18 Day Morocco Tour: The North, the Sahara, the Atlas & Essaouira
All of Morocco in one unhurried trip: the imperial cities and the Rif, the dunes of Merzouga, the canyons and kasbahs of the south, Marrakech and the Atlantic port of Essaouira.
See the day-by-day routeAbout this 18 day Morocco tour
Our 18 day Morocco tour shows the whole country at a gentle pace. You start in Casablanca and finish on the Atlantic in Essaouira, then Marrakech.
First, you visit the Hassan II Mosque and Rabat, then spend three nights in Chefchaouen with a waterfall hike. Then you see Volubilis and stay three nights in Fes. After that, you cross the Middle Atlas and ride camels into the dunes of Merzouga. Next come the Todra Gorge, a canyon hike in the Dades and Aït Benhaddou. Finally, you explore Marrakech and surf or ride on the beach in Essaouira. In short, this 18 day Morocco tour is private and runs on your dates.
Highlights of this 18 day Morocco tour
- Hassan II Mosque
- Three nights in Chefchaouen
- Akchour waterfalls hike
- Roman Volubilis
- Guided Fes medina
- Camel ride & desert camp
- Buggy & sandboarding
- Dades canyon hike
- Guided Marrakech
- Surf or beach ride in Essaouira
18 day Morocco tour: day by day
- 1dayDay 1
Casablanca & Rabat
The Hassan II Mosque above the ocean, then Rabat and the Kasbah of the Udayas.
- 2dayDay 2
To the blue town
Drive north into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, with sunset at the Spanish Mosque.
- 3dayDay 3
Akchour waterfalls hike
River paths, waterfalls and the rock arch of God’s Bridge in Talassemtane park.
- 4dayDay 4
Free day in Chefchaouen
A slow day in the blue lanes, the kasbah museum and the main square.
- 5dayDay 5
Volubilis, Meknes & Fes
The Roman ruins of Volubilis, the gate of Bab Mansour in Meknes and on to Fes.
- 6dayDay 6
The Fes medina
A guided day: madrasas, the tanneries, the craftsmen and the view from the Merenid tombs.
- 7dayDay 7
Rest day in Fes
A free morning and a cooking class or hammam in the afternoon.
- 8dayDay 8
Middle Atlas to the Sahara
Ifrane, the cedar forest, the Ziz Valley and the edge of the dunes at Merzouga.
- 9dayDay 9
Camels into the dunes
A visit to a nomad family, then a sunset camel ride to the desert camp.
- 10dayDay 10
A day in the Sahara
Sunrise, a buggy ride and sandboarding, Gnawa music in Khamlia and an evening at the riad.
- 11dayDay 11
Todra Gorge & the Dades
Walk in the Todra Gorge, then drive on to the Dades Valley.
- 12dayDay 12
Dades canyon hike
A morning hike in the red canyon and a free afternoon.
- 13dayDay 13
Skoura & Aït Benhaddou
A bike ride in the Skoura oasis, then the ksar of Aït Benhaddou at sunset.
- 14dayDay 14
Over the High Atlas
The Tizi n’Tichka pass and its Berber villages, arriving in Marrakech.
- 15dayDay 15
Marrakech
A guided visit of the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia and the souks, and Jemaa el-Fna at night.
- 16dayDay 16
To Essaouira
Drive to the coast with a stop at an argan cooperative, and walk the ramparts at sunset.
- 17dayDay 17
Ocean day
A surf or kitesurf lesson, or a horse ride on the beach towards Sidi Kaouki.
- 18dayDay 18
Back to Marrakech
A last morning in the port, then the drive back to Marrakech for your flight.
What’s included in this 18 day Morocco tour
Included
- 17 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
- Local guide for the guided visits
- 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
- Night 1Riad in Rabat
- Night 2Riad in Chefchaouen
- Night 3Riad in Chefchaouen
- Night 4Riad in Chefchaouen
- Night 5Riad in Fes
- Night 6Riad in Fes
- Night 7Riad in Fes
- Night 8Riad in Merzouga
- Night 9Desert camp
- Night 10Riad in Merzouga
- Night 11Riad in Dades Valley
- Night 12Riad in Dades Valley
- Night 13Guesthouse in Aït Benhaddou
- Night 14Riad in Marrakech
- Night 15Riad in Marrakech
- Night 16Riad in Essaouira
- Night 17Riad in Essaouira
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
March to May and late September to November are best: green hills in the Rif, mild days in the Sahara and warm sea air in Essaouira. Summer is very hot in the desert, and winter brings rain to the north and cold nights in the camp.
- JanPossible
- FebGood
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunPossible
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepGood
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGood
What to bring for this trip
- Walking shoes with grip for Akchour
- Light rain jacket for the Rif
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the mosque and medinas
- Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
- Warm layer for the desert night
- Headtorch for the camp
- Small overnight bag for the camp
- Windproof jacket for Essaouira
- Swimsuit for the ocean day
- Sun hat and sun cream
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.
18 Day Morocco Tour: your questions
Where does the 18 day Morocco tour start and end?
It starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech. Flying into one city and out of the other saves a day of driving back.
Is the 18 day Morocco tour too much driving?
No. Free days in Chefchaouen, Fes and the Dades break up the road, and only the day from Fes to Merzouga is long, with stops on the way.
How many nights in the desert on the 18 day Morocco tour?
One night in a desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi and one night in a riad at the edge of the dunes. We can add a second night in the camp.
Can the 18 day Morocco tour be private?
Yes – every itinerary on our site is a private tour on your dates, with your own driver and local guides. We adapt the stops and the riads to you.
Can we add more beach time to the 18 day Morocco tour?
Yes. We can replace the Marrakech day with a third night in Essaouira, or extend the trip by a few days on the coast.
What our travellers say
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…
Activities on this trip
Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.
Quad & buggy ridesDay 10 – A day in the SaharaDetails →
Camel & horseback treksDay 9 – Camels into the dunesDetails →
Desert camping & stargazingDay 9 – Camels into the dunesDetails →
Cycling & mountain bikingDay 13 – Skoura & Aït BenhaddouDetails →
Hiking & trekking adventuresDay 3 – Akchour waterfalls hikeDetails →
Surf & kitesurf experienceDay 17 – Ocean dayDetails →Optional activities
Add one or more of these to your 18-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.
Optional · extraHot air balloon rideSunrise flight before or after your tripSee the activity →
Optional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →
Optional · extra4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad familiesSee the activity →Optional · extraKite surfing lift-offKitesurf lesson in windy EssaouiraSee the activity →Optional · extraWindsurfing adventureWindsurfing sessionSee the activity →
Optional · extraCultural explorationExtra guided visit with a local guideSee the activity →Request this 18-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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