GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Seven days from Tangier to Marrakech — the 6-day tour plus a full guided visit of Marrakech at the end. It is the first itinerary from Tangier that allows you to explore the Red City with a local guide, completing a one-week journey that covers all the major highlights of Morocco: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, the Merzouga Desert, Todra Gorge, Dades Gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, and Marrakech.
Welcome to Morocco. Pickup from Tangier airport, port, or your hotel. From here the road climbs south through the Rif Mountains — forested hills, adobe villages clinging to the slopes, and views over the Strait of Gibraltar — until Chefchaouen, the town whose medina is painted in endless shades of blue and has become one of the most photographed places in the world.
Upon arrival, you check in to your riad and the rest of the afternoon is completely yours. Chefchaouen’s medina is explored on foot without a fixed itinerary: the 15th-century kasbah with its central courtyard and small museum, Uta el-Hammam square lined with street cafés, artisan souks selling Berber wool textiles, leather and ceramics, and the blue-painted alleys that split and reconnect in an impossible but charming maze. Dinner is free in one of the square’s restaurants or at your riad.
Overnight in a riad in Chefchaouen.
Breakfast at the riad and departure southeast through Rif Berber villages. The landscape quickly changes from northern green mountains to fertile inland plains. First major stop is Volubilis, Morocco’s best-preserved Roman archaeological site: its 3rd-century polychrome mosaics — Dionysus scenes, the chariot of Venus, the labours of Hercules — are among the finest in the western Mediterranean. The Arch of Caracalla marks the entrance to the former civic center where the Capitol, baths, and forum reflect a city of around 20,000 inhabitants at its peak.
From Volubilis we continue to Meknes, the imperial city built by Sultan Moulay Ismail between 1672 and 1727 to rival Versailles. Bab el Mansour is one of the most impressive monumental gates in the Islamic world, decorated with green zellij and carved wood. Nearby, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail welcomes non-Muslim visitors into a marble courtyard and serene burial chamber. Lunch in Meknes before continuing to Fes, arriving at sunset.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
A local expert guide takes you on a full-day exploration of Fes, Morocco’s most fascinating medieval city. The tour begins at the Royal Palace gates and continues into Fes el-Bali medina, founded in 789 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Key highlights include the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri and considered the world’s oldest continuously operating university; the Al Attarine Madrasa with its refined geometric stucco, zellij mosaics and cedar wood carving; Nejjarine Fountain in the carpenters’ square; and the Chouara tanneries, where leather is still processed by hand in open-air vats of ochre, crimson, and indigo, viewed from leather merchant terraces.
The visit continues to the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter, and ends at Borj Nord fortress with a panoramic view over the endless sea of rooftops that defines the scale of Fes.
Overnight in a riad in Fes.
Breakfast and early departure south. First stop Ifrane, the alpine town of the Middle Atlas known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its chalet-style architecture and mountain climate. A short break for coffee and contrast between European-style surroundings and Moroccan landscapes.
We continue through the cedar forest of Azrou, where Barbary macaques — the only wild primates in North Africa — live freely among the cedars. They often approach visitors, making this one of the most unusual stops of the journey. Lunch along the route.
The road continues through the Tizi n’Talghemt Pass and down into the Ziz Valley — one of Morocco’s most beautiful southern landscapes, with endless palm groves stretching along the river. Arrival in Merzouga in the late afternoon. Camels wait at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The camel trek takes place during the most magical light of the desert, with a sunset stop on a high dune before reaching camp. Welcome tea, private tent with bathroom and shower, dinner, and Berber music around the fire under a sky full of stars.
Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga.
Early wake-up for sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes — a powerful natural spectacle where the sand changes colors within minutes. Breakfast at the camp and return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4.
If it is market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday), we stop at Rissani souk, an authentic traditional market where locals trade dates, spices, clothing, ceramics, and livestock. Rissani is also the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty.
We continue to Tinghir oasis, then Todra Gorge, where limestone cliffs rise 300 meters high and narrow to just ten meters at their tightest point. A short walk through this natural canyon follows. In the afternoon, we reach the Dades Gorges, known for the “monkey fingers” rock formations and dramatic winding roads carved into the canyon walls.
Overnight in a hotel in the Dades Gorges.
Departure after breakfast along the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” filming location for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia, and many international productions. Optional visit to Atlas Studios, the world’s largest film studio.
Then Ait Ben Haddou: a 17th-century clay ksar and UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and other productions. Visit on foot through its alleys up to the granary viewpoint. Lunch nearby.
In the afternoon, cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), the highest paved mountain pass in Morocco, with panoramic views before arriving in Marrakech at night. Free evening at Jemaa el-Fna square.
Overnight in a riad in Marrakech.
Full-day guided tour of Marrakech with a local guide. Highlights include Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, artisan souks, Koutoubia Mosque, and Majorelle Garden. The experience concludes in Jemaa el-Fna square, the vibrant heart of the city filled with storytellers, musicians, and food stalls.
Transfer to Marrakech or Casablanca airport according to your flight schedule.
End of the 7-day tour from Tangier to Marrakech.
