12-Day Tour from Casablanca
OVERVIEW :
If you have been looking for a tour that truly shows you everything Morocco has to offer, this 12-day tour from Casablanca is it. This trip begins in Morocco’s largest city and passes through historic medinas, brilliant Sahara sands, stunning mountain passes, and peaceful beach towns.
Before heading back to Casablanca, you will see all four royal capitals, stroll through Chefchaouen’s blue streets, ride a camel in the Merzouga desert at dusk, cross the High Atlas Mountains, and finish in the wonderful city of Marrakech. This 12-day Morocco tour from Casablanca is not just a desert trip. It is a complete cultural journey through the north, south, east, and west of this incredible country. Prefer a shorter trip? Our 5-day Morocco itinerary covers the essential highlights in less time.
The 12-day culture tour from Casablanca runs as a fully private experience. No strangers, no fixed group schedules. Just you, your guide, and the open road.
Highlights :
- See the famous Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which has a view of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Visit Rabat’s Kasbah of Oudayas and Hassan Tower.
- Go through Chefchaouen’s blue-painted alleyways in the Rif Mountains.
- View Volubilis’ Roman ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Take a local guide on a tour of Fes’ medieval medina.
- Sleep in a desert camp beneath the stars while riding camels through the Merzouga desert.
- Experience true Berber hospitality by going to see a nomadic household.
- Take a stroll through the magnificent Dades Valley and Todra Gorge.
- Visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, which appears in Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- Crossing via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass to reach the High Atlas Mountains.
- Tour Marrakech’s souks, Jemaa El Fna Square, and the Bahia Palace.
- Before heading back to Casablanca, stop by the seaside city of Essaouira.
- Casablanca, Marrakech
- 12 Days
- Age 15+
Tour Plan :
Your 12-day tour from Casablanca begins with a warm welcome at Mohammed V International Airport or your hotel. Your driver-guide takes you straight to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, sitting on a rocky cliff above the Atlantic Ocean. The architecture here is genuinely breathtaking.
The rest of the day is spent exploring the city at a relaxed pace, with a stroll along the Corniche, a stop at Mohammed V Square, and a walk through the modern city centre.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 20 km within the city
- Driving Time: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
After breakfast, you head north to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Stops include the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of Oudayas with its charming blue-and-white streets.
After lunch in Rabat, you continue into the Rif Mountains to reach Chefchaouen, one of the most photographed towns in the world. The whole town is painted in shades of blue and white, and the pace here is calm and completely unlike anywhere else in Morocco.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 380 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 5 hours
Today is a free day to see the blue city at your own pace. After breakfast, spend the morning wandering the winding alleyways of the old medina, browsing local artisan shops at Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and finding the best photo spots around every corner.
In the afternoon, hike up to the Spanish Mosque for a stunning panoramic view over all the blue rooftops, especially beautiful at sunset.
- Driving Distance: No driving today.
- Driving Time: No driving today, this is a full walking day
One of the richest days on this 12-day tour from Casablanca itinerary. You leave the blue city and drive to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO-listed site dating back to the 3rd century, filled with well-preserved mosaics, columns, and triumphal arches.
From there, a short drive brings you to Meknes, where you visit the ornate Bab Mansour gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. The late afternoon brings you to Fes, where you check in to your riad in the medina.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 260 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes
Fes is the cultural heart of Morocco and deserves a full day. A local guide joins you after breakfast for an immersive tour of Fes El-Bali, the largest medieval medina in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will visit the Royal Palace gates, walk through the Mellah (Jewish quarter), experience the Al Attarine Madrasa, see the Al Quaraouiyine University (the world’s oldest existing university), and finish at the famous Chouara Tanneries. The tour ends with a sweeping view of the whole medina from the Borj Sud fortress.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 30 km around the city
- Driving Time: Approximately 30 minutes, mostly a walking tour
The big drive south begins after breakfast. You pass through Ifrane, Morocco’s famously neat mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco, then stop in the cedar forest near Azrou to spot wild Barbary macaques up close.
Lunch is in Midelt, then you continue south through the stunning Ziz Valley, a long palm-lined oasis cutting through the rocky desert, before arriving in Merzouga in the late afternoon. At the edge of the desert, you board a camel and ride through the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to your camp, just in time for sunset from the top of a high dune.
The evening brings dinner, Berber drumming around the fire, and a night sky full of stars.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 500 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 7 hours 30 minutes
Wake up early for sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, one of the most beautiful moments on this entire 12-day desert tour from Casablanca. After breakfast at camp, you return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4.
The day is spent exploring the region. You visit Khamlia village for a live Gnawa music performance, and spend time with a nomadic family in their traditional tent over Berber tea. Also enjoy the old Galena mines and the nearby Flamingo Lake. Optional afternoon activities include quad biking or a buggy ride through the dunes. Want even more desert time? Our 15-day tour from Casablanca includes additional southern Morocco stops beyond Merzouga.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 57 km around the local area
- Driving Time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Leaving the desert, you stop first at Rissani for its famous traditional souk (open on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays), then continue to the breathtaking Todra Gorge, where walls of red rock rise hundreds of meters on both sides of the river. A walk through the gorge is unforgettable.
The afternoon takes you into the Dades Valley, with a stop to photograph the iconic monkey fingers rock formations before following the winding valley road to your hotel for the night.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 310 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 5 hours
A long but rewarding drive toward Marrakech. You pass through the fragrant Valley of Roses near Kalaat M’Gouna, the palm groves of Skoura, and the city of Ouarzazate, where a stop at Atlas Studios gives you a glimpse of famous film sets.
The highlight of the day is the legendary Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that appeared in Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and The Mummy. From there, you cross the High Atlas Mountains through the scenic Tizi-n-Tichka pass before descending into Marrakech in the early evening.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 353 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 6 hours 30 minutes
A local guide joins you after breakfast for a full walking tour of Marrakech. You visit the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the colourful medina souks, the Koutoubia Mosque, and the legendary Jemaa El Fna Square, which completely transforms from day to night with food stalls, musicians, and street performers.
In the afternoon, visit the iconic Majorelle Garden (advance booking required) or stroll through the modern Gueliz district. End the evening with dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Jemaa el-Fna, one of the highlights of the 12-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 45 km around the city
- Driving Time: Approximately 45 minutes, mostly a walking tour
You head west to the Atlantic coast to visit Essaouira, a breezy, beautifully preserved port city with a completely different character from the rest of Morocco. On the way, watch out for the famous goats climbing argan trees along the roadside.
Essaouira’s UNESCO-listed medina is compact and easy to visit on foot. You can walk the old ramparts with cannons, visit the fishing port, browse woodcarving workshops, and pick up unique souvenirs. The wide, wind-swept beach is a favourite among surfers and kite-surfers year-round.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 177 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
The final day of this 12-day Morocco tour from Casablanca. Enjoy a last breakfast in Essaouira and a morning walk before heading north. The 4-hour drive back gives you time to reflect on everything from the blue alleys of Chefchaouen to the Sahara sands of Merzouga and the rooftop sunsets of Marrakech.
Your driver drops you at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport or your hotel, timed to match your departure.
End of your 12-day tour from Casablanca.
- Driving Distance: Approximately 377 km
- Driving Time: Approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes
Included :
- Private transportation in an air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- English-speaking driver/guide for the full 12 days
- Local guides in Fes and Marrakech
- 11 nights' accommodation in riads, hotels, and a desert camp
- Daily breakfast at all accommodations
- 3 dinners at the desert camp, Merzouga riad, and Dades Valley hotel
- Camel ride in Merzouga (4x4 alternative available)
- 4x4 desert excursion in the Merzouga region
- Airport transfers in Casablanca (arrival and departure)
- Bottled water throughout all travel days
Excluded :
- Lunches and extra dinners
- Drinks and beverages
- Entrance fees to monuments (approximately 80 EUR per person)
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Optional activities such as quad biking, buggy ride, hot air balloon, or hammam
- Tips for guides and drivers
What To Bring:
- Valid passport (required at all accommodations in Morocco)
- Comfortable walking shoes for the medinas and gorges
- Light, breathable clothes for the days and a warm layer for desert nights
- Any personal medications you might need
- Travel insurance documents
Things To Consider Before You Go
- The best time for this 12-day tour from Casablanca is spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) when the weather is comfortable across all regions.
- Camel rides can be swapped for a 4×4 transfer to the desert camp at no extra cost
- Please share any dietary requirements at the time of booking so we can arrange meals accordingly.
- This 12-day Morocco tour is fully private; only your group will be on the tour, no strangers added.
- The itinerary is flexible. If you want to spend more time somewhere or skip a stop, just let us know, and we will adapt.
Why Choose This Tour
There are many tours of Morocco out there. So why choose this one?
- First, it is private. You are not sharing a bus with strangers. You set the pace. If you want to stay longer somewhere or skip a stop, just say the word, and the itinerary adjusts.
- Second, it is complete. This is not just a desert trip or a city tour. It covers the north, south, east, and west of Morocco. You see it all in one well-planned journey.
- Third, the route is smart. You do not backtrack or waste time on long drives with nothing to see. Every road has something worth looking at out the window.
- Fourth, the guides know their country. The local experts in Fes and Marrakech were born and raised in those cities. They know the back streets, the best spots, and the history behind every corner.
- And fifth, the details are taken care of. Your riads are booked, your camel ride is sorted, your desert camp is ready. You just show up and enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Twelve days sounds like a long time until you are in Morocco and you realise you never want to leave. This tour works because it gives you enough time in each place to actually feel it, not just photograph it and move on. You have time to get lost in the medina. Time to sit on a dune at sunset. Time to have a proper conversation with a local family over mint tea.
If you have been thinking about going to Morocco, this is the trip that will make you actually go. And once you go, you will understand why people come back.
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Photo Gallery :
Is this tour really private?
Yes. The vehicle, driver, and guide are booked exclusively for your group. No strangers will be added to your trip at any point.
Is 12 days enough to see Morocco?
It is a very good amount of time. You will cover the major highlights without feeling rushed. If you have more time, we can always extend the itinerary.
Can I customise the itinerary?
Yes. The route and schedule can be adjusted to suit your interests. Want an extra night in Fes or a slower day in the desert? Just ask.
What level of fitness do I need?
The tour is suitable for most people. The walking sections are at a comfortable pace and can be adjusted. The gorge walk in Todra is the most active part, but it is not strenuous.
What accommodation will I stay in?
You will stay in a mix of 3, 4, and 5-star hotels and traditional riads, plus one night at a desert camp with private facilities. Exact properties can be shared upon booking.