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11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca: 11 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Atlantic Coast & Sahara
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11 days · Coast & desert

11 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Atlantic Coast & Sahara

The ocean first, the desert second. Follow the Atlantic from Casablanca to the surf beaches of Taghazout, then turn inland to the kasbahs and the Sahara, finishing in Marrakech.

See the day-by-day route
11 days / 10 nightsStarts in CasablancaEnds in MarrakechPrivate tour
Casablanca→El Jadida→Oualidia→Essaouira→Taghazout→Paradise Valley→Taroudant→Aït Benhaddou→Skoura→Dades Valley→Todra Gorge→Merzouga→Ouarzazate→Marrakech

About this 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca

Our 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca follows the ocean first and the desert second. You travel down the Atlantic coast, then turn inland to the Sahara and Marrakech.

First, you visit El Jadida and kayak on the lagoon of Oualidia. Then you spend two nights in Essaouira, with a kitesurf lesson or a beach ride. After that, you surf in Taghazout and swim in Paradise Valley. Next, you cross the Anti-Atlas from Taroudant to Aït Benhaddou and cycle in Skoura. Finally, you ride camels to a desert camp and try a buggy in the dunes. As a result, this 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca shows a very different Morocco. It is private, on your dates.

Highlights of this 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca

  • Portuguese city of El Jadida
  • Kayak on the Oualidia lagoon
  • Kitesurf or horse ride in Essaouira
  • Surf session in Taghazout
  • Paradise Valley pools
  • Saffron country of Taliouine
  • Cycling in Skoura
  • Camel ride & desert camp
  • Buggy in the dunes

11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Casablanca, El Jadida & Oualidia

    The Hassan II Mosque, the Portuguese cistern of El Jadida, then the quiet lagoon of Oualidia.

    On the road: about 3 h with visitsStay: Guesthouse in Oualidia
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Lagoon kayak & Essaouira

    Kayak on the lagoon in the morning, then follow the coast to Essaouira for sunset on the ramparts.

    On the road: about 3 h along the coastStay: Riad in Essaouira
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    A day on the water in Essaouira

    A kitesurf or surf lesson in the bay, or a horse ride along the beach, and the fish market in the port.

    Stay: Riad in Essaouira
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Coast road to Taghazout

    South past the argan forests to Taghazout, with a surf session in the afternoon.

    On the road: about 3–3.5 hStay: Guesthouse in Taghazout
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Paradise Valley & Taroudant

    A morning walk and swim in the palm canyon of Paradise Valley, then inland to the walled town of Taroudant.

    On the road: about 2.5–3 hStay: Riad in Taroudant
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Across the Anti-Atlas

    Through the saffron fields of Taliouine to Ouarzazate and the ksar of Aït Benhaddou.

    On the road: about 5 h with stopsStay: Riad near Aït Benhaddou
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    Skoura & the Dades

    Cycle in the palm oasis of Skoura, then follow the road of the kasbahs to the Dades Valley.

    On the road: about 3 h with stopsStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    Todra Gorge & camels

    A walk in the Todra Gorge, then Merzouga and camels at sunset to the desert camp.

    On the road: about 5–6 h with stopsStay: Desert camp
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    A day in the Sahara

    Sunrise, a buggy ride and sandboarding, a nomad family and Gnawa music in Khamlia.

    Stay: Riad in Merzouga
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    Back west to Ouarzazate

    The long road back west past Tinghir and the Dades to Ouarzazate.

    On the road: about 7–8 h with stopsStay: Riad in Ouarzazate
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Over the High Atlas to Marrakech

    The Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech, in time for an evening flight.

    On the road: about 4–5 h with stops

What’s included in this 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca

Included

  • 10 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
  • Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Pick-up in Casablanca and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad, airport)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Surf lessons with board and wetsuit

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums
  • Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for drivers and guides

Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.

Where you stay

  1. Night 1Guesthouse in Oualidia
  2. Night 2Riad in Essaouira
  3. Night 3Riad in Essaouira
  4. Night 4Guesthouse in Taghazout
  5. Night 5Riad in Taroudant
  6. Night 6Riad near Aït Benhaddou
  7. Night 7Riad in Dades Valley
  8. Night 8Desert camp
  9. Night 9Riad in Merzouga
  10. Night 10Riad in Ouarzazate

Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.

Best time for this trip

Spring and autumn are best: the coast is mild and the desert is pleasant. In summer the coast is fine but the Sahara and Taroudant are very hot.

  • JanPossible
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayGood
  • JunPossible
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepGood
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecGood

What to bring for this trip

  • Swimsuit and quick-dry towel
  • Rash vest or wetsuit top for the surf
  • Windproof jacket for Essaouira
  • Water shoes for the lagoon and Paradise Valley
  • Comfortable clothes for cycling
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
  • Warm layer for the desert night
  • Small overnight bag for the camp
  • Refillable water bottle

Booking & payment

How to book
Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
Payment
A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
Cancellation
Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
Weather & changes
If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.

11 Days Morocco Tour from Casablanca: your questions

Why follow the coast on this 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca?

Most routes go straight to Marrakech. This one follows the Atlantic first – Oualidia, Essaouira, Taghazout – and reaches the desert through the Anti-Atlas, so you see a very different Morocco.

Where does the 11 days Morocco tour from Casablanca end?

In Marrakech, in time for an evening flight. We can also end in Casablanca if you add a day.

Do I need experience for the surf and kitesurf?

No. The lessons are for beginners, with all the equipment. If the wind is not right, you can ride a horse on the beach instead.

How long is the drive from Taroudant to Aït Benhaddou?

About 5 hours with stops, through the Anti-Atlas and the saffron village of Taliouine.

Which day is the longest?

Merzouga back to Ouarzazate (Day 10) takes about 7 to 8 hours with stops. The last day over the Tichka pass to Marrakech is about 4 to 5 hours.

Local team in MoroccoYour trip is planned and run by our own team on the ground.
Private, on your datesOnly you and your travel companions, starting when you want.
Every day can changeAdd a night, an activity or a slower pace – the plan adapts to you.
Answers on WhatsAppAsk us anything before you book: +212 600 643 098.

What our travellers say

TA5.0 ●●●●●
Moroccan Active Adventures on Tripadvisor
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A holistic experience

Booking a trip with Moroccan active adventures gave us the most memorable new years celebration of our lived. Our guide Mouhssin was especially talented at turning down deserted mountain/desert roads and finding beautiful riads…
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Activities on this trip

Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.

Quad & buggy ridesQuad & buggy ridesDay 9 – A day in the SaharaDetails →Camel & horseback treksCamel & horseback treksDay 3 – A day on the water in EssaouiraDetails →Desert camping & stargazingDesert camping & stargazingDay 8 – Todra Gorge & camelsDetails →Cycling & mountain bikingCycling & mountain bikingDay 7 – Skoura & the DadesDetails →Hiking & trekking adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresDay 5 – Paradise Valley & TaroudantDetails →Surf & kitesurf experienceSurf & kitesurf experienceDay 3 – A day on the water in EssaouiraDetails →

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 11-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.

Hot air balloon rideOptional · extraHot air balloon rideSunrise flight before or after your tripSee the activity →Authentic culinary experiencesOptional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →4x4 & off-road safarisOptional · extra4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad familiesSee the activity →Kite surfing lift-offOptional · extraKite surfing lift-offKitesurf lesson in windy EssaouiraSee the activity →Windsurfing adventureOptional · extraWindsurfing adventureWindsurfing sessionSee the activity →Jet ski adventure on the coastOptional · extraJet ski adventure on the coastJet ski on the bay of AgadirSee the activity →
Quick request

Request this 11-day trip

Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.

  • No payment to send a request
  • Private tour on your dates
  • Or write to us: +212 600 643 098

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Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 9 – A day in the Sahara

Quad biking Marrakech style means leaving the city noise behind in minutes: dusty palm grove tracks, Berber villages and the rocky hills of the Agafay desert, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Our guides ride in front, set the pace to the slowest rider and stop for photos and mint tea. You do not need any experience – we show you the controls and do a short practice loop before we leave.

Where
Marrakech palm grove (Palmeraie), Agafay desert, Merzouga dunes
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Beginner friendly, no experience needed
Minimum age
Drivers usually 16+; younger children ride as buggy passengers
  • Desert right next to the city
  • Quad or buggy, your choice
  • Real landscapes, not a track
See the full activity page
 Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 3 – A day on the water in Essaouira

Camel trekking Morocco’s Sahara is the slow, quiet way into the desert: a line of camels led by a guide on foot, swaying over the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga as the light turns soft. Most of our guests ride at sunset to a camp in the dunes and come back at sunrise. It is calm, not sporty – anyone who can sit on a saddle for an hour can do it.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), Agafay desert, Marrakech palm grove
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Easy, no experience needed for camels
Minimum age
Children ride with an adult; ask us for small kids
  • The classic Sahara moment
  • Local camel men
  • Slow travel
See the full activity page
 Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 8 – Todra Gorge & camels

Sahara desert camping in Morocco is about one evening you will not forget: arriving at a camp hidden between the dunes of Erg Chebbi, climbing a ridge for sunset, eating tagine by the fire while drums play, then lying on a rug under more stars than you thought possible. Our camps near Merzouga range from simple nomad-style tents to comfortable tents with real beds and private bathrooms.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes), Agafay desert near Marrakech
Duration
1 to 3 nights
Level
Easy, for all ages
Camp types
Nomad-style, standard and luxury tents
  • Real dunes
  • A sky full of stars
  • Choose your comfort
See the full activity page
 Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

On this trip: Day 7 – Skoura & the Dades

Mountain biking Morocco’s High Atlas means riding mule paths between Berber villages, rolling down terraced valleys and stopping for tea where the trail meets a walnut grove. Our guides know the tracks around Marrakech, the Ourika and Imlil valleys and the Agafay hills, and pick routes that fit your level – from easy dirt roads to longer climbs and technical descents.

Where
Agafay desert, Ourika and Imlil valleys (High Atlas), Dades and Todra gorges
Duration
Half day to multi-day tours
Level
Easy to challenging – routes chosen for you
Bikes
Mountain bikes and e-bikes, helmet included
  • Mountains near the city
  • Village trails, not empty parks
  • Huge variety
See the full activity page
 Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 5 – Paradise Valley & Taroudant

Hiking Morocco’s High Atlas is a walk through a lived-in landscape: terraced fields, walnut trees, flat-roofed Berber villages built from the same red earth as the mountains, and mule paths that people still use every day. Our local mountain guides grew up around these valleys. They choose the route, set a steady pace and arrange lunch or a night in a village house.

Where
High Atlas (Imlil, Ourika, Toubkal), Dades & Todra gorges, Merzouga dunes
Duration
Day hikes to 5-day treks
Level
Easy valley walks to challenging summit treks
Minimum age
Valley walks for families; Toubkal for fit teens and adults
  • Real mountains near Marrakech
  • Toubkal, the big one
  • Village life on the trail
See the full activity page
 Surf & kitesurf experience
Water adventure

Surf & kitesurf experience

On this trip: Day 3 – A day on the water in Essaouira

Surfing Morocco means long right-hand point breaks, sandy beach breaks for learning and warm sun when Europe is cold. The coast north of Agadir – Taghazout, Tamraght and the fishing village of Imsouane – is the heart of it, with Essaouira and its windy beaches further north. We organise lessons and surf guiding with licensed local surf schools and instructors, from your first wave to your first point break.

Where
Taghazout, Tamraght, Imsouane, Essaouira
Duration
Half-day lesson to a week-long surf camp
Level
Complete beginners to experienced surfers
Minimum age
Children who swim well, in lessons suited to them
  • World-class point breaks
  • A great place to learn
  • Surf in winter sun
See the full activity page
 Hot air balloon ride
Air adventure

Hot air balloon ride

Optional extra: Sunrise flight before or after your trip

A hot air balloon Marrakech flight is the quietest way to see Morocco wake up. You leave the city in the dark, watch the burners light up the envelope, and lift off just as the sun climbs over the Atlas Mountains. Below you, red-earth villages, olive groves and dry riverbeds turn gold, and on clear winter mornings the snow on the High Atlas shines on the horizon.

Where
Countryside outside Marrakech (launch site set by the pilot each morning)
Duration
About 1 hour in the air, 4-5 hours door to door
Start time
Very early pick-up, before sunrise
Level
No experience needed
  • Sunrise over the Atlas
  • Silent, slow flying
  • Rural Morocco from above
See the full activity page
 Authentic culinary experiences
Moroccan experience

Authentic culinary experiences

Optional extra: Cooking class or food walk in the medina

A Morocco food tour is the quickest way into the country’s heart. With one of our local guides you taste fresh msemen pancakes at breakfast, follow the smell of cumin through the spice souk, try harira and grilled meat at the stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, and learn why a tagine needs time. We take you where locals actually eat, not where the menus are in five languages.

Where
Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
3-hour food walk to full-day class
Level
Easy – come hungry
Diets
Vegetarian options on request
  • Street food you would not find alone
  • Markets as a lesson
  • Cooking with real cooks
See the full activity page
 4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

Optional extra: 4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad families

A 4x4 tour Morocco style takes you where normal cars cannot go: around the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, across the black stone plains near Merzouga, up rough mountain tracks in the Atlas and down into dry riverbeds where nomads still water their flocks. You sit back with an experienced local driver who knows the pistes, the weather and the best places to stop.

Where
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, High Atlas tracks, Dades & Todra gorges, Agafay
Duration
Half day to multi-day private tours
Level
Easy – you are a passenger, no driving needed
Group
Private vehicle for your family or group
  • Reach the hidden places
  • Drivers who know the pistes
  • Private and flexible
See the full activity page
 Kite surfing lift-off
Air adventure

Kite surfing lift-off

Optional extra: Kitesurf lesson in windy Essaouira

Kitesurfing Morocco means steady Atlantic wind, long beaches and two very different playgrounds. In the far south, the Dakhla lagoon offers wide, flat, shallow water that is ideal for learning and for freestyle. Further north, Essaouira is known for its strong trade winds in spring and summer, with choppy water in the bay and powerful waves on nearby beaches for experienced riders.

Where
Dakhla lagoon, Essaouira and other Atlantic spots
Duration
Single lessons to a full kite week
Level
Beginner courses to independent riders
Minimum age
Set by the school – children need enough weight to control a kite
  • Reliable wind
  • Flat water for learning
  • Waves for advanced riders
See the full activity page
 Windsurfing adventure
Water adventure

Windsurfing adventure

Optional extra: Windsurfing session

Windsurfing Morocco starts with one word: wind. Essaouira is nicknamed the Wind City of Africa, because the trade winds blow along this coast for much of the year, strongest in spring and summer. The wide bay is a good classroom, Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north is a famous wave spot, and far to the south the Dakhla lagoon offers flat water on the edge of the Sahara. We organise lessons and rentals with licensed local windsurf centres and instructors.

Where
Essaouira bay, Moulay Bouzerktoun, Sidi Kaouki, Dakhla lagoon
Duration
2-hour lesson to a week-long windsurf camp
Level
Beginners (lessons) to advanced wave sailors
Minimum age
Children who swim well, with kids’ rigs where available
  • Reliable wind
  • Spots for every level
  • Wave sailing at Moulay
See the full activity page
 Jet ski adventure on the coast
Water adventure

Jet ski adventure on the coast

Optional extra: Jet ski on the bay of Agadir

A jet ski Agadir session is the quickest way to feel the Atlantic up close: open throttle across the wide bay, the kasbah hill behind you and the long beach shrinking in the mirror. We organise rides with licensed local operators, always with a briefing and a guide on the water, so first-timers can enjoy it as much as people who have ridden before. Availability depends on the season, the sea state and the operator.

Where
Agadir bay, Taghazout coast, Lalla Takerkoust lake (Marrakech)
Duration
20 minutes to 1 hour on the water
Level
Beginners welcome, guided ride
Minimum age
Driver age set by the operator; children can ride as passengers
  • A big, open bay
  • Coast and mountains in one view
  • A lake option near Marrakech
See the full activity page
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