PRIVATE DESERT TOUR — CASABLANCA CIRCUIT

OVERVIEW

Ten days from Casablanca and back — the most complete version of the Casablanca circuit, adding a full dedicated day to explore the Merzouga desert by 4×4 compared to the 9-day itinerary. This private tour visits Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, the Erg Chebbi dunes for a camel ride and night in the desert, a full day exploring the Merzouga region (nomadic families, Khamlia Gnaoua village, flamingo lake), the Todra and Dades Gorges, the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a full guided day in Marrakech, and returns to Casablanca.

Every element is private, tailored, and delivered by a dedicated driver/guide throughout.

HIGHLIGHTS

– Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Corniche
– Rabat — Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Oudayas Kasbah
– The Blue City of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains
– UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis
– Imperial Meknes — Bab Mansour, royal granaries, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
– Full guided day in Fes medina — Al-Qarawiyyin, Chouara tanneries, Bou Inania Madrasa
– Ifrane and Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou
– Camel trekking at sunset across the Erg Chebbi dunes
– Luxury desert camp with Berber music under a sky blazing with stars
– Full day exploring Merzouga: nomadic families, Khamlia Gnaoua village, eyeliner mine, flamingo lake, palm grove
– Rissani souk, Erfoud fossil marble workshops
– Soaring Todra Gorges and Dades Valley “monkey fingers” formations
– Rose Valley, Ouarzazate Atlas Film Studios, UNESCO Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
– Full guided day in Marrakech — Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, souks, Jemaa el-Fnaa
– Return to Casablanca

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CASABLANCA — HASSAN II MOSQUE, CORNICHE, CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Pick-up from Casablanca airport or accommodation. Visit the spectacular Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Morocco, perched on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Explore Mohammed V Square, Rick’s Café, and the Corniche seafront. Overnight hotel in Casablanca.

DAY 2: CASABLANCA → RABAT → CHEFCHAOUEN

After breakfast, drive north along the Atlantic coast to Rabat. Visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Oudayas Kasbah overlooking the river. Continue north through Ouazzane to the famous Blue City of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains — its medina of cobalt-painted alleyways and arched doorways. Overnight hotel.

DAY 3: CHEFCHAOUEN → VOLUBILIS → MEKNES → FES

Morning stroll in Chefchaouen’s blue medina. Drive south to the UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis — Morocco’s finest ancient archaeological site with extraordinary preserved mosaics, a triumphal arch, and ancient columns on a hilltop. Continue 30 kilometres to the imperial city of Meknes — Bab al-Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani reservoir, the royal stables and granaries, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Drive east to Fes. Overnight in a riad.

DAY 4: FULL GUIDED TOUR OF FES MEDINA

A full day in Fes el-Bali with a specialist local guide. Driving tour: Royal Palace Gate, the historic Jewish Mellah, and the panoramic Borj Sud fortress viewpoint. Walking tour of the medieval medina: the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University (the world’s oldest continuously operating university, founded in 859 AD), the Chouara Tanneries viewed from above the vivid dye vats, and the vibrant craft and spice souks. Overnight in a riad.

DAY 5: FES → IFRANE → CEDAR FOREST → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA → LUXURY CAMP

After breakfast, drive south through the alpine town of Ifrane — the “Switzerland of Morocco” — and through the cedar forests near Azrou where Barbary macaques live freely. Lunch in Midelt. Drive through the breathtaking Ziz Valley. Arrive at the Merzouga Sahara desert in the late afternoon. Switch to camels and cross the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, stopping on a high dune for the magical colours over the desert. Continue to the luxury desert camp: traditional Moroccan dinner, Berber music around the campfire, and a night beneath an open sky blazing with stars. Overnight in camp.

DAY 6: FULL DAY EXPLORING MERZOUGA DESERT — NOMADS, KHAMLIA, FLAMINGO LAKE, PALM GROVE

Rise early for the desert sunrise. After breakfast, return by camel or the camp’s 4×4 to Merzouga. Spend the full day exploring the extraordinary Merzouga region by 4×4. Drive off-road to visit an ancient eyeliner mine. Pay nomadic families a visit in their handmade woven tents — share Berber tea and learn how they live in the desert. Continue to Khamlia village, where the Gnaoua music and dance of a community descended from sub-Saharan Africa (Mali, Sudan, Niger) creates an unforgettable cultural encounter. Free lunch at a local restaurant. Stroll through a date palm grove, then drive to the wild Merzouga lake — the flamingo lake — where flamingos and migratory birds gather seasonally. Dinner and overnight in a hotel near the dunes.

DAY 7: MERZOUGA → RISSANI → ERFOUD → TODRA GORGES → DADES VALLEY

After breakfast, drive north to visit Rissani — the ancient capital of the Tafilalet region — and its traditional souk (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday). Continue to Erfoud to visit a workshop producing remarkable sculptures from fossilised marble. Drive through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges — where the Todra river has carved a soaring 300-metre red canyon. Walk freely through the dramatic gorge. Free time for lunch. Continue west to the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades with stops at the extraordinary “monkey fingers” rock formations and a panoramic gorge viewpoint. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.

DAY 8: DADES VALLEY → ROSE VALLEY → SKOURA → OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → MARRAKECH

Drive west to Kelaat M’Gouna and the Rose Valley — home to an annual May Rose Festival. Continue through the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate, where you visit the famous Atlas Film Studios. Explore the magnificent UNESCO Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou — the earthen fortress of Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi-N-Tichka pass. Arrive in Marrakech. Overnight in a riad.

DAY 9: FULL GUIDED DAY IN MARRAKECH

Full day with a specialist local guide. Visit the stunning 19th-century Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa — a masterpiece of Moroccan decorative art — the vibrant medina souks, the Koutoubia Mosque, and the legendary Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Optional afternoon visit to the Majorelle Garden (pre-booking required). Overnight in a riad.

DAY 10: MARRAKECH → CASABLANCA

Drive north to Casablanca with short stops along the way. Transfer to Casablanca airport or your accommodation. End of the 10-day Morocco tour.

IMPORTANT NOTES

– This itinerary is fully customisable — contact us to adapt any day.
– Best travel months: spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November).
– Pickup from any location in Casablanca including airport, hotel, or port.
– Vehicles: Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 pax) or Mercedes/Ford minivan (up to 8 pax).
– Price varies by group size and accommodation category.
– Please advise of any dietary requirements at time of booking.
– Entrance fees to Volubilis, Fes monuments, Marrakech sites, and Ait Ben Haddou are not included.