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12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca: 12 Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca: A Full Loop
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12 days · Cities, hiking & desert

12 Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca: A Full Loop

A 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca that loops through Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, the gorges and Marrakech, and back to your flight.

See the day-by-day route
12 days / 11 nightsStarts in CasablancaEnds in CasablancaPrivate tour
Casablanca→Rabat→Chefchaouen→Akchour→Volubilis→Fes→Ifrane→Merzouga→Todra Gorge→Dades Valley→Aït Benhaddou→Marrakech→Casablanca

About this 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca

Our 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca is a full loop that starts and ends at your airport. In between, you see the north, the Sahara and Marrakech.

First, you visit the Hassan II Mosque and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat. Then you spend two nights in Chefchaouen and hike to the Akchour waterfalls. After that, a guided day in Fes leads to the road south. Next, you ride camels to a desert camp and walk in the Todra Gorge. Finally, Marrakech and a quad in Agafay end the trip. We run this 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca as a private tour.

Highlights of this 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca

  • Hassan II Mosque
  • Kasbah of the Udayas
  • Akchour waterfalls hike
  • Guided Fes medina
  • Camel ride & desert camp
  • Buggy in Erg Chebbi
  • Todra & Dades walks
  • Agafay quad at sunset

12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Casablanca & Rabat

    We meet you at the airport. Visit the Hassan II Mosque above the Atlantic, then drive to Rabat for the Kasbah of the Udayas.

    On the road: about 1.5 hStay: Riad in Rabat
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Rabat to Chefchaouen

    Drive north into the Rif mountains and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the blue city.

    On the road: about 4 h with stopsStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Akchour waterfalls hike

    A day on foot in the Talassemtane park: river paths, waterfalls and the rock arch called God’s Bridge.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Volubilis to Fes

    The Roman ruins of Volubilis on the way south, and an evening walk in Fes.

    On the road: about 5 h with the visitStay: Riad in Fes
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    The Fes medina

    A guided day in the medina: madrasas, tanneries, souks and craftsmen at work.

    Stay: Riad in Fes
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Middle Atlas to Merzouga

    Through Ifrane, the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley to the edge of the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

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

    Into the Sahara

    Visit a nomad family and Khamlia, then ride camels at sunset to the desert camp.

    Stay: Desert camp
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    Buggy & Todra Gorge

    Sunrise on the dunes and a buggy ride, then west to walk in the Todra Gorge and sleep in the Dades Valley.

    On the road: about 5–6 h with stopsStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    Dades hike & Aït Benhaddou

    A morning walk among the red rocks of the Dades, then the road of the kasbahs to Aït Benhaddou.

    On the road: about 4 h with stopsStay: Guesthouse in Aït Benhaddou
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    Over the High Atlas to Marrakech

    The Tizi n’Tichka pass and its Berber villages, arriving in Marrakech for the evening on Jemaa el-Fna.

    On the road: about 4–5 h with stopsStay: Riad in Marrakech
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Marrakech & Agafay

    A guided morning in the medina, then a quad ride and sunset in the stone desert of Agafay.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Marrakech
  12. 12day
    Day 12

    Back to Casablanca

    Drive back to Casablanca on the motorway for your flight home.

    On the road: about 3 h

What’s included in this 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca

Included

  • 11 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 Casablanca (hotel, riad, airport)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Local guide for the guided visits

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 1Riad in Rabat
  2. Night 2Riad in Chefchaouen
  3. Night 3Riad in Chefchaouen
  4. Night 4Riad in Fes
  5. Night 5Riad in Fes
  6. Night 6Riad in Merzouga
  7. Night 7Desert camp
  8. Night 8Riad in Dades Valley
  9. Night 9Guesthouse in Aït Benhaddou
  10. Night 10Riad in Marrakech
  11. Night 11Riad in Marrakech

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 for a route that covers the Rif, Fes and the Sahara. Summer is very hot in the desert, and winter brings rain to the north and cold camp nights.

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

What to bring for this trip

  • Walking shoes with grip for Akchour
  • Swimsuit for the river pools
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the mosque
  • Light rain jacket for the Rif
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
  • Warm layer for the desert night
  • Small overnight bag for the camp
  • Sun hat and sun cream
  • 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.

12 Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca: your questions

Where does the 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca start and end?

We meet you at Casablanca airport on day 1 and drive you back there on day 12, so you can book a return flight.

Is the drive from Marrakech to Casablanca long?

About 3 hours on the motorway. Book an afternoon or evening flight for the last day.

Does this 12 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca include the Sahara?

Yes – one night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi after a sunset camel ride, with a buggy ride the next morning.

Can we skip Chefchaouen to have more time in Marrakech?

Yes. Without Chefchaouen you save two days, which can go to Marrakech, the Atlas or Essaouira instead.

Is the Akchour hike difficult?

It is an easy to moderate walk along the river. You choose how far to go, and it can be shortened for children.

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
●●●●●

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…
A
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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 8 – Buggy & Todra GorgeDetails →Camel & horseback treksCamel & horseback treksDay 7 – Into the SaharaDetails →Desert camping & stargazingDesert camping & stargazingDay 7 – Into the SaharaDetails →Hiking & trekking adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresDay 2 – Rabat to ChefchaouenDetails →A family in front of the golden doors of the Royal Palace in FesCultural explorationDay 1 – Casablanca & RabatDetails →

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 12-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 →Cycling & mountain bikingOptional · extraCycling & mountain bikingCycling in the oasisSee the activity →Faith & spiritual journeysOptional · extraFaith & spiritual journeysSpiritual and heritage visitSee the activity →Wellness and relaxationOptional · extraWellness and relaxationTraditional hammam and spa timeSee the activity →
Quick request

Request this 12-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

More ideas for 12 days in morocco

12 days in Morocco: Slow Sahara: Three Nights in the DesertMorocco Itinerary 12 Days Marrakech to SaharaPrivate tour · Round trip from Marrakech · Desert, slower paceFor travellers who want the desert at its own pace: Telouet and Aït Benhaddou, two nights in the Dades, a two-day camel trek with nights in the dunes, a buggy in Erg Chebbi and the Rissani market. 12 days in Morocco: Family Adventure: Desert Camp, Mountains & Beach12 Day Morocco Family Vacation: Agafay, Atlas & EssaouiraPrivate tour · Round trip from Marrakech · Family, short drivesTwelve days with children and no drive over four hours: a balloon and a night in the Agafay desert, two days with mules in the High Atlas, the beaches of Essaouira and the waterfalls of the Ourika Valley. 12 days in Morocco: Comfort & Adventure: Fes, Sahara, Marrakech12 Days Luxury Morocco Tour: Fes to MarrakechPrivate tour · Fes to Marrakech · Luxury, activeThe comfortable way to cross Morocco: boutique riads, a private guide, two nights in a luxury desert camp and kasbah hotels – with a buggy, a camel ride, a balloon and an Atlas hike to keep it active.

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All Morocco itineraries, 4 to 30 days · Luxury tours · Small group tours · Women only tours · Activities · Travel tips · About our team

Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 8 – Buggy & Todra Gorge

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 7 – Into the Sahara

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 7 – Into the Sahara

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
 Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 2 – Rabat to Chefchaouen

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
 A family in front of the golden doors of the Royal Palace in Fes
Moroccan experience

Cultural exploration

On this trip: Day 1 – Casablanca & Rabat

Our Morocco cultural tours are built around people, not just monuments. You walk the medinas of Fes and Marrakech with a guide who grew up there, drink mint tea in a Berber village in the Atlas, watch craftsmen cut zellige tiles or dye leather, and share a meal with a family. The aim is simple: to understand how Moroccans live today, and where those traditions come from.

Where
Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day city walk to 10+ day tours
Level
Easy – mostly walking
Group
Private or small group
  • Living medinas
  • Amazigh heritage
  • Crafts you can watch being made
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
 Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

Optional extra: Cycling in the oasis

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
 Faith & spiritual journeys
Moroccan experience

Faith & spiritual journeys

Optional extra: Spiritual and heritage visit

A Morocco spiritual tour follows the faiths that shaped this country over centuries. Muslim scholars studied in the medersas of Fes, Sufi brotherhoods still gather in their zawiyas to chant and pray, and Jewish families lived in the mellahs of Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira for generations. Our local guides tell these stories with knowledge and respect, whatever your own beliefs.

Where
Fes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira, Meknes, Merzouga
Duration
1 day to 10+ days
Level
Easy – walking and visits
Group
Private, family or faith groups
  • Islamic heritage you can enter
  • Sufi music and zawiyas
  • Jewish heritage of Morocco
See the full activity page
 Wellness and relaxation
Moroccan experience

Wellness and relaxation

Optional extra: Traditional hammam and spa time

A Morocco wellness retreat with us is built around your rhythm, not a fixed timetable. Start with a traditional hammam in Marrakech, rest in a riad courtyard with only the fountain for company, stretch on a yoga mat facing the Atlantic, and end with a night in the Merzouga desert where the silence is almost total. We plan the logistics so you can simply let go.

Where
Marrakech, Agafay, Atlas valleys, Essaouira, Taghazout, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day hammam to 7+ day retreat
Level
Easy – all fitness levels
Group
Solo, couples, friends or private groups
  • The hammam ritual
  • Riads made for rest
  • Yoga with a view
See the full activity page
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