somoroccotours@gmail.com
We create unforgettable journeys across Morocco, from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert. Our team of local experts designs authentic tours that blend culture, adventure, and comfort.
somoroccotours@gmail.com
+212 658 850 181
Nr 554 Anassi 4 Casablanca 20540 Morocco
17 Days
English
Casablanca
Some trips only show you a few postcards of Morocco. This 17 days Morocco tour from Casablanca, however, is designed for travelers who want to see the whole country properly. Planned by So Morocco Tours as a private and unhurried journey, it links all four imperial cities. Along the way, it also crosses the Rif and Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic coast. First, the route heads north from Casablanca to Rabat, Tangier and Chefchaouen. Then it turns inland to Meknes and Fes, crosses the Middle Atlas to Merzouga, and loops back over the High Atlas to Marrakech. Finally, it reaches Essaouira on the coast before returning to Casablanca.
At the heart of the trip, you’ll ride a camel across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Then you’ll sleep in a private desert camp under a sky full of stars. Around that unforgettable Sahara night, the itinerary also includes Roman ruins, cedar forests with wild monkeys and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In other words, it’s a Morocco desert tour and a journey through the country’s oldest cities, all in one trip.
Just as importantly, every detail can be adjusted to suit you, including the pace, the hotels and the stops. Is 17 days longer than you need? If so, we also offer shorter versions of this route through our tours from Casablanca, tours from Marrakech and tours from Fes. Alternatively, we can turn it into a fully private Morocco tour built around your travel dates.
Welcome to Morocco! Your 17 days Morocco tour from Casablanca begins as soon as you land at Mohammed V International Airport. First, your So Morocco Tours driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you into Morocco’s largest city. If time allows, you’ll then stop at the Hassan II Mosque. It stands on the edge of the Atlantic, and its minaret is 210 meters tall. In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. For example, you can try classic dishes such as couscous, tagine and pastilla, a sweet and savory pie.
After breakfast, you’ll drive north along the coast to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Here, you’ll see the Hassan Tower, an unfinished 12th-century minaret that has become the symbol of the city. Next, you’ll walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas, a 12th-century citadel with whitewashed lanes and blue doors. From its walls, you can see the Bou Regreg River meet the Atlantic. Before leaving, you’ll also stroll through its peaceful Andalusian Gardens.
Afterward, the road continues to Tangier, a port city shaped for centuries by trade between Europe and Africa. Once there, you’ll explore the Kasbah, where the sultans once lived. Then you’ll wander the medina’s narrow lanes of cafés, art galleries and small shops selling leather and spices. If time allows, you’ll finish at Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and at the nearby Caves of Hercules. Finally, the day ends with fresh seafood at a restaurant by the water.
Today’s short drive winds south through the Rif Mountains, past rolling green hills and small farming villages. Soon you’ll reach Chefchaouen, one of the most photographed towns in Morocco and a true highlight of any 17 day Morocco itinerary. After checking in, you’ll have time to wander the blue-painted alleys that give it the name “Blue City.” With its artisan shops, quiet courtyards and mountain views, Chefchaouen feels calm after the busy cities of the first two days.
Today is entirely yours to enjoy at your own pace. For example, you might spend the morning in the blue medina, visit the Kasbah Museum, or browse the local markets for handwoven blankets and crafts. Later, for the best view in town, you can walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hill above the medina. In the afternoon, relax at a rooftop café with mint tea and mountain views. It’s the perfect break before the next stage of your Morocco tour from Casablanca.
Leaving Chefchaouen, you’ll first drive to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was once one of the most important towns of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana. Its floor mosaics show myths, animals and scenes of daily Roman life, and they are among the best preserved in North Africa. Meanwhile, the standing columns of the Basilica show how large the city once was.
Next, you’ll continue to Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. Because it’s the least visited of the four, it feels much less crowded. Here you’ll see the monumental Bab Mansour gate, often called one of the most beautiful gateways in North Africa. You can also visit the Heri es-Souani royal granaries, which Sultan Moulay Ismail built to store food for thousands of horses. By early evening, you’ll arrive in Fes, the cultural heart of Morocco, and settle in with a traditional dinner.
Fes deserves a full day, and today you’ll have one. With an expert local guide, you’ll explore the ancient Medina of Fez, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Here, daily life has changed little in centuries. Highlights include Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Bou Inania Madrasa and the famous tanneries, where leather is still dyed by hand using traditional methods. In addition, you’ll visit the workshops of potters, weavers and metalworkers. As a result, Fes becomes one of the most immersive stops on your whole trip.
This morning, you’ll leave Fes and climb into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Your first stop is Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” because of its alpine-style houses and cool, clean air. From there, you’ll continue to the cedar forests near Azrou. During a short walk, you might even meet a troop of wild Barbary macaques. Later in the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Midelt, a quiet mountain town. You’ll spend a peaceful night here before heading to the desert.
Today’s drive follows the Ziz Valley, where palm groves and small traditional villages line the river below the road. Eventually, you’ll reach Merzouga, the highlight of every great Morocco desert tour. At the edge of Erg Chebbi, you’ll swap your vehicle for a camel. Then you’ll ride out across the dunes as the sun sets over the Sahara. Tonight, you’ll stay in a private desert camp, where a traditional Moroccan dinner is followed by Berber music around the fire.
Set an early alarm, because sunrise over the dunes is one of the best moments of the trip. After breakfast, you’ll explore the desert at a relaxed pace. First, you’ll visit Khamlia village, known for its Gnawa music and warm hospitality. For lunch, you might try Berber pizza, a stuffed flatbread cooked the traditional local way. Then the afternoon is yours, so you can choose sandboarding, a 4×4 desert excursion or quad biking across the Sahara.
Leaving the Sahara behind, you’ll stop first in Rissani, the historic gateway to the desert. It is also the ancestral home of Morocco’s ruling Alaouite dynasty. Its souk is one of the liveliest and most authentic in the south. In fact, traders still sell spices, dates and handmade goods there much as they have for generations.
Afterward, you’ll continue to Todra Gorge, where limestone cliffs rise up to 300 meters on both sides of a narrow river canyon. Rock climbers come here from around the world; however, a short walk along the canyon floor is just as rewarding. Finally, the day ends in the Dades Valley, on the famous Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, where clay fortresses line the winding road. Here you’ll also see rock formations nicknamed “Monkey Fingers” because of their unusual shapes. Tonight, you’ll sleep in one of the most photogenic landscapes on the route.
Today’s route first passes through Ouarzazate, known as the “Door of the Desert.” It’s home to Atlas Film Studios, one of the largest film studios in the world. In fact, films such as Gladiator shot their desert scenes here.
Next, you’ll visit Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar (fortified village) built from rammed earth. It once stood on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Its towers and narrow alleys have appeared in dozens of films and TV series, including Game of Thrones. As you walk through it, you’ll see how desert communities built their homes for defense as much as for daily life.
From Ait Benhaddou, the road then climbs into the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. At 2,260 meters, it’s the highest major mountain pass in Morocco. Along its switchbacks, viewpoints look down over deep valleys. You’ll reach Marrakech by evening, ready to rest after a full day on the road.
A guided day in Marrakech covers all of the city’s essentials. You’ll see the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, the ruins of the 16th-century Badi Palace and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and then explore the winding souks. As evening falls, Jemaa el-Fnaa square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers. Thanks to its history, architecture and constant energy, this day is a highlight of your 17 days Morocco itinerary. If you’d rather base your whole trip here, our tours from Marrakech cover many of the same routes in reverse.
Today’s excursion to the Ourika Valley is a refreshing break from city life. The drive passes through green countryside and small Berber villages on the way to Setti Fatma. There, you can take a light hike to the waterfalls or simply relax by the river over lunch. Because it’s so close to the city, it’s also one of the most popular Atlas Mountains escapes from Marrakech. You’ll return to Marrakech by evening.
Today, you’ll head west to the coast and Essaouira, a laid-back fishing town with a UNESCO-listed medina. On the way, you may see goats climbing argan trees, and you can stop at a women’s argan oil cooperative. Once in Essaouira, you’ll have time to explore the harbor, walk the beach and enjoy fresh seafood. After so many inland cities, the ocean breeze is a welcome change on your Morocco travel itinerary.
Today has no fixed plans, and Essaouira is the ideal place for that. For instance, you could walk the Skala de la Ville sea ramparts or browse the markets for thuya wood crafts. Later, you might sit in a café overlooking the ocean. Similarly, the long sandy beach is perfect for a quiet walk. Overall, it’s one of the best places on the whole route to slow down before heading back to Casablanca.
Today you’ll follow the Atlantic coast north to Casablanca. Along the way, you can stop in Oualidia, a small coastal town known for its lagoon and oysters. You can also visit El Jadida, whose Portuguese City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also pause at scenic viewpoints over the ocean. In the evening, you’ll arrive in Casablanca for your final night in Morocco.
Finally, your driver will take you to Casablanca Mohammed V Airport for your flight home. Your 17 days Morocco tour from Casablanca ends here. We hope this journey through Morocco’s cities, mountains, desert and coast showed you what makes the country so special. Everyone at So Morocco Tours looks forward to welcoming you back.
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We create unforgettable journeys across Morocco, from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert. Our team of local experts designs authentic tours that blend culture, adventure, and comfort.
Nr 554 Anassi 4 Casablanca 20540 Morocco
