Private Morocco tours · Sahara Desert specialists

Ait Ben Haddou above a green river valley under a clear sky – 8 Day Agadir to Casablanca Tour

8 Days / 7 Nights Private tour

8-Day Agadir to Casablanca Tour via Merzouga & Fes

From one Atlantic city to another by the inland route.

  • Private Tour
    Only
  • Local
    Driver-Guides
  • Comfortable
    Vehicles
  • Handpicked
    Accommodation
  • Fully
    Customisable

Tour overview

From Agadir to Casablanca in Eight Days

From one Atlantic city to another by the inland route. The tour climbs from Agadir through the Souss to the kasbahs of the south, spends two nights in Merzouga, and returns to the coast through Fes, Meknes, Volubilis and Rabat.

Our 8 Day Agadir to Casablanca Tour begins in Agadir and ends in Casablanca, covering about 1,620 km by road over eight days. Along the way you will experience the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a night in a desert camp, tea with nomad families and Gnawa music in Khamlia, the cedar forests and Barbary macaques of the Middle Atlas and a guided day in the medina of Fes. Each stop is a real visit on foot, with your driver-guide explaining what you are looking at and local people adding their own stories.

Accommodation is chosen for character and location rather than size: 7 nights in all, in riads and boutique hotels in the medinas and old towns, kasbah-style guesthouses in the southern valleys, comfortable hotels where they suit the route better and one night in a desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. You travel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, a 4x4 or a minibus depending on the size of your party, with an English-speaking driver-guide who knows these roads well. Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese-speaking guides are available on request.

It suits travellers who want to see more than one side of Morocco in a week or so, at a pace that leaves time to walk, take photographs and talk to people along the way. The longest day on the road is day 5, with 7.5–8 hours of driving; every other day is shorter, and all of them are broken up by visits and stops. Like all our tours it is fully private, so the plan below can be lengthened, shortened or rearranged to fit your dates.

  • Duration8 days / 7 nights
  • StartAgadir
  • EndCasablanca
  • Tour typePrivate tour
  • GroupJust your own party
  • LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese
  • TransportPrivate 4x4 or minibus with A/C
  • AccommodationRiad or boutique hotel, Kasbah-style guesthouse, Desert camp and Comfortable hotel

Highlights

Tour Highlights

  • Walk through the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
  • Explore the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
  • Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi at sunset
  • Spend a night in a Sahara desert camp
  • Tour the medina of Fes with a local guide
  • Visit Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes

Detailed itinerary

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1: Agadir – Taroudant – Taliouine – Tazenakht – Ait Ben Haddou

  • 370 km
  • 6 hours
  • Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou
  • Dinner
Argan trees in the Souss region of southern Morocco

Your journey begins with a drive up the Souss Valley from Agadir to Taroudant, where you walk along the walls and through the souks of this ochre town.

Then the road climbs to Taliouine, the heart of Moroccan saffron, for a visit to a cooperative and a cup of saffron tea, and on to Tazenakht, a town of carpet weavers.

In the late afternoon you reach Ait Ben Haddou and walk through the ksar before dinner and the night nearby or in Ouarzazate.

  • Taroudant inside its walls
  • Taliouine saffron
  • Carpet weavers of Tazenakht
  • Ait Ben Haddou
Day 2

Day 2: Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades Gorge

  • 130 km
  • 2.5 hours
  • Dades Valley
  • Breakfast and dinner
Kasbahs and palm gardens in the Dades Valley

A day of oases and kasbahs. In Skoura you visit Kasbah Amridil, a seventeenth-century fortress among the palm trees.

Kalaat M'Gouna and the Valley of Roses follow, with a stop at a rosewater cooperative.

In the afternoon you drive into the Dades Gorge to see the Monkey Fingers and the switchbacks, then have dinner at your guesthouse.

  • Skoura's Kasbah Amridil
  • Rose gardens of Kalaat M'Gouna
  • Hairpin road of the Dades Gorge
  • Monkey Fingers rocks
Day 3

Day 3: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Camel Trek

  • 260 km
  • 4.5–5 hours
  • Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
  • Breakfast and dinner
Riders on a camel caravan at sunset in the Merzouga desert

Before leaving the valley, see the Monkey Fingers on a short drive up the Dades Gorge, then continue east to Tinghir.

In Todra Gorge you walk along the river between sheer cliffs, before lunch nearby.

In the afternoon the land flattens and the dunes of Erg Chebbi appear after Erfoud. In Merzouga a camel takes you into the sand for sunset, and the night is at a desert camp.

  • Red cliffs of the Dades Gorge
  • Todra Gorge canyon walk
  • Into the dunes by camel at dusk
  • Night in a desert camp
Day 4

Day 4: Merzouga – Khamlia – Nomad Families – Erg Chebbi by 4x4

  • 60 km
  • about 2 hours, off-road
  • Merzouga
  • Breakfast and dinner
A traditional nomad tent in the desert near Merzouga

Morning in the Sahara starts early, with the sun rising over the dunes as you watch from a high ridge. Breakfast is at camp, and then you go back to Merzouga by camel or 4x4.

Your driver-guide then shows you the area by 4x4: the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the dark plain of the black desert, the old lead mines and a nomad family's tent, where tea is poured and questions are welcome.

The afternoon is yours for rest or sandboarding, and the night is in a hotel by the dunes before the drive north to Fes.

  • First light on the dunes
  • Gnawa drums at Khamlia
  • Mint tea in a nomad tent
  • Black stone desert and fossils
Day 5

Day 5: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes

  • 470 km
  • 7.5–8 hours
  • Fes
  • Breakfast
A sea of date palms in an oasis valley of southern Morocco

After breakfast you leave Merzouga for the north. The Ziz Valley, with its palm groves and earthen villages, is the first stop.

Beyond Errachidia, you pass through the Ziz gorges and climb to Midelt for lunch.

In the afternoon the road crosses the Middle Atlas, with its cedar forests and macaques, and Ifrane, before arriving in Fes in the evening.

  • Ziz Valley lookout
  • High plains of the Middle Atlas
  • Wild macaques near Azrou
  • Ifrane
Day 6

Day 6: Fes – Guided Tour of the Medina – Tanneries – Madrasas

  • 15 km
  • short transfers only
  • Fes
  • Breakfast
The dye pits of the Chouara tannery in Fes

After the desert crossing, a day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed local guide. You enter at Bab Boujloud and follow the medina's main lanes past fountains, bakeries and workshops where artisans still use tools their grandparents knew.

The visit includes a madrasa of carved stucco and zellige, the doors of the Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859, the coppersmiths' square of Seffarine and the Chouara tannery seen from above.

In the afternoon you drive to the Royal Palace, the Mellah and a pottery cooperative, ending at a viewpoint over the medina. The evening is free before you continue to Rabat.

  • Bab Boujloud and the old medina
  • Chouara dye pits
  • Al-Attarine or Bou Inania madrasa
  • Merenid tombs viewpoint
Day 7

Day 7: Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Rabat

  • 230 km
  • 3.5 hours
  • Rabat
  • Breakfast
Columns and arches at Volubilis near Meknes

After Fes, the road leads west to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with mosaics among olive trees.

In Meknes you see Bab Mansour, one of the finest gates in the country, and the royal granaries, then stop for lunch.

You reach Rabat in the afternoon and, depending on the time, visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas today or next morning.

  • Volubilis ruins
  • Meknes and Bab Mansour
  • Hassan Tower
  • Kasbah of the Udayas
Day 8

Day 8: Rabat – Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque

  • 90 km
  • 1–1.5 hours
  • End of the tour
  • Breakfast
The Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic shore of Casablanca

Your last morning is spent in Rabat, visiting anything you missed yesterday, such as the Chellah gardens or the kasbah, before the short drive down the coast.

In Casablanca, the guided visit of the Hassan II Mosque is the highlight, revealing the vast prayer hall and its craftsmanship. If time allows, you also drive along the Corniche and through the Art Deco centre.

Then your driver takes you to your hotel or Mohammed V Airport, depending on your flight.

  • Rabat in the morning
  • The Hassan II Mosque
  • Casablanca Corniche
  • Drop-off at your hotel or the airport

Good to know

What’s Included

Included in the tour

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minibus, depending on your group size) for the whole tour
  • English-speaking driver-guide; Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese-speaking guides on request
  • Fuel, tolls and parking
  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, riad, airport or port
  • 7 nights of accommodation with breakfast
  • Dinner on the nights shown in the itinerary
  • Sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi, one camel per person
  • Night in a mid-range luxury desert camp (luxury camp on request) with dinner, breakfast and music around the fire
  • Sandboarding at the camp
  • 4x4 excursion around the dunes: Khamlia, nomad families and the black desert
  • Licensed local guide for the city tour of Fes
  • Free stops for photographs, tea and walks whenever you wish

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments, museums and film studios
  • Tips for your driver-guide, local guides and camp staff
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses and optional activities

Optional activities

  • Quad or buggy ride in the dunesOne or two hours on the sand around Erg Chebbi with a guide, bookable on the day in Merzouga.
  • Upgrade to a luxury desert campSpacious private tents with air conditioning and heating, elegant traditional décor and premium bathroom amenities, instead of the mid-range luxury camp. Tell us when you book and we will quote the difference.
  • Second night in the desertStay an extra night in camp for a slower pace, a walk in the dunes at dawn and time to do nothing at all.
  • Moroccan cooking classShop for ingredients in the market and learn to prepare a tagine, salads and bread with a local cook.
  • Surf or kitesurf lessonLessons for beginners and improvers on the Atlantic coast, with equipment provided by a local school.

Before you go

Practical Information

Pickup and drop-off

Pickup is from your hotel in Agadir or Taghazout, or from Al Massira Airport. Departure is early, usually around 7:30 am, because the first day covers a lot of ground.

Drop-off is at your hotel in Casablanca or at Mohammed V Airport, timed to your flight.

A different start or end point is rarely a problem. Because every tour is private, we can begin in one city and finish in another; tell us where you are staying and we will adapt the route and the quote.

What to bring
  • Comfortable walking shoes or trainers, plus sandals for the camp
  • Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
  • Light, loose clothing for the day and a warm layer for the evening
  • A small overnight bag for the desert; your main luggage stays safely in the vehicle or at the hotel in Merzouga
  • A scarf or cheche for the camel ride (you can buy one on the way)
  • A warm jacket from November to March, when desert nights can drop close to freezing
  • Head torch or phone light for the camp
  • Passport and a copy of your travel insurance
  • Cash in Moroccan dirhams for lunches, tips and small purchases; ATMs are scarce between the main towns
  • Camera, spare battery and a power bank
  • Any personal medication, and motion-sickness tablets if mountain roads affect you
  • Swimwear and a windproof layer for the Atlantic coast
Best time to travel

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route. Days are warm and clear, nights are mild, and in April and May the valleys of the south are green and the roses of Kalaat M'Gouna are in bloom.

Winter is a good time for the desert if you bring warm clothes: skies are bright and the dunes are quiet, but temperatures after dark can fall to around freezing and the High Atlas passes occasionally close for a few hours after snow. In July and August the Sahara is very hot in the afternoon, so we shift the camel trek later, start driving earlier and can recommend a camp with air-cooled tents.

On the Atlantic coast, sea breezes keep Essaouira and Agadir mild all year, which makes them a welcome contrast after the heat of the interior in summer.

During Ramadan the tour runs as normal. Some restaurants close during the day in smaller towns, your driver-guide will know where to stop, and evenings are especially lively after sunset.

Important information before booking
  • This is a private tour. The vehicle, the driver-guide and the departure date are yours alone, and the itinerary can be changed before or during the trip.
  • Driving times are approximate and do not include stops. We stop often, so expect each day to take longer than the hours shown.
  • Prices depend on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation category you choose. Tell us these three things and we will send an exact quote.
  • The camel ride to the camp takes about an hour to an hour and a half. If you would rather not ride, or are travelling with small children or have back problems, we take you to the camp by 4x4 at no extra cost.
  • We offer two desert camp options, both with private tents, en-suite bathrooms and hot showers: a mid-range luxury camp, and a luxury camp with more spacious tents, air conditioning and heating. Please say which you prefer when booking.
  • Day 5 is the longest on the road (7.5–8 hours of driving). If you prefer shorter stages, ask us to add a night along the way.
  • Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal meals are easy to arrange; let us know about allergies or dietary needs in advance.
  • Roads in the mountains are winding. If you suffer from motion sickness, sit in the front and bring medication.
  • Most nationalities do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but please check the entry requirements for your passport before travelling.

Questions and answers

8 Day Agadir to Casablanca Tour: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 8-day tour from Agadir private?

Yes. You travel only with the people in your own party, in a private vehicle with your own driver-guide. That means you choose the departure date, set the pace and can stop wherever you like along the way.

How much driving is there each day?

It varies from day to day. The longest stretch is on day 5, with 7.5–8 hours on the road, and the other days are noticeably shorter. In total the tour covers about 1,620 km. All times are approximate and broken up by visits, lunch and photo stops.

What is the desert camp like?

Camps in Erg Chebbi have real beds with sheets and blankets, a dining tent and a fire circle. You choose between two options. Our mid-range luxury camp has private tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and comfortable bedding. Our luxury camp has more spacious tents with air conditioning and heating, high-quality bedding and premium bathroom amenities. Dinner and breakfast are served at the camp.

Do I have to ride a camel to reach the camp?

No. The camel trek is included and most guests enjoy it, but if you prefer, we take you to the camp by 4x4. This is also what we suggest for very young children, pregnant travellers and anyone with back or knee problems.

Can I change the itinerary or the start and end point?

Yes. The programme on this page is a starting point. We can add nights, swap stops, upgrade accommodation or finish somewhere other than Casablanca. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the route and send a new quote.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

March to May and September to November offer the most comfortable temperatures. Winter is clear and quiet but cold at night in the desert; in July and August the Sahara is very hot, and we adjust the timings accordingly.

How much does it cost and how do I book?

Prices are always quoted on request: the price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation category, so we quote each request individually. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a detailed quote. You can ask for as many changes as you need before confirming.

Accommodation

Where You’ll Stay

Carefully selected riads, guesthouses, hotels and desert camps. The exact properties are confirmed with your quote, in the category you choose.

Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate

Night 1

Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou

Riad or boutique hotel

A traditional house built around a courtyard, in or beside the old town, with individually decorated rooms and breakfast served on the roof terrace or in the patio.

Kasbahs and palm gardens in the Dades Valley

Night 2

Dades Valley

Kasbah-style guesthouse

A family-run guesthouse or kasbah hotel built in the local earthen style, with en-suite rooms, a terrace over the valley and a home-cooked dinner.

A tent of a desert camp in Erg Chebbi glowing at dusk, with a terrace on the sand

Night 3

Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga

Desert camp in Erg Chebbi

A camp among the dunes with proper beds and bedding in each tent, a dining tent and a fire circle. We offer two options, both with private tents, en-suite bathrooms and hot showers: a mid-range luxury camp, and a luxury camp with more spacious tents, air conditioning and heating.

The seasonal lake near Merzouga with the Erg Chebbi dunes behind

Night 4

Merzouga, at the foot of the dunes

Comfortable hotel

A well-located hotel with en-suite rooms, chosen for comfort and convenience after a day on the road.

Bab Boujloud, the blue gate of the Fes medina

Nights 5 and 6

Fes

Riad or boutique hotel

A traditional house built around a courtyard, in or beside the old town, with individually decorated rooms and breakfast served on the roof terrace or in the patio.

The walls of the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat

Night 7

Rabat

Riad or boutique hotel

A traditional house built around a courtyard, in or beside the old town, with individually decorated rooms and breakfast served on the roof terrace or in the patio.

Your night in the Sahara

Choose Your Desert Camp

We offer two camps in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Tell us which one you prefer when you enquire.

White luxury tents of a desert camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Upgrade on request

Luxury Camp

  • Spacious private tents with en-suite bathrooms
  • Air conditioning and heating for year-round comfort
  • High-quality bedding and elegant traditional décor
  • Hot showers and premium bathroom amenities
  • Comfortable private space with maximum privacy
  • Warm and welcoming atmosphere with personalised service
A traveller sitting on a dune as the sun sets over the Sahara

Ready for Your Moroccan Adventure?

Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you this itinerary with a personal quote. You can change anything you like before confirming.

Plan Your 8 Day Agadir to Casablanca Tour

Quick answers for planning your 8 day Agadir to Casablanca tour with Magic Morocco Tours.

How to Spend 8 Days in Morocco

8 days in Morocco on this route means about 1,620 km by private vehicle from Agadir to Casablanca, with nights in Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, Erg Chebbi dunes, Fes and Rabat. Spent this way, your 8 days in Morocco leave time to walk through the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and to explore the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge.

8 Day Morocco Itinerary at a Glance

The 8 day Morocco itinerary, day by day: day 1, Agadir – Taroudant – Taliouine – Tazenakht – Ait Ben Haddou; day 2, Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades Gorge; day 3, Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Camel Trek; day 4, Merzouga – Khamlia – Nomad Families – Erg Chebbi by 4x4; day 5, Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes; day 6, Fes – Guided Tour of the Medina – Tanneries – Madrasas; day 7, Fes – Meknes – Volubilis – Rabat; day 8, Rabat – Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque. As the tour is private, this 8 day Morocco itinerary can be changed before or during the trip.

Agadir to Merzouga Desert Tour Highlights

As a Agadir to Merzouga desert tour, this trip reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes on day 3. There you ride a camel into the dunes and spend a night at a mid-range luxury desert camp (luxury camp on request). Shorter and longer Agadir to Merzouga desert tour options are on our Tours from Agadir page.