7 Days Tour from Tangier to Marrakech

Day 1: Tangier – Tetouan – Chefchaouen

Tangier and the staff of our agency will welcome you on this first day of the circuit. Upon arrival at the airport or port, our private vehicle with a Spanish-speaking driver will be waiting for you to begin this week -long north-south route through Morocco .

The first stop, if the arrival time of the flight or ferry allows it, is Tetouan. This city, known as the ‘Paloma Blanca’ due to the color of its historic medina, is an interesting surprise for travelers who dare to visit it. On the one hand, it preserves historical and monumental constructions, which earned it the title of World Heritage Site. And on the other hand, it still preserves the echoes of its Spanish past, as it was the capital of the Protectorate that was in force for several decades during the 20th century.

Regardless of the visit to Tetouan and its duration, the second part of this day will be dedicated to Chaouen (or Chefchaouen), which is also known for its color: in this case, it is the ‘blue city’, since every corner of Its medina is painted in light blue and other shades. Its narrow streets, steep and full of twists and turns, will be the protagonists of the free walk. And its viewpoints will offer us spectacular panoramic views of this town, nestled between the Rif mountains. At night, you will rest in a charming riad located in the medina.

Day 2: Chefchaouen – Fes

After breakfast at the Chefchaouen riad, we will be ready to continue this route from north to south. And in a 7 days tour from Tangier, you can never miss a day dedicated to Fes. That is precisely what we will do on this second day, after leaving the Rif mountains and arriving in this city in the morning.

It has the honor of being one of the Imperial Cities of the country, since in the past it was the capital of the kingdom of the same name, which occupied a good part of current Morocco. During the visit with a local guide, we will discover some of the most emblematic monuments and places of Fes during the Middle Ages, such as its Karaouine mosque, home of a prestigious and pioneering university. Its medersas are also worth visiting, as are the populous neighborhoods of the medina, including the tanners’ neighborhood. The Mellah or the golden doors of the Royal Palace can also be part of the guided tour.

During the afternoon, you will enjoy free time to make cultural visits to monuments or to shop in the craft shops of the medina, which are many and with high quality items. At night, you will have accommodation in a riad in the Medina.

Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Erfoud – Merzouga Desert Dunes

The third day of this 7 days tour from Tangier‘ will begin with breakfast at the riad in Fes. On this day, the route will take us to the far south and to do so it is necessary to cross the Middle Atlas mountains. But first, it is worth enjoying two very unique places.

The first is Ifrane, a town located at more than 1,700 meters above sea level that is nicknamed ‘Moroccan Switzerland’: the gabled roofs of its buildings indicate that snow is common here in winter, giving it a very different appearance than We have already seen what remains to be seen in Morocco this week . The second place of interest is the Ifrane National Park, in the area around Azrou. It is also called Parque de los Cedros due to the abundance of this type of trees, or also the Forest of the Monkeys, because it is the habitat of a large population of this species of primate in danger of extinction.

On the other side of the Middle Atlas awaits us on a road trip through the Ziz Valley that leads first to the town of Erfoud, famous for its fossils and marbles, and then to the Merzouga desert. In this town that gives its name to this portion of the Sahara, we will change our vehicle for camels (or a 4×4 if desired) to take an excursion through the dunes of Erg Chebbi and to the tent camp.

There they will be waiting for us with a welcome Berber tea, as the Berber tradition dictates. Dinner will also be served at the campsite, located under a wonderful starry sky. Without a doubt, an unbeatable place to sleep in comfortable Berber tents.

Day 4: Merzouga Desert – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

This fourth day of the route invites you to get up early: this way we will have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the dunes, a unique and unforgettable experience. After enjoying the first light of dawn and having breakfast at the camp, we will return by camel or 4×4 to Merzouga to continue the route. There will be the opportunity to take a refreshing shower in the tent camp or in a hotel, depending on the package chosen.

Back on the road, other essential places await us on any week-long trip through Morocco . For example, Berber villages, large palm groves and adobe fortresses that make up the so-called Route of a Thousand Kasbahs. Tinghir (or Tinerhir) is one of the stops that await us on the first leg of this day, a place that concentrates precisely all those attractions.

Another of the ‘must-do’ stops is the Todra Gorges: this rocky canyon, with walls 200 meters high in some cases, forms a landscape that will remain engraved in the retina of travelers. It is the prelude to the Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses, which we will also discover by road.

And in the last part of the day we will arrive at Ouarzazate, famous for its film studios, with the option of visiting them if the program allows it. In this city is the Kasbah of Taourirt, which is worth visiting to see what a fortress-residence of the ‘Pasha’ of Marrakech was like: not only is its essence preserved on the outside but also on the inside, with rich decoration in some rooms.

As a final epilogue to the day, you will enjoy dinner and a night’s rest in a hotel in Ouarzazate.

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

In this ‘ 7 days desert tour from Tangier there are several World Heritage sites that we will visit. And one of the most important is part of this fifth day, after breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate: we are referring to the ksar of Ait Benhaddou, which is located just a few kilometers from the city. It is a huge fortified town in which time seems to have stopped. Built in adobe by the Berbers centuries ago, it is still home to local families today. But above all, it has been chosen by numerous blockbusters to film scenes from movies and series, from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones .

After the visit, our vehicle will take us to the High Atlas, a large mountain barrier that we will cross through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at more than 2,200 meters above sea level. Traditional villages and panoramic views will witness our ascent and subsequent descent by road, being able to stop to take photographs and rest.

In the afternoon we will arrive in Marrakech, the final destination of this tour of Morocco in one week . At that moment you will be able to have your first contact with this great city, as a free walk. At night, a charming riad will welcome you in the heart of the medina.

Day 6: Visit Marrakech with a Local Guide

Of course, any one-week trip to Morocco must dedicate a full day to visiting Marrakech, declared a World Heritage Site. And that is precisely what you will do after breakfast at the riad: an official guide will meet you to discover together the attractions of this Imperial City.

On this guided tour, the monuments and places that will make up the tour will show the impressive past of this city, capital since the 11th century with the Almoravids and, centuries later, with the Saadides. But you will also appreciate the lively atmosphere of its streets and souks. Some of the favorite attractions of visitors are the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Medersa or the Jemaa el-Fna Square.

The afternoon will be free, precisely to be able to shop at the stalls in this square and in the souks of the medina, organized by guilds, or to visit museums or carry out other activities of interest. At night, again, you will rest in the same charming riad.

Day 7: Transfer to Marrakech Airport

The last day of the circuit begins with breakfast at the riad and subsequent check-out. Depending on the time of the return flight, you will decide whether to take a last walk around the city or not. In any case, at the agreed time our driver will pick you up to take you by private vehicle to the airport. At that moment we will end this one-week route through Morocco and say goodbye with the hope of having made an unforgettable trip through a special and welcoming country.