Short Overview
Starting in Casablanca, you’ll travel through the blue streets of Chefchaouen, discover the old medina of Fes, cross the Middle Atlas, and spend time in Merzouga, our home in the Sahara. From the desert, the journey continues through the valleys and kasbahs of the south before reaching Marrakech and the Atlantic coast.
12 days give us something that shorter tours often don’t: time. Time to stay another night when a place deserves it, enjoy a long Moroccan lunch, stop for tea with a local family, wander through a medina without watching the clock, and simply enjoy the changing landscapes along the way.
At Berber Hospitality, we don’t believe in filling every day with as many stops as possible. We prefer to create a journey that feels natural, comfortable, and personal. You’ll see many of Morocco’s famous places, but we’ll also leave room for the small moments, the conversations, quiet roads, local meals, and unexpected stops that often become the memories you take home.
This is Morocco at a pace that lets you truly enjoy it, with a trusted local team taking care of the journey from beginning to end.
Why Choose Our Journey?
With Berber Hospitality, your journey is private and designed around you. You travel with your own people, your own vehicle, and a local team who can adjust the day as you go. If you want to spend longer exploring a medina, stop for tea in a village, take a quieter morning after the desert, or simply enjoy a beautiful view for a little longer, we can make it happen.
This itinerary is a starting point, not something set in stone. If you’d like more time in the Sahara, a slower few days in Marrakech, an extra night in the Atlas Mountains, or time on the Atlantic coast, we’ll adjust the journey around you. Tell us what you’d like to see, how you like to travel, and we’ll shape the rest together.
Tour Highlights
- Explore Casablanca and visit the Hassan II Mosque.
- Walk through the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
- Discover the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis.
- Explore the old medina of Fes with a local guide.
- Travel through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
- Visit Aguelmame Sidi Ali and enjoy the quiet mountain scenery.
- Travel through the Ziz Valley and its palm-filled oasis.
- Discover the fossils and local craftsmanship of Erfoud.
- Experience Merzouga and the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- Ride camels into the Sahara at sunset.
- Spend a night in a luxury desert camp.
- Meet a local nomadic family and learn about desert life.
- Enjoy traditional music and Moroccan hospitality in the desert.
- Explore Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley.
- Travel through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.
- Visit the historic Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah.
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains through Tizi n’Tichka.
- Discover the souks and medina of Marrakech.
- Spend a relaxed day on the Atlantic coast in Essaouira.
- Travel privately with a trusted local team and a comfortable vehicle.
Details:
- Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Group Type: Private Experience
- Availability: Daily
- Start: Casablanca
- End: Flexible to end in Marrakech instead, if that suits your flights better
What’s Included
- Private comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout the journey.
- Experienced local driver who knows the roads and regions well.
- Airport pickup in Casablanca and airport transfer at the end of the tour.
- 11 nights of carefully selected accommodation.
- Luxury desert camp in Merzouga with a private tent and private bathroom.
- Daily breakfast.
- 3 Dinner meals in Merzouga and Dades Valley.
- Traditional lunch during the Sahara experience.
- Camel trekking in the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
- Visit to a local nomadic family.
- Sandboarding in the desert.
- Local guides for Fes and Marrakech.
- Flexible private travel, with the possibility of adjusting the pace when needed.
- Local assistance before and during your journey
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Casablanca
Your journey begins in Casablanca, where we’ll welcome you at Mohammed V Airport and take you to your accommodation.
Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque, beautifully set beside the Atlantic Ocean. Take some time to admire its Moroccan craftsmanship, from the zellige tilework to the carved wood and peaceful courtyards.
Later, enjoy a relaxed walk along the Corniche or dinner by the sea before settling into your hotel for the night.
Overnight: Casablanca
Day 2
Casablanca - Rabat - Chefchaouen
After breakfast, we’ll leave Casablanca and make our way towards Rabat, Morocco’s capital.
We’ll visit the Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century structure, and the nearby Mausoleum of Mohammed V, guarded by mounted royal guards in traditional dress, before continuing north towards the Rif Mountains.
As the landscape becomes greener and more mountainous, you’ll know we’re getting closer to Chefchaouen. Arrive in the afternoon, settle into your riad, and then take a first walk through the famous blue streets. The late afternoon light is especially beautiful here, and there’s no better way to experience the town than simply wandering without a strict plan.
Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
Driving Time: Around 5 hours
Day 3
Exploring Chefchaouen
Today is intentionally slower, it’s a day to put the itinerary aside for a while and enjoy the atmosphere.
After breakfast, take your time exploring the blue medina, small shops, local cafés, and quiet corners of the town. You can visit the local souk, discover traditional wool products, or simply sit down for a Moroccan tea and watch everyday life pass by.
For those who would like a little more walking, we can take the path towards the Spanish Mosque, which offers beautiful views over Chefchaouen and the surrounding Rif Mountains.
Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
Day 4
Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Fes
After breakfast, we leave the Rif Mountains and travel towards Volubilis, one of Morocco’s most important Roman sites. With striking mosaic floors, standing columns, and triumphal arches dating back nearly 2,000 years to when the city was a provincial Roman capital. A local guide brings the ruins to life with context you’d otherwise miss wandering alone.
From Volubilis, we continue to Meknes, one of Morocco’s historic imperial cities. Take time to see Bab Mansour and explore part of the old city before continuing to Fes.
By evening, we’ll arrive at your riad in the heart of Fes.
Overnight: Traditional riad in Fes
Driving Time: Around 4 hours
Day 5
Exploring Fes - Ifrane - Cedar Forest - Aguelmame Sidi Ali
After breakfast, spend the morning discovering Fes, one of Morocco’s oldest cities. With a local guide, walk through the old medina, explore its narrow streets, traditional markets, artisan workshops, and historic buildings. Take your time to experience the city rather than simply moving from one monument to another.
After lunch, leave Fes behind and head south towards the Middle Atlas Mountains. Our first stop is Ifrane, a peaceful mountain town surrounded by forests and known for its cool climate and distinctive architecture.
From Ifrane, continue through the cedar forests, where you may have the chance to see Barbary macaques living among the trees. We’ll take a relaxed stop here to enjoy the forest and the changing landscape.
The road then becomes quieter as we continue deeper into the Middle Atlas towards Hotel Xaluca Aguelmame Sidi Ali, a beautiful mountain lake surrounded by open landscapes. After the busy streets of Fes, this is a chance to slow down and enjoy a completely different side of Morocco.
Arrive in the afternoon or early evening, settle into your accommodation, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Overnight: Xaluca Hotel in Aguelmame Sidi Ali
Driving Time: Around 3 hours
Day 6
Aguelmame Sidi Ali - Midelt - Ziz Valley - Erfoud - Merzouga
Wake up surrounded by the quiet landscapes of the Middle Atlas before continuing south towards Midelt.
As we leave the mountains behind, the scenery gradually becomes drier and more open. Midelt is known for its apples and its location between the Middle and High Atlas, making it a natural stop along the journey.
From here, we’ll continue towards the Ziz Valley, where the landscape changes dramatically. Green palm groves follow the river through the rocky desert, with small villages and old kasbahs appearing along the valley.
We’ll make stops along the way to enjoy the views and take photographs before continuing towards Erfoud, famous for its fossils and locally worked stone. If you’re interested, we can stop at a small workshop to see how local artisans work with fossils and minerals found in the region.
After arriving in Merzouga, take some time to relax and enjoy the desert surroundings before heading into the dunes.
In the late afternoon, we’ll meet our camel guide and begin the camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes. The journey takes you away from the village and deeper into the Sahara, with the landscape becoming quieter with every step.
Along the way, we’ll stop at a beautiful spot to watch the sunset over the dunes as the sand changes from gold to orange and red.
Continue by camel to your desert camp, where you’ll be welcomed with traditional Moroccan tea. Your evening includes a freshly prepared Moroccan dinner, followed by Berber music and drumming around the campfire.
When the camp becomes quiet, take some time to look up at the desert sky. With very little light around you, the stars are one of the most beautiful parts of spending a night in the Sahara.
Overnight: Luxury Desert Camp
Driving Time: Around 5 hours
Camel Trek: Around 1–1.5 hours
Day 7
Explore the Sahara Like a Local
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the golden dunes, one of the most peaceful moments of your journey. After breakfast, our adventure starts with a 4×4 drive across the Erg Chebbi dunes, following the tracks used by locals and nomads. We’ll stop in the heart of the desert, where you’ll have time to enjoy the silence, take in the endless views, and try sandboarding down the soft golden dunes, one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the Sahara.
We’ll then visit a local Berber nomadic family, where you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea and discover their traditional way of life. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the customs, hospitality, and daily life of families who have called the desert home for generations.
We’ll continue to the historic M’ifis Mines before visiting a local Lake, where flamingos and other migratory birds can often be seen during the right season. We’ll finish the day at one of our favorite panoramic viewpoints overlooking the dunes before returning to your riad.
For lunch, you’ll enjoy a traditional homemade meal prepared by the family, offering an authentic taste of southern Moroccan cuisine in a truly unique setting.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, or choose an optional quad bike adventure before another beautiful Sahara sunset.
As locals from Merzouga, we’re most proud to share this side of the desert: simple moments, genuine hospitality, and experiences that help you connect with the Sahara beyond its beautiful dunes.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Traditional Lunch & Dinner
Overnight: Boutique Riad in Merzouga
Day 8
Merzouga - Todra Gorge - Dades Valley
Leaving the desert behind, the route passes through the Todra Gorges, where 300-meter red-rock cliffs narrow into a canyon just wide enough for the road and a shallow river, a favorite spot for rock climbers and photographers alike.
Continue into the Dades Valley to see the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations, an otherworldly cliffside sculpted over millennia by wind and flash floods into shapes that genuinely resemble fingers reaching skyward.
The evening is a good time to slow down, enjoy dinner, and rest in your accommodation surrounded by the mountains.
Overnight: Riad or boutique hotel in Dades Valley
Driving Time: Around 4 hours
Day 9
Dades Valley - Ouarzazate - Aït Ben Haddou - Marrakech
After breakfast, we’ll continue west through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs towards Ouarzazate.
Depending on your interests, we can visit the Atlas Film Studios, where the landscapes around Ouarzazate have been used in many famous films and productions.
From there, we’ll continue to Aït Ben Haddou. Take your time walking through the old ksar, climbing between its earthen buildings, and enjoying the views from above. Where scenes from Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones were filmed against the same dramatic desert backdrops you’ve been driving through.
We then cross the High Atlas Mountains once again via Tizi n’Tichka, stopping along the way to enjoy the mountain scenery.
By late afternoon or early evening, we’ll arrive in Marrakech.
Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
Driving Time: Around 6–7 hours
Day 10
Discovering Marrakech
A full day exploring Marrakech with a local guide: the ornate Bahia Palace, with its carved cedar ceilings and tiled courtyards built for a 19th-century grand vizier; the towering Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret has defined the city’s skyline for 800 years; and the maze of souks selling everything from hand-tooled leather goods to saffron and argan oil.
Free time in the afternoon and evening to explore Jemaa El Fna Square as it comes alive with food stalls, musicians, and storytellers one of the few genuinely living medieval marketplaces left in the world.
Day 11
Marrakech - Essaouira
After breakfast, we’ll leave Marrakech and head towards the Atlantic coast.
Essaouira has a completely different feeling from the cities and desert you’ve experienced so far. Walk along the old harbour, explore the white-and-blue medina, browse small galleries and artisan shops, or simply sit by the ocean and enjoy some fresh seafood.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy without a busy schedule. Take a walk along the beach, have a coffee overlooking the water, or simply enjoy the slower rhythm of this coastal town.
Overnight: Riad or boutique hotel in Essaouira
Driving Time: Around 3 hours
Day 12
Essaouira - Casablanca
Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Essaouira before beginning the journey back towards Casablanca.
We’ll make the drive comfortable with stops along the way, arriving at Mohammed V Airport according to your flight time.
If your departure is later in the day, we’ll make sure you have enough time to enjoy your final morning rather than rushing out of Essaouira.
Your 12-day Moroccan journey comes to an end, but we hope you leave with more than photographs—with memories of the people, places, conversations, and moments that made Morocco feel like home.
Driving Time: Around 5 hours
Tour Ends: Casablanca Airport
faqs
Most Travelers Ask About
A Toyota Prado 4x4 for groups of up to 4 people, offering good ground clearance for the desert and mountain roads, or a Mercedes Vito or Sprinter for larger groups, always air-conditioned and driven by an experienced local guide.
Camel treks typically last 60-90 minutes (sunset trek to camp). The duration depends on camp location within the dunes.
If camel riding doesn't appeal, whether due to motion sickness concerns, physical limitations, or personal preference, 4x4 vehicles provide alternative transport directly to and from the camp. Many guests choose to ride camels one direction and take 4x4 the other way, complete flexibility with no judgment or pressure.
Yes, this tour welcomes families and works excellently for children. The private nature allows adjusting the pace to accommodate shorter attention spans, more frequent breaks, and family needs.
Young children (3-7): Can ride camels with parental assistance or share a camel with adults. Desert camp experience often proves magical for this age.
Children (8-12): Usually love the adventure aspects, camel riding, dunes, desert camp, meeting nomads.
Teenagers: Appreciate the unique experience, photography opportunities, and adventure activities like sandboarding.
Car seats can be arranged with advance notice. Children's meals and dietary preferences are easily accommodated. Many families count this among their most memorable travel experiences together.
Yes, with appropriate planning. The tour involves:
- Long driving days (manageable with frequent rest stops)
- Moderate walking at monuments (optional or can be shortened)
- Camel riding (can be replaced with 4x4 transfer)
- Some uneven terrain at kasbahs and gorges
We've successfully accommodated active seniors into their 70s and 80s. The private tour nature allows complete customization to physical abilities, reducing walking distances; our professional guides assist, ensuring adequate rest, and adjusting the pace entirely to your comfort.
Inform us of any mobility concerns or health conditions during booking, and we'll adapt the itinerary accordingly. Your comfort and safety remain our priorities.
Absolutely. As a private tour, complete flexibility exists. Common customizations include:
- Spending two nights in the desert instead of moving to Merzouga village
- Adding stops at specific locations (additional kasbahs, valleys, villages)
- Adjusting pace to spend more time at certain highlights
Including specific activities (longer hikes, pottery workshops, cooking classes) - Modifying start/end times to match flight schedules
Contact us to discuss customization options. Most modifications incur no additional cost unless they significantly alter distances or require special arrangements.
A small deposit is taken via PayPal or Bank Transfer to confirm your dates and lock in your itinerary, with the balance payable in cash (EUR, USD, or MAD) or Bank Transfer on day one of the tour, directly with your driver-guide.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast
Yes, this is common. Many travelers choose Standard or Traditional accommodation in the cities and upgrade to Luxury for the desert camp night, since that's often considered the highlight of the trip.