Morocco 12-Day Itinerary — Cities, Sahara & the Coast
The full grand tour with the Atlantic added — imperial cities, blue Chefchaouen, two nights in the Sahara, the kasbah valleys, Marrakech and the sea breeze of Essaouira.
Introduction
This 12-day Morocco itinerary is the complete grand tour plus the Atlantic coast — a private, one-way journey from Casablanca through Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Erg Chebbi Sahara, the gorges and kasbahs, Marrakech and finally Essaouira on the sea. Below is the full day-by-day plan, transparent pricing, inclusions and practical advice.
Overview
Twelve days is enough to see Morocco without ever feeling hurried — the complete grand tour of the imperial cities, the Sahara and the kasbah valleys, with the blue town of Chefchaouen and the Atlantic coast at Essaouira added on. It runs from Casablanca to the sea in one flowing line, with two full nights in the desert and a slower pace throughout, so you have time to linger where you love and rest between the road days.
Private throughout — your own Berber driver-guide, hand-picked riads and our own luxury desert camp — and endlessly flexible around your dates and interests.
Why choose this tour
Why choose the 12-day itinerary:
- Everything, unhurried. Cities, Sahara, kasbahs and coast with rest days built in.
- Two nights in Chefchaouen and the desert. Time to actually settle into the places that deserve it.
- The Atlantic finish. Essaouira's sea air is the perfect end to a big journey.
- Private and owner-run. Our own camp and camels; your own guide and pace.
Highlights
- The Hassan II Mosque and the capital, Rabat
- Blue-washed Chefchaouen and Roman Volubilis
- A full guided day in the Fes medina
- Two nights at Erg Chebbi with a camel trek and a desert morning
- The Todra and Dades gorges and UNESCO Aït Ben Haddou
- Two nights in Marrakech with a guided city day
- The Atlantic ramparts and seafood of Essaouira
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1: Casablanca → Rabat
Arrival in Casablanca, the oceanfront Hassan II Mosque, then up to the capital Rabat — the Udayas kasbah and Hassan Tower. Distance: ~90 km. Overnight in Rabat.
Day 2Day 2: Rabat → Chefchaouen
North into the Rif mountains to the blue city of Chefchaouen, with the afternoon free among its cobalt lanes. Distance: ~250 km. Tip: the Spanish Mosque at sunset. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3Day 3: Chefchaouen — the blue city
A relaxed day exploring Chefchaouen's medina, kasbah and mountain viewpoints — the slowest, most photogenic day of the trip. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 4Day 4: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
South to Roman Volubilis and its mosaics, imperial Meknes and Bab Mansour, then into Fes. Distance: ~300 km. Overnight in Fes.
Day 5Day 5: Fes — guided medina day
A local guide through Fes el-Bali — Al-Qarawiyyin, the madrasas and the chouara tanneries — with a free afternoon. Second night in Fes.
Day 6Day 6: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Over the Middle Atlas cedar forests and down the Ziz Valley to Merzouga for a sunset camel trek to our luxury camp. Distance: ~470 km. Dinner & breakfast at camp.
Day 7Day 7: Sahara sunrise → desert day → Merzouga
Sunrise over the dunes and a 4x4 morning among nomads and fossils; afternoon by the pool or sandboarding. Second desert night.
Day 8Day 8: Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
West through Rissani to the towering Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley. Distance: ~300 km. Overnight in the Dades.
Day 9Day 9: Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
The Roses Valley and Skoura to Ouarzazate and UNESCO Aït Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech. Distance: ~430 km. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 10Day 10: Marrakech — guided city day
The Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Majorelle Garden and souks, with free time to shop or relax. Second night in Marrakech.
Day 11Day 11: Marrakech → Essaouira
West to the coast via an argan cooperative to whitewashed Essaouira — ramparts, galleries and fresh seafood. Distance: ~190 km. Overnight in Essaouira.
Day 12Day 12: Essaouira → Marrakech → departure
A last walk on the ramparts, then back to Marrakech for your flight home (or a final night, on request). Distance: ~190 km. Breakfast included.
Tour route map
Accommodation
Eleven nights across Rabat, Chefchaouen (2), Fes (2), Erg Chebbi (2 — our luxury camp + a desert hotel), the Dades, Marrakech (2) and Essaouira — a mix of riads, kasbah hotels and the desert camp. Honeymoon and family tents available.
Transport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an English-speaking Berber driver-guide for all twelve days. Roads are paved; the only off-tarmac travel is the camel ride into camp (swappable for 4x4). The slower pace means shorter daily drives than the 10-day tour.
Pick-up & meeting point
Pick-up in Casablanca (hotel or Mohammed V Airport) on Day 1, finishing at Marrakech airport on Day 12, confirmed by WhatsApp the night before. We can reverse or adapt the route to your flights — just ask.
Included & not included
- ✓Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel & Berber driver-guide
- ✓Casablanca pick-up & Marrakech drop-off
- ✓11 nights: Rabat, 2× Chefchaouen, 2× Fes, 2× Erg Chebbi, Dades, 2× Marrakech, Essaouira
- ✓Sunset & sunrise camel trek + a 4x4 desert morning
- ✓Local guided tours of Fes and Marrakech
- ✓Daily breakfast + half board in the desert
- ✓Bottled water throughout
- ✗Lunches & most city dinners
- ✗Monument, mosque & garden entrance fees
- ✗Tips (guide, camp, city guides)
- ✗Travel insurance & flights
Pricing
Per person for the private tour; the price falls as your group grows. Shared departures on request.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €2020 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €1620 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €1350 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable. Essaouira is breezy and mild year-round, which makes the coast a pleasant finish even in summer. See our Morocco weather guide.
What to pack
Layers for warm days and cold desert nights, a warm jacket, a scarf, comfortable walking shoes, a light windbreaker for Essaouira, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a swimsuit, a head-torch and a power bank. Full list: Morocco packing list.
Travel tips
Insider tips: use the two Chefchaouen nights to genuinely slow down; carry small dirham notes throughout; and keep the Day 12 flight from Marrakech to the afternoon or later. Want two full weeks? See the 14-day complete tour.
How booking works
Tell us your dates, group size and starting city by the enquiry form or WhatsApp and you hear back personally, usually within a few hours, with a clear all-in price. A small deposit holds your dates and you pay the balance on arrival, so you never prepay in full. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, and we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the night before.
Booking direct with our Berber family
Hotel Les Roches is our own — we were born at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes and have run it since 2004. You deal with the same family that owns the hotel, runs the desert camp and leads the camels, so there is no agency markup, nothing is subcontracted, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
What a night at our camp is like
After the sunset camel trek you reach our private camp as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. The tents are proper rooms — a real bed with warm blankets and an en-suite hot shower — and dinner is a home-cooked tagine under the stars, followed by Berber drums around the fire. With no light for a hundred kilometres the Milky Way is astonishing, and you wake early to climb a dune for sunrise.
What our guests say
★★★★★
Perhaps the greatest hotel in the area — literally in the desert, with a beautiful pool. The staff is dedicated to making your stay just what you expected. I will definitely return.
Rhonda Vasquez · Google · 2025
★★★★★
The hotel is lovely, next to the dunes. We stayed in a reasonably priced, lovely suite. Everything was beautiful and cosy.
JP and Maria · Tripadvisor · 2025
★★★★★
I don't know how you can go wrong with this: a hotel by the dunes, camel rides to a luxury camp, food and entertainment provided. The staff and guides were so happy to make a night of it.
Tyler Findlay · Tripadvisor · 2025
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Luxury
Frequently asked questions
What does 12 days add over the 10-day tour?
Mainly the Atlantic coast at Essaouira and a slower pace — an extra night in Chefchaouen and time in Marrakech, so the road days are gentler. Compare the 10-day grand tour.
How many nights are in the Sahara?
Two — a luxury-camp night after the camel trek and a second night in Merzouga, with a 4x4 desert morning in between.
Is this a one-way or a loop?
One way from Casablanca, finishing in Marrakech (via Essaouira), so you never repeat a road. We can adapt the start and finish to your flights.
Can we make it longer or shorter?
Yes — the 14-day itinerary adds even more time in each place, while the 10-day drops the coast. Everything is customisable.
When is the best time to travel?
Spring and autumn are ideal across the whole route; Essaouira stays cool even in summer. See the best-time section below.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech, and how long is the drive?
It's about 560 km and 8–9 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which is why the journey is spread over 2–3 days with stops at Aït Ben Haddou, the gorges and the Ziz Valley rather than driven in one go.
How comfortable is the desert camp?
Very — our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi has en-suite tents with real beds, hot showers, private bathrooms, rugs and plenty of blankets for the cool desert night, plus a Berber dinner under the stars.
Are your tours private or shared?
Every tour is private by default — your own vehicle, driver-guide and flexible pace. Shared group departures are offered only on the Marrakech–Merzouga–Marrakech and Marrakech–Merzouga–Fes routes.
Is the tour suitable for families and older travellers?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the camel ride is optional (we can drive you to camp by 4x4 instead), and we adapt for children and any mobility needs — just tell us when you book.
Have a question before you book?
Message the team directly — we usually reply within a couple of hours.
⚡ Spring & autumn dates fill fast — book ahead. · ✓ Free cancellation up to 48h before arrival.