Imperial Morocco & the Sahara: 10-Day Grand Circuit
Overview
The full loop: all four imperial cities, the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, the oldest continuously operating university in the world at Fès, a night under the stars at Erg Chebbi, the Todra Gorge, and the mudbrick kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, finishing with two nights in Marrakech. Ten days is what it takes to do Morocco without spending the whole trip in a vehicle, and this route is paced so the long Atlas crossings are broken by places worth stopping for.
At a glance
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Casablanca → Marrakech |
| Group size | Maximum {{GROUP_SIZE}} travelers |
| Activity level | Moderate - long drive days over the Atlas, medina walking, one night in a desert camp |
| Meals | 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners |
| Guiding | Licensed local guide, English (other languages on request) |
| Departures | February–May and September–November |
Tour highlights
- Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, built out over the Atlantic
- Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower
- The blue-washed medina of Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains
- Two nights in Fès - the Qarawiyyin, the Chouara tanneries and the Bou Inania medersa
- Roman Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss
- A camel trek into Erg Chebbi and a night in a desert camp
- The Todra Gorge and the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar
- Two nights in Marrakech: Jemaa el-Fna, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle garden
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day 1 - Arrive Casablanca. Transfer to your hotel and an evening seafront walk. Visit to the Hassan II Mosque if time allows.
Overnight: Casablanca -
Day 2 - Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen. The Hassan II Mosque, then Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower, and north into the Rif.
Overnight: Chefchaouen -
Day 3 - Chefchaouen → Fès. A slow morning in the blue medina, then south to Fès via the cedar country.
Overnight: Fès -
Day 4 - Fès. A full day in Fès el-Bali with a local medina guide: the Qarawiyyin, Bou Inania, the tanneries and the souks.
Overnight: Fès -
Day 5 - Volubilis & Meknès. Roman Volubilis and its mosaics, the shrine town of Moulay Idriss, and the imperial gates of Meknès.
Overnight: Fès -
Day 6 - Fès → Merzouga. Over the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the Ziz valley palm groves. Camel trek into the dunes at sunset.
Overnight: Desert camp -
Day 7 - Erg Chebbi → Todra → Dades. Sunrise over the dunes, then the Todra Gorge and into the Dades valley.
Overnight: Dades -
Day 8 - Dades → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech. The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Overnight: Marrakech -
Day 9 - Marrakech. The Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia and the souks, with a free afternoon for the Majorelle garden.
Overnight: Marrakech -
Day 10 - Depart Marrakech. Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport.
Overnight: -
What's included
- All airport and intercity transfers in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Accommodation as listed, on a twin-share basis, with daily breakfast
- Professional English-speaking licensed guide throughout
- All entrance fees to the sites named in the itinerary
- Local taxes, service charges and portage at hotels
- 24/7 on-tour support line and a Look Vacations tour manager
- One night in a Sahara desert camp with private tents and en-suite facilities
- Camel trek at Erg Chebbi
- Specialist medina guides in Fès and Marrakech
What's not included
- International flights to and from the start and end cities
- Travel insurance (required - we can recommend providers)
- Visas, passport fees and any border charges
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional excursions and gratuities for guide and driver
Accommodation
Riads inside the medinas of Fès and Marrakech - courtyard houses, not chain hotels - four-star properties elsewhere, and a comfortable desert camp with proper beds and en-suite bathrooms.
Who this tour is for
Couples, friends traveling together and multi-generational family groups. Children over eight generally love the desert camp. Two of the driving days run to six hours, so it suits travelers who enjoy the road.
Book or ask a question
Prices are per person in twin-share accommodation, land only, and vary by departure date and group size. Tell us your preferred dates and we will confirm availability and a firm quote within one business day.
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