Private 11 Day Tour From Casablanca Imperial Cities Sahara Desert

Morocco packs a lot into eleven days. This private tour links Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, Merzouga, the Dades Valley, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech, and the Atlas Mountains in one long loop. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide, sleep in hotels, traditional riads, and one luxury desert camp, and have local guides in Volubilis, Fes, and Marrakech.

I like the private format, since your group can travel at its own pace and ask for extra stops. I also like the strong desert section: camel riding, sunset, sunrise, a campfire, music, and time with a nomadic family give you more than a quick photo stop. The main drawback is the amount of driving. Some days cover long mountain and desert roads, and the published plan has a few unclear details that you should confirm before paying.

The tour costs $2,362.06 per person. That is a serious price, but it includes ten nights of accommodation, breakfast each morning, three dinners, private transport, guides, airport transfers, camel riding, and a private tent with a toilet and shower. You still pay for lunches, drinks, entrance fees, and tips, so the final cost will be higher.

What makes this Morocco tour different

• A full Morocco circuit in eleven days: You see the Atlantic coast, northern Morocco, Roman ruins, imperial cities, the Middle Atlas, the Sahara, southern kasbahs, and Marrakech.
• A private vehicle and driver-guide: Your group travels alone rather than joining a large coach party.
• A luxury Sahara night: The private desert tent includes its own toilet and shower, a useful comfort after a camel ride.
• Real time around Erg Chebbi: The desert program includes nomad tents, tea with a nomadic family, Khamliya village, camel riding, sunset, sunrise, dinner, music, and a campfire.
• Three riad or city-guide days: Local guides are included at Volubilis, Fes, and Marrakech, helping you make sense of crowded medinas and ancient sites.
• A route that needs clarification: Day 10 is labeled Essaouira but describes an Ourika Valley excursion, while Day 11 returns you to Casablanca after a night in Marrakech.

Casablanca begins with the Hassan II Mosque

Your first day starts with airport pickup and transfer to your Casablanca accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the Hassan II Mosque, the Moroccan Mall, and a nearby beach area.

The Hassan II Mosque is the obvious priority. It gives you an immediate sense of Morocco’s modern religious architecture and Casablanca’s position on the Atlantic. Admission is not included, so confirm whether the visit is an exterior stop or a ticketed interior tour.

This first day is intentionally flexible, but that also means you may see very little if your flight arrives late. I would treat Casablanca as an arrival day, not as a full sightseeing day. Keep your schedule light and use the included transfer to get settled.

Rabat, Chefchaouen, and a night in a blue mountain town

Day two begins with a pickup from your accommodation and a visit to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. The Kasbah des Oudaias is the named stop, and its historic lanes and position above the water make it a pleasant introduction to the country’s political and royal side.

The plan then continues to Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, where you sleep in a traditional riad. Chefchaouen is known for its blue-painted medina and steep lanes, so this overnight is valuable. You get a short evening or morning to walk without the pressure of a quick day visit.

The stated duration is about seven hours, including Rabat and the journey to Chefchaouen. That is a demanding day. If you want a relaxed visit to Rabat or extra time in Chefchaouen, ask how much time is allotted at each stop.

Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes

After breakfast, you travel through the Rif region toward Volubilis. The Roman ruins are one of the tour’s best changes of pace. Instead of seeing only Moroccan cities and desert scenery, you get exposed columns, mosaics, and the remains of a Roman settlement in North Africa.

A local guide is included here, which matters. Ruins make more sense when someone points out the public buildings, homes, and decorative details rather than leaving you to wander among stones. Admission is not included, so budget separately for the site.

The route continues to Meknes, a former imperial city associated with Sultan Moulay Ismail. You stop for lunch, walk around the medina walls, see Bab El Mansour, and visit the Moulay Ismail shrine. Lunch is not included, so you have freedom to choose, but your spending will add up over eleven days.

You then continue to Fes for the night. The day is listed as six hours, but the combination of driving, Volubilis, Meknes, lunch, and sightseeing may make it feel full. Wear shoes suited to uneven ground and keep water with you.

Fes requires a local guide

Day four is devoted to Fes, Morocco’s oldest city on this route. You begin at the Royal Palace Gate, then walk through the narrow lanes of the medina. The city is easier to appreciate with a guide because the streets can feel confusing, and many buildings are easy to pass without explanation.

The itinerary includes Al Qaraouine University, the tanneries, the Attarine Museum, and the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum. Some locations may have entry charges, and the tour price does not include entrance fees. Ask your guide which sites require payment and which are viewed from outside.

After lunch, you visit a tile cooperative and finish with a panoramic view across the Fes medina. The cooperative stop may appeal to you if you want to see traditional craftwork, but remember that these stops can also include sales. You are not obliged to buy.

Fes is one of the places where a private tour earns its keep. You can ask questions, pause for photographs, and get help navigating the medina instead of trying to interpret it alone. The day lasts about five hours, leaving more breathing room than some of the road days.

Across the Middle Atlas to Merzouga

Day five is a long transition from northern Morocco to the Sahara. You pass through the Middle Atlas Mountains and cedar forests, with stops around Ifrane and Azrou. Ifrane is a ski resort town, while Azrou is known for cedarwood handicrafts.

The route crosses the Zaida Pass at about 2,178 meters, then continues to Midelt for lunch. From there, you travel through Errachidia and the palm-lined Ziz Valley toward Erfoud, known for fossils, before reaching Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes.

This is roughly seven hours on the road, not counting stops. The payoff is the change in scenery, from forests and mountain passes to palms, dry valleys, and open desert. Still, you should expect a tiring day. Bring snacks, water, sun protection, and something warm for the evening.

You spend the night in a hotel or guesthouse in Merzouga before the main desert program. That is a practical arrangement because it gives you a proper room before the camel ride and camp night.

Erg Chebbi offers the tour’s strongest day

Day six is the heart of the trip. You drive around the edge of Erg Chebbi, described as Morocco’s largest sand dune area, and see the broad sweep of the desert. The route includes views of nomadic black tents and a visit with a nomadic family over tea.

That visit is one of the more meaningful parts of the itinerary. It gives you a chance to hear about desert life from people who live it, rather than simply posing for a camel photograph. The exact length and setting of the visit should be confirmed, since the day is listed at only four hours.

You also visit Khamliya, a village associated with Gnawa music and desert culture. Lunch is either in the village or back at your accommodation. The plan allows time to rest before the camel ride, which is welcome. A little downtime helps you enjoy the evening rather than arriving at camp worn out.

Later, you ride camels into the dunes for sunset and spend the night in a private luxury tent with a toilet and shower. The camp experience includes dinner, music, a campfire, and time beneath the stars. Several accounts praise the guides for taking photographs, and that can be especially helpful during sunset and sunrise when you want both hands free.

Camel riding is not especially comfortable for everyone. If you have back, knee, or balance problems, ask about alternatives or the length of the ride before booking. You can still enjoy the desert without treating the camel as an endurance test.

Sunrise, fossils, palms, and the Todra Gorge

An early wake-up gives you the chance to see sunrise over the dunes. You return by camel to the hotel for breakfast and a shower, then leave the Sahara behind.

The route passes through Erfoud, the fossil center, and palm plantations before continuing toward the Todra Gorges. You stop for lunch and take a short walk beside the Todra River and through the gorge area. The contrast is striking: desert sand gives way to cliffs, water, and cultivated palms.

The day ends near Boumalne de Dades, where you spend the night in a traditional kasbah. The listed duration is six hours, so this is still a road day, but the walking stop breaks it up. Ask what kind of room and bathroom facilities are provided at the kasbah, since traditional accommodation can vary more than a standard hotel.

Ait Benhaddou and the Tichka Pass

Day eight follows the Dades Valley toward the Valley of the Roses, Ouarzazate, and Marrakech. You travel along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs and pass El Kelaa M’Gouna, an area associated with roses.

The major stop is Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of southern Morocco’s most recognizable fortified villages. Its earthen buildings and hilltop position have made it a setting for films including Lawrence of Arabia and The Gladiator. The film connection is fun, but the site is more rewarding when you pay attention to its mud-brick construction and old trading-route setting.

Lunch at the kasbah is not included, and admission is also excluded. Afterward, the road climbs over the Tichka Pass toward Marrakech. This is an eight-hour day, so expect a late arrival or limited time at some stops.

Marrakech’s palaces, tombs, and gardens

Day nine brings a local guide for Marrakech. The route includes Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the souks, and Jardin Majorelle.

Bahia Palace is known for mosaics, stucco work, courtyards, and stories connected with the grand vizier’s four wives and twenty-four concubines. The Saadian Tombs offer a different look at royal architecture, with carefully decorated burial chambers dating from the Saadian period.

The souks are best taken slowly. You will find color, fragrance, craft stalls, and plenty of distractions. A guide can help you understand what you are seeing, but you should still set your own pace and be clear about shopping stops.

Jardin Majorelle provides a quieter break from the medina. Its unusual plants and strong indigo walls make it visually different from the older city. Admission is not included, so confirm current fees and opening arrangements.

This is another five-hour sightseeing day, which gives you enough time to see the major stops without turning Marrakech into a rushed checklist.

Clarify the final day trip before booking

The tenth day needs special attention. It is labeled Essaouira, but the description is for an Ourika Valley day trip from Marrakech. The plan includes mountain villages, Setti Fatma, waterfalls, an argan oil cooperative, a Berber market at Tnin Ourika, Atlas views, and lunch beside the stream.

Those are two very different excursions. Essaouira is a coastal destination, while Ourika is a mountain valley. Ask the operator in writing which trip you will receive, how long it lasts, and where you will sleep afterward.

The listed duration is only two hours, which does not match the described full-day Ourika program. That may be a data-entry error, but it is important to settle before departure. If you want a mountain outing with a short hike and waterfalls, Ourika fits the description. If you expected the Atlantic coast, you need confirmation.

What the price includes, and what it does not

At $2,362.06 per person, the tour is priced as a private, multi-city package rather than a basic desert transfer. Your price covers:

• Ten nights in hotels or traditional riads
• One night in a private luxury desert tent with toilet and shower
• Air-conditioned private transport
• Driver-guide service
• Local guides in Volubilis, Fes, and Marrakech
• Camel riding
• Airport pickup and drop-off
• Eleven breakfasts
• Three dinners

Lunches, drinks, entrance fees, and tips are extra. This matters because you visit several ticketed monuments and archaeological sites. The private vehicle and planning support may make the package good value for a group that wants convenience, but solo visitors or couples should compare the total price with smaller shared tours.

The company, Love Morocco Desert, is based in Marrakech and specializes in desert trips and Morocco itineraries. Names appearing in the feedback include Said, Omar, Youssef, and Ibrahim. Said is praised for being humorous, kind, energetic, and able to speak some Korean. Omar is praised for desert photography and for explaining Berber culture. Your assigned guide may be different, so confirm the name, language, and exact driver-guide role before departure.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see many parts of Morocco without arranging every hotel, transfer, and guide yourself. It suits couples, families, and private groups that value flexibility and want a mix of cities, mountains, ruins, kasbahs, and desert.

You should be comfortable with long drives and changing accommodation often. This is not a slow, single-city holiday. It is a wide-ranging route with several early starts and full road days.

The strongest reasons to book are the private setup, the full desert night, the local guides, and the chance to meet a nomadic family rather than simply crossing the dunes. Before booking, get clear answers about Day 10, the final transfer to Casablanca, entrance fees, and the exact accommodations.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this Morocco itinerary?

Book it if your goal is variety and the Sahara is a top priority. The desert section appears especially well planned, with camel riding, sunset, sunrise, dinner, music, stars, and a private tent with private facilities.

Skip it if you prefer leisurely travel, independent hotel selection, or long stays in each city. The route covers a great deal of ground, and the unclear Essaouira and Ourika details need sorting out first. With those points confirmed, this is a practical way to see Morocco’s major regions in one private trip.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 11 days.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins in Casablanca, with pickup from the airport or your Casablanca accommodation.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What transportation is provided?

An air-conditioned vehicle is provided, along with a driver-guide.

Are accommodations included?

Yes. The package includes 10 nights in hotels or traditional riads, plus one night in a private luxury desert tent with a toilet and shower.

Is camel riding included?

Yes. Camel riding is included, including the desert ride connected with the overnight camp.

Are meals included?

Eleven breakfasts and three dinners are included. Lunches and drinks are not included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are excluded from the tour price.

What is included with cancellation?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.