Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and the country’s main international air gateway. Most long-haul flights from North America, Asia, and many European destinations land at Mohammed V International Airport, located 30 kilometres south of the city. This makes Casablanca a logical starting point for many travellers, particularly those coming from far away who don’t want to add an internal transfer to reach Marrakech or Fes. Tours from Casablanca can cover the entire country in a logical sequence, with the additional advantage of beginning with an exploration of the contemporary face of Morocco.
What to see in Casablanca before departing
Casablanca is not on most tourists’ “must-see” list, and that is partly an injustice. The Hassan II Mosque is one of the largest in the world and the only one in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. Its 210-metre minaret is the tallest in the world. The interior, with carved cedar ceilings, marble floors, and zellige tilework, is a tour de force of contemporary Moroccan craftsmanship. The guided tour lasts about an hour and takes place every morning except Friday.
In addition to the mosque, the Art Deco architecture of the city centre is one of the best in Africa, especially around Place Mohammed V. The Corniche along the Atlantic offers Atlantic seafood restaurants. The Habous Quarter (the new medina built in the 1920s) has handicrafts and a more relaxed atmosphere than the historic medinas of Fes and Marrakech.
Casablanca tour options
Casablanca to Marrakech via the desert
The most popular route is a 7 or 8-day tour that starts in Casablanca, includes Rabat, Fes, the Middle Atlas, the Sahara, the Dades Valley, Ait Benhaddou, and ends in Marrakech. This format works well because it allows you to fly into Casablanca and out of Marrakech (or vice versa) without retracing your steps. Our Private 4-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech is the version of this circuit that we recommend most.
10-day complete Morocco circuit
If you have more time, the 10-day circuit allows you to add Chefchaouen (the blue city), more time in the desert, and slower exploration of the imperial cities. This is the duration we recommend for travellers who want to feel they have genuinely understood Morocco rather than just sampling it. Visit tours from Casablanca for all available formats.
Practical advantages of starting in Casablanca
Starting your tour in Casablanca means you don’t have to add an internal flight or train transfer at the beginning of your trip. This saves time, money, and the energy that long transfers consume. In addition, ending in Marrakech (the most common direction of this route) is logical because Marrakech is well connected to most European cities for the return flight. For travellers from Spain, France, or other European countries, both the direct flight to Casablanca and the return from Marrakech tend to be reasonably priced and frequent.
How to book your tour from Casablanca
All our tours from Casablanca include hotel pickup, so there is no complex logistics on the day of departure. You can see the complete list of options on the tours from Casablanca page. We work with selected accommodations throughout the route, prioritising the character of each destination over standardised hotel chains. For more information about the country, Visit Morocco Official is the official source. Read our travel blog for related articles.
