Description
10-day trip from Casablanca to Marrakech via Merzouga Desert and the Blue City/ 4×4 desert tours in Morocco
The itinerary of a 10-day trip from Casablanca to Marrakech Via the Sahara Desert
Day 1: Airport of Casablanca- Hassan second Mosque- road to Chefchaouen (the blue city).
You will be met by your guide at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, and you will initiate your “10-day trip from Casablanca to Marrakech and the Sahara Desert” towards the center of the economic capital of Morocco, which is Casablanca, where you will see the Hassan II Mosque, the largest outside of Mecca, and experience the coastal “Cornish” seaside. We will depart for Chefchaouen, also known as “the Blue City,” where you will spend your first night inside an old Medina.
-
-
- The driving distance from Casablanca to Chefchaouen is approximately 340 kilometers (211 miles). The journey typically takes around **5 to 6 hours**, depending on traffic and road conditions.
-
Day 2: Chefchaouen-Fes.
Today, you will have a free morning to explore the interests of Chefchaouen, which is located between two peaks of the Rif mountains, such as the Blue Streets, the old Kasbah (1471), which is located in the heart of the town, and Rass el Mae, where people gather to have fun while enjoying nature. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive to Fes, Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital. The night will be spent in a Riad within the old Medina walls.
-
-
- The driving distance from Chefchaouen to Fes via Meknes is approximately 260 kilometers (162 miles). The journey typically takes around **4 to 5 hours**, depending on stops and road conditions.
-
Day 3: Full day exploring Fes.
Breakfast on your Riad, then explore the old Medina of Fes with a local guide, The journey will enable you to discover hidden treasures known only to the locals. You will have permission to view Alqarawyine University, the world’s oldest spiritual university, Molay Idriss Mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains, and the Tanneries. After lunch, you will walk through the famous Jewish quarter, “the Mellah,” and see the exterior of the Royal Palace Gate. Today’s Fes journey includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory. Finally, we will enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Medina of Fes from the southern Borj. Your riad will provide you with overnight lodging.
-
-
- Walking and visiting the treasure of Fes Medina with a Local Guide.
-
Day 4: Fes- Azrou- Midelt- Ziz Valley- Merzouga Desert.
After breakfast in your Riad, our 10- day trip will depart for Morocco’s southeast. During this journey, the first stop will be in Ifrane, Morocco’s “Switzerland,” and then continue to the largest Cedar Forest in Africa, where you will see Barbarian apes. After lunch in Midelt, we will travel to the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, passing through the High Atlas Mountains. Following that, we will travel to Ziz Valley, which is well-known for its date cultivation. Finally, we’ll arrive at your Merzouga hotel.
-
-
- The driving distance from Fes to Merzouga is approximately 470 kilometers (292 miles). The journey typically takes around 7 hours.
-
Day 5: Oasis-Nomads-Gnawa Music-Camel trek and overnight in Berber tent.
After breakfast, we’ll drive to an oasis and discover an underground irrigation system. Drive along the dunes until we reach Nomads, where we will share a cup of tea and learn about their lives in the Sahara Desert. Following that, we’ll go to some Barite, Cobalt, and Lead mines. We’ll also get to try Berber Pizza and listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia village. Finally, you will ride camels to a desert camp for dinner and a romantic night under the stars.
-
-
- This journey will take around a 2-hour drive to uncover the secrets of the Merzouga desert.
-
Day 6: Merzouga Desert- Erfoud- Todra Valley and Gorge- Dades Valley.
Your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning to watch the best sunrise of your life, then ride your Camels back to the village of Merzouga, where you will meet your driver/guide to drive to Rissan city, where you will have the chance to visit the biggest local market in the area then continue to Erfoud (the fossil capital of Morocco) and then to Tinghir, where we’ll enjoy one of Morocco’s most beautiful valleys, Todra Valley, and drive alongside it until we reach Todra Gorge, where you can walk inside 300-meter-high cliffs. Finally, we will travel to Dades Valley to our hotel.
-
-
- The driving distance from Merzouga to Dades Valley is approximately 160 kilometers (99 miles). The journey typically takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.
-
Day 7: Dades Valley- Ouarzazate- Ait Ben Haddou Kasbahs- High Atlas Mountains- Marrakech.
After breakfast, we will travel along the “Thousand Kasbahs Road” to the Roses Valley and the large Skoura palm grove. Later, we’ll arrive in Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa,” where we’ll stop in the center to admire Taourirt Kasbah from the outside. We will travel half an hour from Ouarzazate to the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit the famous Kasbahs (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987). Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, Sahara with Penélope Cruz, and others.
Lunch in town is on the agenda. Following that, we will cross the High Atlas Mountains, stopping to see Berber/ Amazigh ancient villages. We will arrive in Marrakech city in the evening.
-
-
- The driving distance from Dades Valley to Marrakech is approximately 320 kilometers (199 miles). The journey typically takes around 5 to 6 hours.
-
Day 8: Exploring Marrakech with a local guide.
After breakfast in your Riad, you will tour Marrakech, Morocco’s “Red City,” with a local guide. We will make certain that you visit the most important historical and cultural sites, such as the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian tombs, and the Bahia Palace. After lunch at a restaurant near the square, you’ll walk through the souks, where you’ll see hundreds of handicrafts. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore Medina on your own.
-
-
- Exploring the gems of Marrakech Medina with a local guide on foot.
-
Day 9: Excursion to Essaouira.
In the morning, we are going to start our “Marrakech day trips” and then head towards Essaouira, which is the “City of Wind of Morocco.” On the way, we are going to enjoy different landscapes, including goats climbing Argan trees and so on. When we get to the city, you are going to discover it on your own. We will get back to Marrakech around 6 PM.
The City of Essaouira has been called many names by different people for decades. For instance, the Locals call it Tassurt, which means Small Fortress in Berber (Tamazight). Also, the Portuguese called it Mogador, and the local people called it Essaouira. Essaouira is located in the western part of Morocco, especially in the Atlantic Ocean.
The city was occupied by many different civilizations and countries for decades. In prehistoric times, the City was occupied by the Carthaginians in the 5th century BC, and they established a trading port in the City. Then, in the 1st C BC- 1st C AD, the Essaouira was occupied by the Berber King Juba II there, where he established a Tyrian purple factory. Followed by the Romans in the Third Century BC.
In the 16th Century, the city was taken by the Portuguese. In 1506, King Manuel 1st ordered the building of a fortress, which was called ” Castello Real de Mogador.” four years after its establishment, the fortress was taken by the Berbers.
During the 16th century, many foreign countries tried to occupy the city, including Spain, England, the Netherlands, and France.
The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.
-
-
-
The driving distance from Marrakech to Essaouira is approximately 190 kilometers (118 miles). The journey usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.
-
-
Day 10: Transfer to the Airport of Marrakech / Casablanca.
Transfer to the airport at your convenience time. The conclusion of our 10-day service from Casablanca to imperial cities and the Sahara Desert.
-
-
- The driving distance from Marrakech to Casablanca Airport (Mohammed V International Airport) is approximately 240 kilometers (149 miles). The journey usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.
-
Inclusions and exclusions of the 10-day trip from Casablanca to Marrakech
| Inclusions | Exclusions |
|
|
The accommodations
| Options | 1st night | 2nd night | 3rd night | 4th night | 5th night | 6th night | 7th night | 8th night | 9th night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st option (Royal accommodation) | DAR JASMINE | RIAD FES | RIAD FES | MADU LUXURY CAMP | RIAD SERAI | HOTEL EDEN BOUTIQUE | LES JARDINS DE LA KOUTOUBIA | LES JARDINS DE LA KOUTOUBIA | LES JARDINS DE LA KOUTOUBIA |
| 2nd option (Luxury accommodation) | RIAD DAR ECHCHAOUEN | RIAD FES ZIYAT | RIAD FES ZIYAT | IDEAL DESERT CAMP | DAR MOROCCO | PANORAMA DADES | RIAD NESMA | RIAD NESMA | RIAD NESMA |
| 3rd option (Luxury accommodation) | RIAD DAR HICHAM | RIAD ALMAKAN | RIAD ALMAKAN | TASSILI DESERT CAMP | RIAD MADU | RIAD CHEZ ICHOU |
RIAD BAHIA SALAM | RIAD BAHIA SALAM | RIAD BAHIA SALAM |
The map of a 10-day trip from Casablanca to Marrakech, Essaouira, and the Sahara Desert
Book your 10-day Morocco tour through the contact form below
Please specify the number of passengers, preferred dates, and type of accommodation you are interested in, and we will provide you with the price for a 10-day trip to Morocco.
