8 Days Tour from Tangier to Marrakech

Day 1: Tangier – Tetouan – Chefchaouen

This 8 days tour from Tangier, located in the Strait of Gibraltar, next to Cape Spartel. Whether you arrive in the city by air or by sea, our English-speaking driver will be waiting for you at the airport or port, at the agreed time.

Depending on the arrival time of the flight or ferry, our first stop could be Tetouan. Its historic medina, recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO, is home to corners of great charm, wrapped in a white color that invades everything. In addition, some places of interest outside the old town have a marked Spanish character: this is because it was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco in the 20th century.

Whether we visit Tetouan or not, what is certain is that the second part of the day will take us to Chefchaouen, also called Chefchaouen. This picturesque town, tinted blue and lying on the slopes of the Rif mountains, has a network of streets full of charm, viewpoints with panoramic views and a kasbah that takes us back to past, almost fictional times. After freely visiting the oldest area of ​​the city, you will rest in a charming riad in the heart of the medina.

Day 2: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes

The second day of this trip begins with breakfast at the Chefchaouen riad, and then continues the route south, leaving behind the green mountains of the Rif. And thanks to the fact that this ‘Morocco from north to south’ circuit lasts 8 days, we can add a day dedicated to discovering the attractions between Chaouen and Fes.

The first and interesting stop will be at the archaeological site of Volubilis, a city built by the Romans when this territory was part of the Mauritania Tingitana province. In this World Heritage site, remains of enormous value are preserved, some of them imposing such as the temple of Jupiter, the arch of Caracalla or the mosaics of the most stately houses. The visit will be free or guided, according to the group’s preferences.

Very close to Volubilis is another place listed as World Heritage by UNESCO: Meknes. Its historic medina still preserves interesting buildings from its golden age, in the 17th and 18th centuries, when Sultan Moulay Ismail established the capital here. The Bab Mansur Gate or the Ismail Mausoleum are places that will attract the attention of any visitor.

And after Meknes, we will follow the route to Fes. This Imperial City, whose medina also has the highest recognition by UNESCO, is well worth a full day to discover. So on this day there will be time for a free walk, before resting and spending the night in your riad in the medina.

Day 3: Visit Fes with a Local Guide

After recharging your batteries with breakfast at the riad, you’ll be ready to explore Fes, considered the ‘cultural and religious capital’ of the country. The official local guide with whom you will take the guided tour of the city will talk to you about this and many other things.

Some of the monuments that can be part of the itinerary are the prestigious medersas or Koranic schools, such as Bou Inania, the Karaouine mosque, or the Nejjarine Fountain. In addition, you will tour the populous neighborhoods of the medina, including the tanners’ neighborhood. And if there is time, you will walk through the Mellah and around the Royal Palace, with its spectacular golden doors.

In any case, you will have the afternoon free to extend or complete these visits, or to make careful purchases, since the crafts of Fes enjoy enormous recognition throughout the country. And at night, you will rest again in the riad located in the medina.

Day 4: Fes – Ifrane – Monkey Forest – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

We are approaching the equator of this 8 days tour from Tangier, which begins with breakfast at the riad in Fes. In the morning we will arrive at the Middle Atlas, whose mountains hide surprising corners. This is the case of Ifrane, the first stop, where the buildings with gabled roofs evoke cities from other latitudes. Not in vain is it known as ‘Moroccan Switzerland’, since snow is common in the winter season.

Between Ifrane and Azrou there is another pleasant surprise, especially for nature lovers: the Cedars National Park, also called Monkey Forest. The cedars make up a landscape of intense greenery and are also the perfect home for Barbary monkeys, endangered primates that have one of their largest populations here.

Shortly afterward we will cross the Medio Altas mountains to travel south through the Ziz Valley. On the horizon is the Sahara Desert, which is already palpable in the town of Erfoud, although it is famous for its fossils and marbles, as we will see. And just 50 km later, we will reach the southernmost point of the route: Merzouga.

In this town, which gives its name to a portion of the Sahara Desert, we will leave the car to ride camels (replaceable by 4×4). In this way, we will take an excursion that will take us through a sea of ​​golden dunes of fine sand: Erg Chebbi. In the heart of this incomparable landscape is our Berber tent camp, where you will have dinner and rest at night. In the sky, thousands of shining stars will accompany your dreams.

Day 5: Merzouga Desert – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

On this fifth day of the 8 days tour from Tangier, waking up is an experience in itself: getting up early to see the first lights of dawn in the dunes of Erg Chebbi has a special charm, which we will not miss. And after breakfast in the tents, we will head back to Merzouga by camel. We will reserve time for a refreshing shower, at the camp or in a hotel according to the contracted package.

Our private vehicle will once again take us by road to surprising places. The first of them, Rissani, a small desert city, which still preserves a very interesting historical medina and corners that are difficult to see in the 21st century, such as its donkey parking lot. Also by road we will later arrive at Tinghir or Tinerhir, which in the Tamazight language means “mountain city” in reference to the rocky elevations of its surroundings.

In fact, the next stop on the itinerary is the Todra Gorges, very close to here: a spectacular canyon carved into the rock due to erosion. The result is vertical walls of 200 meters in some cases and unforgettable views from the road or on foot.

After that, we will follow the route through the Dades Valley and begin the so-called Route of a Thousand Kasbahs. In one of the picturesque towns in the area you will find our riad, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Day 6: Dades Valley – Rose Valley – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

After having breakfast at the Dades Valley riad, we will return to our vehicle to travel kilometers through this natural landscape and the nearby Valley of the Roses. The first big stop will be in Ouarzazate, and more specifically in the Kasbah of Taourirt: this Berber fortress was also the residence of the ‘Pasha’ of Marrakech and still preserves elements that allow us to imagine the greatness and importance of the construction in the past.

Shortly after we will arrive at another fortified area, even more famous: the ksar of Ait Benhaddou. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is also a common filming location for films and series, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones . Before us it will appear as an extraordinary walled town that fascinates any visitor due to the panoramic views from its exterior and the humble houses and stalls that still survive inside.

After delighting in this unique set of its kind, we will return to the road to cross the High Atlas mountains through the Tizi n’ Tichka pass at more than 2,200 meters above sea level. On the ascent and descent, local towns and panoramic views will appear before our eyes, with snow-capped peaks in the coldest time of the year.

Throughout the afternoon we will arrive at Marrakech, a spectacular Imperial City that we will discover calmly the next day. For the moment, you will have free time for a first contact with its streets and its people, and after that you will enjoy accommodation in a charming riad in the medina.

Day 7: Visit Marrakech with a Local Guide 

The seventh day of this great 8 days tour from Tangier is dedicated to discovering Marrakech, always full of monumental and popular attractions. The morning breakfast, at the riad, will give you strength for the intense day that begins. And with our official guide you will visit the most emblematic places of the ‘red city’, named for the predominant reddish tone in its buildings.

The guided tour route may include monuments such as the Kutubia Mosque (exterior), the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs or the Ben Youssef Medersa, among other options. The artisan neighborhoods will show their customs during the route and you will discover that Jemaa el-Fna Square is the authentic nerve center of Marrakech.

In the afternoon you will have free time to shop at the stalls in that square or any other souk, or to explore other more modern areas in the city. You can also take the opportunity to visit a museum, such as the Marrakech Museum, or discover gardens such as those of Majorelle. And to sleep on this last day of the circuit, you will spend another night in the riad in the medina.

Day 8: Transfer to Marrakech airport

On the morning of this 8 day Morocco trip, you will have breakfast at the riad in the medina. Depending on the time of the flight, the option of having free time to make the last purchases or visits will be considered. And at the agreed time, our driver will pick you up in a private vehicle to transfer you to the Marrakech airport. The services will end here, with gratitude for having chosen us and with the hope of a future reunion to explore other areas of the country.