9-Day Morocco Tour — Cities, Sahara & Atlas
Nine days is the sweet spot for seeing Morocco's cities, desert and mountains without rushing — a relaxed private circuit with a night in our desert camp.
Introduction
The 9-day Morocco tour is our pick for travellers who want to see the country properly without a punishing schedule. Nine days is enough to settle into Marrakech and Fes, cross the Atlas, spend a real night in the Sahara at our desert camp, and take in the gorges and kasbahs along the way — all at a pace that leaves room to breathe. It is private throughout and can start in either city. Below is the full day-by-day itinerary, pricing, the best time to travel and our advice.
Overview
The 9-day Morocco tour fills the gap between the busy week-long trips and the long two-week circuits. It gives you time in Marrakech and Fes, a proper run through the Sahara with a night in our luxury camp, the Dades and Todra gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, and the Atlas — at a pace that lets you actually enjoy each place rather than tick it off. It can start in Marrakech or Fes and is fully private.
Why choose this tour
Why the 9-day tour:
- The whole country, unhurried — cities, desert, gorges and mountains.
- Time where it counts — two nights each in Marrakech and Fes.
- Our own desert camp at Erg Chebbi.
- Private and tailored — your dates, your pace, either start city.
Highlights
- Marrakech and Fes, the two great imperial cities
- The Sahara dunes at Merzouga with a luxury camp
- Dades and Todra gorges
- Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
- The Middle and High Atlas
- A relaxed, unhurried pace
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1–2: Marrakech
Arrive and explore Marrakech — the medina, souks, Jemaa el-Fna, the Bahia Palace and gardens. 2 nights Marrakech.
Day 2Day 3: Marrakech → Ait Ben Haddou → Dades
Over the Tizi n'Tichka to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then the Dades Valley. Overnight Dades.
Day 3Day 4: Dades → Todra → Merzouga → camel trek → camp
The Dades and Todra gorges, then to Merzouga for a sunset camel trek to our luxury camp. Overnight camp.
Day 4Day 5: Merzouga → Midelt → Fes
Sunrise over the dunes, then north via the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes. Overnight Fes.
Day 5Day 6–7: Fes
A full day in the Fes medina — tanneries, Al-Qarawiyyin, the old gates — with a free day to relax or visit Meknes and Volubilis. 2 nights Fes.
Day 6Day 8: Fes → Beni Mellal / Atlas → Marrakech area
Return south-west through the Middle Atlas and farmland toward Marrakech. Overnight en route or Marrakech.
Day 7Day 9: Marrakech → departure
Free time and transfer to the airport. Breakfast included.
Tour route map
Accommodation
You sleep one night in a private desert camp with an en-suite tent, a real bed, a hot shower and plenty of blankets. Family tents and a decorated honeymoon tent are available. See the luxury camp page for the full setup.
Transport
Transport is by private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an English-speaking driver-guide throughout, at a relaxed pace with stops for photos, tea and breaks. The driver is local and knows the back roads and the quiet viewpoints.
Pick-up & meeting point
We collect you from your riad or hotel, with the exact pickup time confirmed by WhatsApp the night before. Need an airport transfer first? We arrange those too.
Included & not included
- ✓Private vehicle with fuel and driver-guide
- ✓Pickup, drop-off and airport transfers
- ✓8 nights: hotels/riads + 1 luxury desert camp
- ✓Sunset and sunrise camel trek
- ✓Daily breakfast + half board at the camp
- ✓English-speaking driver
- ✓Bottled water
- ✗Most lunches and dinners
- ✗City guides and monument fees
- ✗Tips
- ✗Travel insurance
Pricing
Per person for the private tour; can start in Marrakech or Fes and be tailored to your dates.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €1280 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €1020 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €850 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
This trip runs all year. The most comfortable months are March to May and September to November, with warm days and cool nights. Winter nights in the desert get cold, so bring a warm layer; July and August are hot at midday, so we keep the camel trek to sunrise and sunset. See our best time to visit guide.
What to pack
Bring light layers for the day and a warm jacket for cold desert nights, a scarf for sun and sand, closed shoes, sunglasses, a hat, high-SPF sun cream, a refillable water bottle, a head-torch and a power bank. Full list: Morocco packing list.
Travel tips
What to expect: real driving distances on good but winding roads — bring something for motion sickness if you're prone to it. Tips: carry small dirham notes for lunches, entry fees and tips, and keep onward flights to the evening of the final day or later.
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
★★★★★
A wonderful stay at the foot of the dunes. Camel ride and 4x4 excursion with sunset views. A very warm welcome, impeccable service, and excellent tagines and couscous.
Audrey Stephan · Google · 2025
★★★★★
Simple but clean room, very nice staff and excellent food — I never ate such a good tajine before. The sand dunes are just a stone's throw away. Recommended!
Teus Luijendijk · Google · 2024
★★★★★
The best food we had all trip — highly recommend eating dinner here, it is truly delicious. The rooms are comfortable and the pool is a treat. We also did the one-night desert camp stay.
Katharina Fromherz · Google · 2025
Related
LuxuryFrequently asked questions
Why 9 days instead of 7?
The extra two days remove the rush — proper time in both Fes and Marrakech and a less tiring drive on the desert legs.
Can it start in Fes?
Yes — we run it as a loop, so it can begin and end in either Marrakech or Fes to suit your flights.
Is the desert camp included?
Yes — one night in our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi with a camel trek.
Can we add Chefchaouen or Essaouira?
Yes — with a couple more days we can add the blue city or the coast; see our 12-day tour.
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.