11 Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca — Private Grand Tour
A private 11-day route from Casablanca through Rabat, a full day in Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, a guided day in Fes, one night in the Sahara at Merzouga, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, and a guided day in Marrakech.
By Aziz Karaoui, Co-Founder & Morocco Travel Expert at Desert Morocco Tour · Updated September 12, 2026
More Time to Experience Morocco, Not Just Pass Through It
This 11-day private itinerary from Casablanca is built around giving a few key stops real time rather than treating every city as a single overnight. Chefchaouen gets a full day on its own, not a rushed afternoon between drives. Fes gets a full guided day through its medina, tanneries and workshops. The route then drops south through the Middle Atlas to Merzouga for a night in the Sahara, before returning north through the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, and a second guided day in Marrakech.
The extra day compared with a 10-day circuit goes specifically to Chefchaouen — the difference between glimpsing the blue medina in passing and actually spending a morning in the Kasbah Museum or walking up to the Ras el-Maa waterfall before the crowds arrive.
Request Your Personalized Quote
Share your travel dates, group size and accommodation preference, and a local travel specialist will come back with a tailored price for this route.
The Full Itinerary
Casablanca Arrival
Met by your private driver at the airport for a short sightseeing stop at the Hassan II Mosque — built out over the Atlantic on its own promontory, with a 210-metre minaret that was among the tallest in the world for many years. Check into your hotel for the night.
Casablanca — Rabat — Chefchaouen
In Rabat: the Kasbah of the Oudayas overlooking the Bou Regreg River, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Hassan Tower — the unfinished remains of a 12th-century mosque project. Continue north into the Rif Mountains, arriving in Chefchaouen by evening.
Exploring Chefchaouen
A full day at your own pace in the blue medina: Uta el-Hammam Square, the Kasbah Museum inside a 15th-century fortress, and a walk up to the Ras el-Maa waterfall. This is the day the extra time on an 11-day itinerary buys you compared with a rushed one-night stop.
Chefchaouen — Volubilis — Meknes — Fes
South to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Roman site with mosaics, columns and archways among the olive groves. Continue to Meknes for the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the royal granaries, and Bab Al Mansour, the monumental gate commissioned during Moulay Ismail's reign, before arriving in Fes.
Volubilis is inscribed as "an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town" — UNESCO World Heritage
Guided Tour of Fes
A local guide leads a walking tour through the Fes medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. See the exterior of the Royal Palace, the tanneries where leather is still dyed by hand, pottery workshops, and the souks. The afternoon is free to rest at your riad.
Fes has "retained its status as the country's cultural and spiritual centre" — UNESCO World Heritage
Fes — Ifrane — Midelt — Erfoud — Merzouga
South through the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, known for its alpine-style architecture, then Midelt for lunch. Continue through Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops, before reaching Merzouga in the afternoon. This is one of the longer driving days on the route — approximately 6-7 hours with stops.
Exploring Merzouga & Camel Trek into the Sahara
Visit Rissani, once linked to the Alawite dynasty, and the fortified village of Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim. Continue to Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music. In the afternoon, camel trek (or 4x4 transfer, if preferred) into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset, arriving at a desert camp for a traditional dinner under the stars.
Erg Chebbi — Todra Gorges — Dades Valley
An early wake-up for sunrise over the dunes, then a return to Merzouga before continuing to the Todra Gorges — canyon walls rising steeply above the valley floor, popular with rock climbers. Continue through the Dades Valley, known for unusual rock formations, arriving in the afternoon.
Dades Valley — Ouarzazate — Ait Ben Haddou — Marrakech
Depart for Ouarzazate, often called the gateway to the Sahara, with an optional stop at a nomad village along the way. Continue along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified ksar that has appeared in films including Gladiator and The Mummy. Cross the High Atlas to Marrakech.
Called "a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco" by UNESCO World Heritage
Guided Tour of Marrakech
A guided walk through the Saadian Tombs, the Majorelle Garden, the Koutoubia Mosque exterior, the Bahia Palace, and the souks, finishing at Jemaa el-Fna square in the afternoon.
Marrakech — Casablanca
The return drive to Casablanca takes around 2.5-3 hours, ending at Mohammed V International Airport for your departure flight, or at your accommodation if that suits your onward plans better.
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi
One night is spent at a desert camp near Merzouga, reached by camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
- Rissani and Khamlia visited on the way in, adding context before the dunes
- Camel trek into the dunes, with a 4x4 transfer available for travelers who'd rather not ride
- Traditional Berber music and dinner at the desert camp
- An early option to catch sunrise over the dunes before continuing
- Sandboarding available at the camp
10 Days or 11 Days in Morocco?
| 10-Day Route | This 11-Day Route | |
|---|---|---|
| Chefchaouen | Often a single evening/morning | A full dedicated day |
| Pace | More compact, tighter connections | Slightly more breathing room |
| Best for | Travelers with tighter time budgets | Travelers who want real time in Chefchaouen without adding a coastal extension |
If you'd like to add Essaouira or the Atlantic coast on top of this, look at our longer Grand Tours — 13-14 days gives room for a coastal stop without cutting time elsewhere.
What "Private Tour" Means on This 11-Day Journey
- A private vehicle for your party only — no other travelers share your car
- The same driver-guide with you for the full 11 days
- Licensed local city guides in Fes and Marrakech, in addition to your driver
- Stops can be adjusted with your driver as you travel
- Accommodation reserved specifically for your booking
"Private" doesn't mean every element of a confirmed itinerary can change spontaneously — accommodation and guided-tour timing are booked in advance. What it does mean is that your pace, stops, and day-to-day flexibility aren't shared with strangers or fixed to a group departure calendar.
Traveling Morocco Responsibly
Local guides lead the Fes and Marrakech city tours, and the Khamlia stop puts income directly into that community. We ask travelers to be mindful of water use in the desert, avoid leaving waste on the dunes or in the gorges, and ask before photographing people directly. See our Responsible & Sustainable Tourism in Morocco page for more detail.
Is This 11-Day Morocco Itinerary Right for You?
First-Time Visitors
A full circuit with real time in Chefchaouen and Fes, not just a highlights list.
Couples & Photographers
The extra Chefchaouen day rewards travelers who want to actually explore rather than photograph and move on.
Culture-Focused Travelers
Volubilis, Meknes, and two full guided medina days add depth beyond the standard route.
Families
Manageable, though Day 6 (Fes to Merzouga) is a long driving day worth discussing in advance.
Travelers wanting a much slower pace, or who want to add the Atlantic coast, may prefer 13-14 days instead. Flying home on Day 11 in the evening rather than the morning gives a little more breathing room after the Marrakech-Casablanca drive.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation
Hotels in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Merzouga and the Dades Valley, plus riads in the medinas of Fes and Marrakech. Specific properties are confirmed with your booking; mention any preference or upgrade request when requesting your quote.
Meals
Breakfast is included daily. Dinner is included at the desert camp in Merzouga and at your hotel in the Dades Valley — check with your travel specialist whether dinner is included on other nights for your specific booking, since this can vary by accommodation. Lunches are not included, giving you the flexibility to choose where to eat along the way.
What's Included & What's Not
Included
- Private air-conditioned modern 4WD/minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Daily hotel pick-up and drop-off with luggage service
- 10 nights' accommodation in riads, hotels & a desert camp
- Daily breakfast, plus dinner at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley
- Guided tours in Fes and Marrakech with a local guide
- Camel trek in the Sahara Desert (4x4 alternative available)
- Sandboarding in the dunes
Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Tipping
- Lunches
- Personal expenses
Entrance fees: please confirm current policy directly, as our pages aren't fully consistent on whether entrance fees to monuments are included — ask your travel specialist to confirm this for your specific proposal before booking.
Customize Your 11-Day Morocco Journey
This route can be adjusted around your arrival and departure flights, accommodation category, pace, dietary requirements, and specific interests — a hammam afternoon, a cooking class, extra photography stops, or an extra night somewhere you'd like more time. An Essaouira extension can also be added if you'd like to extend the trip.
How Much Does an 11-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca Cost?
There's no single fixed price published for this route, because cost depends on group size, travel dates, accommodation category, and the vehicle needed for your party. Request a quote with your dates and group size, and you'll receive a full breakdown to compare against other operators.
How to Book
- Submit your inquiry with travel dates and group size
- Confirm traveler details and accommodation preference with your travel specialist
- Receive a personalized itinerary and price proposal
- Approve the itinerary, adjusting anything you'd like changed
- Confirm your booking — ask your travel specialist about the exact deposit and cancellation terms that apply to your dates
Where This Page's Facts Come From
- UNESCO — Archaeological Site of Volubilis — official World Heritage listing.
- UNESCO — Medina of Fez — official World Heritage listing.
- UNESCO — Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou — official World Heritage listing.
FAQs — 11-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca
Is 11 days enough to see Morocco?
Eleven days is enough for a full northern-to-southern circuit with a genuine full day in Chefchaouen and one night in the Sahara, without feeling rushed. It won't allow extended time in any single region, so if you want to add the Atlantic coast or a slower pace, 13-14 days works better.
Where does this itinerary start and finish?
The itinerary starts and ends in Casablanca.
Is this a completely private tour?
Yes. You travel with your own driver-guide and vehicle for the full 11 days — no other travelers are added to your car.
Does this itinerary include a full day in Chefchaouen?
Yes. Day 3 is spent entirely in Chefchaouen at your own pace, rather than passing through on the way to somewhere else.
Is Fes guided?
Yes, a full day with a licensed local guide through the Fes medina, tanneries, and workshops.
How many nights are spent near the Sahara?
One night is spent at a desert camp near Merzouga, with a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
Do I have to ride a camel?
No. The camel trek is part of the standard itinerary, but a 4x4 transfer to the desert camp can be arranged instead if you'd prefer not to ride.
How long are the driving days?
Most days combine a few hours of driving with sightseeing stops. Day 6 (Fes to Merzouga) is the longest, at roughly 6-7 hours with stops in Ifrane, Midelt and Erfoud.
What accommodation is included?
Hotels in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Merzouga and the Dades Valley, plus riads in Fes and Marrakech. Upgrades can be requested when you submit your quote.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included daily, with dinner included at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley. Lunches are not included.
Is this itinerary suitable for families?
Yes, though Day 6 involves a long drive worth discussing in advance if traveling with young children.
Can the route be customized?
Yes — accommodation, pace, and specific stops can all be adjusted, and an Essaouira extension can be added if you'd like to extend the trip.
How much does the tour cost?
Cost depends on group size, travel dates and accommodation preference, so we provide a personalized quotation rather than a fixed listed price.
How is this different from Desert Morocco Tour's 10-day Casablanca itineraries?
The extra day here goes specifically to a full Chefchaouen day rather than a rushed stop. If you're comparing lengths, our 10-day itineraries move faster through the north; ask your travel specialist which fits your priorities better.
Start Planning Your Morocco Tour.
This itinerary can also be shortened, extended, or adjusted — send your dates and questions and we'll help you find the right length for your trip.