Our Most Booked Private Itinerary

10 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca

Two nights beside the Erg Chebbi dunes, the imperial cities, Chefchaouen and a guided day in Marrakech, at a pace that never feels hurried.

Duration

10 days / 9 nights

Route

Casablanca to Marrakech

Tour type

Private, fully flexible

Desert

2 nights at Erg Chebbi

Best for

Complete trip, relaxed pace

Overview

Ten Days, Zero Compromises

The 10 days Morocco tour from Casablanca is our most booked itinerary, and the reason is simple: it is the shortest route that includes both a full free day in the Sahara and a full guided day in Marrakech. Nothing on this trip is rushed and nothing important is missed.

You travel the classic line through Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Fes, whose immense car free medina has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, then over the Middle Atlas to Merzouga for two nights beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. The return west runs through Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou before two final nights in Marrakech.

Your private English speaking driver handles everything from the Casablanca airport pickup to the final drop off. Want the Atlantic coast too? The 12 day grand tour adds Essaouira and an Ouarzazate overnight. All routes live on our multi day tours page.

Tour Highlights

What You Will Experience

✓Private 10 day tour with two Sahara nights

✓Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

✓Rabat, the Atlantic capital

✓Blue streets of Chefchaouen

✓Volubilis Roman archaeological site

✓Guided day in the UNESCO Fes medina

✓Cedar forest and Barbary monkeys

✓Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi

✓Full free day in the Sahara with 4×4

✓Gnawa music in Khamlia village

✓Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley

✓Ait Ben Haddou, UNESCO listed

✓Guided day in Marrakech

✓Two relaxed nights in Marrakech

Day by Day

Full 10 Day Itinerary

Tap any day to expand it. Everything adapts to your pace and interests.

Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca

Meet your driver at Mohammed V Airport. Time permitting, tour the Hassan II Mosque, where 105,000 worshippers fit inside and on the surrounding plaza, then walk the Corniche before dinner. Overnight in Casablanca.

Day 2: Rabat and the climb to Chefchaouen

In Rabat you see the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then wander the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river. The afternoon drive through the Rif ends with your first view of Chefchaouen stacked blue against the mountain. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Volubilis and Fes

A slow morning in the blue medina, then south to Volubilis to walk among Roman mosaics, olive presses and the triumphal arch of Caracalla. You reach Fes by early evening and settle into a riad. Overnight in Fes.

Day 4: Guided day in Fes

Your local guide unlocks Fes el-Bali: the Chouara tanneries, the woodcarvers and coppersmiths quarters, Bou Inania Madrasa, the Royal Palace gates and the old Jewish Quarter. Overnight in Fes.

Day 5: Fes to Merzouga, camels at sunset

Across the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the Azrou cedars, where Barbary monkeys often appear, then along the Ziz Valley to the edge of the sand. Your camel caravan sets off in the golden hour, and Berber music follows dinner at camp. Overnight in a luxury desert camp.

Day 6: A full day in the Sahara

This is the day that separates this tour from shorter routes. Sunrise on the dunes, then a 4×4 morning: Gnawa music in Khamlia village, nomad families on the hamada, the seasonal lake when it holds water, and the far side of Erg Chebbi. The afternoon is for doing gloriously little. Overnight in Merzouga.

Day 7: Merzouga to Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley

Through Rissani, one of the oldest trading towns of the south, to Todra Gorge for a walk beneath the cliffs, then along the Tinghir palm groves into the winding Dades Valley. Overnight in Dades Valley.

Day 8: Dades to Ait Ben Haddou and over the Atlas to Marrakech

The Valley of Roses and Skoura oasis lead you to Ouarzazate and on to Ait Ben Haddou, the mud brick ksar seen in dozens of films. You then climb the Tizi n’Tichka pass and descend to Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 9: Guided tour of Marrakech

With a local guide: the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia gardens, the souks organised by craft and Jemaa el-Fna square. The afternoon is free for Majorelle Garden, a hammam or shopping with your new bargaining skills. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 10: Departure

Breakfast at your riad, then a private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport, or back to Casablanca if your flight leaves from there. End of your 10 day Morocco tour.

Route at a Glance

Distances and Driving Times

Ten days, two of them without a suitcase in the car. Here is the honest breakdown.

Leg	Distance	Driving time
Casablanca Airport to Rabat	100 km	1 h 15 min
Rabat to Chefchaouen	250 km	4 h
Chefchaouen to Fes (via Volubilis)	210 km	4 h 30 min with the ruins stop
Fes to Merzouga	460 km	7 h with mountain stops
Sahara free day	4×4 loop only	no transfer driving
Merzouga to Dades Valley	260 km	4 h 30 min
Dades Valley to Marrakech (via Ait Ben Haddou)	330 km	6 to 7 h with visits
Marrakech guided day	0 km	on foot with your guide

Times include the usual visit and photo stops along each leg.

What Is Covered

Included and Not Included

Included

✓Private air conditioned vehicle
✓Professional English speaking driver
✓Fuel, highway tolls and parking fees
✓Pick up at Casablanca airport or hotel
✓Drop off at Marrakech or Casablanca airport
✓Driver accommodation and expenses
✓Flexible photo and rest stops

Not Included

✗International flights
✗Accommodation (trusted shortlist provided)
✗Meals and drinks
✗Monument entrance fees
✗Local guides in Fes and Marrakech (on request)
✗Camel trek, 4×4 excursion and desert camp (on request)
✗Personal expenses and tips

Why This Tour

Why Is the 10 Day Tour Our Most Requested?

Ten days hits the balance travellers keep telling us they wanted after shorter trips: two nights in the desert instead of one, two nights in Marrakech instead of a rushed exit, and not a single day that is only driving. It is the version of the classic route we would book for our own families.

Skip it if the Atlantic coast is a must for you, because this route never touches the sea after Rabat. In that case the 12 day grand tour adds a day in Essaouira, and the full 2 weeks Morocco itinerary adds a free Marrakech day on top of that.

FAQ

10 Days in Morocco, Common Questions

Why spend two nights in Merzouga?

Because with one night you see the desert, and with two you experience it. The middle day has no packing and no schedule: sunrise on the dunes, a 4×4 loop to Khamlia and the nomad country, and an afternoon of pure quiet that guests consistently call the best day of the trip.

What is the driving like on this tour?

The two longest days are Fes to Merzouga and Dades to Marrakech, each around 6 to 7 hours including scenic stops. Every other transfer is under 5 hours. The vehicle is exclusively yours, so breaks happen when you want them.

Can the tour start or end on different days?

Yes. This is a private itinerary, not a scheduled departure, so it begins the day you land. We also reverse it, extend it or swap city nights for coast or mountains whenever travellers ask.

Is October a good month for this route?

October is one of the best: warm days in the desert, mild evenings, and comfortable city walking everywhere from Chefchaouen to Marrakech. April and May are equally good. Book those months early, they fill first.

Do we need cash on this route, or are cards accepted?

Both, in the right places. Hotels, riads and city restaurants widely accept cards, while souks, small cafes, desert villages and tips run on cash. Every overnight town on this route has ATMs, and your driver knows which ones to trust. Carrying 500 to 1,000 dirhams per day per couple in cash is a comfortable rule of thumb.

Can Essaouira be added to the 10 day tour?

Yes, as an eleventh day between the Marrakech guided day and departure, which effectively turns this into our 12 day grand tour route. If your dates are fixed at ten days, some travellers swap the second Sahara day for the coast instead, though most keep the desert.

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