Morocco 13-Day Itinerary — The Grand Route with the Coast
Thirteen days for the full sweep of Morocco — imperial cities, the blue city, the Sahara and the Atlantic — with two nights in Fes, the desert and Marrakech, and never a rushed day.
Introduction
This 13-day Morocco itinerary is the gently paced grand tour with the coast — a private, one-way journey from Casablanca through Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, the Erg Chebbi Sahara, the gorges and kasbahs, Marrakech and finally Essaouira, with two nights in every highlight. Below is the full day-by-day plan, pricing, inclusions and advice.
Overview
Thirteen days sits perfectly between the 12-day grand tour and a full fortnight — enough for two nights in every place that earns it (Fes, the desert, Marrakech) and a genuinely relaxed rhythm, without the longest two-week commitment. It runs one way from Casablanca to the Atlantic, covering the imperial cities, blue Chefchaouen, Roman Volubilis, the Sahara, the kasbah valleys, the Red City and the sea.
As always it's fully private — your own Berber driver-guide, hand-picked riads and our own luxury desert camp — and shaped around your dates and interests.
Why choose this tour
Why choose the 13-day itinerary:
- Two nights everywhere it counts. Chefchaouen, Fes, the desert, Marrakech and the coast.
- The whole country, one way. Cities, Sahara, kasbahs and Atlantic with no repeated roads.
- A true coastal rest. Two nights in Essaouira to wind down before flying home.
- Private and owner-run. Our own camp and camels; your own guide and pace.
Highlights
- The capital Rabat and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
- Two nights in the blue city of Chefchaouen and Roman Volubilis
- Two nights and a guided day in the Fes medina
- A camel trek and a desert morning at Erg Chebbi
- 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: Arrive in Casablanca
We meet you in Casablanca and visit the oceanfront Hassan II Mosque. Overnight in Casablanca.
Day 2Day 2: Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
The capital Rabat (Udayas kasbah, Hassan Tower), then north into the Rif to blue Chefchaouen. Distance: ~330 km. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3Day 3: Chefchaouen — the blue city
A full, unhurried day in Chefchaouen's cobalt medina and mountain viewpoints. Second night in Chefchaouen.
Day 4Day 4: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
Roman Volubilis, 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 tanneries — plus a free afternoon. Second night in Fes.
Day 6Day 6: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga
The Middle Atlas cedar forests and the Ziz Valley to Merzouga and a sunset camel trek to our luxury camp. Distance: ~470 km. Dinner & breakfast at camp.
Day 7Day 7: Sahara sunrise → desert day → Merzouga
Sunrise, a 4x4 morning among nomads and fossils, and an afternoon at leisure. Second desert night.
Day 8Day 8: Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
West through Rissani to the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley. Distance: ~300 km. Overnight in the Dades.
Day 9Day 9: Dades → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Skoura and Ouarzazate to 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. Second night in Marrakech.
Day 11Day 11: Marrakech → Essaouira
To the coast via an argan cooperative to whitewashed Essaouira. Distance: ~190 km. Overnight in Essaouira.
Day 12Day 12: Essaouira — the Atlantic coast
A free day on the ramparts and beach — seafood, galleries and sea air. Second night in Essaouira.
Day 13Day 13: Essaouira → Marrakech → departure
Back to Marrakech for your flight home (or a final night, on request). Distance: ~190 km. Breakfast included.
Tour route map
Accommodation
Twelve nights across Casablanca, Chefchaouen (2), Fes (2), Erg Chebbi (2 — our luxury camp + a desert hotel), the Dades, Marrakech (2) and Essaouira (2). Honeymoon and family tents available at the camp.
Transport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an English-speaking Berber driver-guide throughout. Roads are paved; the only off-tarmac travel is the camel ride into camp (swappable for 4x4). The two-night stops keep daily drives relaxed.
Pick-up & meeting point
Pick-up in Casablanca (hotel or Mohammed V Airport) on Day 1, finishing at Marrakech airport on Day 13, confirmed by WhatsApp the night before. Route reversible to suit your flights — just ask.
Included & not included
- ✓Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel & Berber driver-guide
- ✓Casablanca pick-up & Marrakech drop-off
- ✓12 nights: Casablanca, 2× Chefchaouen, 2× Fes, 2× Erg Chebbi, Dades, 2× Marrakech, 2× 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 | €2180 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €1740 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €1450 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable across the route; Essaouira stays mild year-round. 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 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: the two coastal nights are for doing very little — enjoy them; carry small dirham notes throughout; and keep your Day 13 flight to the afternoon or later. Want a full fortnight with even more time? 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
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
The staff was welcoming, the room cosy, and the camel trek unforgettable. The desert views were breathtaking, and watching the sunrise and sunset was simply magical. Highly recommended.
Robert G. · Tripadvisor · 2024
Related
Luxury
Frequently asked questions
How is the 13-day different from the 12- and 14-day tours?
How many nights in the desert?
Two — a luxury-camp night after the camel trek and a second night in Merzouga, with a 4x4 desert morning between them.
Is it one way or a loop?
One way from Casablanca to Marrakech (via Essaouira), so no road is repeated. We can adapt the start and finish to your flights.
Can it be customised?
Completely — swap nights, add more desert or city time, upgrade riads, or change the start city. It's private and built around you.
When should we travel?
Spring and autumn are ideal; the coast is pleasant 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.
When is the best time of year to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable, with warm days and cool nights. Winter nights are cold and summer is hot at midday, so we run camel treks at sunrise and sunset.
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.