9 Days tour from casablanca to the desert via chefchauen , fez

Morocco rewards a wide route. This nine-day private journey links Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara Desert before ending in Marrakech. I like the private vehicle and flexible pacing, which let you spend more or less time at selected stops, and I like the sharp change of scenery, from Roman ruins and imperial cities to cedar forests, gorges, and golden dunes.

The strongest part is the combination of culture and desert adventure. You get local guides in Fez and Marrakech, camel riding at sunset, and a luxury desert camp with a private bathroom. The tradeoff is simple: this is a busy route with several long driving days, and lunches, some dinners, entrance fees, and the final-day arrangements are not covered in the stated price.

Six details that shape the experience

• Casablanca airport pickup begins the tour, followed by the Hassan II Mosque and Morocco’s capital, Rabat.
• Chefchaouen arrives through the Rif Mountains, giving you a scenic change from the Atlantic cities.
• Volubilis and Meknes add Roman ruins, imperial gates, royal monuments, and a UNESCO-listed old city.
• Fez receives a full guided day, including the Royal Palace Gate, Mellah, tanneries, Attarine Museum, and a hilltop view.
• The Sahara night includes one hour of camel riding, sunset from a dune, dinner, and a luxury tent with a private shower and bathroom.
• The route ends in Marrakech, after Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou, the High Atlas, and a guided medina visit.

Is $791 a good value for nine days?

At $791, this tour offers a lot for the money, especially for a private journey. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, onboard WiFi, a professional driver-guide, eight breakfasts, selected dinners, camel riding, and the luxury desert camp.

That package matters because the route covers a large portion of Morocco. You are not simply booking hotels in one city. You are paying for a driver, long-distance transport, several guided visits, and the desert connection between Fez and Marrakech.

Still, you should budget beyond the headline price. Lunches are excluded, as are all fees and taxes listed separately. Dinners in Chefchaouen and Marrakech are not included, while the included dinner count is described as four dinners, with specific mention of Fez, the camp, and Dades Valley. Ask for a precise meal breakdown before paying.

The price also appears to cover accommodation in riads or similar properties, but exact names are not fixed. That gives the operator room to substitute comparable lodgings. If you care about a particular riad, room type, or location inside a medina, confirm it in writing.

Day 1: Hassan II Mosque and a first night in Rabat

The journey begins with an airport greeting and a drive into Casablanca. The main stop is the Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s largest mosque and one of the country’s most important modern landmarks.

The visit is listed as about one hour, and admission is not included. That means you should ask whether the timing allows an interior visit or only an outside look, since the mosque’s guided access can depend on opening hours and ticket arrangements.

After Casablanca, you continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. The first night is listed as a highway hotel or similar accommodation, which sounds more functional than atmospheric. After an international flight, that may be perfectly sensible, but do not expect the first night to have the character of a traditional medina riad.

The airport pickup is useful if you are arriving tired or carrying luggage. You avoid the bother of arranging a separate transfer, and the private format means the start can be adjusted to your arrival details.

Day 2: Rabat monuments and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen

After breakfast, you visit Rabat’s Oudaias district and Hassan Tower. The itinerary also refers to royal architecture and a royal cemetery, giving this morning a clear focus on Morocco’s political and religious traditions.

The Medina of Rabat visit is listed at about 30 minutes, so expect a compact introduction rather than a long, open-ended exploration. The best use of your time is to take in the architecture, views, and atmosphere before the road north.

The drive to Chefchaouen crosses the Rif Mountains. This is one of the route’s rewarding transitions. Morocco changes quickly here, from capital-city avenues to mountain roads and the blue-painted old town of Chefchaouen.

Your night is in a beautiful riad or similar property. Dinner in Chefchaouen is not included, so plan for that cost. The listing does not specify a city tour on this day, which means you may have only limited time to wander the famous blue streets, depending on the drive and arrival hour. If Chefchaouen is a top priority, ask how much free time is planned.

Day 3: Volubilis, Meknes, and arrival in Fez

This day combines two major historic sites before taking you to Fez. First comes Volubilis, a Roman archaeological site where you can see the remains of Roman Morocco and learn about the area’s ancient past.

The site visit is listed at about 30 minutes, which is short for a place that rewards patient walking. You may see the main remains, but you will not have unlimited time for every column, mosaic, and distant view. Comfortable shoes and sun protection will help.

Next comes Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the visit includes time for lunch, the massive walls, Bab El Mansour, and Moulay Ismail’s shrine.

Meknes works well here because it breaks up the drive while showing you a different royal city from Rabat and Fez. The stop may feel rushed, though. Lunch is not included, and the schedule has to fit both Volubilis and the onward drive to Fez.

You spend the night in Fez, which sets up the tour’s most substantial cultural day.

Day 4: A full guided day inside Fez

Fez receives about five hours with a local guide, making this one of the most useful days on the trip. The route includes the Royal Palace Gate, the Jewish quarter, the first Mellah built in Morocco, Al Qarayyin University, the tanneries, the Attarine Museum, and the Moulay Idriss mausoleum.

A guided visit is especially helpful in Fez. The old city is dense and easy to misunderstand if you only walk from one landmark to another. A guide can connect religious buildings, craft traditions, neighborhood design, and royal power in a way that a quick solo visit often cannot.

The tanneries are a memorable stop, but be ready for strong smells and sales pressure around viewing terraces. The Attarine Museum and tile cooperative add a look at Moroccan design and craft rather than only monuments.

After lunch, you visit the tile cooperative and climb or drive to a panoramic viewpoint over the medina. That high view gives you a useful sense of how large and tightly packed Fez really is.

Dinners in Fez are included according to the stated inclusions, but lunch is not. One practical point: the itinerary links to a specific riad website, yet the accommodation is also described as a riad or similar. Confirm the exact property before arrival.

Day 5: Ifrane, cedar forest, and the Sahara camp

This is a long road day, but it brings the biggest change in scenery. Pickup from your Fez riad or hotel is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., followed by Ifrane, often called Morocco’s Switzerland because of its alpine-style setting.

You then cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and stop in the cedar forest to see Barbary macaques. The forest is a welcome break from the vehicle, and the monkeys are an unusual contrast to the desert ahead. Give yourself time to watch without feeding or crowding them.

The route continues through the Tizi N Talghamt pass to Midelt, then along the Ziz Gorges and Ziz Valley. The rock formations, mountain views, and changing colors make this driving day more than a transfer, although you should still expect many hours on the road.

After lunch, you continue toward Merzouga. On arrival, you drink mint tea before crossing the dunes by camel. The camel ride lasts one hour, with time to stop on a dune for sunset.

This is the emotional centerpiece of the tour. The camel ride is not a full-day expedition, but one hour is enough to give you the rhythm of the desert and a memorable approach to camp. The pace is calm, yet the ride can be uncomfortable if you have back or knee problems.

The luxury desert camp includes a private shower and bathroom, dinner, and a night under the stars. That is a significant comfort upgrade over a basic tent. Even so, desert camps vary, so confirm the exact setup, bedding, power, and heating or cooling arrangements if those details matter to you.

Day 6: Fossils, Todra Gorge, and Dades Valley

After breakfast, you leave the dunes for Erfoud, known for fossils and minerals. The stop may include ammonites, trilobites, and fossilized starfish. This is an interesting regional specialty, but it can also become a shopping stop, so be clear about whether you want a short look or serious time in a showroom.

From Erfoud, you continue toward Tinghir and the Todra Valley. The itinerary includes a panoramic view before reaching Todra Gorge, where you can walk between cliffs listed at about 300 meters high.

Todra Gorge gives you a close look at the scale of the surrounding rock country. The walking portion is valuable because you are not viewing everything through a car window. Wear shoes with a firm sole and bring water.

The day ends in Dades Valley, with dinner included there. The route is scenic but full. If you prefer a slow morning after the desert night, this schedule may feel demanding.

Day 7: The road of a thousand kasbahs and Ait Ben Haddou

The route continues through Kalaa M’Gouna, known as the Rose Town. An annual rose festival takes place each May, so the stop has extra interest if your dates coincide with it. The itinerary does not promise festival access, however, so treat it as seasonal context rather than a guaranteed event.

Next comes Ouarzazate, famous as a film center sometimes called the Hollywood of Africa. Films named in the tour description include Gladiator, The Mummy, and Kingdom of Heaven.

The major stop is Ait Ben Haddou, a famous fortified village of kasbahs. Its earthen walls and compact lanes make it one of the most photogenic places on the route. Allow time for uneven walking and sun exposure, since the visit is on foot.

You then cross the High Atlas Mountains. The range reaches 4,167 meters, although the road crossing is listed at about 2,260 meters. Stops may include Berber villages and mountain views before the descent to Marrakech.

This is another long day with several major sights. The reward is variety, but you will want an early start and a willingness to spend much of the day in the vehicle.

Day 8: Marrakech’s medina, palaces, and gardens

Marrakech gets a private guided tour lasting about five hours. The route includes the Koutoubia Mosque, the medina, the souks, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and Majorelle Garden.

That is a generous list, and the pace will be brisk. The medina and souks alone can absorb hours, while the palaces and gardens each deserve attention. Ask your guide how the time will be divided, especially if you care more about architecture than shopping.

A local guide helps you read Marrakech beyond its famous images. Ben Youssef Madrasa and Bahia Palace show different sides of Moroccan design, while the Saadian Tombs offer a quieter historic stop. Koutoubia helps orient you within the city.

You spend the night in a medina riad or similar property. Dinner in Marrakech is not included, so you can choose your own meal, but add it to your budget. The riad setting is likely to be more atmospheric than the first night’s highway accommodation, though exact properties are not guaranteed.

Day 9: A short final day that needs clarification

The final day is simply listed as the end of the tour. There is no detailed activity or confirmed airport transfer in the supplied information.

That is the one logistical point I would settle before booking. Ask where the tour ends, whether airport drop-off is included, and what time you should schedule a departing flight. If you are leaving Morocco from Marrakech, the answer may be straightforward, but it is not stated clearly enough to assume.

Guides, transport, and the private-tour advantage

The experience uses a private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi onboard. That gives you a comfortable base for the long sections between Fez, Merzouga, Dades, Ouarzazate, and Marrakech.

The driver-guide names associated with past bookings include Ahmed, Hassan, and Rachid, while Moha handled planning and quick email replies. The strongest praise centers on polite, safe driving, warm treatment, clear communication, and flexibility during the day.

Do not assume one named guide is guaranteed unless your booking confirms it. The important question is whether your driver will provide touring commentary throughout the route and when separate local guides will take over. Fez and Marrakech specifically include local guided visits.

The private format is a major advantage for couples, families, and small groups. You can request a shorter photo stop, adjust time at a site, or avoid being tied to strangers. The flip side is that a private vehicle does not remove the long distances. You still need patience for the road.

Who should book this Morocco route?

I would choose this tour if you want a broad first look at Morocco and prefer having transport, accommodation, and much of the sightseeing arranged. It suits people who want both major cities and the Sahara without piecing together trains, taxis, desert transfers, and mountain routes themselves.

It is also a good fit if you value personal attention. The private vehicle, airport pickup, driver-guide, local guides, and flexible timing create a more personal trip than a large coach itinerary.

I would hesitate if you want slow travel. You change settings often, several days involve long drives, and the schedule packs many sights into short visits. You should also be comfortable walking through medinas, climbing to viewpoints, sitting in a vehicle for extended periods, and riding a camel for an hour.

The tour is generally described as suitable for most participants, and service animals are allowed. Still, the camel ride, gorge walking, uneven medina surfaces, and mountain roads deserve honest consideration for anyone with mobility concerns.

Should you book the nine-day tour?

I would book it if your priority is variety: Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, Roman ruins, imperial cities, mountain scenery, gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, the Sahara, and Marrakech in one well-supported route.

Before booking, confirm four things: the exact riads, the full dinner schedule, entrance fees, and the Day 9 drop-off plan. If those details suit you, $791 is a strong value for a private Moroccan circuit with a luxury desert camp.

If you want the Sahara experience most of all, this route gives it proper weight with sunset camel riding and a private-bathroom camp. If you want long, quiet stays in each city, choose a slower itinerary instead.

FAQ

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the tour begins with a greeting at the Casablanca airport.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:00 a.m. Day 5 pickup from your Fez riad or hotel is also scheduled for 8:00 a.m.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, with private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is camel riding included?

Yes. One hour of camel riding is included, with a stop to watch sunset from a dune.

What is included at the desert camp?

The luxury camp includes dinner and an overnight stay under the stars. The camp is described as having a private shower and bathroom.

Are meals included?

Eight breakfasts are included. Dinners are included in Fez, at the luxury camp, and in Dades Valley, with four dinners listed overall. Lunches, dinners in Chefchaouen, and dinners in Marrakech are not included.