12-Day Itinerary
12-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca: The Complete Loop
Twelve days from Casablanca: Rabat, Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, two nights in the Sahara, Marrakech and Essaouira, then back to Casablanca airport.
Day-by-Day Plan
- 1
Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat
Pick-up at Casablanca airport or your hotel, with a stop at the Hassan II Mosque on the ocean front. Continue to Rabat for the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum. Overnight in Rabat.
- 2
Day 2: Rabat to Tangier
Drive north along the Atlantic to Tangier, about three hours on the motorway. Visit the Caves of Hercules near Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, then walk the Tangier kasbah as the light drops over the strait.
- 3
Day 3: Tangier to Chefchaouen
A two-hour drive into the Rif Mountains brings you to Chefchaouen by midday. The afternoon and evening are free to wander the blue-washed medina, which changes colour noticeably from afternoon light to dusk.
- 4
Day 4: Chefchaouen to Fes
An optional early walk to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint above Chefchaouen, then about four hours by road to Fes. Arrive in time for a first walk into the medina with your guide.
- 5
Day 5: Fes medina, full day
A guided day in one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world: the Chouara tannery, the Al-Qarawiyyin, the Nejjarine fondouk and the souks, avoiding the busiest tourist choke points.
- 6
Day 6: Fes to Merzouga via the Middle Atlas
The longest drive of the trip, 7–8 hours, broken by the cedar forests around Ifrane and the palm groves of the Ziz Valley. Arrive in Merzouga for a sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and your first night in camp.
- 7
Day 7: A free day in the Sahara
Sunrise from the dunes, then a whole day at your own pace. Options include visiting a Gnawa musicians' family in Khamlia or a 4x4 trip to nomad tents. Second night under the stars.
- 8
Day 8: Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou via the Dadès Valley
Drive west through Tinjdad and the Dadès Valley, with a short walk in the gorge, to Aït Benhaddou, Morocco's best-known kasbah. Overnight near Ouarzazate.
- 9
Day 9: Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka
Cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass and arrive in Marrakech by early afternoon. Free time to settle into your riad and take a first look at Jemaa el-Fna.
- 10
Day 10: Marrakech, full day
The Bahia Palace, the Medersa Ben Youssef and the souks with your guide, then an evening in Jemaa el-Fna as the food stalls and musicians take over the square.
- 11
Day 11: Marrakech to Essaouira
About three hours west to the Atlantic. Essaouira's medina is smaller and calmer than Marrakech's: a working fishing port, blue boats and sea walls you can walk for free.
- 12
Day 12: Essaouira to Casablanca
A morning drive of about four hours back to Casablanca, with drop-off at your hotel or at Mohammed V Airport, timed to your flight.
Destinations on this route
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Twelve days is enough to cover the imperial cities, the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, two nights in the Sahara and the Atlantic coast in one loop. It gives full days in the main cities rather than half-days between drives. You would need longer only for serious trekking in the Atlas Mountains or the far south.
Yes, and it is often the easiest option. Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport has the most international flights, especially from North America, and a loop lets you fly in and out of the same airport. The 12-day route goes north first to Rabat and Tangier, then south through Fes and the Sahara, and returns via Marrakech and Essaouira.
We recommend two nights in the desert camp at Merzouga on a 12-day trip. One night means arriving at sunset and leaving at sunrise. Two nights gives you a full free day in the dunes and a rest between the two longest drives of the route, from Fes and on to Aït Benhaddou.
The longest drive is from Fes to Merzouga, about 7–8 hours through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley. Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou is the next longest, at 6–7 hours. Both are broken with regular stops, and the free day in the desert sits between them so you are never on the road three days in a row.
March to May and September to November are the best months for this route, with warm days and cool nights across the cities, mountains and desert. Winter is clear but cold at night in the Sahara. We pause Sahara tours in July and August, when desert temperatures regularly pass 45°C.
Yes. Our 12-day tour from Casablanca runs privately on your own dates, with your own driver, so you can change the pace: more time in Fes, an extra night in the desert, or an upgraded riad in Marrakech. If you prefer company, our 12-day small-group tour covers a similar route with up to ten travellers.
Want to book this route? Browse our tours
See all tours →Tours
Tours on this itinerary
