9-Day Morocco Tour From Marrakech: Imperial Cities and Sahara
9-Day Morocco Tour From Marrakech: Imperial Cities, Sahara and Kasbahs
Nine days to experience the very soul of Morocco. This grand loop from Marrakech links the four imperial cities with the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the cedar forests of the Atlas, the gorges of the south and the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, where you ride a camel at sunset and sleep in a Berber camp under a sky full of stars.
This 9-day Morocco tour from Marrakech is built for travellers who want history, culture, mountains and desert in one authentic journey. You begin with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the royal monuments of Rabat, continue to Meknes and Volubilis, and spend a full day in the Fes medina, the largest car-free old city in the world. Then you cross the Middle Atlas towards the Sahara.
The second half of the tour is wilder. After a night in the dunes of Merzouga you follow the gorges of Todra and Dades, drive the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, explore Ait Ben Haddou and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass back to Marrakech. A guided day in the red city completes the loop, and you finish with free time before your transfer to the airport.
- Duration9 days, 8 nights
- Start and endMarrakech
- Imperial citiesRabat, Meknes, Fes, Marrakech
- Desert nightBerber camp in Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
- Guided daysFes medina and Marrakech medina
- Best forFirst visit, couples, friends, families
9-Day Morocco Tour Highlights
- See the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, rising over the Atlantic
- Discover Rabat: the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas
- Visit Meknes, with the Bab Mansour gate and the royal granaries, and the UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis
- Spend a full day in Fes el-Bali with a local guide: Al-Qaraouiyine, Bou Inania Medersa and the tanneries
- Cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Azrou and its cedar forests
- Ride a camel over the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleep in a Berber camp under the stars
- Walk below the towering cliffs of the Todra Gorge and into the Dades Valley
- Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses and visit Ait Ben Haddou
9-Day Morocco Itinerary: Marrakech to Marrakech
A grand loop that heads north to the imperial cities first, then turns south for the Sahara and the kasbahs. Marrakech bookends the trip, so you start and finish in the same city.
Day 1: Marrakech to Casablanca and Rabat
We pick you up in Marrakech and head for Casablanca, where you admire the majestic Hassan II Mosque, rising over the Atlantic. From there we continue to the capital, Rabat, a calm, green city that is a pleasant change after the intensity of Marrakech.
In Rabat you discover the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, perched above the river and the ocean.
Day 2: Rabat to Meknes, Volubilis and Fes
Drive to Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, with its monumental Bab Mansour gate and vast royal granaries. Nearby, explore the UNESCO-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, where mosaics and columns still stand in the middle of olive groves and wheat fields.
We then continue to Fes, the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco, and settle in for two nights.
Day 3: Fes: a full day in the medina
Spend the day in Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest car-free medina, with a local guide. You visit the Al-Qaraouiyine, one of the oldest universities in the world, the Bou Inania Medersa and the famous tanneries.
You then lose yourself in the maze of artisan souks, where metalworkers, weavers and leather craftsmen still work as they have for centuries.
Day 4: Fes to Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt and Merzouga
Leave Fes and cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane, an alpine style town in the mountains, then continue through the cedar forests of Azrou, where wild monkeys often wait beside the road. The landscape slowly dries out as you pass Midelt and follow the Ziz Valley towards the Sahara.
In Merzouga you reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi, board your camel and trek across the sand for sunset. Your Berber camp waits in the middle of the dunes, under a sky full of stars.
Day 5: Merzouga to Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
Wake for a spectacular sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, travel via Rissani and Tinerhir to the towering cliffs of the Todra Gorge, where the canyon narrows around a cool oasis stream.
We then continue to the Dades Valley, with its dramatic rock formations and kasbahs, where you spend the night.
Day 6: Dades, Valley of Roses, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou
Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses at Kelaa M’Gouna and the green palm grove of the Skoura oasis. The road leads to Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert and a town known for its film studios.
In the afternoon we reach Ait Ben Haddou, where the golden fortified village glows in the evening light and the crowds of the day fade away.
Day 7: Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka and Marrakech
Explore the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou in the morning, climbing through its narrow lanes to the granary at the top for views over the valley and the palm grove. This UNESCO site is one of the most photographed kasbahs in the country.
We then cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m, before descending to Marrakech for the night.
Day 8: Marrakech: a full day in the red city
Enjoy a guided tour of the red city: the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the vibrant souks. The day ends in the buzzing Jemaa el-Fna square, where storytellers, musicians and food stalls come alive at dusk.
It is the ideal contrast after the silence of the desert.
Day 9: Departure from Marrakech
Enjoy some free time in Marrakech, perhaps for a last stroll through the souks or a mint tea on a rooftop terrace. It is also a good moment to buy the crafts you noticed along the way. We then organise your transfer to the airport, and your journey ends with nine days of memories and a very full camera roll.
Why Book This 9-Day Morocco Tour With Visit the Desert
All four imperial cities and the Sahara
Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, plus Volubilis, a camel trek and a night in a Berber camp, in one single loop.
Local guides where it counts
The Fes and Marrakech medinas are explored with a local guide, so you understand what you are looking at and never get lost.
Start and end in Marrakech
You begin and finish in the same city, which makes flights simple and keeps luggage organised.
What Is Included in the 9-Day Morocco Tour
Included
- Pick-up in Marrakech at the start of the tour and transfer to the airport on day 9
- Transport by vehicle with a professional driver for the whole route
- Overnight accommodation for 8 nights, as listed in the itinerary
- One night in a Berber camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Camel trek over the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Local guide for the Fes medina and the guided tour of Marrakech
Not included
- Lunches
- Personal expenses
- Tips for your driver and guides
Good to Know Before You Go
A tour with real distance
Some days are long, especially Fes to Merzouga and Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech. The two full days in Fes and Marrakech balance the schedule.
Pace and flexibility
If you prefer a slower trip, we can add a night in Fes, Merzouga or Marrakech. Tell us your priorities and we adapt the route.
Best seasons
March to May and September to November offer the most comfortable weather. Summer is very hot inland, and winter nights can be cold in the mountains and the desert.
What to pack
Comfortable shoes for the medinas, layers for the Middle Atlas and the desert evening, sun protection and a small bag for the camp night.
Dress respectfully
Light, loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees are best in the medinas and religious areas, and a scarf is useful in the desert wind.
Plan Your 9 Days in Morocco
Choose your travel dates in the booking form on this page, or message us to add a night, change the pace or adjust the camp.
9-Day Morocco Tour: Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the 9-day Morocco tour start and end?
The tour starts in Marrakech with a pick-up and heads to Casablanca and Rabat on day 1. It ends in Marrakech on day 9, with a transfer to the airport after some free time.
Which cities and sights are included?
The route links Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech. It is a full loop through the imperial cities, the Middle Atlas, the Sahara and the High Atlas.
How many nights are spent in the Sahara?
One night, in a Berber camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. You ride a camel across the dunes at sunset and wake up for the sunrise the next morning.
Is a guide included in the Fes and Marrakech medinas?
Yes, the itinerary includes a local guide for the full day in Fes el-Bali and a guided tour of Marrakech on day 8. The guides explain the monuments, the souks and the history of each city.
Are there other Morocco tours of similar length?
Yes, if you prefer to start in Casablanca, look at our 9-day Imperial Cities tour. For a different mix, we also offer a Sahara to Chefchaouen route.
Is 9 days enough to see Morocco?
It is a good length for a first visit, with the imperial cities, the desert and the kasbahs. If you want more time, we can add nights in Fes, the desert or Marrakech, or look at our 10-day classic Morocco tour.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a long trip that combines cities, mountains and desert. Summer is very hot inland, and winter nights are cold in the mountains and the desert, so tell us your dates.
Can I change the itinerary?
Yes. We can add nights, switch the camp, slow the pace or build a custom route from your priorities. Contact us with your plan and we propose the best version.
