sunrise over the dunes, then return by camel or 4x4. Pass through Rissani, an old caravan trading post, to the Todgha Gorge, whose limestone walls rise over 300 metres. Continue through the Dades Valley, known for its rock formations and palm oases.
Dinner and overnight in the Dades Valley.
Day 6: Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate, the "Hollywood of Africa", to visit the Atlas Film Studios and the Taourirt Kasbah. Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a film location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones, then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Dinner and overnight in Marrakech.
Day 7: Full Day in Marrakech
A guided tour of Jemaa el-Fnaa square, the Bahia and El Badi palaces, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum. The afternoon is free for the souks, with an optional dinner on a rooftop overlooking the square.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport for your onward flight, with memories of a journey rich in culture, history and natural wonders.
This itinerary can be customised to suit you. For a longer trip, see the 10-day tour from Casablanca.
Prices
Prices are per person for a private tour and depend on group size:
- 2 to 3 people: $2,050 per person
- 4 to 5 people: $1,850 per person
- 6 to 8 people: $1,680 per person
- 9 to 12 people: $1,490 per person
- 13 to 15 people: $1,300 per person
Ask for a quote for your dates
Included
- Private transport and fuel
- Expert local driver-guide
- Hotels with dinner and breakfast
- Desert camp with dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride in the Sahara
- Local guides in the cities
Not included: flights, lunches, entrance fees and tips.
Good to Know
- Best time: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring warm days and cool nights. Summer is extremely hot in Merzouga (up to 45°C); winter brings cold desert nights but fewer visitors.
- What to pack: comfortable walking shoes for cobbled medinas, light modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered at religious sites), warm layers for desert nights, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen, a scarf for sand, and a Type C/E adapter (220V).
- Driving times: Casablanca to Rabat about 1 hour; Rabat to Meknes about 1.5 hours; Meknes to Fes about 1 hour; Fes to Merzouga 7 to 8 hours with stops; Merzouga to Dades about 5 hours; Dades to Marrakech about 6 hours via the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
Reviews
"Our 8-day tour from Casablanca was incredible! We explored Morocco's imperial cities, Rabat, Meknes and Fes, with their rich history and stunning architecture. The Sahara was a highlight: riding camels at sunset and staying in a luxury desert camp under the stars." Stefan, United Kingdom
"My partner and I booked an 8-day imperial cities and desert tour, and it exceeded all expectations! Our guide, Ismael, was knowledgeable and made every moment memorable, from Fes's medina to camel trekking in the Sahara." Andre, USA
"Our group of six had an incredible 8-day tour. Omar, our local guide in Fes and Marrakech, made the trip unforgettable. The luxury desert camp, historic sites and vibrant souks were highlights." Alice, Canada