Tangier to Marrakech Adventure - 9 Days

Once you have arrived in Tangier at the airport or port, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to start exploring, grab a meal or relax before the start of the tour.

Tangier - Chefchaouen. Today, we meet our driver and begin exploring Tangier, discovering the culture of this northern Moroccan city. During the visit, we see Cape Spartel, the Palace of the Sultan, the Necropolis, the Caves of Hercules, the Kasbah, the medina, and the souk. Once we reach the souk, you have free time to walk through the streets.

After time for lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant, we travel to Chefchaouen, often called Chaouen by Moroccans. The name comes from the Berber word Ichawen, meaning horns, referring to the shape of the mountain peaks above the town.

Chefchaouen is known for its blue-painted houses and buildings and is also a popular place to shop for local handicrafts such as wool garments, woven blankets, and the region’s goat cheese. The town attracts many visitors, particularly from Spain, especially during Semana Santa and Christmas.

There are several mosques in the town, including the one at Place Outa el Hammam in the medina and another dedicated to Moulay Abdeslam Ben Mchich Alami, the patron saint of the Jebalah region, whose tomb lies about an hour away on the road to Larache. There is also a ruined mosque built by the Spanish.

Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fes. Early this morning, we depart from Chefchaouen and travel through the Rif Mountains, enjoying views of the surrounding landscapes as we make our way towards Fes, the oldest city in Morocco.

Along the way, we visit Volubilis, an ancient Berber and Roman city that once served as the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania. The site lies in the Saiss plain on the banks of the Wadi Rhoumane, near the holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, where Idriss I, founder of the Idrissid dynasty, is buried.

We also stop in Meknes, known for its imperial history. Here we see Bab Mansour, a monumental gate decorated with mosaic tiles that marks the entrance to the old imperial city. We also visit the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, whose 17th-century palace complex includes courtyards and fountains, as well as the vast Heri es-Souani complex, once used as royal stables and food storage. In the afternoon we continue to Fes.

We will discover the oldest city in Morocco, Fes, a city known for its rich culture, traditions and gastronomy, often referred to as the cultural capital of Morocco.

We walk through the medieval medina, exploring its narrow alleys and small streets. During the visit, we see the Royal Palace gate, the Blue Gate, and the Jewish quarter, the first Mellah built in Morocco during the 14th century.

We continue to visit important cultural and historical sites, including the famous Al Qaraouine University, the world's oldest university, the tanneries, and the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum.

After time for lunch, we visit the tiles cooperative and then enjoy a panoramic view over the entire Medina of Fes.

Fes - Ifrane - Azrou - Ziz Valley- Merzouga. After breakfast, we leave Fes and travel towards Merzouga, passing through Ifrane, a beautiful mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco. We then stop in the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas Mountains.

Along the way, we pass through Azrou, a Berber village located in the middle of the largest cedar forest in Morocco, where we may see the Barbary apes. We continue through the hills and mountains of the Atlas towards Midelt, where there will be time for lunch.

After lunch in Midelt, we travel through the Tiz Ntalghamt Pass and the Ziz Gorge, enjoying views across the High Atlas plateau as the landscape gradually changes and the first signs of the desert appear near Errachidia.

We continue along the Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views on the way to Erfoud and Rissani.

In the afternoon we arrive in Merzouga, where we are welcomed with a glass of mint tea. We then ride camels into the dunes of the Sahara Desert of Merzouga to reach the desert camp, where we spend the night.

Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Valley. Early this morning, we wake before sunrise and walk into the Erg Chebbi dunes to watch the sun rise over the Sahara Desert. After sunrise, we return to the camp for breakfast.

We then camel trek back to the village of Merzouga, enjoying views of the Erg Chebbi dunes as their colours change with the morning light.

On arrival in Merzouga, we meet our driver and continue the journey towards the Dades Valley. Along the way there is an optional stop in Rissani to visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, founder of the Alaouite dynasty. We then continue to Erfoud to visit a fossilised marble factory before travelling towards the Todra Valley, where there will be time for lunch.

At the Todra Gorges, you can take a short walk through the gorge and explore the surrounding palm grove and the Jewish quarter. The Todra Gorges are the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco, where the Todra River has carved dramatic vertical cliffs that attract climbers from around the world.

In the evening, we drive through the Dades Valley, where we see the sandcastle formations and the rock formations known as monkey toes. Our accommodation is a guest house overlooking the Dades Valley.

Dades Valley - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech. Today, we travel through the Dades Valley along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, a route known for its dramatic scenery and many opportunities to stop for photographs.

We stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, the centre of the Rose Valley, where you have the option to visit a rose cooperative and purchase rosewater.

We also visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, built by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains of the 19th century. The kasbah later became home to many members of the Glaoui family.

Our journey continues across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 metres in the High Atlas Mountains, where we stop at a Berber women’s cooperative to learn about the production of argan oil, a product found only in Morocco, before arriving in Marrakech.

We will embark on a tour of Marrakech, known as the Red City for its red sandstone walls and buildings.

Our visit includes some of the city’s most important historical and cultural sites, including the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, and the main square Jemaa el-Fna, the lively heart of the city.

After time for lunch at a restaurant near the square, we walk through the souks, a maze of narrow streets filled with traditional crafts. Areas such as Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, and Souk Smata offer spices, woodwork and traditional babouche slippers, and you may also see the dyers’ souk, where cloth and yarn are coloured using traditional methods.

We also visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 16th-century Koranic school known for its fine Moroccan Islamic architecture, including carved cedar ceilings, sculpted plaster and detailed zellij tilework.

Marrakech has strong Berber roots and was once an important trading centre for tribes from the Atlas Mountains. Around Jemaa el-Fna, the city spreads out with the souks to the north, the Koutoubia Mosque and gardens to the west, and the kasbah area to the south, where the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace are located.

In the afternoon, you have free time to explore other parts of the city on your own.

After our final breakfast, depending on your departure flight time, you may have some time to relax or explore more of Marrakech at your own pace. You will then be transferred to the airport for your departure.