Overview: 5 days tour from Casablanca to Marrakech
The 5 days desert tour from Casablanca to Marrakech offers a diverse array of sights and experiences. It’s a fantastic opportunity to combine both cities with exciting Sahara Desert activities. Furthermore, you can begin this 5-day adventure directly from the airport on the first day. Then, at the end of the tour, you’ll be conveniently transferred to either the airport or your hotel in Marrakech. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey!
Summary: 5 days tour from Casablanca to Marrakech
Arrive in Casablanca and drive to Fes. Enjoy free time to explore the medina or relax in your riad.
Depart Fes, passing through the Middle Atlas Mountains, Ifrane, and Ziz Valley. Arrive in Merzouga and take a camel ride to the desert camp for an overnight stay.
Enjoy a full day in the Sahara: visit nomadic families, explore dunes by 4×4 or quad, and relax at the camp. Optional sandboarding or sunset camel ride.
Leave the desert and travel through Rissani and Todra Gorge. Continue to Dades Valley for dinner and overnight in a guesthouse or hotel.
Drive through the Valley of Roses and Ouarzazate. Visit the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah before crossing the High Atlas Mountains to reach Marrakech in the evening.
Highlights: 5 days tour from Casablanca to Marrakech
- Explore Meknes & Fes
- See Barbary monkeys in the Cedar Forest
- Ride camels and camp in the Sahara under the stars
- Camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Overnight stay in a traditional Berber desert camp under a starry sky
- Sunrise view over the Sahara Desert from the top of a dune
- Visit to the traditional market in Rissani and fossil workshops in Erfoud
- Walk through the impressive Todra Gorges
- Discover the Rose Valley in Kalaat M’Gouna, known for its local rose products
- Stop in Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Morocco"
Full Itinerary: 5 days tour from Casablanca to Marrakech
DAY 1: Casablanca – Meknes – Fes
Upon your arrival at Casablanca Airport, we will pick you up and head to Fes, passing through Meknes. Here, you will visit key attractions, including Lahdim Square, Bab Mansour, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. After the visit, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Fes.
DAY 2: Fes City Tour with a Local Guide
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, your local guide will pick you up at 9:30 AM to start your exploration of the ancient city. The tour will include highlights such as Bab Boujloud, Bourj el Janoub, and the Palace of the King. Additionally, there’s an option to visit a leather cooperative. You will explore the entire old city of Fes and return to your hotel to relax around 4:00 PM.
DAY 3: Fes – Ifrane – Monkeys Forest – Midelt – Errachidia – Erfoud – Merzouga
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll leave Fes around 8:30 AM. Today, we’ll cross the Atlas Mountains, with our first stop in Ifrane, known as the “Little Switzerland of Morocco.” Next, we’ll visit the cedar forest to see the monkeys. Lunch will be in Midelt, often referred to as the “City of Apples.” Afterward, you’ll see the stunning Ziz Valley as we make our way to the desert, arriving around 5:00 PM. Here, you’ll embark on a camel ride across the dunes to the camp. Enjoy a peaceful night under the stars, complete with dinner and Berber music around the campfire.
DAY 4: Merzouga Desert – Rissani – Alnif – Todra Canyon – Dades Valley
In the early morning, you’ll have the chance to witness a breathtaking sunrise from the dunes next to your camp. After a shower and breakfast, we’ll leave for Dades Valley. Our first stop will be the ancient market of Rissani, a historical trading hub for caravans during the 14th century. Next, we’ll explore Todra Gorge with a walking tour through its magnificent canyon. After lunch in the same area, we’ll continue our journey to Dades Valley, where you’ll spend the night in a hotel overlooking beautiful green gardens.
DAY 5: Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech
After picking you up from your hotel at 9:00 AM, we’ll head to Marrakech, admiring the stunning views of the Rose Valley along the way. You’ll have the chance to see Ouarzazate, famously known as the “City of Movies,” where films such as Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and Gladiator were shot. Following this, we’ll continue our trip across the High Atlas Mountains, passing through the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass at an elevation of 2,260 meters. You’ll arrive in Marrakech around 6:00 PM, where we will drop you off at your hotel, airport, railway station, or any location you prefer. This marks the end of our 5-day desert tour from Casablanca to Marrakech.
Inclusions:Morocco trip from Casablanca to sahara desert
- Private comfortable Car with A/C
- Experienced driver ( English speaking )
- Pick up from your riad in Marrakech
- Hotel in Fes city ( first & second Night )
- Local guide in Fes
- Desert camp in Merzouga ( Third night )
- Hotel in Dades valley ( Fourth night )
- Camel ride ( sunset + sunrise )
- Traditional music with a campfire
- 4x4 to transfer all your lugguage to your tent
- Dinner + Breakfast
- Sandboard activity ( optional )
- Drop off at your hotel in Marrakech on the last day
Exclusions: Morocco Sahara tour to Erg Chebbi dunes
- Lunch
- Entrance fee to sights
- Drinks
- Other optional activities such as: ATv Quador buggy
useful map:
The main attarctions to explore during the 5 day itinerary from Casablanca to Marrakech:
MEKNES & FES:
Meknes and Fes are two of Morocco’s historic imperial cities, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s rich past. In Meknes, you’ll discover grand monuments like Bab Mansour, the Royal Stables, and Lahdim Square, reflecting the legacy of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Nearby, Fes captivates visitors with its vibrant medina, ancient Al Quaraouiyine University, colorful souks, and traditional craftsmanship, making it one of the most culturally significant cities in Morocco.
IFRANE ( The Moroccan Switzerlan ):
Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco”, is a charming mountain town known for its clean streets, European-style architecture, and cool climate. Located in the Middle Atlas Mountains, it offers a peaceful atmosphere and is surrounded by cedar forests, where you can often spot Barbary monkeys. Ifrane is also home to Al Akhawayn University, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions.
RISSANI:
Rissani is a historic town in southeastern Morocco, often considered the gateway to the Sahara Desert. It was once the capital of the ancient Tafilalt region and an important stop for caravans traveling between Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa. Today, Rissani is known for its authentic souk, especially lively on market days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays), where locals trade spices, dates, livestock, and handicrafts. The town also holds cultural and historical significance as the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty, Morocco’s current royal family.
ERG CHEBBI:
The Erg Chebbi dunes are a stunning expanse of golden sand dunes located near the town of Merzouga, in southeastern Morocco. Rising up to 150 meters high, these dunes stretch over 30 kilometers and are among the most iconic landscapes of the Moroccan Sahara. Erg Chebbi offers visitors a true desert experience, with camel treks, sunset views, and overnight stays in traditional Berber camps. The ever-changing shapes and colors of the dunes, especially at sunrise and sunset, make it a magical destination for travelers seeking both adventure and tranquility.
TODRA GORGE:
Todra Gorge is a spectacular natural canyon located in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Known for its towering reddish limestone cliffs that rise up to 300 meters high, the gorge offers stunning scenery and a dramatic contrast between narrow rocky passages and the lush palm groves below. It’s a popular spot for hiking, rock climbing, and photography, attracting visitors who want to experience the raw beauty of Morocco’s desert mountains and peaceful river valleys. The small villages nearby also provide a glimpse into traditional Berber life.
Note: If this 5 day desert trip doesn’t quite match what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us we’d be happy to customize your itinerary to suit your preferences and interests perfectly.