PRIVATE TOUR — 8 DAYS MOROCCO ITINERARY FROM CASABLANCA TO MARRAKECH

OVERVIEW

Eight days lets you slow down enough to see both ends of the country properly. This private tour from Casablanca covers Rabat, Chefchaouen, the Roman site at Volubilis, Meknes, Fes with a full guided day in the medina, a night in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, and Marrakech — with a guided day in Marrakech at the end. You’ll have walked through two UNESCO-listed medinas, crossed two mountain ranges, and spent a night in the desert by the time it’s finished.

Every itinerary is fully customisable to suit your preferences and pace.

DURATION: 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
START: CASABLANCA
END: MARRAKECH
TOUR STYLE: PRIVATE

HIGHLIGHTS

– The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
– Chefchaouen, Morocco’s blue city
– The Roman ruins of Volubilis
– A full guided day in the Fes medina
– Camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes
– Sunset and sunrise over the Sahara
– A night under the stars in a luxury desert camp
– A walk through the Todra Gorge
– The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
– A full guided day in Marrakech
– Crossing the High Atlas Mountains

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CASABLANCA → RABAT

Pick-up at Mohammed V International Airport. First stop is the Hassan II Mosque, then we drive to Rabat to see the Hassan Tower and the Oudayas Kasbah. Overnight in Rabat. If you land at night, we’ll take you directly to a Casablanca hotel instead.

Approximate driving distance/time: 128 km / 2 hours 10 minutes

DAY 2: RABAT → CHEFCHAOUEN

After breakfast, a four-hour drive north into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. The afternoon is yours to wander the blue-painted alleys of the medina. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

Approximate driving distance/time: 254 km / 4 hours

DAY 3: CHEFCHAOUEN → VOLUBILIS → MEKNES → FES

A full day of driving with two historical stops. Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, has mosaics still in place on the ground. Meknes, the 17th-century imperial capital, has the Bab el Mansour gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Lunch in Meknes, then on to Fes for the night in a riad in the medina.

Approximate driving distance/time: 260 km / 4 hours 30 minutes

DAY 4: GUIDED TOUR OF FES

Full day in Fes with a local guide — Royal Palace gate, Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain, the Chouara tanneries, the Mellah, and a panoramic view from an old fortress. Overnight at your riad.

DAY 5: FES → IFRANE → MIDDLE ATLAS → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA

The long desert day. South through Ifrane, across the Middle Atlas via a cedar forest (Barbary macaques often show up), lunch on the road, then down through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. Camel ride across the dunes to camp, sunset from a high ridge, dinner, and drumming around the fire. Overnight in your private tent.

Approximate driving distance/time: 500 km / 7 hours 30 minutes

DAY 6: MERZOUGA → RISSANI → TODRA GORGE → DADES GORGE

Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at camp, then back to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. Rissani souk if the day lines up, then on to the Todra Gorge for a walk, and into the Dades Valley with its “monkey fingers” rock formations. Overnight in Dades.

Approximate driving distance/time: 310 km / 5 hours

DAY 7: DADES → OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → HIGH ATLAS → MARRAKECH

Ouarzazate first, with an optional stop at Atlas Studios, then Ait Ben Haddou — UNESCO-listed, used in Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. Lunch, then the climb over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka and down to Marrakech by late afternoon. Check in at your riad, and if you have energy, a walk through Jemaa El Fna is a good first introduction to the city.

Approximate driving distance/time: 353 km / 6 hours 30 minutes

DAY 8: GUIDED TOUR OF MARRAKECH

Last day of the tour. Breakfast at your riad, then a local guide will take you through the main sights — Jemaa El-Fna Square, Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Koutoubia Mosque. After lunch, an optional visit to the Majorelle Garden in the newer part of the city.

Drop-off at either Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) or Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) depending on your departure flight.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

– Driving times don’t include stops for lunch and sightseeing.
– This tour can also start from Tangier.
– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated — please mention this when booking.
– Optional add-ons: professional photographer, romantic desert dinner, desert proposal setup, quad/buggy activity, cooking class, hammam, hot air balloon in Marrakech, day trips to Essaouira, Ouzoud Waterfalls, or Ourika Valley.
– Prefer not to ride a camel? A 4×4 can take you into and out of the camp at no extra cost.
– Three accommodation categories are available, from comfortable riads to luxury hotels.
– Shorter (5, 6, 7 day) or longer (9, 10, 12 day, 2-week) versions available.