Overview
Most flights land in Casablanca, and the Sahara feels a long way off from there. This Morocco desert tour from Casablanca closes that gap in five days with your own vehicle and driver: up the Atlantic coast to Rabat, inland through Meknes to Fes, over the Middle Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi, then back west through the gorges and kasbahs to Marrakech, before the last short run to Casablanca.
It is a loop, so you never drive the same road twice. The days are full but none passes about 8 hours on the road, and each one ends somewhere worth waking up in: a riad in Fes, a tent in the dunes, a guesthouse in the Dades valley and a riad in Marrakech. Read our Merzouga desert guide before you go to know what to expect at the edge of the sand.
Because the tour is private, the start date is yours and the stops can bend around you: a longer lunch in Azrou, an extra hour in the Todra gorge, or ending the trip in Marrakech instead of driving back to the coast.
Highlights
- See the Hassan II Mosque standing on the Atlantic shore in Casablanca
- Walk the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat
- Cross the Middle Atlas cedar forests near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques
- Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi and sleep at a desert camp among dunes up to about 150 m high
- Walk between the walls of the Todra gorge, up to around 300 m high
- Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, then cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Fes
Pickup around 8:00 at your hotel in Casablanca and a first stop on the esplanade of the Hassan II Mosque, with its minaret above the ocean. About an hour and a half up the coast, Rabat gives you the Hassan Tower, the royal mausoleum and a short walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas to the terrace over the river mouth. Inland, Meknes is a lunch stop and a look at the great Bab Mansour gate. You reach Fes in the late afternoon, in time to settle in and eat dinner in the old town.
About 5 hours of driving, 8 hours with stops · Overnight: a riad in Fes
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2
Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Ziz valley → Merzouga, camel ride to camp
The road south climbs to Ifrane, a tidy mountain town with sloping roofs, and on through the cedar forest near Azrou where Barbary macaques often wait by the roadside. Lunch in Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas, then down through the Ziz gorges and along a ribbon of palm groves past Errachidia and Erfoud. In Merzouga you swap the vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes as the sand turns orange. Dinner and a night under the stars at camp.
About 470 km, 8 hours with stops · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury)
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3
Sunrise in the dunes → Rissani → Todra gorge → Dades valley
Climb a dune for sunrise, ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower, then drive to Rissani, the old market town of the Tafilalet, where farmers still arrive by donkey. The road west follows a line of oases to Tinghir and the Todra gorge, where you walk through the narrowest stretch on foot. Late afternoon you reach the Dades valley, with its red cliffs and mud-brick villages.
About 6 hours including stops · Overnight: a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades valley
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4
Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Follow the road of the kasbahs past the Rose valley and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate, known for its film studios. A few kilometres on, you cross the riverbed to Aït Ben Haddou and climb through the earthen ksar to the old granary at the top. The afternoon belongs to the High Atlas: the Tichka pass at about 2,260 m, then the long descent through Berber villages to Marrakech, where you arrive in the early evening.
About 7 to 8 hours including stops · Overnight: a riad in Marrakech
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5
Marrakech → Casablanca, or end in Marrakech
After breakfast there is time for a morning walk to the Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fna before the motorway back to Casablanca. We drop you at your hotel or at Mohammed V airport. If you are staying on in Marrakech, tell us when you book and the tour ends there instead.
About 3 hours to Casablanca · Drop-off at your hotel or the airport
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 | Fes | Riad Palais Houyam or similar | Riad Palais Houma or similar |
| Night 2 | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar | Mouhou Luxury Camp or similar |
| Night 3 | Dades valley | Hotel Maison d'Hôte Argana or similar | Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar |
| Night 4 | Marrakech | Riad Marana or similar | Riad Bahia Salama or similar |
Included
- Pickup in Casablanca and drop-off in Casablanca or Marrakech
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- 4 nights: a riad in Fes, a desert camp, the Dades valley, a riad in Marrakech
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to and from camp
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Optional local guides at sites
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
Pack a small overnight bag for the camp so your suitcase can stay in the vehicle. Add a warm layer, a scarf for sun and sand, sunscreen and a head torch. Our guide to a night in a Sahara desert camp has the full list.
Best season
March to May and September to November are the easiest months. In winter the cedar road near Ifrane can see snow and desert nights can drop close to 0 °C; in July and August the afternoons often pass 40 °C.
The camp
The standard camp has electricity and shared bathrooms. The luxury camp gives you a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi.
Time in the cities
Five days leaves only evenings in Fes and Marrakech. To see the Fes medina properly, add a night; a private driver in Morocco can stretch the route to any length.
Route map
Casablanca → Rabat → Meknes → Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga → Rissani → Todra → Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech → Casablanca
Questions about the desert tour from Casablanca
Is 5 days enough to reach the Sahara from Casablanca?
Yes. Merzouga is far from the coast, but splitting the road at Fes on the way out and at the Dades valley on the way back keeps every day to about 8 hours or less. You get one night in the dunes and a camel ride at sunset.
Can you pick us up at Casablanca airport?
Yes, from Mohammed V airport or your hotel. Day 1 needs a start around 8:00, so if your flight lands later, spend the first night in Casablanca and begin the next morning.
Can the tour finish in Marrakech?
Yes. Many travellers stay on in Marrakech; we simply drop you at your riad on day 5 instead of driving to Casablanca. If you start in Fes, the Fes to Marrakech desert tour covers the desert part in three days.
How much does the 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 2 travellers on this 5-day, 4-night route that is €1,195 in total, or €598 per person. Children pay 5% less. A small-group departure is available on request.
What is the desert camp like?
The standard camp has tents with electricity and shared bathrooms, without Wi-Fi. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi. Dinner and breakfast are included in both.
Can we go inside the Hassan II Mosque?
The mosque runs guided visits for non-Muslims at set times. Fitting one in means a later departure and a later arrival in Fes, so tell us in advance. The entrance fee is not included.
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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