How to choose a Morocco tour: start with your arrival city
The simplest way to narrow down Morocco itineraries is to begin with where you land and where you fly home from. Each city suits a different kind of route:
| Arrival city | Best for | Typical tours |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | Short desert trips and loops through the south | 2–5 day desert tours, 7–9 day routes to Fes and the north |
| Fes | Desert crossings ending in Marrakech | 2–7 days via Merzouga |
| Casablanca | Long-haul arrivals and complete grand tours | 5–16 days, north to south |
| Tangier | Ferry arrivals from Spain and the north | Chefchaouen day trip, 2–15 days |
One-way routes, for example Casablanca to Marrakech or Marrakech to Fes, avoid backtracking and usually make the best use of your time. Every private itinerary can be adjusted to your flights.
How long should a Morocco trip itinerary be?
- 2–3 days: a desert tour from Marrakech or Fes. Two days reaches Zagora or makes a fast return trip from Fes to Merzouga; three days is the minimum from Marrakech to the high Erg Chebbi dunes.
- 4–6 days: a one-way desert crossing between Marrakech and Fes, with time for a 4x4 excursion in the dunes and stops in the gorges.
- 7–9 days: the classic combination of the imperial cities, Chefchaouen, the Sahara and Marrakech, at a brisk pace.
- 10–12 days: the same highlights with full guided days in Fes and Marrakech, and often a day on the coast at Essaouira.
- 14–16 days: a relaxed grand tour adding Asilah, Tangier, extra nights in Chefchaouen and the desert, or the south-west via Taroudant.
For worked examples, see our 10 and 14 day Morocco itineraries. A useful rule: allow at least one full day without driving for every three or four days on the road.
Morocco tour highlights by region
- Imperial cities: the Fes el-Bali medina (UNESCO), Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech with Jemaa el-Fna and its souks.
- The north: blue-washed Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, Tetouan and Tangier on the Strait of Gibraltar.
- The Atlas: the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, Berber villages around Imlil, and the cedar forests and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas.
- The south: Aït Benhaddou (UNESCO), Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses, the Dadès and Todra gorges and the Drâa Valley palm groves.
- The coast: Essaouira's walled port, Asilah and Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque.
Few itineraries include everything, so it helps to pick two or three priorities and let the route follow from them.
Morocco desert tours: what every Sahara trip includes
Almost every multi-day route includes the desert. On most tours that means Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes, reached either from Marrakech over the High Atlas via Aït Benhaddou and the Dadès Valley, or from Fes across the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the Ziz Valley.
You ride camels to the camp for sunset, subject to camel availability that day; if none are free, you reach camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop on the dunes and ride the next morning. In the comfort camp each tent is private, normally for two people, with its own bathroom and toilet, and a partner camp with air-conditioned tents is also used. Erg Chebbi has many camps, so a completely isolated wild bivouac is not something we organise; instead, two nights can combine a camp near a nomad village with a comfort camp.
Read more in our Merzouga and Sahara desert guide, or compare deserts in Merzouga vs Zagora.
Private, shared, group or student: which tour package suits you?
- Private tours: your own vehicle and driver-guide, your pace and your choice of comfort or luxury accommodation. Best for couples, families and anyone who wants flexibility.
- Shared desert tours: 3-day departures from Marrakech, returning to Marrakech or ending in Fes, with other travellers, a fixed schedule and an English-speaking driver. Good for solo travellers and tighter budgets.
- Private group tours: for friends, extended families, clubs or colleagues travelling together; see private group tours in Morocco.
- Student tours: educational packages for schools and universities.
What packages cover
As described on each tour page, packages cover transport and accommodation during your stay in Morocco; international flights are not included. Merzouga has no luxury hotel category, only comfortable, well-run hotels, so on luxury tours the upgrade applies in the Dadès Valley and at the desert camp. To get a quote, send your dates, group size and interests on WhatsApp or through the form.