Merzouga Desert Journey
Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara
Grand Morocco in 14 Days
From Marrakech
From Fes
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Luxury desert camps
Nights under the stars
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9-Day Tour from Tangier to Marrakech and Essaouira
All of the classic route from Tangier to Marrakech, with an Atlantic ending. After the desert and the High Atlas you spend a guided day in Marrakech and then drive through argan country to Essaouira for a night of sea air and grilled fish, before we bring you back to Marrakech.
Best for: Mountains, desert and a slow end by the sea.
Highlights
- Tangier, Cap Spartel and Chefchaouen
- Volubilis, Meknes and Fes
- A night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Todra Gorge and Aït Benhaddou
- Guided Marrakech
- Essaouira's ramparts and fishing harbour
Day by day
Day 1Arrival in Tangier
Welcome at the port or airport and a guided afternoon: the medina, the Kasbah museum, the American Legation and the cliff-top views over the Strait of Gibraltar. Night in Tangier.
Day 2Tangier – Chefchaouen
Into the Rif mountains to the blue town. Afternoon exploring the Kasbah, Place Outa el Hammam and the artisans' lanes.
Day 3Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Morning in the quiet blue medina before the drive south. At Volubilis a local guide walks you through the best-preserved Roman city in Morocco, with mosaics still in place. In Meknes you see Bab Mansour, the grandest gate in the country, and El Hedim square. You reach Fes in the late afternoon.
Day 4Fes guided day
A full day in Fes el-Bali, the largest car-free medina in the world, with an official local guide. Bou Inania madrasa, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university founded in 859, the Nejjarine fountain, the Chouara tanneries seen from a leather-shop terrace, and the golden gates of the Royal Palace. Free time in the souks before dinner.
Day 5Fes – Ifrane – Azrou cedars – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
A long and beautiful drive across the Middle Atlas: Ifrane with its alpine roofs, the cedar forest of Azrou where Barbary macaques live, lunch in Midelt below the High Atlas, then the Ziz Gorges and a ribbon of date palms down to Erfoud. At Merzouga you swap the car for a camel and ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for sunset. Dinner, Berber drums by the fire and a night in your private tent.
Day 6Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Sunrise from the top of a dune, then breakfast at camp. In Rissani, the old caravan capital of the Tafilalet, you walk the local souk. The road follows palm oases to the Todra Gorge, where you walk between cliffs up to 300 m high. Evening in the Dades Valley among red rock formations.
Day 7Dades – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Marrakech
The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs: the Roses Valley, the palm oasis of Skoura and Kasbah Amridil, then Ouarzazate, Morocco's film capital. At Aït Benhaddou you climb through the UNESCO-listed ksar seen in Gladiator. In the afternoon you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) and reach Marrakech by evening.
Day 8Marrakech guided morning – Essaouira
A guided morning in Marrakech, then west through argan forests to Essaouira on the Atlantic. Sunset on the Skala ramparts.
Day 9Essaouira – Marrakech
A free morning in Essaouira's galleries and harbour, then the drive back to your riad in Marrakech, where the journey ends.
Where you'll stay
These are our usual choices. If one is full on your dates we book a place of the same standard, and you can ask for an upgrade.
Price per person
| Room | Per person |
|---|---|
| Double or twin, 2 sharing | €1,940 |
| Triple room, 3 sharing | €1,590 |
| Quadruple, 4 sharing | €1,360 |
| Single room, travelling alone | €3,590 |
Prices include your private car and English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip. Your exact quote depends on dates, group size and hotel level, and we confirm it within 24 hours.
What's included
Included
- Private air-conditioned car with your own English-speaking driver-guide
- 8 nights in riads, a private desert camp and a Dades Valley hotel
- Breakfast every day
- Dinner at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley
- Official local guides in Volubilis, Fes and Marrakech
- Camel ride into the dunes, one camel per person
- Passenger insurance in the vehicle
Not included
- Flights
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Questions about this journey
Is this a group tour?
No. Every Oasis Roads journey is private: your own car and English-speaking driver-guide, no strangers, up to 7 travellers per car.
Can we stay longer in Essaouira?
Yes, many guests add a second night by the sea.
Can we change the route or add nights?
Yes. Because the tour is private, we can add a night, swap a stop or change the end city. Tell us when you ask for your quote.
More journeys
Desert, Atlas & Essaouira
Medina, mountains, two Sahara nights, Ouarzazate and a night by the Atlantic.
From €1,940 per person
Imperial Cities & the Sahara
A round trip from Casablanca: Rabat, Fes, the dunes, the kasbahs and Marrakech.
From €1,940 per person
Tangier, Fes & the Sahara
An unhurried week from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Sahara and Marrakech.
From €1,720 per person
Where will your road begin?
Tell us your dates and who's coming. Abdou or one of the team will send you a route and a price within 24 hours.