9-Day Morocco Grand Tour: Imperial Cities, Sahara & Chefchaouen
The complete north-to-south loop - Casablanca to the blue city, Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech - without backtracking.
Experience Overview
The classic 9-day Morocco grand tour, done privately and without backtracking. Land in Casablanca, work north through Rabat and the blue city, come down through the imperial cities to the Sahara, and finish in Marrakech - the route the country is shaped for.
Quick answer: the route at a glance
- Day 1: Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque - Rabat
- Day 2: Rabat - Kasbah of the Udayas - Chefchaouen
- Day 3: Chefchaouen full day - Akchour or blue medina
- Day 4: Volubilis - Meknes - Fes
- Day 5: Fes el-Bali full day, licensed guide
- Day 6: Ifrane - Azrou cedars - Ziz - Merzouga sunset camel trek, camp
- Day 7: Desert sunrise - Todra - Dades
- Day 8: Ksar Ait Ben Haddou - Atlas - Marrakech
- Day 9: Marrakech full city day
Why one-way matters
Most grand tours loop back to Casablanca and lose a full day to the highway. Ours is a line - you land in Casablanca and fly out of Marrakech (RAK), so every day is a destination, not a commute. If your flights are both through CMN, we can arrange the return transfer.
Practical notes
- Airports: CMN in, RAK out is ideal; both-CMN is possible with a return transfer.
- Desert camp: private en-suite tents at Erg Chebbi.
- Vs the 11-day: the 11-day adds a second Chefchaouen night and an Essaouira day.
Key Journey Highlights:
✓What's Included
- Private vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide for 9 days
- 1 night luxury desert camp at Erg Chebbi (dinner + breakfast)
- 7 nights in riads/hotels (dinner + breakfast where noted)
- Camel trek at sunset
- Fuel, tolls, parking and bottled water
- Licensed local guides in Fes and Marrakech
✕Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and mosque entry fees
- Personal expenses and tips
Detailed Itinerary
Step-by-step timeline of your private journey.
Casablanca - the white city
Morning: Pickup at your hotel or CMN airport. The Hassan II Mosque - the only mosque in Morocco non-Muslims can enter - and the art-deco Mohammed V square, per our Casablanca day-trip guide. Afternoon: The Corniche and Habous quarter, then north to Rabat. Overnight in Rabat.
Rabat to Chefchaouen
Morning: The Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in the capital. Afternoon: North into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen - first sunset over the blue medina.
The blue city, slowly
Full day in Chefchaouen: the blue alleys, Outa el Hammam, the kasbah garden and - for those who want it - a short hike to the Akchour waterfalls or the Spanish Mosque viewpoint. Second night in Chefchaouen.
Volubilis, Meknes & on to Fes
Morning: The Roman mosaics of Volubilis - Morocco's best-preserved ruins. Afternoon: Meknes, the smallest imperial city: Bab Mansour and the royal granaries, then on to Fes.
Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide
Full day with a local guide: Chouara tanneries, Bou Inania madrasa, the medersa quarter and the souk labyrinth - Fes is the medina that rewards a guide most. Overnight in Fes.
The Middle Atlas to Merzouga
Morning: Ifrane - Morocco's 'Little Switzerland' - and the cedar forests of Azrou (Barbary macaques). Afternoon: The Ziz Valley's palm gorges and Erfoud to Merzouga - camel trek into Erg Chebbi at sunset.
Desert sunrise to the Dades
Dawn: Sunrise on the dunes. Day: Rissani's souk, Todra Gorge's canyon walk and the Dades switchbacks - overnight in the Dades or Ouarzazate area.
Ait Ben Haddou & over the Atlas to Marrakech
Morning: Ouarzazate and Ksar Ait Ben Haddou - the UNESCO ksar. Afternoon: Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech.
Marrakech, the full city day
Full day in Marrakech per our city-tour itinerary: Koutoubia, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk - the right way to end the grand tour. Airport drop-off in the evening or the next morning.
Pickup & Meeting Point
Your hotel or the airport in Casablanca
Pickup included from Casablanca airport (CMN) or any Casablanca hotel. The tour ends in Marrakech - Marrakech airport (RAK) drop-off is included; a return to Casablanca can be arranged.
Important Information & What to Bring
- This is a one-way route Casablanca to Marrakech - the itinerary is designed to never double back.
- Hassan II Mosque interior visits follow fixed tour times (~90-130 MAD, non-Muslims welcome).
- Desert camp: private tents with real beds.
- Nine days is the sweet spot: the full imperial-cities loop plus the Sahara without the 11-day pace.
Tour FAQs
Why start in Casablanca instead of Marrakech?
The grand tour is designed as a one-way line: land at Casablanca's CMN airport, see the north, then travel south to the desert and finish in Marrakech - you never drive the same road twice. Starting in Marrakech would force a backtrack.
Is 9 days enough for the whole country?
For the classic grand tour, yes - you cover Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, the desert and Marrakech. The 11-day version adds a second Chefchaouen night and an Essaouira day.
Do I need a guide inside Fes?
Strongly recommended - Fes el-Bali has ~9,000 alleys and the tannery quarter is easy to get lost in. Our tour includes a licensed local guide for the full Fes day.
How does private quote-on-request pricing work?
Send dates + headcount via WhatsApp (+212 661 666 324) for a fixed all-inclusive private quote in EUR, USD, GBP or MAD.
