Sahara Desert, Essaouira & Imperial cities Morocco tour – 12 days

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Casablanca Morocco Tour 12 days – overview:

If you wish to spend a vacation combining an exploration of the Sahara Desert, Imperial cities, Atlantic coastal beaches, and Moroccan culture and heritage, this 12-day Casablanca Morocco tour is definitely the best choice for you.

Cultural visits are the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, and Meknes’ historic buildings. In Fes and Marrakech, the main attractions are the old medina, the Madrassahs, the leather tanneries, beautiful palaces and the vibrant souks.

Berber villages and the most famous Kasbahs in Morocco, Kasbah Aït ben Haddou, Telouet, and Amredhil showcase Berber lifestyles and architecture.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Roman ruins of Volubilis will offer an insight into Morocco’s ancient history. Prehistoric history is evident in the geological surprises of the Dades and Toudgha Gorges and valleys.

The majesty and magic of the Sahara are felt riding camels to a luxury camp for the sunset and sunrise, and the Berber music after a traditional dinner. A full-day camel trek in the highest dunes of the Sahara Desert in Morocco is a completely unique and unforgettable experience.

The coastal town of Essaouira and the scenic views driving along the Atlantic Ocean offer very different aspects of Morocco’s landscapes.

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This luxury desert tour in Morocco – itinerary:

1st day: Casablanca – Rabat

Our driver will greet you at Casablanca airport and transfer you through the scenic Moroccan countryside to the city in an air-conditioned vehicle. Welcome to Morocco!

In the city centre, you can visit the Hassan II Mosque, which opened in 1993 to celebrate King Hassan II’s 60th birthday. As the second-largest religious building in Africa, it also features the world’s second-tallest minaret. On Fridays and religious holidays, visiting hours are restricted, and due to its popularity, there might be waiting times at the ticket office. The tour lasts about an hour, with tickets priced at around 120 dirhams at the time of publishing.

You will then continue to Rabat, where you can explore the fascinating Chellah, a 14th-century necropolis built on Roman foundations. The site has recently undergone further excavation, making it one of Morocco’s most unique historical locations.

The day ends with a stay at a beautiful riad in the heart of the medina.

FYI: Guided tours of the Hassan II mosque are limited on Fridays or religious holidays. Please check the schedule here: Hassan II Mosque Tours and Tickets.

2nd day: Rabat – Fes

After breakfast in the riad, we visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, built in homage to the king, Mohammed V, who passed away in 1961. His son and successor, Hassan II, who died in 1999, is also entombed here. The tile work inside the mausoleum is simply amazing, with every tiny tile cut and then set in place by hand. The guards’ uniforms are also really splendid.

North of Meknes, you can stop to visit Volubilis Roman ruins there, which are expansive and spread over a wide area. It is well worth hiring a local knowledgeable guide here. From the plain, there are beautiful views over the valley and hills. 

Then we continue to Fes for the night in a riad.

3rd day: Fes Sightseeing Tour

After meeting your licensed local guide, a full-day sightseeing tour of Fes unfolds, showcasing the oldest of Morocco’s four “Imperial Cities.” This journey takes you to some of the most iconic and intriguing attractions, providing a deeper understanding of this ancient Moroccan gem.

You will explore the following attractions, depending on time and your preferences:

The University of Al Quaraouiyine: The prestigious University of Al Quaraouiyine, recognised as one of the world’s oldest continuously operating educational institutions, serves as the starting point. Established in the 9th century, it occupies a unique place in history as a hub of learning.

Bou Inania Medersa: A visit to the Bou Inania Medersa reveals a religious school celebrated for its stunning mosaics, exquisite stucco work, and detailed architecture. The beauty of Islamic artistry comes to life in this historic setting.

The Royal Palace: Although the interior remains closed to the public, the exterior of the Royal Palace stands as a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture. An appreciation of the intricately designed portal captures the essence of Moroccan royalty.

The Medina: Venturing into Fes’ UNESCO-listed Medina immerses you in its labyrinthine streets, which have preserved their medieval charm. The bustling souks, ancient mosques, and historic landmarks offer a glimpse into the city’s vibrant past.

Leather Tanneries: Renowned for its centuries-old leather production, Fes invites visitors to witness traditional techniques at the tanneries, providing insights into the city’s time-honoured craftsmanship.

Local Market: The vibrant markets of Fes teem with life, showcasing a wide array of products, including souvenirs, textiles, spices, ceramics, wooden crafts, silver jewellery, and leather goods. This variety reflects the diversity of Moroccan culture and artistry.

Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts: The tour concludes at the Nejjarine Museum, housed in a beautifully restored caravanserai. Here, visitors can discover a wealth of wooden arts and crafts integral to Moroccan culture. The museum’s exhibits provide an in-depth look at the intricate craftsmanship that has defined Fes for generations.

The sightseeing tour wraps up as your guide accompanies you back to your riad.

4th day: Fes – Merzouga

Departure from Fes at 8 o’clock, travelling past Ifrane, where the houses have sloping roofs, remarkable and unusual in Morocco.  This is to cope with the yearly snowfall.  Near Azrou, 1250 metres, with the geomorphologic Berber name, which means “stone” or “rock”, you can see Barbary apes in the oak and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. From here, we drive along the N13 south over the Middle Atlas, passing through Timahdite (once again a Berber name, and as the word begins and ends with the letter “t”, it signifies it is feminine.)

We later reach Midelt, 1508M, which is called “the apple capital” of Morocco and lies at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. The town serves as the commercial agricultural centre for the surrounding area. It is also one of Morocco’s principle cities for the mining of several minerals, such as fluorite, vanadinite, quartz and cerussite.  This is where we will stop for lunch.

We continue south travelling over the Tizi-n-Talghemt pass, known as the “she-camel” pass.  We descend through the Ziz Valley, which is particularly well-known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis. All along the road, there are innumerable “ksars”, small villages of individual houses.

From here, we reach the mining town of Er Rachidia (e.g copper and malachite) and then Erfoud, famous for its date festival and fossils. It is fascinating to see how these millions of fossils have been worked into artifacts and so the shops are worth a visit. There is no obligation to buy anything!

After that, you continue to Rissani and finally the famous red Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. You take a camel ride either setting out from the camp or to it.

You have dinner and spend the night at a luxury camp with private bathroom, king-sized beds, beautiful Moroccan furnishings and lamps tastefully arranged to enhance your enjoyment of the silence and beauty of the dunes.

5th day: Merzouga

After breakfast, you take the camels out into the dunes together with a camel man. You’ll walk up to three hours in the morning, followed by about the same amount of time in the afternoon. Lunch will be with nomads at their camp in the desert and you will return to the bivouac for dinner and the night.

Alternatively, after breakfast, you will have the opportunity to explore the desert more fully. Your first stop will be the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnawa people, who specialise in traditional Gnawa music brought to the region from sub-Saharan Africa during the slave trade. They will perform some of their music for you.

Next, you will visit the historic town of Rissani, the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty, Morocco’s current ruling royal family. Rissani is surrounded by 360 ksars (fortified villages with many towers) and is known for its large souk, which takes place three times a week. Here, you can explore the market, where you’ll find a variety of goods, including spices, vegetables, household items, and handicrafts. Rissani is also built on the ancient site of Sijilmassa, once the meeting point for salt caravans travelling from Timbuktu in Mali.

In the afternoon, you will mount your camel and be guided by an experienced camel handler through the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga for about an hour to an hour and a half to enjoy the sunset. Dinner will be served at camp, followed by a night of drumming and music around the campfire.

Please note that weather conditions in southern Morocco can be unpredictable. From May to the end of September, it may become too hot for trekking in the dunes, and we may recommend following this alternative itinerary instead.

6th day: Merzouga – Dades Gorges

If you wake up early enough, you can watch the spectacle of the sunrise, when the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight.  After breakfast at the camp, we leave for Tinghir and the Toudgha gorges.

On the way, you pass the water channels – “khettarat” – which you can descend into to appreciate the architecture and genius behind this form of irrigation which prevents evaporation in the summer heat. The channels start at a higher gradient at one end until they finally emerge at the surface of the soil where they are fed into the fields. You can find out more about these channels by reading Andrew Wilson’s work.

Later in the gorge and the valley, there are opportunities to walk beyond the gorge itself or by the village gardens and fields before you reach it. Then the itinerary continues to the Dades Valley. The area, which now forms the Dades Gorges, lay at the bottom of the sea millions of years ago. Great quantities of sediment were deposited around giant coral reefs, and over time this material became compacted into a variety of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone. Eventually, the movement of the earth’s crust caused the region to rise above the sea, forming the Atlas Mountains and surrounding landscape. The night is spent in a hotel or kasbah.

7th day: Dades Gorges – Ouarzazate

After breakfast, a visit to the Dades gorges and a short walk there is scheduled. Back at the car, the trip to Ouarzazate continues, going off-road along the Boutarar piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and partake of a glass of tea with them. This visit makes it clear to the visitor just how hard the existence is for these nomads in this very dry landscape, trying to feed their goats and bring up their children.

From here we continue through the Valley of the Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May. Cosmetics and toiletry items are produced and valued throughout the country.

And then in Skoura and the oasis there, Kasbah Amredhil waits for a very worth-while visit.  The kasbah has been beautifully restored and gives a clear idea of life within such housing.  It is made entirely of adobe, an excellent building material; warm in winter and cool in summer, due to the thickness of the walls.  45 minutes later you reach Ouarzazate, where you spend the night in a guest house.

8th day: Ouarzazate – Marrakech

After breakfast, the route goes on to Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s seven World Heritage sites, and the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters. It is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and some of the buildings date back to the 17th century.

From here you drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley, full of bends in the roads and surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs.

We continue to Telouet set right in the midst of the mountains and once the seat of the last Pasha of Marrakech, El Glaoui, from where the highest pass in Africa, Tizi-n-Tichka was controlled. Each addition to the building now stands in ruins exposed to the wind and the rain, having been abandoned and plundered after the last Pasha’s property was confiscated for conspiracy against the King. Wait to be pleasantly surprised by the traditional interior decoration as you reach the farthest end of the Kasbah.

Sadly, the entire Kasbah is presently closed due to the destruction caused by the earthquake that hit Morocco in September 2023. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy the exterior with a local guide to uncover its fascinating history.

At the end of the afternoon, having crossed the Tichka pass, we arrive in Marrakech.

9th day: Marrakech Sightseeing Tour

Marrakech is famed for its lively Djemaa El Fna, a vibrant square teeming with juice stalls, vendors of dried fruits and nuts, henna artists, snake charmers, storytellers, and an array of food stalls that come to life in the evening.

Depending on the time available and personal preferences, you can visite the following attractions:

The Majorelle Gardens: Designed by Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent, these serene gardens feature fish ponds, exotic plants, and the famous “Majorelle blue” pots. The site also includes a small Berber museum, a café, and a restaurant serving Moroccan-inspired cuisine.

Le Jardin Secret: This restored Islamic Paradise Garden is divided into four sections by narrow water channels. It offers a tranquil setting with lush greenery and fountains, accompanied by exhibits that highlight its restoration.

The Koutoubia Mosque: As the largest mosque in Marrakech, the Koutoubia Mosque stands as a city landmark. Its name comes from “al-Koutoubiyyin,” referencing its past as a hub for booksellers. Built in the traditional Almohad style, the mosque is crowned by a 69-metre minaret adorned with four copper globes.

El Bahia Palace: Built between 1894 and 1900 for Ahmed Ibn Moussa, the Grand Vizier of Morocco, this opulent palace features 160 rooms arranged around courtyards, showcasing intricate stucco panels, zellij tilework, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings, and marble finishes. The palace is set within an eight-hectare garden.

Ben Youssef Medersa: Originally founded by Sultan Abou el Hassan in 1331 and later rebuilt by the Saadians in the 1560s, this Quranic school once housed 800 students. The medersa boasts stunning Moroccan architecture, with intricate zellij tiles, stucco plasterwork, and beautifully carved cedar wood.

The Saadian Tombs: Dating back to the reign of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578–1603) and rediscovered in 1917, these tombs serve as the final resting place for around sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty, making them a significant historical site.

The Jewish Mellah: Like many Moroccan cities, Marrakech has a Jewish quarter known as the Mellah. Historically, it housed non-Muslim communities, not exclusively Jews. While many synagogues remain, few are still in use today, and these quarters in smaller villages are often overlooked.

The Souks: The bustling souks form the heart of Marrakech, offering a wide range of handicrafts, spices, traditional medicines, and more. Visitors can browse for Moroccan slippers (babouches), leather goods, textiles, pottery, and silver jewellery, with ample opportunities to haggle.

Marrakech, with its people, places, scents, colours, and architecture, feels as though it has stepped out of “A Thousand and One Nights.”

FYI: You can buy entry tickets at each monument during your guided tour of Marrakech, but Majorelle Garden tickets must be booked online in advance.

Optional Experience: A traditional Moroccan cooking class can be arranged instead of a city tour, available for an additional fee.

Accommodation will be in a riad for the night.

10 – 11th day: Marrakech – Essaouira

Essaouira is many tourists’ darling! Previously known as Mogador to the Portuguese inhabitants, it is a charming small town on the coast well- known for local handicrafts, especially thuja wood furniture, carving and small artifacts, sold in innumerable shops along the windy streets.

Orson Wells filmed “Othello” here, making especially the Portuguese ramparts famous in its opening scene. Visit the women’s cooperative where argane nuts are processed by hand into one of the most versatile oils; delicious in salads and a treat for the skin.

At the seafront, the customer chooses a selection of freshly caught fish to have prepared on the spot. The surfing opportunities and the beach make it an ideal spot for coastal lovers. Essaouira has a favourable micro-climate; mild in winter and cool in summer.

This is a truly favourite place to chill after a trip to the desert – on the beach, in the little cafés by the port or wandering in and out of all the little shops. The nights are spent in a riad in the town.

12th day: Essaouira – Casablanca

After breakfast, the journey back to the airport in Casablanca starts (about a five-hour drive). On the way, we can stop in El Jadida to visit the Portuguese cistern and the old Portuguese town surrounding it.

We then continue north along the coast road north past Azemmour or Azamor (from the Berber: Azmmur or Azemmur “the olive”; Portuguese: Azamor) a small ancient town on the left bank of the Oum Er-Rabia River. Your Casablanca Morocco tour 12 days comes to an end as your driver escorts you to the airport.

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