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Marrakech Desert Tour 12 Days / Coast, Imperial Cities & Sahara
Planning a 12 days desert tour from Marrakech? Day by day itinerary covering Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, the Merzouga dunes, Ait Ben Haddou & back to Marrakech.
About This Tour
12 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech: Overview
This Marrakech Desert Tour 12 days includes more than just a Sahara adventure. But we have arranged all of the activities in a way that will not seem too hectic for you.
After two days of exploring Marrakech, we travel down to the Atlantic coast to Essaouira, then proceed northwards following the coast by the route of El Jadida to Casablanca. The next phase takes us to the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes and Fes, and afterwards to Merzouga, through the Middle Atlas mountains of Ifrane and Midelt. This journey includes a camel ride and a night spent in a nomad tent in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
The return route runs via the Todra Gorge, passes by the Dades Valley and Ouarzazate and finally ends up at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, then back again through the High Atlas and the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech, ending up with a last day of shopping.
If you are considering this 12 days Sahara desert tour from Marrakech over an 8-day or 6-day version, then this would be our recommendation.
Why Book This 12 Days Marrakech Sahara Desert Tour
Our 12 days sahara desert tour from marrakech is organized as a private tour, driven and guided, rather than as a pre-arranged group tour, which allows for all activities and pauses according to your interests. This period of time will be sufficient to include everything in your typical Moroccan tour – imperial cities, Atlantic coast, Sahara sand dunes and mountain passes – and not omit anything from the list of main attractions. Guides in Marrakech, Fes and in the desert, as well as our drivers and transportation, make the whole tour managed by our crew only.
Marrakech Desert Tour 12 Days Gallery
Highlights of This 12 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech
Here’s what makes this Marrakech Desert Tour 12 days so memorable:
- Marrakech: Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Jemaa el-Fna.
- Essaouira: Fortified medina, craftsmen's souks, Portuguese-era beaches.
- El Jadida: The historic Portuguese cistern.
- Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the Islamic world.
- Rabat: Hassan Tower, Royal Palace, Kasbah of the Udayas.
- Fes: Medersas, souks, and the Karaouine Mosque, the world's oldest university.
- Ifrane & Midelt: Cedar forests with free-roaming Barbary monkeys.
- Ziz Valley: Palm oasis on the road to Erfoud, capital of fossils.
- Erg Chebbi: 4x4 dune exploration, camel trek, and a night under a nomad tent.
- Todra Gorge & Dades Valley: Dramatic canyon walls and rock formations.
- Ait Ben Haddou: UNESCO kasbah and Hollywood film location.
- Tizi n'Tichka Pass: High Atlas crossing through Berber mountain villages.
Itinerary: 12 Days Marrakech Sahara Desert Tour
Day 1 : Marrakech Airport
Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport your guide will meet you and take you directly to your riad in the Medina in your own private, air-conditioned transport (approximately 20-30 minutes depending on traffic).
If you get here earlier, we can arrange your first tour in Marrakech, which could be a walk through the local souks and other sites with a tour guide, or you can have free time to explore around Jemaa el-Fnaa, drink mint tea on a rooftop terrace with views of the Koutoubia Mosque, or just relaxing after your journey for the second day of 12 days Morocco tour.
Accommodation: Riad in Marrakech
Day 2: A whole day in Marrakech
If you were having a tour guide in Day 1, then you would have a free day today. If not, then you would be taking a private tour in the most visited places in Marrakesh from your riad after breakfast.
The tour start with Majorelle Garden, the blue villa and cactus garden previously owned by Yves Saint Laurent, and move on to the serene Menara Gardens, with the reflecting pool and Atlas Mountains as background. See the ornately decorated Saadian Tombs; Bahia Palace, with its beautiful painted cedar ceiling and courtyard gardens; Dar Si Said Museum, home to the traditional Moroccan arts; and the Koutoubia Mosque of the 12th century (viewed only from the outside, as non-Muslims cannot enter).
After the guided tour you are free for the rest of the afternoon with no dinner included in the trip, therefore we recommend having your dinner in Jemaa el-Fna square, which is buzzing with energy during the nighttime.
Accommodation: Riad in Marrakech (breakfast included)
Day 3 : Marrakech – Essaouira Beach
After breakfast. We will take a beautiful road trip to Essaouira, which will last from 2.5 to 3 hours, and during this journey, we will be going through argan trees with their famous goats climbing up into the branches to feed – they always make a good picture.
When we get to the laid-back Atlantic port town of Essaouira, you will have all day to explore its listed medina where there is an abundance of wood craftsmen and jewelers who work in white-washed streets with blue shutters. We suggest exploring the ramparts and Skala du Port for views of the sea and port, eating some fish at the market and relaxing at the beach since Essaouira is windy all year round and attracts many windsurfers.
Accommodation: Riad in Essaouira (breakfast included)
Day 4 : Essaouira – El Jadida- Casablanca
We will then drive northwards along the coastline for approximately 4 hours including a break. We will show you the unique Cité Portugaise at El Jadida which features the remarkable Portuguese cistern dating back to the 16th century – an important place in filming Othello by Orson Welles. This takes you to Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco. You will check in and spend your time visiting the Corniche or Ain Diab beach frontage.
Accommodation: Hotel in Casablanca (breakfast included)
Day 5 : Casablanca-Rabat- Fes- Meknès
We will begin your tour with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, which is one of the biggest mosques in the world, but one of the very few mosques in Morocco that allow tourists of other religions inside.
You will see the minaret of this mosque rising up to the height of 210 meters above the Atlantic. Then we will drive for an hour to the Moroccan administrative capital of Rabat and show you the not yet completed Hassan Tower, Mohammed V Mausoleum, Royal Palace, and Kasbah of the Udayas with views over the river.
Next, we will go for about 2.5 hours to Meknes, driving through the famous Bab Mansour gate, and finally for an hour to Fes.
Accommodation: Riad in Fes (breakfast included)
Day 6 : A whole day in Fez
Today, we will give you a private guided tour of the historical district of Fes el Bali, considered the spiritual home of Morocco, and the world’s oldest and largest area of car-free city in the world.
Our first destination will be the Bou Inania and Attarine Madrasas, with their beautiful tiles and cedar carvings; the gate of the Royal Palace with its brass-studded wooden doors; and the Mosque and University of Karaouine, founded in 859 AD, and widely believed to be the oldest university still operating today.
We will take a tour of the souks, which are still divided according to trades as in ancient times, and the tanneries of Chouara.
Accommodation: Riad in Fes (breakfast included)
Day 7 : Fez To Merzouga Desert Via Midalt
This is considered a longer day of driving in this 12 days Sahara Desert tour from Marrakech, completing around 8-9 hours with stops to rest and stretch your legs, but the views during the journey are worth it all.
We will see Ifrane, the village with steep alpine roofs often nicknamed “the Switzerland of Morocco,” then we will visit Azrou, where the cedar forests are located, known for wild Barbary macaques that come near the road. We will go through the Middle Atlas towards the Ziz Gorges and the palm groves of the Ziz Valley and arrive in Erfoud, known for fossils in Morocco.
Then we go over the hamada to Merzouga, where the Moroccan mint tea will be prepared for you in the hotel or riad with panoramic views of the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. After this longer drive, you can rest, and dinner is included today.
Accommodation: Hotel or riad in Merzouga (dinner and breakfast included)
Day 8 : Merzouga Erg Chebbi Tour
We earmarked a day for you to truly get acquainted with the Sahara Desert. Our program includes an early excursion by 4×4 to the Erg Chebbi dunes where we’ll visit tiny villages near the dunes, meet nomads who live there in their camel herds and stop at fossil mines where trilobites are still carved out of the rocks. Should you wish, we could also visit Khamlia and listen to Gnaoua music performed by descendants of families who have settled there eons ago.
When the sun starts setting, you will ride on camels into the desert to catch the sunset from on top of the dunes. Dinner will be served under the stars at our Sahara desert camp, where you may witness a drumming session around the campfire.
Accommodation: Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (dinner & breakfast included)
Day 9 : Merzouga –Todra Gorge- Dades Valley- Ouarzazate
We’ll wake you early, before sunrise, so you won’t miss the brilliant flare of the sun rising over the Dunes (a deep, glowing orange as it turns the sands into a shimmer of gold) before back on the camels to drive to the hotel for a hearty breakfast and hot shower before we hit the road again.
We’ll stop in Rissani so you can wander around its busy, vibrant market, known as the biggest in southern Morocco, with good prices and selections of dates and spices, then to the Todra Gorge, where 300-meter cliffs squeeze to within a few meters of each other, a half-hour walk along the river is superb.
Then we’ll pass the Dades Valley, with its unique monkey finger rock formations, and the Skoura palm grove to overnight in Morocco’s “Hollywood” in Ouarzazate, the Moroccan gateway for the sand.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ouarzazate (dinner & breakfast included)
Day 10 : Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
After breakfast, we will take a trip of 30 minutes to Ait Ben Haddou. It is an international landmark site and one of the finest examples of traditional mud-brick design found in Morocco.
We will take you along the walls of red soil bricks. Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Game of Thrones are a few films that have featured this site. Then, we will travel through the Tizi n’Tichka pass that is 2260m high, which is a licensed road in North Africa. You will see the Berber settlements on the mountain slopes while returning back to your hotel in Marrakech in the evening.
Accommodation: Riad in Marrakech (breakfast included)
Day 11 : Marrakech City Tour
Today is the final day of this 12-day tour of Morocco, and you can enjoy it to the fullest; this day is all yours! Many visitors spend it shopping in the souks around Jemaa el-Fna — from leather goods to colorful lanterns, rugs, and spices.
If you would prefer to relax, you could also spend the day at a local spa, or you could travel out of the city instead. We can arrange for you to tour the Ourika Valley — located at the foot of the Atlas mountain range — or visit the Ouzoud waterfall! If you let us know what you’d like to do, we will be available throughout the day to help with recommendations, spontaneous visits.
Accommodation: Riad in Marrakech (breakfast included)
Day 12 : Marrakech Airport Transfer
Following breakfast, we will transfer you to Marrakech Menara Airport. We will be in touch the night before your departure to confirm the exact time of your transfer, depending on your flight time. It has been great to introduce you to Marrakech and Morocco in this Marrakech Desert Tour – we hope to welcome you back here again!
Drop-off at your hotel or Casablanca airport
Note: Marrakech Desert Tour 12 days
This 12 days desert tour from Marrakech is private, meaning it’s just you and your driver-guide. There are no fixed groups or schedules, so we can modify your travel itinerary according to your budget, priorities, and dates of travel. You just tell us how you want your trip, and we will quote you a price depending on your party’s size, season of travel, and accommodation preferences.
The tour can start from any place that you think is suitable in Morocco, and if you desire a shorter tour of Morocco due to lack of enough time, different options like a 10 days tour or 9 days tour are available.
12 days Morocco tour Price: What's Included & Excluded
Here’s exactly what’s covered on your Marrakech Desert Tour 12 days:
Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Marrakech
- Comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle
- 11 nights' hotel/riad accommodation with breakfast
- 1 night in a Sahara nomad tent camp
- Private guided tours in Marrakech and Fes
- Camel trekking in Merzouga
- Sandboarding on the dunes (free, optional)
- 4x4 excursion in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- English/French/Spanish-speaking driver
- uel and road tolls for the entire route
Included
- International flights
- Entry fees
- Drinks and personal beverages
- Lunches and dinners (except where noted)
- Personal expenses and tips
- Travel insurance
- Optional desert activities (quad, buggy)
Route Map: 12 days desert tour from marrakech
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FAQ: 12 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech
Here are the most common questions travelers ask before booking our 12 days desert tour from marrakech.
Is 12 days enough time to see Morocco?
For most first-time visitors, yes. Twelve days gives us enough time to show you the imperial cities, the Sahara, the mountain passes and the Atlantic coast at a comfortable pace, rather than the rushed feel of a 6- or 8-day trip. If you only have a week, we’d suggest picking one region rather than trying to cover all of Morocco.
Can this 12-day itinerary be shortened or extended?
Yes, the pace and stop overs can be adapted for families, including shorter driving days and family friendly hotels.
What's the best time of year for 12 days Morocco tour?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable desert temperatures. Summer can be very hot in Merzouga; winter nights in the desert are cold.
Is airport pick-up and drop-off included?
Yes, pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or Marrakech airport is included in every 12 days desert tour from Marrakech.
Is it safe to travel to Morocco for 12 days?
Yes, Morocco is one of the most popular and secure countries in North Africa, and annually millions of people traveling through it. Throughout your trip, your private driver-guide will always be with you; you will have no trouble trying to understand the road signs or taking the buses by yourself; and we are just a call away.
Can this 12-day itinerary include Chefchaouen?
Yes. Chefchaouen is not on our usual 12 days desert tour from Marrakech, as it is more to the north, but we will happily replace one of our stops in the coast or imperial city for an extra day if you make sure to tell us when you get in touch. We will take care of it all!
How do I book this 12 days Morocco tour?
Just send us your travel dates and group size. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours to confirm availability and details. A small deposit will secure your booking.
How much does a 12 days desert tour from Marrakech cost?
As we operate this as a private trip with a driver instead of a set departure group tour, we price each 12 days Marrakech Sahara desert tour separately depending on your group size, dates of travel and the standard of accommodation you’d like – from budget simple guesthouses to boutique riads to high-end desert camp. Please contact us and we’ll send you a quote!
Is airport pick-up and drop-off included?
Yes, the pick up and drop off to your accommodation or Casablanca airport is included at the beginning and end of the tour.