Morroco is a beautiful and fascinating place to visit. Each area has its own charm, and with so much to see it requires a dedicated time investment to truly take everything in. Travelling from Casablanca to Marrakech is approximately a three-hour car drive, but this is one situation where driving from A to B as fast as possible is not a good idea!
Taking the scenic route is a must when in Morroco, and Casablanca is the ideal place to start your adventure in the desert. Spend your nights in luxury desert accommodation, underneath a blanket of stars in southern Morroco’s Sahara Desert, checking experiences such as guided camel rides and sand boarding off your bucket list.
This guide focuses on the Erg Chebbi desert camp but we also offer luxury desert experiences in our other beautiful camp, Erg Chigaga. Check out our blog on choosing Which Morroco Desert Camp is Right for You.
Morroco Desert Camps
At Desert Luxury Camp, we make the detour on your journey from Casablanca to Marrakech the best part of your Morrocan adventure. Even if there weren’t desert activities to partake in or delicious, traditional food on offer, the visuals of being on a desert luxury camp in Morroco would be worth the extra travel. From picture-perfect dunes to lush forests, the changing landscape is breathtaking to behold.
Plus, you can experience all this with the bonus of luxurious amenities not usually expected in the desert. You can enjoy electricity, air conditioning at night, showers, king-size beds, a private bathroom, and a jacuzzi.
Two luxury desert camp tours start in Casablanca and conclude in Marrakech: the four-day Traversing to Southern Morroco Tour and for those who are richer in time, The Popular Morroco Tour which spans over seven days.
Traversing to Southern Morroco
This southern Morocco tour expertly combines a thrilling road trip with a desert experience to show you the best this beautiful area has to offer. You will travel to the Erg Chebbi dunes by Merzouga, home to the Erg Chebbi desert luxury camp.
An early pick-up time on the first day of this Southern Morroco tour is a must as a long drive is needed to get to Erg Chebbi. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking, ever-changing landscapes of southern Morroco, including the Sahara’s unforgettable dunes.
The long drive will pass through the Middle Atlas, continuing to Midelt (the apple capital of Morroco), the Ziz palm grove valley, the old garrison town of Erfourd, and Rissani. You will arrive at the Erg Chebbi desert luxury camp by 4WD just in time for the evening to watch the sunset on the dunes while enjoying dinner and a campfire.
Alternatively, you can book direct flights with Royal Air Maroc, leaving Casablanca at 11 pm, and arriving at the airport at midnight where we will collect you. Check out our insightful blog The Ultimate Guide to the Erg Chebbi Desert for everything you need to know about this part of the desert.
After a delicious breakfast on day two, it’s time to head into the dunes of Merzougha on a camel caravan to admire the beautiful landscape, before experiencing a Morrocan tea ceremony and a picnic lunch in the welcome shade. Have a relaxing afternoon in the camp taking in the incredible views that surround you. For more on this, read our informative blog on the Top Things to Do in Merzouga.
Day three continues the journey south towards the oasis town of Erfourd, and then further to the Tinerhir that leads to Todra Gorge. With tall walls looming over the crystal-clear water, this area is a sight to behold. More impressive vistas await at the Sahro mountains, a route that takes you to the Draa Valley.
The valley is a rich forest of palm trees and world-famous earthen architecture. Over 300 typical Berber villages reside here, where homes are constructed entirely from the raw earth. Here you can spend the night in a luxury villa inside the palm groves or in a restored ancient Kasbah – the choice is yours!
The last day of the trip takes you to Marrakech. Travelling along the valley to Agdz in the Atlas Mountains, full of barren gorges and mountainous landscapes, the next stop is Ouarzazate for a spot of lunch. There’s also time to visit the UNESCO-protected Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, the location of many films and TV shows including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. The final part of the journey to Marrakech climbs the Tizi n’Tichka pass that crosses the High Atlas.
The Popular Morocco Tour
For those with more time to enjoy the desert, the Popular Morocco Tour is a seven-day trip sure to impress. It starts from the moment you arrive in Casablanca with a trip to the most-visited structure in the busiest city in Morroco – Hassan II mosque. This is the only working mosque in Morroco that can be visited by non-Muslims as part of a guided tour.
You will get to experience the grand architecture of Morroco’s capital city Rabat, such as the famous Hassan Tower – a giant mosque with an unfinished minaret where storks nest. There is also the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V dome and the oldest part of the city, Chellah Necropolis, with its rich cultural history.
Located among the mountain peaks of Riff Mountain is the vividly blue-coloured town of Chefchoauen. Meander the streets here before making your way to the next destination, Fes. Known as the cultural heart of Morroco, Fez el-Bali (Old Fez) was a renowned centre of medieval learning. Be sure not to get lost down one of the 9,000 narrow lanes in the old quarter!
One of the oldest, still-functioning universities in the world – Karaouine – is a favourite on the trip, along with Nejjarine Square. Check out our luxury desert tours from Fes if this sounds like a great place to kick off your Morrocan desert experience.
Next up is the journey to the great ‘sand sea’ of Merzouga with its apricot-coloured sand that stretches far into the distance. On the way, you will pass many Berber villages, palm plantations and the Atlas Mountains. After taking time to leisurely explore the Sahara on gentle camel rides, it’s on to the green fields of the Draa Valley.
The last day of the Popular Morroco Tour is a busy one, crossing the barren ranges of the Sahro to Ouarzazete. Here, at the ‘Hollywood of Morroco’, you can visit the Taouirirt and the cinematic museum before heading to Ait BenHaddou. After wandering through ruined buildings, and marvelling at the spectacular views from the top hill, it’s time to cross the Atlas Mountains to the final destination: Marrakech.
Our team is here to make sure your trip to Morroco is authentic and unforgettable, so be sure to contact us with any questions you have.
