5 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca: the route
Most five-day trips from Casablanca skip either the north or the desert. This one fits in both by finishing in Fes rather than Marrakech, which keeps the Sahara section within reach.
| Day | Route | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casablanca – Rabat – Rif Mountains – Chefchaouen | Hassan II Mosque (exterior, time permitting), Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V | Chefchaouen riad |
| 2 | Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes | Roman mosaics, Bab Mansour, guided Fes medina walk | Riad in the Fes medina |
| 3 | Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga | Cedar forest, macaques, Ziz palm grove | Hotel at the edge of the dunes |
| 4 | Merzouga and Erg Chebbi | Nomad family, Gnawa music, sunset camel trek | Desert camp |
| 5 | Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Fes | Sahara sunrise, Middle Atlas | Drop-off in Fes (not included) |
Approximate driving including stops: day 1 around 6 hours, day 2 around 4 to 5 hours plus the medina walk, days 3 and 5 around 8 to 9 hours each. Day 4 has no highway driving.
Is a 5 day tour from Casablanca the right fit?
This route suits travellers who fly into Casablanca with only five days and want the three things Morocco is most famous for in the north: the blue city, an imperial medina and the dunes. It is ambitious, so it works best for travellers who are comfortable with a few long drives. Ending in Fes is convenient if you fly home from Fes-Saïs Airport or continue north by train.
Alternatives from Casablanca
- 7 day itinerary from Casablanca: adds the kasbah route and Marrakech, finishing in the south.
- 10 day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca: the same northern section at a slower pace, plus the gorges, Aït Benhaddou and Marrakech.
You can browse every option on private tours from Casablanca. If you have a day before the tour, our Casablanca travel guide suggests what to see.
Chefchaouen, Volubilis and the Fes medina in two days
Day 1 runs up the Atlantic coast to Rabat, Morocco's capital, then climbs into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. You arrive in the late afternoon with the evening free to wander the blue lanes and Plaza Uta el-Hammam after the day visitors have left.
Day 2 starts with early photos in Chefchaouen, then heads south to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a short stop at Bab Mansour in Meknes. You reach Fes by mid-afternoon, where a licensed local guide leads you through Fes el-Bali, also UNESCO-listed: the Chouara Tannery, coppersmiths' workshops and the exterior of Al Quaraouiyine. Entrance fees at Volubilis and in the medina are paid separately. For more on these cities, read our guide to Fes and Meknes.
The Sahara desert part of your tour from Casablanca
On day 3 you cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, then descend through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga for a night in a hotel by the dunes. Day 4 is spent entirely in the desert: a 4x4 trip to visit a nomad family, Gnawa music in Khamlia and, in the late afternoon, a camel ride of about an hour and a half into Erg Chebbi for sunset and a night at camp.
The camel ride depends on camel availability that day; if none are free, you reach camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop on the dunes and ride the camels the next morning. In the comfort camp each tent is private, normally for two people, with its own bathroom and toilet; a partner camp with air-conditioned tents is also used. Merzouga hotels are comfort category only, so a luxury booking upgrades the camp and city riads.
Season, packing and practical tips for 5 days in Morocco
- Best seasons: spring and autumn. Summer is pleasant in Chefchaouen but very hot in the desert; winter brings rain in the Rif, possible snow around Ifrane and cold desert nights.
- Packing: layers, a warm top for the camp, a scarf, sun protection and comfortable shoes for steep, cobbled medinas.
- Money: the dirham (MAD) is a closed currency; withdraw cash at the airport for lunches, dinners in Chefchaouen and Fes, entrance fees and tips, none of which are included.
- Etiquette: dress modestly in villages and ask before photographing people.
Included: transfer from Casablanca to Fes in a private air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide, four nights' accommodation, four breakfasts, two dinners in the Sahara, the camel trek and a local guide in Fes. International flights and travel insurance are not included.