Tangier Trip Overview
This is your perfect private tour to visit all the highlights of Northern Morocco and the Desert in one week – from Tangier to the Rif Mountains, the Imperial Cities Meknes and Fes to the desert – continue over the Atlas Mountains to the famous city of Marrakech – such a lot to see and discover!
Enjoy Chefchaouen, the “Blue City” in the Rif mountains
Explore the Imperial cities Fes and Meknes
Visit a local Nomad family in their cave home and learn about Nomadic life in Morocco
Ride a camel in Erg Chebbi to reach your desert camp
Spend the night at a Luxury Desert camp
Explore Todra Gorges and Dades Gorges
Visit the legendary world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Taourirt Kasbah
Explore the old Telouet Kasbah together with a local guide
Cross the fantastic Views of High Atlas Mountains with its pass of Tizi N’Tichka
Additional Info
* Duration: 8 days
* Starts: Tangier, Morocco
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Tangier, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco
This is your perfect private tour to visit all the highlights of Northern Morocco and the Desert in one week – from Tangier to the Rif Mountains, the Imperial Cities Meknes and Fes to the desert – continue over the Atlas Mountains to the famous city of Marrakech – such a lot to see and discover!
Enjoy Chefchaouen, the “Blue City” in the Rif mountains
Explore the Imperial cities Fes and Meknes
Visit a local Nomad family in their cave home and learn about Nomadic life in Morocco
Ride a camel in Erg Chebbi to reach your desert camp
Spend the night at a Luxury Desert camp
Explore Todra Gorges and Dades Gorges
Visit the legendary world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Taourirt Kasbah
Explore the old Telouet Kasbah together with a local guide
Cross the fantastic Views of High Atlas Mountains with its pass of Tizi N’Tichka
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tangier – Tetouan – Chefchaouen
Pass By: Tangier, Tangier, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Pick up at the airport of Tangier, at Tangier Port or at your accommodation of Tangier and start of the tour (no city tour of Tangier included in this program).
Stop At: Hercules Cave, Cap Spartel, Tangier 90060 Morocco
**Visit depending on your arrival time**
If you’ll start your tour in the morning, we’ll have time to visit the fantastic Hercules caves before we drive to Tetouan and further to Chefchaouen.
This popular tourist attraction is situated 14 km west of Tangier, just next to the King’s Palace. The cave is part natural and part man-made, and the entrance to the sea has the shape of the continent Africa.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tetouan, Tetouan, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
We’ll continue our drive along the Mediterranean Ocean for about 2 h until we reach Tetouan, where we’ll stop for lunch. Before the city’s foundation in the late 13th century, small fortifications existed here with the name Tittawin. You can have a short stroll around the city centre before we continue in direction Chefchaouen.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Chefchaouen, Chefchaouen, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Chefchaouen, the “blue city” in the Rif mountains, is famous for its photogenique Medina with the houses in all shades of blue. Stroll around the small alleys and discover this little jewel.
Duration: 12 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Medina of Chefchaouen
Day 2: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Stop At: Volubilis, Morocco
After breakfast in your Riad we head in direction of the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest of its kind in North Africa and very well preserved. It lies in a strategic position about 33 km north of Meknès and is famous for its mosaics.
The best time for a visit is in springtime, when the wild flowers are in full bloom among the old stones. The roman city is over 2’000 years old and was destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake. You can explore this fascinating site by your own or with a local guide (not included). There is also a museum on site.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Meknes, Morocco
After the visit of Volubilis we continue about 30 min to Meknes, which is famous for its luxurious palaces and beautiful mosques as well as one of the most important souks of Morocco. Enjoy a guided tour here together with a local city guide.
Meknès, once capital of Morocco is a historic city full of life. The souks are spacious and ideal to explore. See the beautiful gate of Bab el-Mansour at the Place el Hedim, maybe the most beautiful of all the gates of the imperial cities. Visit the mausoleum of Mulay Ismail and his corn attics and stables that are called Heri es-Souani, which once accommodated up to 12,000 horses.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Fes, Fes, Fes-Meknes
After the city tour in Meknes, we continue our trip to Fes, where we’ll stay for the next 2 days.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Medina of Fes
Day 3: Full Day City Tour of Fes
Stop At: Royal Palace of Fez, Avenue Omar Ibnou Khattab, Fes 30004 Morocco
Today we’ll spend the whole day exploring the impressive city of Fez with its huge Medina «Fes el-Bali» together with a local guide.
Outside the medina lies the Royal Palace with its large plaza lined with palm trees.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Bab Bou Jeloud, Fes Morocco
Bab Boujloud is one of the gates which leads into the Medina. Here, we’ll start our walking tour together with the city guide.
Stop At: Museo Nejjarine, Pl. Nejjarine, Fes 30030 Morocco
Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and discover traditional tools, carpets, furniture and musical instruments in a beautifully restaurated caravanserai.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chouara Tannery, Hay Lablida Chouara, Fes 30030 Morocco
After lunchbreak in one of the hunderts of restaurants in the medina, we continue our tour to the famous tanneries, where the leather is processed still the same as hunderts of years ago. You can observe the workers from a lookout and they will be glad to explain you the different workings steps if you are willing to bargain for a bag or new belt afterwards. But be aware of the bad smelling of the furs and coloring goods!
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Medina of Fez, Fes 30000 Morocco
Last but not least we will drive up a hill to the cementary where we’ll enjoy the panoramic view over the white sea of houses of the Medina.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Medina of Fes
Day 4: Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Erfoud – Merzouga
Stop At: Ifrane, Ifrane, Fes-Meknes
We start our journey in the morning and head for the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop for a coffee in Ifrane, also known as «Switzerland of Morocco» with its chalet like houses.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Midelt, Midelt, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
From here we are heading south through several typical villages and you will have the opportunity to spot nomad families living in their tents along the road.
Stop At: Midelt, Midelt, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
After lunch in Midelt we continue our drive and enjoy panoramic views crossing the Tizi N’ Talghoumt pass. -1907 M
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Erfoud, Erfoud, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
In Erfoud, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the valley of the river Ziz lined with thousands of date palms.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Hassilabied, Hassilabied, Merzouga, Draa-Tafilalet
Now we’re almost at the dunes! After arriving in Merzouga, we will enjoy dinner in the desert lodge where we’ll spend the night.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Village of Merzouga or Hassilabied
Day 5: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi 4×4 Dunes Tour
Stop At: Erg Chebbi, Erg Chebbi, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
Today will be devoted entirely to enjoy the desert. We’ll cross the dunes with our 4×4, visit nomads for tea in their tents, explore an oasis and ride through the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Khemliya, Morocco
Visit the famous village of Khamlia and enjoy its folk music.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Erg Chebbi, Erg Chebbi, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
After arriving back in Merzouga in the late afternoon, you will experience a one hour camel ride to reach the desert camp while the sun sinks down behind the dunes. Enjoy your evening dining in a berber tent, look for shooting stars at the camp fire and sleep in a nomad tent!
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a private tent in a desert camp in the Dunes of Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
Day 6: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges
Stop At: Erg Chebbi, Erg Chebbi, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
Wake up by the first strays of light to watch the sunrise over the Sahara before you enjoy your typical breakfast. We return on the camel’s back or 4×4 to the village of Merzouga.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rissani, Rissani, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
In Rissani we will have the opportunity to visit the local market with the «donkey parking» and have a look at some fossils outside the city.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gargantas del Todra, Tinerhir 45800 Morocco
After lunch break, we will follow the road along the river to reach the gorges of Todra, where you can take a short but spectacular hike between the up to 300 m high rock walls.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Boumalne Dades, Boumalne Dades, Souss-Massa
Before arriving at our Riad for the night in the Dades valley, we head to Boumalne Dades where you can make some nice pictures of the special rock formations which look like monkey hands.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Dades Valley
Day 7: Dades Gorges – Boutghrart – Skoura Valley – Ouarzazate
Stop At: El Kelaa M’gouna, El Kelaa M’gouna, Souss-Massa
We start the day with the drive from Dades to the Valley of Roses and the magnificent Berber village of Boutghrart where we will have tea with a local family. In this region, you can still find local Nomads living separated in caves carved in the stones. Learn about their simple live with their kettle. If you like to, you can help them with gifts like food or toys for their children. We will continue over a 4×4 route until we reach the route of 1’000 Kasbah’s.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Skoura, Skoura, Beni Mellal-Khenifra
The Skoura Valley, also named Route of 1’000 Kasbahs, is famous for its huge palm groves and the numerous majestic Kasbahs along the road.
Stop At: Kasbah Amridil, Ouled Bourasse, Skoura Ahl El Oust 45502 Morocco
Admire the views of the Valley of a thousand Kasbahs (Skoura Valley) and the famous Valley of Roses along the road. Visit the historic Amridil Kasbah, one of the biggest and most important Kasbahs in Southern Morocco.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Taourirt Kasbah, Avenue Mohammed V, Ouarzazate 45000 Morocco
After arrival in the desert city Ouarzazate, also known as «Hollywood of Morocco», we start our visit at the old Kasbah of Ouarzazate named Taourirt where you have some time to explore the narrow pedestrian streets on your own and visit the palace with its countless rooms which seem like a labyrinth. Afterwards, you can have a look at the movie museum just on the other side of the road.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in Ouarzazate
Day 8: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Telouet – High Atlas – Marrakech
Stop At: Atlas Film Studio, Km 5, road of Marrakech BP 28, Ouarzazate 45000 Morocco
Start your last day with the Atlas Corporation film studios, where you can discover the diverse sets and listen to the anecdotes of the multiple movies and actors. Several famous movies like Gladiator, Babel, Prince of Persia, and recently The Physician have been shot in those studios.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ait Ben Haddou, Ait Ben Haddou, Souss-Massa
A little outside of Ouarzazate lies Aït Ben Haddou, the fortified clay city with its numerous ksars and kasbahs, where several famous movies such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia have been shot. This photogenic city is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Telouet Kasbah, Telouet Morocco
Continue through the breathtaking landscape to Telouet. This fortress was occupied by Thami el Glaoui before he was expelled by independence efforts. One section has unfortunately disintegrated into red sand, but you can still visit the beautiful rooms with mosaic tiles and wood carvings.
Duration: 45 minutes
Pass By: High Atlas Mountains, 40020 Morocco
After the visit, we pass the High Atlas mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass with scenic views along the road and many opportunities to take photos. Evening arrival in Marrakech.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Riad in the Medina of Marrakech with breakfast.
Our services end with the overnight in Marrakech.
