New Year’s Eve Morocco Tour 2026: 11 Days from Casablanca to the Sahara

Welcome 2027 under the Sahara stars, with Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech on the way

Tour at a Glance

Duration

11 days and 10 nights

Tour Type

Private tour for your group only

Starts and Ends

Starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech

Overnight

Hotels, riads and a starry desert camp on New Year’s Eve

Highlights

Chefchaouen, Fes, a Sahara camel trek, New Year’s Eve in the desert, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech

Price

On request. Contact us for a free quote

Welcome 2027 in the Sahara Desert

Spend New Year’s Eve 2026 somewhere the crowds can’t reach. On this New Year’s Eve Morocco tour, you 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 driver-guide stays with you the whole way, and the itinerary can be tailored to your group. Arrive on 26 December and New Year’s Eve falls on day 6, in the desert. Comparing options? See our Morocco desert tour from Marrakech and our other private tours in Morocco.

Tour Highlights

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
Rabat: the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah
Chefchaouen, the “Blue Pearl” of the Rif Mountains
The Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes
The Fes medina, with the Al Quaraouiyine University and the tanneries
Ifrane and the cedar forest, home to Barbary macaques
The Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet palm oasis

A camel trek and New Year’s Eve in a desert camp in Merzouga
Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes
The Todra Gorges, the Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses
Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”, and the Skoura palm grove
Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar
The Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas
Marrakech: Jemaa El Fna, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia

Day-by-Day Itinerary

This itinerary can be modified and designed according to your requirements and needs. Contact us to adapt it.

Day 1

Arrival in Casablanca (26 December)

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 and Chefchaouen

Drive to Rabat, Morocco’s capital, to 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, whose 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.

Stops on Day 2

Casablanca
Rabat
Chefchaouen

Day 3

Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes and 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, with its gate Bab Mansour, the granaries and the Sahrij Swani basin. Arrive in Fes by evening. Discover more in our Morocco imperial cities tour.

Overnight: riad in Fes.

Stops on Day 3

Chefchaouen
Volubilis
Meknes
Fes

Day 4

Full Day in Fes

Spend a full day in the Fes medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Al Quaraouiyine, the mosque and university considered the oldest in the world, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara tanneries and the Nejjarine fountain. After lunch you see the Royal Palace gates, the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and a pottery cooperative, and finish at a viewpoint over the whole medina. Want to know more about Fes? Read our guide to the Medina of Fes.

Overnight: riad in Fes (bed and breakfast).

Day 5

Fes, Ifrane, the Ziz Valley and 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.

Stops on Day 5

Fes
Ifrane
Azrou
Midelt
Ziz Valley
Merzouga

Day 6

Merzouga: Camel Trek and New Year’s Eve Desert Camp (31 December)

Meet the Gnawa community and hear their music and history. The Rissani souk is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, so it is open on New Year’s Eve, and you can visit it if you wish. In the afternoon you take a guided camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sunset.

Tonight is New Year’s Eve in your desert camp, with dinner at the camp and a sky full of stars to welcome 2027. Want a shorter desert trip another time? See our 3-day Marrakech to Sahara tour.

Overnight: desert camp, dinner and breakfast included.

Day 7

Sahara Sunrise, Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley (1 January)

Wake early for a New Year’s sunrise over the dunes and ride back to Merzouga. Then drive to the Todra Gorges, with their towering canyon walls. Take an optional hike through the palm groves, then continue into the Dades Valley to see its “monkey toes” rock formations.

Overnight: hotel in the Dades Valley.

Stops on Day 7

Merzouga
Todra Gorges
Dades Valley

Day 8

Dades, the Valley of the Roses, Skoura and Ouarzazate

Follow the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” to Kelaat M’Gouna, the rose capital, where you can pick up rosewater and rose products (see our Roses Valley and Dades Gorges day trip). Visit the 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.

Stops on Day 8

Dades
Valley of the Roses
Skoura
Ouarzazate

Day 9

Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Telouet and 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 metres) over the High Atlas and descend to Marrakech. For more ideas, see our list of things to do in Morocco.

Overnight: riad in Marrakech.

Stops on Day 9

Ouarzazate
Ait Ben Haddou
Telouet
Tizi n’Tichka pass
Marrakech

Day 10

Marrakech City Tour

With your private guide, explore Jemaa El Fna, the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace and the 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

Departure from Marrakech

Private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport. End of our services.

What Is Included

Included

Private tour for your group only
A driver-guide all day long
4x4 transport with fuel
Accommodation with dinner and breakfast (bed and breakfast in Fes and Marrakech; see accommodation in Morocco)
A camel ride and a tent camp in the middle of the dunes
City tour guides in Fes and Marrakech
Airport-hotel-airport transfers

Not Included

Want a shorter route or an extra night in the desert? Contact us to adapt the itinerary and confirm the details for your dates.

What to Bring

Warm layers, as desert nights in December are cold
Sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes
Comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag for the desert camp
Cash for lunches, drinks and tips
A camera and a power bank

Is This Tour Right for You?

This tour suits travellers who want to celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere different and enjoy both Morocco’s cities and the Sahara. It includes long driving days, especially on days 2, 3, 5 and 9.

New Year is a busy period, so contact us early. For a shorter journey, see our 3-day tour to the Sahara.

More Tours You May Like

Visiting at another time of year? Compare our other private tours.

11 Days Imperial Cities and Sahara Desert Exploring

Eleven days linking Morocco’s imperial cities, the Rif Mountains and the Sahara desert.

Morocco Imperial Cities Tour: 10 Days and 9 Nights, Round Trip from Casablanca

A snapshot of Morocco’s historic cities: Casablanca, Fes, Rabat, Meknes and Marrakech.

3 Days Tour from Marrakech to the Sahara

Cross the High Atlas, visit Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then take a camel ride in the desert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to spend New Year’s Eve in Morocco?

Many travellers 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.

What are the dates of the tour?

On our suggested schedule you arrive in Casablanca on 26 December 2026, spend New Year’s Eve in the desert on day 6 and leave from Marrakech on day 11. Contact us to confirm dates or to adapt the tour to your arrival.

Is the desert camp comfortable?

You sleep in a tent camp in the middle of the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Desert nights in December are cold, so bring warm layers.

How cold is Morocco in December?

Days are mild to cool, but nights in the Sahara and the High Atlas can be close to freezing. Bring a warm jacket and layers.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The tour is private for your group, with a driver-guide throughout and local city guides in Fes and Marrakech.

Can the tour be customised?

Yes. Dates, hotels, group size and activities can all be adjusted. Contact us for a personalised quote.

What is not included?

Flights, lunches, drinks, museum and monument entrance fees and tips are not included, nor anything not listed under “Included”.

How do I book?

Fill in the form at the bottom of this page or email travelstomorocco@gmail.com with your dates and group size, and we will reply with a free quote. New Year is a busy period, so please contact us early.

Plan Your Trip

Helpful pages before you book:

Ready to Welcome 2027 in the Sahara?

Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you a free quote for this trip. New Year is a busy period, so contact us early.

Email: travelstomorocco@gmail.com | Phone: +212 6 62 38 50 95

Ask for Prices

Please fill in the form below or contact us directly by email at travelstomorocco@gmail.com, and we will answer you as soon as possible. Include your tour date and the number of people.