Imperial Cities and the Sahara, an 11-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca
This 11-day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca, ten nights in all, goes through Rabat, Meknes and Fes, over the Middle Atlas to two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and on through the Dades Valley to Marrakech. It covers the four imperial cities of Morocco and the Sahara in one trip.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
11-day Morocco itinerary at a glance
- 11 days / 10 nights
- Casablanca · Rabat · Meknes · Volubilis · Fes · Merzouga · Dades · Marrakech · Casablanca
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: Spring and autumn
Ten nights in Morocco, from the imperial cities to the dunes
Morocco’s four imperial cities are its former capitals: Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech. You visit all four, with the Sahara between Fes and Marrakech, which is the natural way to cross the country.
If you fly home from Marrakech, we can shorten the tour to nine days and finish there.
Highlights
- Rabat and the Kasbah of the Oudayas
- Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis
- Two days in Fes
- Two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Two nights in Marrakech
Day-by-day itinerary
How the 11 days go, from your pickup in Casablanca to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Arrival in Casablanca
Airport pickup and the Hassan II Mosque.
- Overnight: Hotel in Casablanca
Day 2 · Casablanca to Rabat
Rabat’s medina, the Oudayas and the Hassan Tower.
- Overnight: Riad in Rabat
Day 3 · Rabat to Meknes
To Meknes and its imperial quarter.
- Overnight: Riad in Meknes
Day 4 · Meknes to Fes
Volubilis and Moulay Idriss on the way to Fes.
- Overnight: Riad in Fes
Day 5 · Fes
A guided day in Fes el-Bali.
- Overnight: Riad in Fes
Day 6 · Fes to Merzouga
Over the Middle Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 7 · Erg Chebbi
A day in the dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 8 · Merzouga to the Dades Valley
The Todra Gorge and the Dades.
- Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley
Day 9 · Dades to Marrakech
Aït Benhaddou and the High Atlas to Marrakech.
- Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
Day 10 · Marrakech
A guided morning in the medina and a free afternoon.
- Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
Day 11 · Marrakech to Casablanca
Drive to Casablanca or its airport.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the 11 days
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Casablanca
- One night: hotel in Casablanca, breakfast
- One night: riad in Rabat, breakfast
- One night: riad in Meknes, breakfast
- Two nights: riad in Fes, breakfast
- Two nights: desert camp in Erg Chebbi, dinner and breakfast
- One night: hotel in the Dades Valley, breakfast
- Two nights: riad in Marrakech, breakfast
- Camel ride in the dunes
- Airport transfers
- Local guides for the city visits in the itinerary
- Fuel and road costs
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
Pickup at your hotel in Casablanca or at Mohammed V airport; tell us your flight time.
Best time to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) suit a trip that covers the mountains, the desert and the cities. Winter works with warm layers, and summer is hot inland.
What to bring
Clothes for warm days and cool evenings, a warm jacket for any desert night, comfortable shoes, clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the medinas, and a small bag for the camp night.
Good to know
Carry cash in dirhams for entrance fees, lunches and tips, since cards are not taken everywhere outside the cities. Driving days vary, so we plan stops for photos, tea and lunch along the way. Dress modestly in villages and medinas, and ask before you photograph people. Phone signal is good in towns and weaker in the mountains and the desert.
Price, deposit and cancellation
Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.
Questions about the 11-day Morocco itinerary
Is 10 days enough for Morocco?
Ten days, or ten nights as here, covers the imperial cities, the Sahara and Marrakech without rushing. For the coast and Chefchaouen as well, see the 15-day Highlights of Morocco.
Which cities are the imperial cities of Morocco?
Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, the four cities that were royal capitals. This itinerary visits all four.
What is the desert camp like?
You sleep in a tent at a camp in the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Camps range from simple to comfortable tents with a private bathroom; tell us the level you want and we suggest camps that fit.
Can we change the route or the hotels?
Yes. We can add nights, change hotels or swap the order of the stops, since only your group is on the tour. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
Can we bring children?
Yes. Tell us how old they are and we plan the driving, the stops and the pace around them.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and stays adjusted to you
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