12 Days in Morocco: My Real Experience on a gAdventures Group Tour (That Works for DIY Travelers Too)

Warning: This post is long

I spent 12 days in Morocco, traveling from Casablanca to Marrakech on a group tour with G Adventures. We hit imperial cities, tiny mountain towns, and the edge of the Sahara, all without me having to plan a thing, but I was also exhausted by the end of it. This trip confirmed why I love SLOW travel.

This Morocco Itinerary is a real look into what it was like: the good, the chaotic, the unfiltered truth, especially as a solo female traveler (who might love her independence a little too much)

Whether you’re planning your own 12-day Morocco itinerary or considering a guided group tour, this post breaks down exactly what we did each day, what worked, what didn’t, and what you should know before you go.

USE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS BELOW TO SKIP TO WHATEVER SECTION YOU NEED TO!

This Post Pairs Well With:

• How to Visit the Hassan II Mosque: Tips, History & Practical Info for Travelers
• Where to Stay in Casablanca for First-Timers (Best 3 Neighborhoods + Hotels)
• How to Get Around Casablanca: My top Tips and Tricks for navigating the City
• 24 Hours in Casablanca Solo: A Realistic Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

12 Days in Morocco at a Glance

This itinerary moves fast and covers a lot of ground. In many ways, that’s both its strength and its weakness.

Route overview: Casablanca → Rabat → Meknès → Chefchaouen → Fès → Midelt → Merzouga (Sahara) → Skoura → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech

When I went: Late September to early October
Travel style: Guided group tour
Intensity level: 6 out of 10
Best for: Curious, adaptable travelers who want the highlights…fast
Not ideal for: Slow travelers who want long stays and downtime (which I discovered is me)

Why This G Adventures Morocco Tour Wasn’t the Right Fit for me (And What I’d Do Instead)

In hindsight, booking this 12-day Morocco group tour with G Adventures probably wasn’t the best choice for how Morocco deserves to be experienced — FOR ME. You might have a different viewpoint.

I booked it quickly. Too quickly.

I had an excellent experience on a previous G Adventures trip to Jordan, which made me realize that I wanted to host a group trip there, and I let that success carry over without really slowing down to evaluate whether this specific itinerary and this style of group travel made sense for Morocco. I glanced at the inclusions, assumed the pacing would feel similar, and didn’t ask myself enough hard questions.

That’s on me.

This trip reinforced an old truth that’s uncomfortable but real: you get what you pay for.

Morocco is not a country that shines when rushed. It’s layered, intense, and deeply cultural, and trying to see this much in this little time with a larger group often meant moving on just as places started to make sense. The itinerary was efficient, but efficiency isn’t always what you want here.

What I’d do differently

What I should have done instead was slow down and pay more for a smaller, more intentional group experience.

That’s why, in hindsight, I would have chosen a trip like the ones my friend Laura runs in Morocco. She works with smaller groups, personally vets every operator, host, and accommodation, and has real, first-hand relationships with her local providers. That kind of connection matters, especially in a country where nuance, trust, and flexibility can completely change your experience. Luckily, I get to experience Georgia with her in the fall, and I cannot wait.

Morocco rewards travelers who move deliberately, not quickly. And while large tour companies can be a great entry point, this trip taught me that intimacy, pacing, and local relationships matter more here than ticking boxes.

If I were booking again, I’d choose fewer stops, more time in each place, and a smaller group led by someone with deep connections on the ground, even if it cost more.

Anyways, lets get on with the itinerary….

12 Days in Morocco Itinerary Day by Day

Day 0-1: Arrival in Casablanca

This tour officially kicks off in Casablanca, but if you’re smart, you’ll fly in a day early. Which is what I did. I spent about 24 Hours in Casablanca so I could spend some time in the city. If you click that fancy link, you’ll learn more about what I got up to in Casablanca

You’re not expected to be in Casablanca on your First day until about 5 pm for the welcome meeting. After ours, we went to dinner.

DIY note: If you’re planning your own trip, you don’t need more than two days in Casablanca — but don’t miss the Hassan II Mosque. It’s one of the few mosques in Morocco non-Muslims can enter, and it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful.

---

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Day 5: Exploring the Fès Medina

After a super sleepless night due to an accident outside our hotel in Fes, I woke up not quite feeling right ( I witnessed a hit and run from my hotel room)

Fès is intense. You’ll either love it or leave it emotionally dehydrated.
We did a full-day guided tour of the medina in Fes and trust me, this is not a place you want to navigate alone on your first try. You’ll want to be in a group.

Highlights:

• Entering through the main gate into absolute sensory overload
• Visiting artisans, spice vendors, bakers, and a lot of leather shops
• Seeing the Fès tannery from a rooftop (yes, it smells exactly how you think; however, the mint leaves really help), you’ll probably get asked to look around. You can say no, and if you touch anything and someone comes around to you, just say you are looking. This is where you HAGGLE like hell or back down.
• Touring the Al Qarawiyyin University, one of the oldest in the world
• Fes ceramics wharehouse where we watched artisans create ornate ceramics.

Free time in the evening for dinner or a break from being over-stimulated.

DIY note: If you’re solo, consider booking a medina guide in advance. This place is legendary for its history — and for getting hopelessly lost.

---

Day 6: Fès → Ifrane → Midelt (Atlas Mountains)

This was the biggest scenery shift of the whole trip. We left behind the cities and headed for the High Atlas Mountains, passing through Ifrane — aka “Little Switzerland.” It has alpine vibes, clean streets, and was built by the French. A cute (if different) stop. I compare it to the french village thats in South Korea. I felt like I was back in South Korea!

We continued to Midelt, a quiet town known for apples, fresh air, and Berber hospitality. Here’s what we did:

• Lunch with a local Berber family — home-cooked and delicious
• A walk through nearby villages and orchards (very chill, great views)
• A quick henna session with the local berber familys daughter. She was patient and took care of 6 women on her own.
• Then we crashed at the hotel, which had a pool and mountain views

DIY note: Midelt is off the tourist track but a great overnight if you’re breaking up the trip to the Sahara. You’ll need a car.

---

Day 7: Midelt → Arfoud → Merzouga (Sahara)

Today was a travel-heavy day, but the destination was 1000% worth it.

We left Midelt in the morning and drove through the changing landscape — valleys, rocky hills, desert — stopping in Arfoud, where we learned about fossil mining and date production. If you didn’t pack a desert scarf, this is your moment to grab one.

While this stop is cool with the fossil mining, it’s 100% catered to tourists (this is fine, you are a tourist), and I lost interest as soon as we went into the shop.

We stopped at a local store to grab a scarf for our time in the desert. Also, a great time to grab ice water (this is how water is sold, frozen in plastic bottles to relieve you)

We arrived at our hotel in Merzouga

Then came the iconic moment: camel rides into the Sahara. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, you still need to do it.

We rode into the Erg Chebbi dunes, settled into our desert camp, and hiked up a dune for sunset (tough but beautiful). After that? Dinner at our camp in the desert, and one of the most peaceful nights of the whole trip. We each had our own tent with a bathroom (you can use this link to see what I thought of the hotels)

DIY note: This part is hard to pull off independently unless you’re very confident in desert logistics. Booking a camp with a transfer and guides is your best bet.

---

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Day 8: Sahara Desert Immersion (Merzouga, Khamlia, Taous)

This was my favorite day of the entire itinerary. We traded the camels for 4x4s and spent the whole day exploring deeper into the Sahara region.

What we did:

• Visited a Kohl mine, but don’t get your hopes up ,it’s literally an abandoned mine.
• Drank mint tea in a nomadic Amazigh (Berber) tent and learned about life in the desert. This is probably the sweetest part of the WHOLE visit besides our time in Midelt. One of the group members played soccer with the little boys in the village. This is where I would say I wish we could have stopped off and got toys for the kids somewhere!
• Stopped in Khamlia village for a Gnaoua music performance — soulful, rhythmic, unforgettable. I LOVED THIS stop. I was starting to feel sick from something I ate and it livened me up a bit. The sun and the food eventually get you in Morocco.
• Learned how to make Medfouna (aka Berber pizza) back at our hotel, then ate it for lunch at the hotel.

While I loved to say I got to attend the jam session that night in Merzouga, I was actually so sick I couldn’t stomach anything and just went straight back to my room. The owners and staff of the hotel were actually incredibly sweet and packed me bread and orange juice for me to have in my room.

DIY note: This experience is really hard to recreate solo. Some desert camps offer cultural add-ons, but you’d need to build this day from scratch if traveling independently. This is the pin for the Gnaoua Music experience. There is a yearly festival they play in and I would love to attend.

---

Day 9: Merzouga → Tinghir → Skoura

First stop: The pharmacy that every single bus stopped at. People were picking up upset tummy meds and probiotics. I often wonder how much that Pharmacy makes….

Another long travel day, but wow, what a shift. We left the dunes behind and drove toward Skoura, a quiet palm oasis with snowcapped Atlas Mountains in the background. Think date palms + desert breeze + green valleys.

On the way, we stopped in Tinghir to break up the trip. We had one of the BEST lunches I have ever had in my life, and it was perfect on my stomach. This was not included in the day. We paid about 25DHR

Once in Skoura, we had time to relax at the hotel (which had a pool that I didn’t even get in), then did a short walking tour of the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs.

DIY note: Skoura isn’t on everyone’s radar, but if you want a less-touristy alternative to Ouarzazate, this is it. It’s a great stop between Merzouga and Marrakech.

Day 10: Skoura → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech

Today was a road trip with views, movie sets, and hairpin turns galore. We left Skoura early and stopped at the legendary Aït Ben Haddou — the ancient ksar you’ve definitely seen in Game of Thrones, Gladiator, or basically every sand-colored movie scene ever.

We climbed through the dusty alleyways up to the hilltop for panoramic views. It’s a bit touristy, yes, but it still holds its charm.

I bought a rug here from a co-op that helps women and the folks in the village, they had a weaving demonstration, and I absolutely loved it. I had to buy something here because they were literally working so hard. I bought a hand-woven rug for about 250USD

Then we drove over the Tizi n’Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains, somewhere around here we stopped at a random wayside restaurant that had the slowest service but the best views. There is an Argan oil co-op here that we watched, and yes, I bought some Argan oil! (30USD)

This is a long day of jaw-dropping scenery and twisty roads all the way down to Marrakech.

We were on our own for Lunch and Dinner this day (not included in the tour)

DIY tip: Aït Ben Haddou is easy to reach by car or on a day trip from Ouarzazate or Marrakech. You can even sleep in the village if you want to avoid tour bus crowds.

Day 11: Marrakech Highlights + Cultural Visits

This was our last full day, and this is where I tell you I bailed out. I was exhausted, so I asked the guide if I could sign out and go have lunch with a friend who lived in Marrakech. Myself and another woman from the group went and hand lunch in the medina and got acquainted with the area.

Meanwhile, the group went to the Zarbiat Achbarou Cooperative, a G Adventures-supported women’s weaving collective. Where they learned about the tree nursery, historic Jewish cemetery, and had a weaving demo,

After lunch, we met up with the other group,and we explored:

• The Bahia Palace (ornate, stunning, every tile is a photo opp)
• The Ben Youssef Madrasa — a 14th-century Islamic school with serious architectural goals
• A guided Medina tour starting at the Koutoubia Mosque and diving into the souks.

I was not at all impressed with the guide in Marrakesh. I hope you end up with someone else.

DIY note: Everything we did is doable on your own. You can pre-book tours or visit solo, but a local guide is worth it to make sense of the chaos.

Day 12: Departure Day

Time to say goodbye, unless you’ve extended your stay (which I highly recommend if you can). The official tour ends today, but many people added on hot air balloon rides, hammam spa visits, or just a couple of days to breathe and process everything. Which I’ll be doing here soon.

DIY note: Marrakech is a great base for extending your trip. Consider day trips to the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, or Ourika Valley if you’ve got extra time.

Where We Stayed in Morocco (Hotel Reviews by City)

One perk of doing a group tour? You don’t have to stress about hotels. But if you’re booking this itinerary on your own, here’s a quick review of the places we stayed — and whether I’d personally stay there again (that’s a serious con)

⚠️ Note: Some of these hotels change depending on the departure date — but this gives you a sense of what to expect.

Thinking of Driving This Morocco Itinerary Yourself? Read This First

This route can be done solo by car, but there are some things you need to know if you’re not used to driving in Morocco:

• There are police checkpoints everywhere.
  They’re routine, but you’ll get pulled over if they feel like it.
• Speed traps are real — and enforced.
  Stick to the limit, especially near towns. Even going a few km/h over can get you stopped.
• They will check for seatbelts.
  Not just the driver — everyone in the car. If you’re not buckled up, you could get fined.
• Keep your ID handy.
  You’ll often be asked for your passport, driver’s license, or car rental docs at checkpoints.
• Plan fuel stops in advance.
  Especially in remote areas (like the Sahara or between Midelt and Merzouga), gas stations can be far apart. Also, road trip snacks!

Bottom line: You can do it, but Morocco’s roads aren’t a chill Sunday drive. Be alert, follow the rules, and when in doubt, hire a private driver or split a car with a friend.

What This 12-Day Morocco Itinerary Taught Me

I don’t regret going to Morocco , not for a second. But I do regret not slowing down before booking this specific trip.

This 12-day Morocco itinerary covered a lot of ground, and in many ways, that’s its biggest strength. You’ll see imperial cities, the Sahara, mountain villages, and Marrakech in under two weeks — and for some travelers, that’s exactly what they want.

For me, though, this trip reinforced something important: Morocco isn’t meant to be rushed.

It’s a country that rewards curiosity, patience, and time, time to sit, observe, ask questions, and let places unfold instead of checking them off. In hindsight, I would have chosen fewer stops, smaller group sizes, and deeper local relationships, even if it meant paying more.

If you’re deciding between a large group tour, a small curated trip, or a DIY Morocco itinerary, my biggest advice is this: look closely at the pace, the inclusions, and who is actually running things on the ground.

This post isn’t meant to tell you what to book , it’s meant to help you book better.

And if nothing else, I hope it helps you approach Morocco with the intention it deserves.