How much does it cost?

From £3,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,456 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains are used on this tour?

Great Rail Journeys books Moroccan rail services for two segments: Marrakech to Casablanca and Rabat to Fes. The itinerary does not name the specific train operators or classes.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. All guided tours and excursions are included, and group luggage transfers operate from Marrakech to Fes.

What meals are included?

Breakfast every day, four lunches, and seven dinners are included. Day 5 dinner is not included. Independent lunch is available on Day 3 in Casablanca.

What is the accommodation standard?

Eight nights are in four and five-star hotels: Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech (5-star), Barceló Anfa Casablanca (4-star), Marriott Jnan Palace Hotel Fez (5-star), Kasbah Hôtel Xaluca Arfoud (4-star), Dades Xaluca Hotel (4-star). One night is at The Sandy Tents luxury camp in Merzouga.

What flights are included?

Direct return flights from London Gatwick to Marrakech are included. Flight upgrades are available as an optional extra.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers six departures: September 2026, October 2026, April 2027, May 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Morocco's Ancient Cities & Kasbahs

Morocco's imperial cities and Sahara Desert by train, coach, and camel

Great Rail Journeys operates this 10-day escorted journey through Morocco, beginning and ending in London. The tour travels by train on two segments (Marrakech to Casablanca and Rabat to Fes) and by coach through the Atlas Mountains, desert, and historic valleys. Days one and two explore Marrakech, including the Koutoubia Mosque and Djemaa El Fna Square; Days four and five are based in Fes, the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities, founded in 809 AD. The itinerary then ventures south through Berber mountain villages and Ksars, crosses the dramatic Ziz Gorges, and reaches the Sahara. Day seven includes a night at The Sandy Tents luxury camp in Merzouga, with an optional sunset camel ride. Days eight and nine follow the Route of 1000 Kasbahs through the Todra Gorge and return via the UNESCO World Heritage site Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass. Accommodation spans four and five-star hotels and a desert camp; most stays are one night, except Marrakech and Fes with two nights each. The tour suits history-lovers, couples, and photographers, with guided tours, included meals, and a Tour Manager throughout.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £700 since 4 Jul, to £3,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is substantial: GBP 3,599 versus GBP 2,599 for a double room, adding GBP 1,000 (38 percent).
Day 5 dinner is not included; meals are described as free time in the evening after the full-day Fes tour.
Only two nights include two nights in the same hotel (Marrakech and Fes); most stops are one night, creating a fast-paced itinerary despite the balanced description.
Maximum group size is 30 travellers; confirm current departure availability with Great Rail Journeys before booking.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Marrakech
London Gatwick to the 'red city' of Marrakech
Meet the Tour Manager at London Gatwick for the flight to Marrakech, transferring to a five-star hotel on the edge of the Old City for two nights.
Day 2overnight: Marrakech
Introduction to the magnificent sights of Marrakech
Guided tour of Marrakech including the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, then free time to explore the souks and Djemaa El Fna Square.
Day 3railovernight: Casablanca
To the elegant 'white city' of Casablanca by train
Train from Marrakech to Casablanca, then a guided tour taking in the Hassan II Mosque, Place Mohammed V, United Nations Square and the League of Arab States Park.
Day 4railovernight: Fes
Exploring the imperial cities of Rabat and Fes
Coach to Rabat for a guided tour of the old Medina, Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower, the Chellah and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, then train from Rabat to Fes for a two-night stay.
Day 5overnight: Fes
Touring the ancient city of Fes
Full-day tour of Fes including the Borj Nord Arms museum, the Royal Palace gateway, Kasbah Cherarda, the Karaouyine Mosque and university, and the souks and spice market of the Medina.
Day 6overnight: Erfoud
Crossing the Atlas Mountains towards the Sahara
Coach south through Berber mountain villages, Ifrane, Azrou, the Oued Gigou Valley and the Ziz Gorges to Errachidia and the oasis town of Erfoud, overnighting at a Kasbah hotel.
Day 7overnight: Merzouga (luxury tented camp)
Visiting Rissani and a night at a luxurious Merzouga campsite
Guided tour to the Berber villages of Ksar Akbar and Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim near Rissani, then a drive across the Erg Chebbi dunes to a luxury desert camp at Merzouga with an optional sunset camel ride and dinner beneath the stars.
Day 8overnight: Boumalne Dadès (Dades)
Route of 1000 Kasbahs and Todra Gorge
Coach to Tinghir and along the Oued Todra through the Todra Gorge's towering canyon walls, passing Berber villages and ancient kasbah ruins, to Boumalne Dadès.
Day 9overnight: Marrakech
Kasbahs of the Atlas Mountains
Return journey to Marrakech via the El Glaoui Kasbah ruins, the Rose Valley of Kalaat M'Gouna, the Kasbah of Taourirt at Ouarzazate, the UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with a farewell dinner and folklore show.
Day 10
Homeward bound
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to London Gatwick.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Marrakech includes the red sandstone ramparts, 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, and the winding souks of Djemaa El Fna Square with swirling dancers and traditional musicians.
Day 3Travel by train from Marrakech to Casablanca, then visit the Hassan II Mosque (entrance included) and Place Mohammed V.
Day 4Board the train from Rabat to Fes after a guided tour of the old Medina, Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower, and the Mohammed V Mausoleum.
Day 7Spend the night at The Sandy Tents luxury camp in Merzouga; watch the sunset over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, with an optional camel ride and three-course dinner.
Day 8Journey through the Route of 1000 Kasbahs up the Oued Todra river valley to the Todra Gorge, where cliffs rise nearly 1,000 feet above traditional Berber villages and kasbah ruins.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
1 night at a luxury tented camp
All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
Return flights from London Gatwick to Marrakech
Breakfast each day, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Marrakech to Fes
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $3,699

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,456 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains are used on this tour?: Great Rail Journeys books Moroccan rail services for two segments: Marrakech to Casablanca and Rabat to Fes. The itinerary does not name the specific train operators or classes.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. All guided tours and excursions are included, and group luggage transfers operate from Marrakech to Fes.
What meals are included?: Breakfast every day, four lunches, and seven dinners are included. Day 5 dinner is not included. Independent lunch is available on Day 3 in Casablanca.
What is the accommodation standard?: Eight nights are in four and five-star hotels: Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech (5-star), Barceló Anfa Casablanca (4-star), Marriott Jnan Palace Hotel Fez (5-star), Kasbah Hôtel Xaluca Arfoud (4-star), Dades Xaluca Hotel (4-star). One night is at The Sandy Tents luxury camp in Merzouga.
What flights are included?: Direct return flights from London Gatwick to Marrakech are included. Flight upgrades are available as an optional extra.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers six departures: September 2026, October 2026, April 2027, May 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.