New Year’s Eve Morocco Tour 2026: 11 Days from Casablanca to the Sahara & Marrakech
Spend New Year’s Eve 2026 somewhere the crowds can’t reach. On this private 11-day Morocco tour, you’ll cross the Rif and Atlas Mountains, wander the blue lanes of Chefchaouen and the medieval medina of Fes, then ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes to welcome 2027 under a sky full of Sahara stars. The trip ends in Marrakech, with its souks, palaces and lively squares.
Your private guide and 4×4 driver stay with you the whole way, and the itinerary can be tailored to your group. If you’re comparing options, see our Morocco desert tour from Marrakech and our other private Morocco tours and itineraries.
Tour Highlights
- Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca
- Rabat: Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah
- Chefchaouen, the “Blue Pearl” of the Rif Mountains
- Roman ruins of Volubilis and the Imperial City of Meknes
- Fes medina, home to the Al Quaraouiyine University and the tanneries
- Ifrane and the Middle Atlas cedar forest, with wild Barbary macaques
- Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet palm oasis
- Camel trek and overnight desert camp in Merzouga, with a New Year’s Eve under the stars
- Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses
- Skoura palm grove and Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”
- Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar
- Tizi n’Tichka Pass over the High Atlas
- Marrakech: Jemaa El Fna, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and Koutoubia
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca (Dec 26)
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Flying in from abroad? Read our guide to getting to Morocco. If time allows, visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, set on the Atlantic coast.
Overnight: hotel in Casablanca.
Day 2: Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
Drive to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. See the Hassan Tower and stroll the whitewashed lanes of the Oudaya Kasbah. Continue north into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, the famous blue city. Its blue doors and Spanish-Andalusian character make it one of the most photographed places in Morocco. Explore more of the best destinations in Morocco.
Overnight: riad, breakfast included.
Day 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
Visit Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with a guided tour of its mosaics. Then explore Meknes, the Imperial City of Sultan Moulay Ismail: Bab Mansour gate, the granaries and the Sahrij Swani basin. Arrive in Fes by evening. Discover more in our Morocco imperial cities tour.
Overnight: riad in Fes.
Day 4: Full Day in Fes
Spend a full day in the Fes medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Al Quaraouiyine (the world’s oldest university), Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara tanneries and Nejjarine Fountain. After lunch, see the Royal Palace gates, the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and a pottery cooperative, then finish at a viewpoint over the whole medina. Want more time in Fes? See our 5-day tour from Fes to Marrakech.
Overnight: riad in Fes (bed and breakfast).
Day 5: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Head south through the Middle Atlas. Stop in Ifrane, the alpine-style “Switzerland of Morocco,” and in the Azrou cedar forest, where Barbary macaques roam (learn more about Morocco’s wildlife). Follow the green Ziz Valley through Berber villages past Erfoud and Rissani, and reach the Sahara at Merzouga by evening.
Overnight: desert hotel, dinner and breakfast included.
Day 6: Merzouga Camel Trek & New Year’s Eve Desert Camp (Dec 31)
Meet the Gnawa community and hear their music and history. You can also visit the Rissani souk (open Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday). In the afternoon, take a guided camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sunset. Tonight is New Year’s Eve in your desert camp: a traditional dinner, music by the fire, and a sky full of stars to welcome 2027. Want a shorter desert trip another time? See our 3-day Marrakech to Sahara desert tour.
Overnight: desert camp, dinner and breakfast included.
Day 7: Sahara Sunrise → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley (Jan 1)
Wake early for a New Year’s sunrise over the dunes and ride back to Merzouga. Then drive to Todra Gorge, with its towering canyon walls. Take an optional hike through the palm groves, then continue into the Dades Valley to see its “monkey fingers” rock formations.
Overnight: hotel in the Dades Valley.
Day 8: Dades → Valley of the Roses → Skoura → Ouarzazate
Follow the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” to Kelaat M’Gouna, the rose capital, and pick up rosewater and rose products (see our Roses Valley and Dades Gorges day trip). Visit Amridil Kasbah in the Skoura palm grove, then continue to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa,” where many films were shot. Our company is based here, and our Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou day trip covers the area in more depth.
Overnight: riad or hotel in Ouarzazate.
Day 9: Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Telouet → Tizi n’Tichka → Marrakech
Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then drive through the Ounila Valley to the Glaoui palace at Kasbah Telouet. Cross the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m) over the High Atlas and descend to Marrakech. For more ideas, see things to do in Morocco.
Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
Day 10: Marrakech City Tour
With your private guide, explore Jemaa El Fna, the Koutoubia Mosque and gardens, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace and Ben Youssef Madrasa. The rest of the day is free for the souks. If you have extra time, browse our day trips from Marrakech and Ouarzazate.
Overnight: riad in Marrakech (bed and breakfast).
Day 11: Marrakech → Airport
Private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport. End of services.
What’s Included
- Private tour for your group only
- Professional driver-guide throughout
- 4×4 vehicle with fuel
- Accommodation with dinner and breakfast (bed and breakfast only in Fes and Marrakech; see accommodation in Morocco)
- Guided camel trek and overnight desert camp in Merzouga
- Local city guides in Fes and Marrakech
- Airport–hotel–airport transfers
Not Included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Museum and monument entrance fees
- Tips
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Customizable: Want a shorter route or an extra night in the desert? Build your custom itinerary with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to spend New Year’s Eve in Morocco?
Many travelers choose the Sahara. Camping among the Erg Chebbi dunes gives you a quiet, star-filled celebration away from the crowds. Marrakech is the livelier alternative.
Is the Sahara desert camp safe and comfortable for New Year’s Eve?
Yes. Camps are staffed and set up with proper tents and bedding. Desert nights in December are cold, so pack warm layers.
How cold is Morocco in December?
Days are mild to cool. Nights in the Sahara and High Atlas can drop close to freezing, so bring a warm jacket and layers.
Can the tour be customized?
Yes. Dates, hotels, group size and activities can all be adjusted. Contact us for a personalized quote.
Where can I find more travel tips?
See our Morocco frequently asked questions page.
How do I book?
Send us your dates and group size and we’ll reply with a free quote.
Ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Sahara?
Request a free quote or email us at travelstomorocco@gmail.com. December dates fill up quickly, so book early.
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