This 9 day Morocco tour from Casablanca links Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes and the Sahara before finishing in Marrakech.
First, day one travels from Casablanca to Rabat. Then, day two continues to Chefchaouen. Next, day three heads to Fes, stopping at the Roman ruins of Volubilis along the way. After that, day four is a full guided tour of Fes with a specialist local guide.
Meanwhile, day five crosses the Middle Atlas to the Sahara Desert for the first of two nights in Merzouga, starting in a luxury desert camp. Then, day six is dedicated entirely to exploring the Sahara region by 4×4. Next, day seven continues to the Dades Valley. After that, day eight crosses the High Atlas Mountains via Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech. Finally, day nine is departure, either from Marrakech or with a transfer back to Casablanca, whichever suits your flight.
In addition, this route is built around giving each destination the time it deserves rather than packing multiple cities into a single day. Chefchaouen, Fes, and the Sahara Desert region each get either an overnight of their own or a full dedicated day, which makes this one of our more relaxed nine-day options.
Overall, this is a fully private tour throughout, with a dedicated driver-guide and air-conditioned vehicle for the road days, and a private 4×4 with an experienced desert driver for the dedicated Sahara exploration day.
The capital, Rabat, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that blends a historic old city with a modern capital. Chefchaouen, founded in 1471 in the Rif Mountains, is famous for its blue-washed medina. At Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes rise to around 150 meters, among the tallest in Morocco.
The best months for a full Morocco circuit are March to May and September to November, when both the cities and the desert are comfortable. Summer is hot inland and in the Sahara, and winter brings cold desert nights and snow in the mountains.
This private 9 day Morocco tour from Casablanca starts from $1,040 per person, based on two travelers sharing, and the price per person drops for larger groups. Every itinerary can be adjusted to your dates, pace and hotel preferences. Send us your dates on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form below for a free quote.
Your Navigate Morocco driver-guide will meet you in Casablanca, either at Mohammed V Airport or your hotel.This is where your 9 day Casablanca tour begins, starting with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest religious buildings in the world and one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors.
Afterwards, continue north to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital and one of its four imperial cities. Visit the Oudaya Kasbah, a fortified 17th-century citadel with blue and white streets and Andalusian gardens overlooking the Bou Regreg River, followed by the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Finally, check into your riad in Rabat for the night.
After breakfast, depart Rabat and head north toward the Rif Mountains. The drive winds gradually higher through changing scenery, from coastal plains to forested hills, before arriving in Chefchaouen by early to mid-afternoon.
Then, spend the afternoon and evening exploring the blue city at your own pace. Wander the famous blue-washed medina, where nearly every wall, staircase, and doorway is painted in a different shade of blue, and browse the small shops selling wool blankets, leather goods, and local crafts.
For those with energy after the drive, the walk up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint is especially beautiful at sunset. Check into your riad for the night.
After breakfast, depart Chefchaouen and head south back toward the plains. Along the way, stop at Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in North Africa.
Although once one of the most important Roman outposts on the continent, Volubilis is preserved well enough that visitors can walk through triumphal arches, along ancient streets, and over mosaic floors that have survived nearly two thousand years beneath the Moroccan sun.
Then, continue to Fes, arriving in the late afternoon. Check into your traditional riad in the heart of the old medina and enjoy a relaxed evening, preparing for a full day of guided exploration the following morning.
Today is entirely dedicated to Fes el-Bali, the ancient walled medina of Fes and one of the most complete medieval cities anywhere in the world.
With a knowledgeable local expert guide, spend the day walking through a labyrinth of over nine thousand alleyways where the sounds, scents, and textures of medieval Morocco are very much alive.
First, visit Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 AD and recognized by UNESCO as the world’s oldest continuously operating university, and the Bou Inania Madrasa, a stunning 14th-century theological school featuring some of the finest examples of Moroccan decorative craftsmanship.
Then, head to the world-famous Chouara Tanneries, where leather has been dyed using natural pigments and traditional methods for over a thousand years, best viewed from the rooftop terraces of the surrounding leather shops.
Finally, spend the afternoon exploring the artisan quarters, where coppersmiths, weavers, and ceramicists still practice their crafts, with free time to browse the souk before returning to your riad for a second night in Fes.
After breakfast, depart Fes and head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. First, stop in Ifrane, a charming alpine town with stone chalets, manicured parks, and cool mountain air that has earned it the nickname the Switzerland of Morocco.
Then, continue to the cedar forests around Azrou, where Barbary macaque monkeys roam freely among the trees.
After a lunch stop in Midelt, the road descends into the Ziz Valley, a stunning pre-Saharan oasis where thousands of date palms line the banks of the Ziz River.
Stop at the panoramic viewpoint high above the valley for photographs before continuing south. By late afternoon, the towering orange dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon.
Your camels will be waiting at the edge of the desert for a sunset trek across the golden sands, the dunes glowing in shades of amber and rose as the sun descends.
Finally, arrive at your luxury desert camp to a warm welcome of mint tea and Berber bread, followed by a traditional dinner and live Berber music around the campfire under a sky full of stars.
First, rise before dawn to witness the Sahara sunrise, one of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments the desert offers.
After breakfast at the camp, check out and transfer to your comfortable riad or hotel in Merzouga for the second night, this time with the full day free to explore the region properly.
Because today’s stops lie off the paved road across open sand and rough desert tracks, the day is done in a private 4×4 vehicle with an experienced desert driver, rather than the standard touring car used on the rest of the trip.
Begin with a visit to a nomadic Berber family in their tent and gain a genuine insight into their quiet, self-sufficient way of life.
Then, continue to the fossil mines near Merzouga, where millions of years of prehistoric marine life are embedded in the local rock.
Afterwards, head to Khamlia village, home to the descendants of sub-Saharan Africans brought to Morocco in the 16th and 17th centuries, who have preserved the ancient tradition of Gnawa music. A live performance by local musicians here is one of the most memorable cultural encounters of the entire tour.
After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is free for optional activities, with the 4×4 already on hand to reach the best dune areas. ATV quad biking across the Erg Chebbi dunes is the most popular choice, and sandboarding is also available at an additional cost paid locally.
Finally, return to your riad or hotel in the early evening for dinner and a second night in Merzouga.
After breakfast in Merzouga, say farewell to the desert and begin the journey west. First, stop in Rissani, the historic former capital of the Tafilalt region and the ancestral heartland of Morocco’s Alaouite royal dynasty, where a market day visit reveals one of the most authentic trading scenes in southern Morocco.
Then, continue toward the Todra Gorge, a spectacular natural canyon carved by the Todra River through limestone cliffs that rise over 300 meters on either side.
Take a refreshing walk along the river before continuing into the Dades Valley in the late afternoon, known for its winding roads, red rock formations, and the famous Monkey Fingers rock formations near Ait Oudinar.
Finally, check into your riad overlooking the valley for a peaceful evening.
After breakfast, depart the Dades Valley and continue west through the Valley of Roses toward Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa for the film productions shot in its dramatic desert scenery.
Then, visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most iconic fortified villages, built entirely from earthen clay and rising dramatically from the riverbank in a series of towers, walls, and labyrinthine alleyways.
After exploring the kasbah, cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest paved road in North Africa at approximately 2,260 meters above sea level, with sweeping views of mountain peaks and Berber villages along the way.
Finally, descend into Marrakech by early evening and check into your riad near the medina for your final night on tour.
After breakfast, your Navigate Morocco driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure.
This 9 day Casablanca tour can end in either of two ways depending on your flight: a direct transfer from Marrakech Menara Airport, or a longer transfer back to Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport if your international flight departs from there.
Let us know your preference when booking and we will arrange the departure accordingly.
Either way, this brings your nine-day journey through Morocco’s imperial cities, the blue city of Chefchaouen, the Sahara Desert, and the High Atlas Mountains to a close.
End of tour with Navigate Morocco. To customise this 9 day Casablanca tour, contact us.
Q1: Is this a private tour? Yes, this is a fully private tour operated exclusively for you and your travel companions by Navigate Morocco. You will have a dedicated vehicle and driver-guide throughout and will not share with any other group at any point during the journey.
Q2: Where does the 9 day Casablanca tour start and end? The tour starts in Casablanca, with pickup at Mohammed V Airport or your hotel. However, it can end in either Marrakech or Casablanca depending on where your departure flight leaves from. Let us know your preference at the time of booking.
Q3: Why is a 4×4 used on day six instead of the regular tour vehicle? Because the nomadic family, fossil mines, and Khamlia village are reached by unpaved desert tracks and open sand rather than surfaced roads, day six is done in a private 4×4 with an experienced desert driver. Your standard touring vehicle and driver-guide resume the following morning for the drive out of Merzouga.
Q4: Why does this tour include two nights in the Sahara instead of one? Two nights in Merzouga gives you a genuinely immersive Sahara experience rather than a single rushed overnight. Additionally, the first night in the luxury desert camp provides the classic sunset camel trek and campfire experience, and the full day that follows allows proper exploration of the region by 4×4.
Q5: What type of accommodation is included? Accommodation is a mix of traditional riads in Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Dades Valley, and Marrakech, a luxury desert camp for the first Sahara night, and a riad or hotel in Merzouga for the second.
Q6: What meals are included? Daily breakfast is included throughout the tour, along with dinner on both nights in the Merzouga area. Other dinners and all lunches are not included, giving you the freedom to explore local restaurants at your own pace.
Q7: Is the camel trek suitable for all travelers? Yes, the sunset camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes is slow-paced and guided by experienced local handlers, suitable for travelers of all ages. Alternatively, a 4×4 transfer to the desert camp can be arranged if preferred.
Q8: Are entrance fees included? Entrance fees to monuments, kasbahs, and museums, including Volubilis and Ait Ben Haddou, are not included in the tour price, allowing you to choose freely which sites you wish to enter.
Q9: Can the itinerary be customized? Absolutely, Navigate Morocco offers fully flexible itineraries. Stops, pacing, accommodation preferences, and optional activities can all be adjusted to match your group’s interests and schedule.
Q10: What is the best time of year for this tour? March to May and September to November are the best months, when temperatures are comfortable across all regions of the route. Meanwhile, summer can be very hot in the Sahara Desert, while winter is cooler but still manageable with appropriate clothing, particularly in the Rif and Atlas Mountains.
Q11: Do I need a visa to enter Morocco? Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many nationalities can enter Morocco visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, but it is always best to check with your local consulate or embassy before travel.
