Overview
This 15-day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca is a full loop of the country with one vehicle and one driver from the first morning to the last. You go north along the Atlantic to Rabat, Asilah and Tangier, slow down for two nights in the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, then cross the Roman ruins of Volubilis and Meknes to spend two nights in Fes. From there the road climbs through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and drops to the Sahara at Merzouga.
The second half heads west through the Todra and Dades gorges, the kasbahs around Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, and over the High Atlas to Marrakech. Two nights there, two nights on the coast in Essaouira, and a last day along the ocean via El Jadida brings you back to Casablanca. No drive is longer than about 8 hours, and most days are much shorter.
The tour is private: the start date, the pace and the stops are yours. Your private driver in Morocco waits while you explore, and can shift a night here or there if you want more time somewhere.
Highlights
- Two unhurried nights in Chefchaouen, with time for the walk to the Spanish mosque
- Roman mosaics at Volubilis and the great gates of Meknes on the way to Fes
- A full day in the Fes medina, among tanneries, madrasas and workshops
- Two nights at Merzouga, one of them in a camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Todra gorge, the Dades valley and the UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Ben Haddou
- Marrakech, then two nights of sea air in Essaouira before the coast road home
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Casablanca → Rabat
Pickup around 8:00 at your hotel in Casablanca. Start with the Hassan II Mosque on its platform over the ocean and a drive along the Corniche, then take the motorway north to Rabat. In the afternoon, walk the white and blue lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas and see the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum.
About 1.5 hours of driving · Overnight: a riad or hotel in Rabat
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2
Rabat → Asilah → Tangier
North along the coast to Asilah, a small walled town whose whitewashed houses are covered in murals. Lunch by the sea, then on to Tangier. Late afternoon at Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the Caves of Hercules nearby.
About 4 hours of driving with stops · Overnight: a hotel in Tangier
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3
Tangier → Chefchaouen
A morning in Tangier's kasbah and medina, with views across the strait to Spain on a clear day. After lunch, the road climbs into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen. Settle into your riad and wander the blue streets as the evening comes in.
About 2.5 hours of driving · Overnight: a riad in Chefchaouen
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4
Chefchaouen at your own pace
A day with no long drive. Walk up to the Spanish mosque for the view over the town, sit in the Outa el Hammam square, or ask your driver to take you to the Akchour waterfalls in the Rif for a morning hike along the river.
Optional short drive to Akchour · Overnight: a riad in Chefchaouen
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5
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
South through olive country to Volubilis, where the mosaics of Roman villas are still in place on the floors. Then Meknes, the city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, with the Bab Mansour gate and the old granaries. You reach Fes in the late afternoon.
About 5 hours of driving with stops · Overnight: a riad in Fes
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6
The Fes medina
Fes el-Bali is explored on foot. A licensed local guide (optional) helps you find the Bou Inania madrasa, the Chouara tannery terraces and the metalworkers' square without losing hours in dead-end lanes. In the afternoon your driver can take you up to the Merenid tombs for the view over the old city.
No long drive · Overnight: a riad in Fes
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7
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Merzouga
The longest day, about 470 km. Through Ifrane and the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often sit by the road, across the high plain of Midelt and down the Ziz valley, a ribbon of palms between bare cliffs. You arrive at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes for dinner.
About 8 hours including stops · Overnight: a hotel or guesthouse in Merzouga
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8
Merzouga: Khamlia, Rissani and a camel ride to camp
A morning around the dunes: Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia and the market town of Rissani. Rest through the heat, then in the late afternoon you ride a camel into Erg Chebbi, where the dunes rise to about 150 m. Dinner and the night at camp under the stars. Our Merzouga desert guide has more on the area.
Short drives only · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: standard desert camp (luxury upgrade available)
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9
Sunrise in the dunes → Todra gorge → Dades valley
Climb a dune for sunrise, ride back for breakfast and a shower, then head west. At Tinghir you walk into the Todra gorge, where the walls rise to around 300 m. The day ends in the Dades valley, among rose-coloured cliffs and the rounded "monkey fingers" rocks.
About 5 hours of driving with stops · Overnight: a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades valley
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10
Dades → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou
Along the road of the kasbahs, past the Rose valley and the palm grove of Skoura, to Ouarzazate and its film studios. Late in the afternoon you reach Aït Ben Haddou, the fortified earthen ksar listed by UNESCO, and stay close enough to see it lit up after dark.
About 4 hours of driving with stops · Overnight: a guesthouse near Aït Ben Haddou
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11
Aït Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Walk up through the ksar early, before the day visitors arrive. Then over the High Atlas by the Tichka pass, about 2,260 m, and down through Berber villages and walnut terraces to Marrakech in the afternoon.
About 4 hours of driving with stops · Overnight: a riad in Marrakech
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12
Marrakech
A free day in the city: the Bahia Palace, the souks, the Majorelle Garden, and Jemaa el-Fna as the food stalls light up in the evening. A local guide for the medina can be arranged (optional).
No long drive · Overnight: a riad in Marrakech
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13
Marrakech → Essaouira
West across the plain into argan country, with a stop at a women's argan oil cooperative. Essaouira greets you with wind, gulls and white walls. Spend the late afternoon on the Skala ramparts above the sea.
About 3 hours of driving · Overnight: a riad in Essaouira
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14
Essaouira
A slow day by the ocean. Watch the blue boats come into the port, choose your fish at the market stalls and have it grilled on the spot, browse the woodworkers' shops under the ramparts or walk the long beach.
No drive · Overnight: a riad in Essaouira
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15
Essaouira → El Jadida → Casablanca
The coast road north, past argan trees, Safi and the lagoon of Oualidia. In El Jadida you visit the old Portuguese fortress town and its underground cistern, then drive the last stretch to Casablanca for drop-off at your hotel or the airport in the evening.
About 7 to 8 hours including stops · End of the tour
Hotels and desert camps on this tour
Standard accommodation is included in the price. You can upgrade to superior hotels and camp for €35 per person per night; choose it in the booking panel.
| Night | Place | Standard | Superior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Rabat | Riad Marhaba or similar | Riad Kalaa or similar |
| Night 2 | Tangier | Fredj Hotel or similar | Hotel Marina Bay or similar |
| Nights 3–4 | Chefchaouen | Hotel Casa Hassan or similar | Hotel Dar Ecchaouen or similar |
| Nights 5–6 | Fes | Riad Palais Houyam or similar | Riad Palais Houma or similar |
| Night 7 | Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes | Hotel L'Homme du Désert or similar | Hotel Riad Chebbi or similar |
| Night 8 | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar | Mouhou Luxury Camp or similar |
| Night 9 | Dades valley | Hotel Maison d'Hôte Argana or similar | Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar |
| Night 10 | Aït Ben Haddou | Riad Maktub or similar | Hotel Caravane or similar |
| Nights 11–12 | Marrakech | Riad Marana or similar | Riad Bahia Salama or similar |
| Nights 13–14 | Essaouira | Riad Maison du Sud or similar | Hotel Suite Azure or similar |
Included
- Private transport for 15 days, pickup and drop-off in Casablanca
- Air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- 13 nights in riads, hotels and guesthouses, 1 night in a desert camp
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to and from camp
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Local guides in Fes, Marrakech and other sites (optional)
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
Layers above all: the coast is mild, the Middle Atlas and the desert nights are cold in winter. Comfortable shoes for the medinas, a scarf for sun and sand, and a small bag for the camp night. See our guide to a night in a Sahara camp for the full list.
Best season
March to May and September to November suit the whole loop. In winter the north is green and the desert days are sunny, but nights near 0 °C are possible; in July and August the south can pass 40 °C while Essaouira stays fresh.
Where you sleep
Riads in the old cities, hotels or guesthouses elsewhere, and one night in the dunes. The standard camp has electricity and shared bathrooms; the luxury camp adds a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi.
Travelling with children
The rest days in Chefchaouen, Fes, Marrakech and Essaouira make this loop easy for families. Children pay 5% less than the adult price.
Route map
Casablanca → Rabat → Asilah → Tangier → Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes → Midelt → Merzouga → Todra → Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech → Essaouira → El Jadida → Casablanca
Questions about the 15-day tour from Casablanca
How much does this 15-day private tour cost?
A private tour is priced per group: €175 per day for your vehicle and driver plus €40 per person per night for accommodation. For 2 travellers over 15 days and 14 nights that comes to €3,745 in total, or €1,873 per person. Dinners and breakfasts are included; lunches are not.
Is there a small-group version?
Small-group departures for this route are on request. Send us your dates and we'll tell you what is possible.
Is 15 days enough to see Morocco?
It is enough for a full circuit — the imperial cities, the north, the Sahara, the southern valleys and the coast — with rest days in between. If you have only a week, the 4-day Merzouga tour from Marrakech covers the desert part on its own.
Can we change the order or the number of nights?
Yes. Because the tour is private you can add a night in Fes, skip Tangier, or finish in Marrakech instead of Casablanca. The price simply follows the number of days and nights.
How long is the camel ride, and can we skip it?
About 1 hour each way, at walking pace. If you'd rather not ride, we take you to camp by 4x4.
Is the driver also a guide?
Your driver knows the route well and explains a lot along the way, but inside the medinas of Fes and Marrakech we recommend a licensed local guide. These guides are optional and not included in the price.
What travellers say about our tours
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor, across all the tours we run.
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