Grand Tour · Private journey
12 Days from Casablanca — The Full National Loop
- 12 days · 11 nights
- Round trip from Casablanca
- Private, just your group
Overview
Twelve days from Casablanca via Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara and the kasbahs — the full national loop.
The route
CasablancaStart
Rabat
Tangier
Chefchaouen
Fes
The Sahara- CasablancaEnd
Itinerary
Day by day
A working draft: every day can be lengthened, shortened or swapped once we know what matters most to you.
- Day1
Arrival in Casablanca
Land in Casablanca and check in for the night — the rest of the day is free to rest before the twelve-day loop begins.
Casablanca - Day2
Casablanca → Rabat → Asilah → Tangier
See the Hassan II Mosque before heading to the capital, Rabat, for its landmark squares, then up the coast through the whitewashed art town of Asilah to Tangier for the night.
Tangier - Day3
Tangier → Chefchaouen
Explore Tangier's Kasbah Museum, the Dar el Makhzen and the American Legation, with a stop at the Hercules Caves, before climbing into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen - Day4
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
Descend from the Rif to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, then imperial Meknes and its monumental Bab Mansour gate, before continuing to Fes for the night.
Fes - Day5
A full day in Fes
A local guide leads you through the medieval medina — the Bou Inania madrasa, the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university, a working pottery village and the carved gateways of Nejjarine Square.
- Day6
Fes → Ifrane → Merzouga
Cross the Middle Atlas via the alpine town of Ifrane and its cedar forests, then drop through Midelt, Errachidia and the Ziz Valley toward Merzouga, arriving on the edge of the Sahara for the night.
The Sahara - Day7
A full day in the Sahara
Watch the sunrise over the dunes, then head out by 4x4 to explore the Erg Chebbi landscape. As the light turns gold, ride a camel into the dunes for a campfire dinner and a night at a desert tent camp.
- Day8
Merzouga → Todgha Gorge → Boumalne Dadès
Drive west through Rissani and Tinghir's palm groves to Todgha Gorge for a walk beneath its towering canyon walls, then continue to Boumalne Dadès for the night.
- Day9
Boumalne Dadès → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Follow the kasbah road to the UNESCO ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, then cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass into Marrakech.
Marrakech - Day10
Marrakech city
A guided day around the Red City — the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia minaret and the theatre of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
- Day11
Marrakech → Essaouira
A relaxed drive to the coast for an afternoon in Essaouira's fortified medina, its harbour and its artist galleries, with a night by the sea.
Essaouira - Day12
Departure
Transfer back to Marrakech or Casablanca for your onward flight, closing out a loop that took in the whole country.
The details
What's included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel & tolls
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Accommodation in riads, kasbahs & a desert camp
- Camel trek to the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Desert camp with dinner & breakfast
- Daily breakfast
- Local guides in the imperial cities
- All local taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches & some dinners
- Monument & museum entrance fees
- Drinks & personal expenses
- Tips / gratuities
- Travel insurance
Good to know
Questions about this journey
Can you customize an itinerary, or do we have to book one exactly as listed?
Every trip on this site is a starting point. Tell us your dates, pace and interests on WhatsApp or through the form below, and we'll adjust the route, swap in extra nights, or build something from scratch around what you actually want to see.
What's included in the price of a private Morocco tour?
Standard inclusions are a private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel and tolls, an English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip, accommodation in riads, kasbahs and a desert camp, the Erg Chebbi camel trek, daily breakfast, local guides in the imperial cities, and all local taxes. International flights, most lunches and dinners, entrance fees, tips and travel insurance are not included.
When's the best time of year for a Sahara desert tour?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the most comfortable temperatures for both the High Atlas passes and the dunes. Summer is workable but hot in the desert by midday; winter nights in the Sahara and the mountains can be cold, so pack layers if travelling between November and February.
Which cities can a tour start and end in?
Most itineraries start or end in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca or Tangier — wherever your flight lands. Filter the tours by city to see what's available, or ask us to build a route between two different cities if you don't see the combination you need.
Want this route adjusted? Message us on WhatsApp or browse all 33 journeys.
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Begin your journey
Make the 12-day journey your own
Tell us your dates and what you'd change, and we'll come back with a real draft and a clear price, not a form letter.