8 Day Desert Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech

Overview: 8 Day Desert Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech

This 8 Day Desert Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech will take you on a journey through Morocco’s most iconic cities and destinations, starting at the modern and fast-paced Casablanca, to the world-famous colorful Marrakech city. Your itinerary will include some must-see locations such as the imperial city of Fez, the Middle Atlas Mountains, the Erg Chebbi desert, the Todra gorges, and finally the historical Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.

Itinerary: 8 Day Desert Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech

day 1: Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Fez.

On the first day of our trip, we left Casablanca for Fez. The road to Fez takes us through a beautiful stretch of agricultural land where olives, cereals, vegetables and grapes are grown. Before arriving in Fez, we will visit Meknes and Volubilis. Volubilis is a view of the famous Roman ruins left by the Roman Empire in the far south. Meknes is the site of the first Arab dynasty established by Moulay Ismail and has Madrasa Bou Inania and Bab Mansour, the gateway to Moulay Ismail’s palace. This brings us to Henri es-Souani, the stable and the attics. Upstairs there is a roof garden and a cafe with a wonderful view of the city. Arrival in Fez, installation in the hotel.

Day 2: Visit of Fez.

Today, during the 8-day tour from Casablanca, you will enjoy the wonders of the city of Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco. We will first visit the iconic gates of the Royal Palace, known for their modern and intricate craftsmanship. After that, we will take a tour of the first established Jewish quarter in Morocco, “El Mellah” (in the 16th century), then another visit to the fascinating old medina.

As you explore the streets and alleys of the old Medina, you will discover its most important historical monuments, such as the Al Quaraouine University (the oldest in the world), the leather tanneries of Chouara … We will end the morning with a visit to the Moulay Idriss mausoleum and the Attarine museum. After lunch, we will visit one of the local cooperatives specializing in traditional tiles. Finally, you will have the opportunity to admire the whole city from a beautiful panoramic place to which we will go, before returning to our Riad.

Day 3: Fez – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Errachidia – Merzouga Desert.

In the morning we will enter the mountain towards an area known as Imouzzer, which is covered with forests of cedars, junipers and cork oaks. The area is well known for its abundant wildlife and we can see many types of birds, wild boars and Barbary monkeys on our scenic drive. Then the road will begin to ascend towards the Middle Atlas mountains where we can see the slopes dotted with tents and herds of goats of nomadic Berbers that inhabit this rugged region. After a late lunch in Midelt, we continue along mountain paths overlooking the wide Oued Ziz. Passing kasbahs and palm groves, we cross the colorful adobe village of Er-Rachidia and arrive at the end of the afternoon in Merzouga, a town on the outskirts of the Sahara desert where we will spend the night.

Day 4: Tour of Erg Chebbi in 4 × 4 – camel ride and overnight in bivouac.

In the morning, we start our tour of the Erg Chebbi dunes. We will visit a Berber house and listen to Gnawa music; native to Ghana and Sudan. We will visit deserted mines, Berber nomads, and an oasis of palm trees. For lunch, we will return to Merzouga. After a moment of rest, we will go in search of the camels that are waiting for us to take us on an adventure in the sand dunes. We will spend the night in a camp equipped with drum music in the middle of the Sahara, which is a great opportunity to take beautiful sunset and sunrise photos. Arrived at the camp, we climbed the high dunes to admire the sunset and spend the night in nomadic tents.

Day 5: Merzouga – Ouarzazate.

After watching the sunrise, we return to Merzouga. We will have the opportunity to shower and have a good breakfast. Then we start our journey back to Ouarzazate. On the way, we visit Berber shops where you can buy souvenirs such as fossils, carpets, lamps, leather… We arrive in Ouarzazate in the afternoon and spend the night in a hotel.

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Marrakech.

Leaving Ouarzazate in the morning, we will have another opportunity to visit Ait Ben Haddou for lunch and visit this World Heritage Site. This famous 11th-century kasbah has served as the backdrop for more than 20 films, including the famous Gladiator. After lunch, we will start our journey back to Marrakech via Tizi-n-Tichka and arrive in Marrakech in the evening.

Day 7: Visit of Marrakech.

After waking up in your traditional Marrakech Riad, get ready for a busy day spent exploring the Red City. Together with an experienced guide, you will discover the most important and impressive monuments of Marrakech, such as the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, the Majorelle gardens, and more. Around lunchtime, we will head to the old district of the medina to enjoying its colors and liveliness, before choosing a place in Jamaa El Fna square for lunch. After that, you can explore the city on your own and enjoy whatever activity you prefer.

Day 8: Marrakech – Menara Airport.

For the last day of this 8-day tour from Casablanca, you will have free time to relax and enjoy your last moments in Marrakech. Then, according to your flight schedule, we will transfer you to Menara Airport. This marks the end of our services.