7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca: Bab Bou Jeloud gate and the old medina of Fes
7 days · Cities, north & desert

7 Days in Morocco Starting in Casablanca

Most flights land in Casablanca, so start there: the coast and Rabat, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the medina of Fes and the Sahara, before flying home from Marrakech.

See the day-by-day route
7 days / 6 nightsStarts in CasablancaEnds in MarrakechPrivate tour
Casablanca→Rabat→Chefchaouen→Fes→Ifrane→Merzouga→Todra Gorge→Dades Valley→Aït Benhaddou→Marrakech

About this 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca

Spending 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca lets you see the north, Fes and the Sahara. You land on the coast and fly home from Marrakech.

First, you visit the Hassan II Mosque and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat. Then you drive to Chefchaouen and hike in the hills above the blue town. After that, a guided day in Fes shows you its madrasas and tanneries. Next, you cross the Middle Atlas and ride camels to a desert camp. Finally, you sandboard at sunrise, walk in the Todra Gorge and visit Aït Benhaddou. We plan these 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca as a private trip, on your dates.

Highlights of this 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca

  • Hassan II Mosque
  • Rabat & the Kasbah of the Udayas
  • Chefchaouen’s blue lanes
  • Morning hike above Chefchaouen
  • Guided day in Fes
  • Camel ride & desert camp
  • Sandboarding at sunrise
  • Todra Gorge & Aït Benhaddou

7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Casablanca & Rabat

    The Hassan II Mosque in the morning, then Rabat: the Hassan Tower, the royal mausoleum and the Kasbah of the Udayas.

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

    Up to Chefchaouen

    North into the Rif to the blue town, with a sunset walk to the Spanish Mosque.

    On the road: about 4–4.5 hStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Rif hike & on to Fes

    An early hike in the hills above Chefchaouen, then south through olive country to Fes.

    On the road: about 3.5–4 hStay: Riad in Fes
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Fes medina

    A guided day in the medina: the Karaouiyine, the Bou Inania madrasa, the tanneries and the craftsmen.

    Stay: Riad in Fes
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Middle Atlas to the Sahara

    Through Ifrane and the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, and a camel ride at sunset to the desert camp.

    On the road: about 7–8 h with stopsStay: Desert camp
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Sandboarding & the Todra Gorge

    Sandboarding at sunrise, then a walk in the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley for the night.

    On the road: about 5 h with the walkStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    Aït Benhaddou & Marrakech

    The ksar of Aït Benhaddou, then over the Tichka pass to Marrakech.

    On the road: about 5–6 h with stops

What’s included in this 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca

Included

  • 6 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

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 Fes
  4. Night 4Riad in Fes
  5. Night 5Desert camp
  6. Night 6Riad in Dades Valley

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

April, May, September and October suit the north, the cities and the desert at the same time. Winter brings rain to the Rif and cold camp nights, and summer is very hot in the Sahara.

  • JanPossible
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayBest
  • JunPossible
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepGood
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecPossible

What to bring for this trip

  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the mosque and Fes
  • Walking shoes with grip for the Rif hike
  • Light rain jacket for the north
  • Scarf or cheche for the desert
  • Warm layer for the desert night
  • Headtorch for the camp
  • Small overnight bag for the camp
  • Sunglasses 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.

7 Days in Morocco Starting in Casablanca: your questions

Where do we meet when starting 7 days in Morocco in Casablanca?

At Casablanca airport or your hotel. The first visit is the Hassan II Mosque above the ocean.

Does this 7 days in Morocco starting in Casablanca route end in Casablanca?

No, it ends in Marrakech, which has many international flights. If you must fly from Casablanca, we drive you there on the last day, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Marrakech.

Is there time to visit Fes properly?

Yes – you have a full guided day in the medina of Fes, plus an evening walk on arrival.

How long is the drive from Fes to the Sahara?

About 7 to 8 hours with stops in Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz Valley, arriving at Merzouga in time for the sunset camel ride.

Can we visit Volubilis on this route?

Yes, we can add it on the way to Fes; it makes that day longer, so some guests prefer to add an extra night instead.

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

●●●●●

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
Quick request

Request this 7-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
Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 5 – Middle Atlas to 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
Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 5 – Middle Atlas to 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
Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 2 – Up 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
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
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
Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

Optional extra: Quad or buggy in the Agafay desert or the palm grove

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
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
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
Authentic culinary experiences
Moroccan experience

Authentic culinary experiences

Optional extra: Food tour or cooking class

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
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
WhatsAppPlan my trip