12 Days in Morocco sahara Tour Itinerary from Casablanca

Spend 12 Days in Morocco on a private journey that connects the country’s northern cities, the dunes near Merzouga and the Atlantic coast. Start in Casablanca, travel through Rabat and Chefchaouen, visit Meknes and Fes, then continue south to the Sahara. Return through Ouarzazate and Marrakech before following the coast through Essaouira and Oualidia.

This 12 Days in Morocco itinerary balances varied landscapes with full sightseeing days in Fes and Marrakech. Two nights around Merzouga separate the long arrival drive from the camp experience. Your route returns to Casablanca on day twelve, with eleven overnight stays in total. Some road days are long, especially Fes to Merzouga and Merzouga to Ouarzazate.

Highlights of your 12 Days in Morocco

• Connect Casablanca and Rabat with the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
• Visit Meknes and spend a full day discovering Fes.
• Cross the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley corridor toward Merzouga.
• Enjoy a planned camel ride and one night in a desert camp.
• Travel through Ouarzazate and visit Ait Ben Haddou before crossing the High Atlas.
• Enjoy two Marrakech nights, including a full sightseeing day.
• Finish with Essaouira, Oualidia and a return to Casablanca.

Route and eleven-night accommodation plan

Your 12 Days in Morocco follows the destination order shown below. Rabat and Chefchaouen each have one night, Fes has two, Merzouga has a hotel night plus a camp night, Ouarzazate has one, Marrakech has two, and Essaouira and Oualidia each have one. Meknes is visited on the way to Fes.

12 Days in Morocco: daily itinerary

Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat

Begin your 12 Days in Morocco with pickup at an agreed Casablanca address or the airport, provided your arrival time suits the itinerary. Share your flight details before confirming so we can plan the first day realistically. If you arrive late, an extra Casablanca night may be needed outside this package.

Depending on your schedule, consider a visit around the Hassan II Mosque or a brief coastal orientation before driving to Rabat. Interior visits depend on official opening times, tickets and the final arrangements. After arrival in the capital, settle into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxed evening. Overnight: Rabat.

Day 2: Rabat to Chefchaouen

After breakfast, discover a selection of Rabat’s landmarks before continuing north. The Hassan Tower area and Kasbah of the Udayas can be considered according to access and available time. Ask for a guided visit if you would like more detailed interpretation rather than a short orientation.

Continue toward the Rif Mountains and Chefchaouen, with practical comfort stops along the way. On arrival, walk through part of the blue-painted medina or rest at your accommodation. The town has slopes and steps, so comfortable shoes help. This stage of your 12 Days in Morocco ends with an overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 3: Chefchaouen to Meknes and Fes

Enjoy breakfast and a final stroll in Chefchaouen before leaving for Meknes. Your route connects the northern mountain town with Morocco’s imperial-city heritage. Keep the morning organized so there is enough time for a worthwhile Meknes stop before continuing to Fes.

Explore a manageable selection of Meknes sights according to current access. An optional Volubilis visit can be discussed before booking, but it adds time and should not be assumed as an included extra. Your 12 Days in Morocco then continues to Fes, where you check in for the first of two consecutive nights. Overnight: Fes.

Day 4: Fes city discovery

Spend a full day discovering Fes, with its traditional medina, artisan streets and historic surroundings. A licensed local guide can help explain the city and navigate the narrow lanes. Request the guided service in advance so its duration, meeting point and price are recorded in your quotation.

Choose a few priorities rather than trying to enter every monument. Workshop visits, selected historic buildings and panoramic viewpoints can be combined around your interests and mobility. Entrances and purchases are separate unless expressly included. Two nights in Fes give your 12 Days in Morocco a more comfortable rhythm before the long drive south. Overnight: the same Fes accommodation.

Day 5: Fes to Merzouga via the Middle Atlas

Leave early for the drive through the Middle Atlas corridor toward Merzouga. The route passes the Ifrane and Azrou area, continues toward Midelt, and then approaches the Ziz Valley, Erfoud and the desert. Take practical breaks and keep drinking water and any medication accessible during the journey.

This is one of the longer road days of your 12 Days in Morocco. Stops depend on conditions and daylight, and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Please never feed wild animals. Arrive near Merzouga and stay in a hotel or guesthouse, leaving the camp experience for tomorrow rather than rushing from a late arrival into a camel ride.

Day 6: Merzouga exploration and Sahara camp

Enjoy time in the Merzouga area before your desert camp night. You can request a local 4×4 excursion to explore surrounding landscapes and settlements. The exact route, services and any supplement must be confirmed separately. Rest during the warmer part of the day and prepare a small overnight bag.

Later, meet the camp team for your planned camel ride near sunset, subject to weather and the final camp arrangements. Ask in advance if you prefer an alternative vehicle transfer. This Sahara evening is a highlight of your 12 Days in Morocco, with dinner and breakfast included in the confirmed camp stay. Overnight: a Merzouga camp near Erg Chebbi.

Day 7: Merzouga to Ouarzazate

Wake early if you would like to watch sunrise, then enjoy breakfast before leaving the desert. Continue west along the southern road corridor toward Tinghir, the valley route and Ouarzazate. This is a substantial transfer day, so an early start and a realistic number of stops are important.

A short pause near Todra Gorge may be possible if timing and conditions allow, but the day is not a full hiking excursion. Lunch is taken en route at your own expense. Your 12 Days in Morocco reaches Ouarzazate in the evening. If you prefer a slower journey, ask about adding a Dades Valley night and extending the tour.

Day 8: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

After breakfast, continue to Ait Ben Haddou for a visit to the earthen village and its hillside setting. The paths include uneven ground and steps, so the walking plan can be adapted to your comfort. Local guides, entrances and extra activities are included only where stated in your quotation.

Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n Tichka corridor, with breaks where safe and practical. Mountain weather and traffic can affect the timing. The Marrakech part of your 12 Days in Morocco begins when you arrive and check in. Keep the evening flexible for dinner and a gentle introduction to the medina. Overnight: Marrakech.

Day 9: Marrakech sightseeing

Use a full day to explore Marrakech according to your interests. A guided medina visit can introduce the souks, historic streets and selected monuments. Discuss the priorities before travel so the team can confirm guide availability, meeting arrangements and any entrance tickets you wish to include.

Leave time for breaks and independent exploration instead of filling every hour. A garden visit, a relaxed lunch or shopping can complement the walking tour, depending on opening times and your preferences. This second Marrakech night gives your 12 Days in Morocco time to enjoy the city before the Atlantic coast. Overnight: the same Marrakech accommodation.

Day 10: Marrakech to Essaouira

Travel west from Marrakech toward Essaouira after breakfast. The journey brings you from the inland city to an Atlantic setting with a different pace. Stops can be agreed with your driver, while any workshop visit or extra activity remains optional rather than an automatic inclusion.

On arrival, check in and enjoy time around the medina, harbour area or seafront. Coastal wind can make a light jacket useful even when the inland weather feels warm. Essaouira provides a quieter change of scenery on your 12 Days in Morocco. Overnight: Essaouira.

Day 11: Essaouira to Oualidia

Continue north along the Atlantic route toward Oualidia, with practical breaks and selected coastal stops. A short stop in the Safi area may be considered if it fits the day’s schedule. The focus is an enjoyable coastal transfer rather than a long list of extra visits.

Arrive in Oualidia and settle into your accommodation. Enjoy the lagoon surroundings at your own pace, with any boat outing or additional activity arranged separately and subject to conditions. Seafood meals, lunches and drinks are not included unless quoted. This final overnight of your 12 Days in Morocco is in Oualidia.

Day 12: Oualidia to Casablanca

After breakfast, return to Casablanca and complete the circuit. A short El Jadida stop can be discussed when planning the route if your drop-off time allows it. Airport transfers should be coordinated around your flight details, with a suitable buffer rather than a tight same-day connection.

Your 12 Days in Morocco ends at the agreed Casablanca hotel, airport or other accessible central address. The package includes eleven overnight stays, with no twelfth hotel night. Additional accommodation or more sightseeing can be quoted separately if you would like to extend the journey.

What is included

The proposed package for your 12 Days in Morocco is based on the services below. Your written quotation confirms the final inclusions, accommodation names, room arrangements and vehicle. Please compare offers using the complete service list rather than the headline price alone.

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the agreed twelve-day itinerary.
• Fuel and road travel costs along the confirmed route.
• Agreed pickup and drop-off in Casablanca.
• Ten nights in selected hotels, riads or guesthouses.
• One night in the confirmed Merzouga desert camp.
• Breakfasts with the accommodation package.
• Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp; other dinners only where listed in your quotation.
• A planned camel ride near Merzouga, subject to conditions and confirmed camp arrangements.

What is not included

• Flights, travel insurance and personal expenses.
• Lunches, drinks and dinners not listed as included.
• Monument tickets, local guides and optional excursions unless confirmed in writing.
• Optional quad biking, buggy rides, boat outings, spa visits and other additional activities.
• Tips, shopping and personal purchases.
• Single-room supplements, upgrades or extra hotel nights unless quoted.

For 12 Days in Morocco, distinguish between your driver and a licensed city guide. The driver manages the road journey and practical arrangements. Guided walking visits in Fes, Marrakech or other cities can be included when requested and confirmed as part of the booking.

Accommodation and practical planning

Choose standard, upgraded or luxury accommodation when requesting your 12 Days in Morocco quotation. Different properties offer different room sizes, facilities and access. Tell us whether you want twin beds, a double room, family accommodation or single occupancy. Your final confirmation identifies the selected properties or the equivalent category agreed.

A private bathroom at camp, air conditioning or heating should never be assumed from general photographs. Ask for the facilities you need and wait for written confirmation for the actual tent booked. Some medina riads are reached on foot from the nearest accessible vehicle point, and some have stairs without lifts.

Pack comfortable shoes, sun protection, layers for mountain stops and a small overnight bag for the camp. Keep medication, documents, water and a power bank within reach. During 12 Days in Morocco you will encounter different climates, so a light coastal jacket and warmer desert-evening layers are useful.

Share dietary requirements, food allergies and mobility needs before confirming. If camel riding is unsuitable, ask about an alternative transfer in advance. Conditions can change the order and duration of stops, so the daily schedule may be adapted for practical reasons. Natural events such as a clear sunset or star-filled sky cannot be guaranteed.

Your 12 Days in Morocco includes several comfortable multi-night stays, but the route still covers substantial distances. The Merzouga-to-Ouarzazate day is particularly long. If long drives are a concern, discuss an additional Dades overnight or a longer itinerary before booking rather than trying to fit more visits into the same day.

For additional preparation, read our Morocco family travel planning guide, Ait Ben Haddou guide and Ouarzazate travel guide. These articles provide ideas; optional visits are included only when confirmed in your quotation.

You can also learn about Chefchaouen, Erg Chebbi and the Hassan II Mosque through their Wikipedia background pages. These references complement the travel itinerary without changing your agreed services.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. These 12 Days in Morocco are planned as a private road tour for your party. The vehicle and driver arrangements are agreed for your group. Hotels and the desert camp can host other travelers, so a private tour does not mean exclusive use of the accommodation.

Does twelve days mean eleven nights?

Yes. There is one Rabat night, one Chefchaouen night, two Fes nights, one Merzouga hotel night, one Merzouga camp night, one Ouarzazate night, two Marrakech nights, one Essaouira night and one Oualidia night. Day twelve finishes in Casablanca without another hotel night.

Does this route visit Zagora?

The Sahara stay in this itinerary is in Merzouga near Erg Chebbi. The route does not include a Zagora or Erg Chigaga visit. If you would like to add either destination, ask for a revised itinerary with enough time for the additional road journey.

Can we choose a luxury desert camp?

Yes, request your preferred camp category and bathroom arrangements when enquiring. We will confirm availability, tent occupancy and any upgrade supplement. A luxury label does not replace checking the actual facilities and accommodation details in your booking confirmation.

Are city guides and entrance tickets included?

They are included only where the written quotation lists them. Ask for guided visits in Fes and Marrakech, or another city, before confirming your 12 Days in Morocco. The final plan will identify the guide service and any entrance tickets included.

Can we start directly from Casablanca Airport?

Airport pickup is possible when the flight arrival fits the first day’s transfer and visits. Share your flight details early. A late arrival may require a Casablanca night before the tour begins, which would be priced separately rather than reducing the rest of the itinerary unexpectedly.

How much does 12 Days in Morocco cost?

The price depends on dates, party size, room occupancy, camp standard and selected services. Send those details for a personal quotation. We confirm the total amount and payment schedule in writing; this page does not advertise an unverified starting price or discount.

Can we change the pace or add nights?

Yes. Extra nights in Chefchaouen, the Dades Valley, Marrakech or Essaouira can be discussed before booking. A revised route may change the number of days and total price. Tell us which experiences matter most so we can propose a practical schedule.

Request your 12 Days in Morocco quotation

Tell us your dates, number of travelers, preferred room configuration and accommodation category. Include your flight details, guide requests and any mobility or dietary needs. We will prepare a written proposal for your 12 Days in Morocco, then confirm availability, pickup details and payment arrangements before you commit.

Compare our 10-day tour from Casablanca via Fes and Merzouga or browse all Morocco desert tours if you want another route. Before confirming your booking, read our booking conditions and privacy policy.