5 Days Desert Tour from Tangier via Merzouga

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Start in Tangier’s coastal charm with views of the Strait of Gibraltar
• Explore Chefchaouen’s iconic blue-hued medina nestled in the Rif Mountains
• Marvel at Volubilis’ ancient Roman ruins—a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning mosaics
• Discover Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, with its grand Bab Mansour gate
• Immerse in Fes’ medieval medina, a living museum of Islamic art and scholarship
• Encounter wild Barbary macaques in the cedar forests of Azrou
• Experience the Sahara Desert with a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
• Spend a magical night under the stars in a luxury desert camp with Berber hospitality
• Witness sunrise over the golden dunes of Merzouga
• Stroll through the dramatic Todra Gorges, flanked by 300-meter limestone cliffs
• Admire the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations in the rugged Dades Valley
• Pass through the fragrant Valley of Roses near Kelaat M’Gouna (especially vibrant in May)
• Visit Ouarzazate—the “Hollywood of Africa”—and its legendary film studios
• Explore the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a backdrop for *Gladiator* and *Game of Thrones*
• Discover the historic Telouet Kasbah, ancestral home of the powerful Glaoui family
• Cross the majestic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m) through the High Atlas Mountains
• Conclude your journey in vibrant Marrakech, the Red City of souks and storytelling

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 1: Tangier → Tetouan → Chefchaouen

Journey Duration: 4–5 hours | Distance: 180 km

Upon arrival in Tangier, meet your guide and begin your Moroccan adventure. Explore highlights like Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Then, drive inland through the scenic Rif Mountains, passing the historic city of Tetouan. Arrive in Chefchaouen—the “Blue Pearl”—and wander its serene, cobalt-washed streets. Overnight in a charming local hotel.

Day 2: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

Journey Duration: 6–7 hours | Distance: 260 km

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Chefchaouen before heading south. Visit the UNESCO-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, famed for its well-preserved mosaics and triumphal arch. Continue to Meknes, Morocco’s 17th-century imperial capital, to see Bab Mansour and the Royal Stables. Arrive in Fes by evening and check into a traditional riad in the medina. Overnight in Fes.

Day 3: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga

Journey Duration: 8–9 hours | Distance: 480 km

Depart Fes through the Middle Atlas. Stop in Ifrane (“Little Switzerland”) and Azrou Cedar Forest to observe wild Barbary macaques. Lunch in Midelt, the “Apple Capital.” Cross the Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass and descend into the Ziz Valley, with panoramic views of palm oases and ksours. Arrive in Merzouga by late afternoon. Mount your camel for a 1.5-hour ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes to watch sunset. Dinner and overnight in a luxury desert camp with Berber music under starlit skies.

Day 4: Merzouga → Rissani → Erfoud → Todra Gorges → Dades Gorges

Journey Duration: 6–7 hours | Distance: 280 km

Rise early to witness sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, visit Rissani’s lively souk—birthplace of Morocco’s Alaouite dynasty—and stop at Erfoud’s fossil workshops. Continue to the Todra Gorges, where towering 300-meter cliffs create a natural wonder perfect for walking and photography. Lunch in the canyon shade. Proceed to the Dades Gorges, stopping at the famous “Monkey Fingers” rock formation. Overnight in a guesthouse with valley views.

Day 5: Dades Gorges → Valley of Roses → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Telouet → Marrakech

Journey Duration: 7–8 hours | Distance: 380 km

Depart through the Dades Valley into the fragrant Valley of Roses (seasonal blooms April–May). Stop in Skoura Oasis to visit the historic Kasbah Amridil. Continue to Ouarzazate—the “Hollywood of Africa”—for a brief studio or Taourirt Kasbah visit. Explore the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, then the atmospheric ruins of Telouet Kasbah. Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m), enjoying sweeping mountain vistas. Arrive in Marrakech by evening. Drop-off at your riad, concluding your 5-day desert adventure.