This 8 day private tour from Casablanca to Marrakech is one of our most complete Morocco itineraries, pairing a private driver-guide with a route through the Imperial Cities and the Sahara Desert. The journey begins in Casablanca and travels through Rabat, Meknes, and Fes before heading into the Sahara for a night at a Merzouga desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, complete with a camel trek at sunset and sunrise. From there the route continues through the Dades Valley and the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, ending with two days in Marrakech.
Because the vehicle, driver, and guide are private and not shared with other travelers, the pace and stops can flex around what your group wants to see. It's a good fit for first-time visitors who want a single trip covering both Morocco's imperial history and the Sahara desert, and for anyone comparing Casablanca-to-Marrakech itineraries who wants everything — cities, mountains, and dunes — in one 7 night, 8 day route.
We will meet you in the Casablanca airport, and then we go to visit the Hassan II Mosque. After that, we take the road to Meknes, the capital of Morocco during the 17th century. Along the way, we will pass through Rabat, where we will stop to see the current capital and its historic heritage, such as the Kasbah of Oudaya and the Hassan tower. Then we continue to Meknes where you will spend night at a hotel/riad and have dinner & breakfast.
After breakfast we will start a guided tour in the city of Meknes where you will explore the old medina with its beautiful tomb of Moulay Ismail, the Granary, the Square of Lehdim and the Gate of Bab Mansour. You will have dinner in Meknes and then your destination will be the holy city of Moulay Idriss, a place of pilgrimage for all Moroccans. You will visit Volubilis and explore the ruins of this Roman city, and after that we will drive to Fes, where you will spend overnight at a riad/hotel.
After breakfast in the riad/hotel, you will visit the old medina of Fez, the most ancient of Imperial Cities anywhere in the Muslim world. It is the city that has been the spiritual and political capital of Morocco for over 1000 years since its inception by Moulay Idriss. The local guide will reveal for you the secrets of Fez and show you the most important historic monuments. We will make sure that you visit places such as: The Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, the Tomb of the Merinids, the 14th century Bouinania School, ceramics handcraft. You will have lunch in the Medina and then explore its fascinating cobbled lanes, richly decorated Attarin School, the Neijarin, Dar Batha/Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts, Medersa and the Kairaouine Mosque. You will see the medieval tannery and the infinite variety of handcraft merchandise. The night will be spent in Fes.
After breakfast in the hotel, you will start the trip to Merzouga, passing through Ifrane, which is often symbolically described as a Swiss mountain city, the cedar forests of Azrou where you will have the opportunity to wander among its famous monkeys in their natural environment, the Middle Atlas Mountains as well as the only tunnel in Morocco and the valley of Ziz, with miles of palm groves and high cliffs. Your excursion will take you deeper towards the southeast, gate to the largest Sahara Desert where you will start your camel trek into the charming Erg Chebbi dunes and immerse in nomadic desert lifestyle. You will get to spend the night in a berber tent. After dinner, we gather around fire, enjoying the desert's night atmosphere and entertaining ourselves with Berber music that pleases desert people and their visitors. For nature lovers and those who cherish calmness, they can go for a walk on the dunes and enjoy the peacefulness and warmth atmosphere, looking up at the stars and the moon.
We will get up early to witness the magic sunrise from the dunes. After having a delicious Berber breakfast you will get back by camel to Merzouga and get prepared to leave by car towards Tinghir to see the Todra Gorges. In our way, we will halt in Rissani to visit Moulay Ali Cherif mausoleum. Then we will pass through numerous small Berber villages, like Jorf, which is well known for its palm trees, Mellaab and Tinjdad. We will drive up a bit further to Dades Gorges, passing through a fabulous sight made of mountains formed like monkey-fingers and set off to see the panoramic view of Dades Gorges road. Then, we will finally arrive to the Dades Valley where we will have dinner and spend the night at a riad/hotel.
After breakfast, we start our journey crossing the authentic Dades Valley to Kalaat M'gouna (the capital of roses) and Ouarzazate (the Hollywood of Africa). Within the way to our destination, you will have a great chance to see hundreds of abandoned Kasbahs. We will visit the Roses Valley and Skoura village, and then continue to Ouarzazate. After visiting the Hollywood city and the Taourirt Kasbah we will go ahead to enjoy lunch at the famous largest Kasbah in Morocco: "Ait Benhaddou Kasbah". The latter is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. As one of the most beautiful monuments in Morocco, this Kasbah was chosen by many movie makers shooting films in the region and was portrayed to audiences worldwide. After a tour inside the Kasbah, our journey will be resumed via the charming Tizi N'Tichka mountain pass. In the middle of this pass, we will halt for a while to enjoy the panoramic view and visit the Argan oil cooperatives. Then we will head to Marrakech.
After breakfast at the riad, we start our sightseeing journey in the city of Marrakech "the red city of Morocco". It was founded in the XII century by the Almoravidian dynasty. We will explore the most important cultural and historical heritage. You will have the chance to visit the Saadiyin Tomb, Majorelle Gardens and Koutoubia Tower. Moreover, our guide will lead you to see the Bahia square, the Souk of the city and then you will join the famous square of the medina where you will see and discover the fascinating snake-charmers, story-tellers, musicians. In the afternoon, you will have free time to walk around and discover other places by yourself.
We will take you from the riad to the airport. We hope to see you again in Morocco.
Yes. This is a private tour with your own driver-guide and vehicle for the full 8 days, not a group tour.
No, lunch and beverages are not included. Breakfast is included daily, and dinner is included on the night in the Sahara Desert camp and in the Dades Valley.
The tour starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech, with drop-off at Marrakech Menara Airport on day 8.
Yes, travelers spend one night in a Berber tent camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, including a camel trek at sunset and sunrise.
A well-rounded 8 day itinerary from Casablanca to Marrakech covers the Imperial Cities (Rabat, Meknes, Fes) on the way out, a night in the Merzouga Sahara desert camp in the middle, and the Dades Valley and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah on the way to Marrakech. This route balances history, mountain scenery, and desert time within one 7 night, 8 day private trip.
NB: This 8 days expedition from Casablanca encapsulates a vivid experience through Morocco's historical, cultural, and natural wonders, ending with an enchanting Sahara Desert adventure. Always verify details with the tour operator for the best experience.
Please feel free to contact us at any time, whether you have already found the trip and activities that perfectly suit your needs and interests, or if you would like us to customize an itinerary tailored to your preferences. At Morocco Splendid Tours, we are genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to making your journey in Morocco the most fortuitous and enjoyable experience possible. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are here to assist you in creating a travel adventure that not only meets your expectations but also exceeds them. Our team is ready to answer any questions, provide expert advice, and ensure that every aspect of your Moroccan adventure is finely tuned to your desires. We look forward to helping you craft an extraordinary and personalized experience that will leave you with lasting memories of Morocco.
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