Trip (7 or 8 Days) – From Casablanca to Marrakech via the Imperial Cities & Desert - Authentic, Individual & Private Desert Tours & Camel Trekking

Trip (7 or 8 Days) – From Casablanca to Marrakech via the Imperial Cities & Desert

Overview

This 7 or 8-day journey takes you through Morocco’s imperial cities, the blue pearl of Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and the desert dunes of Merzouga. Beginning in Casablanca, you’ll explore Rabat, Meknes, and Fes before heading south through the Middle Atlas, the lush Ziz Valley, and into the desert. The adventure continues with the dramatic Todra Gorges, the valleys of Dades and Roses, and the city of Ouarzazate before arriving in Marrakech. Along the way, you will experience authentic villages, as imperial cities and stunning natural landscapes – a perfect balance of culture, history, and desert adventure.

*If you’d like to extend your trip, you can add more nights in the cities or the desert for a deeper cultural immersion.

Tour Code:	TRIP-7-8-CASFEZMERZMRK
Duration:	7 or 8 days + 6 or 7 nights
Destination:	Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Rachedia – Arfoud – Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorges – Boumalne Dades – Rose Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech (→ optional private transfer to Casablanca on request)
Category:	Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
Included:	An experienced local guide Private air-conditioned car with a driver Pick up from your hotel/airport Drop off in your hotel/airport All meals (breakfast & dinner) and drinks (water & tea) Lunch in the desert Camp in the desert Local traditional music by campfire
Prices (per person):	from 15’075.- MAD (→ Depending on selected choices & options for your journey)
Choices:	? Without or with lunch ? Moroccan riad or luxury riad
Options: (possible to add)	! Mosque/Museum Hassan II ! Tower of Hassan ! Mausoleum Mohammed V ! Kasbah Udayas with Andalusian garden ! Chellah (ancient Roman ruins of the city wall) ! Ancient Roman ruins & mosaics of Volubilis ! Pottery workshop ! Fossil Visit ! Camel ride ! Sandboarding ! Nomadic family ! Gnawa music ! Souk Rissani ! Cooperative Berber carpet ! Quad or Buggy Ride ! Palm groves Skoura ! Kasbah Amridil ! Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou ! Rose distillation ! Walk Todra Gorges ! Hike Boumalne Dades ! Oasis Merzouga
Excluded:	Tips Local (city) guide & entrances Extras (personal expenses) Individual personal wishes (Please note by booking!)

Tour Plan

Discover Morocco in 7–8 days: from Casablanca to Marrakech via Rabat, Meknes & Fes; Chefchaouen’s blue alleys; Roman Volubilis; and the Sahara dunes of Merzouga. Cross the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley to Todra Gorges, the Dades & Rose Valleys, and Ouarzazate. Authentic villages, imperial landmarks, and sweeping desert landscapes—culture, history, and adventure in perfect balance.

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 1: From Ocean Breeze to the Blue Pearl (Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen)

Seafront Casablanca and stately Rabat set the tone before you climb into the Rif. Explore on your own for a relaxed first day—or choose a licensed city guide for insider context and time-saving navigation. By evening, Chefchaouen’s blue-washed lanes welcome you for a golden-hour wander in the medina.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): mosque/museum Hassan II (visit the oceanfront landmark and its ornate prayer hall) + Hassan tower (discover the Almohad minaret and vast esplanade) + mausoleum Mohammed V (pay respects at the royal resting place with marble and zellige) + kasbah of the Udayas & Andalusian garden (stroll white-blue lanes and a tranquil garden) + Chellah (explore Roman ruins and Marinid necropolis)

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 2: Slow Living in Sky-Blue Lanes (Chefchaouen)

Rooftops, artisan doorways, photo stops—wander at your pace, or add a licensed city guide to reach the best viewpoints and hidden corners without the guesswork.

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 3: Imperial Gates & Ancient Mosaics (Chefchaouen – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes)

Fertile plains lead to Meknes’ monumental gates—take them in independently or opt for a short guided hop—then step back two millennia at Volubilis among olive groves and mosaic floors, before rolling into Fes, Morocco’s cultural heartbeat. Settle in solo this evening or book a licensed city guide for curated highlights.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): ancient roman ruins & mosaics (see the triumphal arch and intricate floors up close)

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 4: Fes — Medina Magic & Craft Heritage (Fes)

Madrasas, tanneries and centuries-old souks unfold in storybook lanes. Explore freely for a spontaneous feel—or upgrade to a licensed medina guide for workshop access, hidden courtyards, and smoother routes.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): pottery workshop (visit to learn traditional techniques of forming)

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 5: Atlas to Desert — From Cedars to Sand (Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Errachidia – Erfoud – Merzouga)

Cedars and high plateaus give way to palm oases and, finally, the amber waves of Erg Chebbi. Sunset paints the dunes gold; nightfall reveals a sky full of stories.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): fossil visit (visit and learn about the fossils) + camel ride (ride across the dunes at golden hour) + sandboarding (enjoy sliding down soft dunes) + oasis merzouga (walk among palms and spring channels)

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 6: Markets, Canyons & Sculpted Rock (Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorges – Boumalne Dades)

Caravan heritage comes alive in Rissani before you trace the river beneath Todra’s soaring walls; by dusk, Dades unveils “Monkey Fingers” and sweeping viewpoints.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): souk rissani (browse a traditional market; livestock on select days) + nomadic family (share tea and learn about desert life if staying two nights in desert) + gnawa music (listen to desert rhythms and heritage if staying two nights in desert) + quad or buggy ride (go off-road on desert tracks) + walk Todra Gorges (embark on a hike through the stunning Todra Gorges, exploring its towering cliffs and lush surroundings) + hike Boumalne Dades (enjoy a scenic hike in the Boumalne Dades area, discovering the rugged beauty of the Dades Valley and its rock formations)

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

DAY 7: Oases & Kasbahs to the Red City (Boumalne Dades – Rose Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech)

From rose-laced valleys to Skoura’s palms and Ouarzazate’s film backdrops, the day crescendos at the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Cross Tizi n’Tichka into Marrakech—arrive ready to roam independently tonight, or plan a licensed city guide for a focussed deep-dive tomorrow.

*OPTIONS (possible to add): rose distillation (visit seasonal cooperatives and see the process) + palm groves (explore lush oases filled with towering date palms and traditional irrigation systems) + kasbah Amridil (tour a well-preserved mud-brick stronghold) + kasbah Ait Ben Haddou (walk the fortified ksar and climb to the viewpoint) + cooperative berber carpet (cooperative Berber carpet (learn the art of traditional Berber carpet weaving and the techniques passed down through generations)