Desert Tours to Morocco in the wide expanse of the Sahara
FROM: USD $1,605 pp

Depart from Casablanca, explore the capital Rabat, fascinating Fes, impressive Ait Benhaddou and spend the night in the beautiful Sahara and explore the marvels of Marrakech - all in 9 intoxicating days!

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates
Hotels
COVID Safe Guide
Reviews

Trip Highlights

Marrakech – Wander around the UNESCO-listed medina, mosque, palaces and souks
Rabat - Enjoy a guided tour of the capital of Morocco
Volubilis – Marvel at UNESCO-listed Roman ruins
Erg Chebbi sand dunes - Spend a night camping under the stars in the Sahara
Ait Benhaddou - Encounter the UNESCO Listed ancient kasbah
Casablanca - Explore Morocco's largest city and visit the famous Hassan II Mosque
Meknes - Discover this great Imperial City
Fes – Discover the oldest medieval city in the world and visit its dye pits and tanneries
Todra Gorge - Admire the towering red canyon

Included

Breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 3 dinners inclusive of a traditional Berber meal at our Sahara camp
Guided sightseeing - Casablanca, Rabat, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech
Escorted by a licensed English speaking Moroccan tour guide
Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 9
All road taxes and tolls
7 nights 3-4 star hotels and traditional riads. 1 night camping at a Berber desert camp in the Sahara Desert (hotel upgrade available)
Camel trek into the Sahara Desert
Specialist local guides at some sites
All transportation and transfers in private air-conditioned tourism vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Entrance Fees: USD$70-90pp, paid in local currency
Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow USD$2-3 per day, per traveller for your guide and USD$1-2 per day, per traveller for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
Tipping Kitty: USD$40-50pp, paid in local currency

Itinerary

Day 1

Casablanca

Saturday. Upon arrival at Casablanca airport you’ll be met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Casablanca

Day 2

Marrakech City Tour

Casablanca - Marrakech. This morning after breakfast we head to Marrakech to meet the rest of the group before embarking on a guided city tour of Marrakech. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the city.
Overnight: Marrakech  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Ait Benhaddou - UNESCO World Heritage Listed

Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate. Departing the city this morning we travel across the plains of haouz and reach the great High Atlas mountains. Climbing over the pass of Tizi n Tichka, we stop for lunch and then continue onwards with great views over the Mountains and valleys to Ait Benhaddou. This incredible ancient fortified Kasbah was built for defence purposes high on a hill and is a stunningly well preserved medieval city which has famously featured in many blockbuster movies, including Gladiator and Laurence of Arabia as its beauty is unequal to any other fortified kasbah in south Morocco. Carrying on we continue south to the Hollywood of North Africa – Ouarzazate (pronounced war-zazat). Ouarzazate is famous for being the filming location for many other Hollywood blockbusters and famous TV shows including James Bond – The Living Daylights, The Mummy and more recently Game of Thrones.
Overnight: Ouarzazate  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Camel trek into the Sahara

Ouarzazate - Todra Gorge - Merzouga (Sahara). This morning we begin our journey into the Sahara with a medley of palm trees, rose fields and magnificent gorges. Travelling from Ouarzazate, there is a possibility of visiting the kasbah Amherdhil in Skoura before seeing the rose fields and reaching scenic Todra Gorge. Surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs reaching heights of 1000ft, it is known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. After time to wander through Todra we hit the road again for Merzhouga – our base before we head into the Sahara. Depending on the time of year, spend the afternoon relaxing and swimming before climbing aboard our camels for an incredible trek into the Sahara Desert to watch a beautiful sunset and spend the night at our remote Berber Camp, nestled amongst the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi. We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night camping in the Sahara.

If you would prefer the comfort of a hotel with en-suite facilities this evening, opt for our Sahara hotel alternative at no additional cost. Please do let us know your preferred option at the time of booking.
Overnight: Berber Camp  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

Fes

Merzouga (Sahara) - Fes. Departing early, we climb back on our camels disembarking for a truly stunning sunrise. After freshening up and breakfast in Merzouga we’re back on the road heading for Fes. It’s a long drive today however there is a lot to see on the way. We’ll pass through cedar forests full of Barbary Macaque monkeys on our way through the Moyen Atlas mountains. Just before Fes we stop at Ifrane – a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort. Along the way we also start to see our first glimpse of Morocco’s nomadic Berbers – travelling across the mountains and often staying in make shift tents as they head to their next destination. We arrive into Fes in the early evening.
Overnight: Fes  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6

UNESCO listed Fes el Bali, dye-pits & tanneries

Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world and its medina is a cacophony of aromas, sights and sounds. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el Bali - the old walled city. This fascinating medina is a veritable rabbit warren of 9400 alleys that often finish with dead ends – so be sure to stay close to the group! We also visit the dye-pits and tanneries before lunch in the medina. The remainder of the day is at leisure – why not take part in an optional Tagine Making Class or a night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town (both payable locally).
Overnight: Fes  |  Breakfast

Day 7

Volubilis & Meknes

Fes - Volubilis - Meknes - Rabat. Departing Fes this morning we visit the fascinating UNESCO listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, which date back to AD40. Continuing on we stop at the Imperial City of Meknes, which became known as the Versailles of Morocco due to its impressive buildings and elaborate monuments. After lunch and some free time our final stop of the day is Rabat – Morocco’s capital where we overnight.
Overnight: Rabat  |  Breakfast

Day 8

Rabat & Casablanca

Rabat - Casablanca. This morning we take a guided tour of Rabat and visit some of the capital’s highlights, including the impressive Chellah - a necropolis and complex of ancient, medieval ruins, the Royal Palace and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After lunch we continue to Casablanca where we visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and is the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. After our visit to the mosque we say goodbye to our fellow passengers continuing on to Marrakech and check in to our hotel in Casablanca.
Overnight: Casablanca  |  Breakfast

Day 9

Our amazing tour ends

Sunday. Casablanca - Our amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. An included onward departure transfer to airport will be provided.
Breakfast

Need to start your tour in Marrakech?

If you find that Marrakech is the better airport for you to fly to and from then why not check out our Totally Morocco tour. The start dates and duration is the same and you'll still visit everything the same as what's included in this tour.

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to those who don’t have anyone to share a room with or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.

Read More
Easter departure, book early!
Easter Departure
This is a special departure which coincides with the Geminids Meteor Shower. For details please see the trip notes for additional arrangements on this tour.
Geminids Meteor Shower
Please note this tour departs on a Tuesday.
Tuesday departure
New Year's departure, book early!
New Year's Departure
Available
Contact us to book
Not Available
2022
Twin Share
Single Room
USD $1,605
USD $2,095
09 Apr - 17 Apr Easter departure, book early!
Easter departure, book early!
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
16 Apr - 24 Apr Easter departure, book early!
Easter departure, book early!
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
USD $1,605
USD $2,095
USD $1,605
USD $2,095
10 Dec - 18 Dec This is a special departure which coincides with the Geminids Meteor Shower. For details please see the trip notes for additional arrangements on this tour.
This is a special departure which coincides with the Geminids Meteor Shower. For details please see the trip notes for additional arrangements on this tour.
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
27 Dec - 04 Jan Please note this tour departs on a Tuesday.
Please note this tour departs on a Tuesday.
New Year's departure, book early!
New Year's departure, book early!
USD $1,675
USD $2,195
2023
Twin Share
Single Room
USD $1,605
USD $2,095

Extra Prices

Twin Share
Single Room
Post Tour Accommodation - Casablanca
USD $125
USD $175
Pre Tour Accommodation - Casablanca
USD $125
USD $175

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

Hotel Diwan , Casablanca

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Located close to the city centre, Hotel Diwan is a contemporary hotel just a short walk from the main train station. The modern guest rooms are air conditioned with flat screen TVs and en suite facilities. The onsite restaurant offers a buffet breakfast every morning as well as an array of international cuisine in the evenings for dinner. The hotel also has an on site gym, spa and complimentary wi-fi is available.

Hotel Club Val D’Anfa , Casablanca

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Located between the sea and Anfa mount, Hotel Club Val d’Anfa is in one of the most prestigious residential districts of Casablanca. Combining warm colours, ceramic tiles and fine wood, the interior decor was inspired by Amazigh art. The attractive guest rooms contain all the modern amenities needed for your stay and face either the sea, hotel gardens or the Casablanca Corniche. Boasting three restaurants, two bars, a fitness centre, spa and pool - there's certainly plenty to keep guests entertained.

Adam Park Hotel & Spa, Marrakech

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Guests can expect a very comfortable stay at the Adam Park Hotel & Spa. Each of the elegant rooms feature a patio or balcony with views of the surrounding area. Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. Several restaurants offer a variety of options including Italian specialities, Moroccan favourites and international cuisine. There are also plenty of ways to unwind after a day exploring Marrakech, with an outdoor pool, fitness centre and a spa offering rejuvenating massage treatments.

Riad dar Chamaa , Ouarzazate

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: Standard Riad

In the classic kasbah style, Riad dar Chamaa is set within the Ouarzazate palm grove with fantatsic views of the surrounding Atlas mountains. All guest rooms are air conditioned with en suite facilities. They are designed in a classic Moroccan riad style with marble floors. The riad boasts a beautiful central courtyard and a refreshing outdoor pool complete with sun loungers for relaxing. The riad also boasts a tea lounge, restaurant and pool bar.

Desert Camp, Merzouga

Our Category: Simple   |   Regional Category: Standard Camp

Set amongst the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi, the Berber camp is designed with a traditional Moroccan theme. The permanent tents include multiple beds and electricity (after night fall) Camping out in the desert is a wonderful experience, due to the lack of light pollution, the stars come out in abundance and really are a sight to behold.

Hotel Atlas Saiss Fes, Fes

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Hotel Atlas Saiss Fes is a popular 4 star hotel, conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from Nouvelle Ville. The hotel offers spacious and comfortable guest rooms, equipped with free WiFi, flat screen TVs, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms. Facilities include a restaurant, 24 hour room service and a sauna (at an additional cost). Start the day with a generous continental breakfast before heading out to explore the enchanting imperial city of Fes. After a busy day, relax on the hotel terrace, enjoy a tasty meal at the restaurant or rejuvenate in the sauna.

Riad Dar Alia, Rabat

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: Standard Riad

Boasting a fantastic location, just a short walk from the entrance to the Kasbah of the Udayas, Riad Dar Alia is wonderful choice for a stay in the capital. It offers a number of uniquely decorated rooms in a traditional Moroccan style. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property and a restaurant serves a variety of Moroccan specialities.

Le Pietri Urban Hotel, Rabat

Our Category: Standard   |   Regional Category: 3 Star Hotel

In the heart of Rabat, Le Pietri Urban Hotel is a modern accommodation popular with business travellers and tourists alike. Guest rooms are tastefully furnished with excellent en suite facilities. The hotel also has a restaurant and a beautiful terrace so you can soak up the Moroccan sun whilst having your breakfast. Well located in the centre of Morocco's capital Rabat.

Reviews

Travellers have rated this tour as 4.62 out of 5 based on 34 recent reviews

1  |  2  |  3  |  4

I couldn’t recommend a guide more highly than Jamal. He was always watching after us and making sure that all our needs were met. He went above and beyond his duties many times. Above all he has a wonderful sense of humor, warmth and a great deal of knowledge. He made our holiday and because of him I would book with On the Go Tours again!

• Submitted 24 Aug 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

If I had to pick one word to describe my trip to Morocco it would be amazing. A large part of this is due to our tour guide Abdellatif and driver Solaiman. They went above and beyond in every aspect. From the start of the trip Abdellatif was waiting for me at the airport even after my flight was delayed. This level of service remained throughout the entire trip. He was always available to answer questions, provide tips, translate, and everything in-between. They took us to restaurants that they normally go to which provided us with local food and atmosphere. Even when driving in the bus the tour did not stop. Abdellatif would play local music and share stories to help us feel immersed. On one particular day we even made a stop along the way to meet a nomad family (which was not part of the tour). This is just another example of them going above and beyond to help us leave with a deeper understanding of the culture. This trip would not have been nearly as informative, cultural, and fun were it not for Abdellatif and Solaiman. To top it all off I felt completely safe throughout the trip both while on and off the buss.

• Submitted 04 Aug 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

When I signed up for this trip I was a little hesitant due to the general warnings that I saw about travelling through Morocco as well as the large amount of time this tour spends on the road. This was completely forgotten after the first day due to our tour guide Abdell. His friendly nature and immense knowledge of Moroccan culture made me feel at ease and allowed me to enjoy myself without any worries. He went above and beyond what I would expect from a good tour guide, whether it be having frequent stops on the road to point out interesting cultural facts, sites that were not included in the travel plan or picking up local specialities here and there for us to try.

I can honestly say that at some point during the tour I completely forgot that I was on a guided tour, it felt like I was just on a bus with friends travelling through Morocco and that is what really made this tour for me. This has been the best experience of my life and I just wanted to take the time to thank your company for having such great staff. I don't think I would have enjoyed myself anywhere near as much as I did if it wasn't for Abdell.

If all of your guides are like this then I cant wait to book my next trip!

• Submitted 09 Jul 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

Hisha was great. He went above and beyond to make sure that all travellers in the group were comfortable and happy. The tour was so well organised and had a nice itinerary that was so varied. There was something to appeal to everyone's interests. I enjoyed every stop on the tour. The accommodations were wonderful.The camp out in the Sahara Desert was amazing and beautiful.

I loved the entire tour.

• Submitted 11 Jun 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

The tour allowed us to get a good overview of Morocco in a relatively brief amount of time, at a reasonable cost. Hotels were well-located, and there was a good balance of modern with more traditional accommodation.

Our guide was patient and personable. He seemed to establish a good rapport with everyone in our group.

• Submitted 31 May 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

My family and I recently went to Morocco with On the Go. From the moment our tour started to well after it ended, our guide, Hicham, made sure the group was well looked after. Taking us city to city (or kasbah to kasbah as the case may be), sharing his knowledge on the culture and history, Hicham guided us on an amazing adventure through Morocco. When I decided to stick around to travel solo after the family trip, he provided great insight and made sure I got to where I needed to go. At all times I felt that Hicham went out of his way to take care of us and all our needs with a huge smile on his face. I had an amazing time in Morocco and would well recommend On the Go, particularly Hicham, to others.

• Submitted 16 Apr 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

Hicham was an excellent guide, knowledgeable, courteous, cheerful and helpful - overall, the sort of guide you'd wish for on every tour! Our driver, Sliman, gave us every confidence when he negotiated mile upon mile of difficult roadworks in the High Atlas and fog, rain and low cloud in the peaks.

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. It was great to see so much of the country and have it all explained so well.

Overall, thank you for an enjoyable trip.

• Submitted 07 Apr 2019
Tour
Guide
Country

We have never done a tour before but we wanted to cover a lot and were not comfortable driving ourselves such distances in a country where we didn't know the culture. It was a great choice; we covered so much more than we would have been able to do by ourselves. Morocco is a surprisingly diverse country and the tour does a good job covering it - from the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara to the coast. Our guide Aziz was fantastic. The group was small and everyone was friendly. We built up a great camaraderie over the trip and the group of people and fun we had together added to the experience. Already considering our next tour.

• Submitted 02 Jan 2019
Tour
Guide
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This was my first group tour and also my first visit to Morocco and the experience completely exceeded my expectations. The 9 day tour was well planned with pleasant, comfortable and clean hotels and Riad experiences as well as delicious tasty Moroccan food! Three highlights for me was visiting Ait Ben Haddou (the ancient Kasbah), the overwhelming Sahara adventure (trekking via camel during sunset into the desert) and the experience of travelling with a diverse group, with an excellent tour guide (Lhoucine Ouzaouit). Lhoucine ensured that we saw and experienced the beauty of Morocco and he always went out of his way for the group. His sense of humour, calmness and respectable nature added to the overall pleasant experience. Thank you On the Go Tours and thank you Lhoucine for taking extra good care of us!

• Submitted 18 Dec 2018
Tour
Guide
Country

What an experience my first visit to Morocco was. With many thanks to Lhourcine who was so informative and helpful for our 9 day adventure making it a trip to remember. I believe Lhourcine went the extra mile to make all of our group feel truly at ease and in awe of his beautiful country.

• Submitted 13 Dec 2018
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Guide
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1  |  2  |  3  |  4

In Brief

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Casablanca
Ends
Casablanca
Departs
Saturdays
Group Size
Min 4 / Max 24
Hotel Rating
4 star hotels & traditional riads
Tour Guide
Yes - escorted by a tour guide
Meals
Breakfast: 8, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 3
Visiting
Casablanca, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Fes, Rabat
Countries
Purple sky behind the city of Casablanca
Click to play videoBeautiful sky over the famous Djemaa el Fna in Marrakech
City walls of Ouarzazate
Shadows of camels on the sand in Merzouga
Click to play videoMulti-coloured tanneries in Fes
Fishing boats in a line outside of Rabat, Morocco's capital
Purple sky behind the city of Casablanca
Purple sky behind the city of Casablanca

Extra Tour Info

Visiting the Sahara
Our guide to visiting the Sahara Desert in Morocco
Updated
14th March 2019

I couldn’t recommend a guide more highly than Jamal. He was always watching after us and making sure that all our needs were met. He went above and beyond his duties many times. Above all he has a wonderful sense of humor, warmth and a great deal of knowledge. He made our holiday and because of him I would book with On the Go Tours again!

Leanda Howell
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