8 Days Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Begin in Tangier’s coastal allure with views of the Strait of Gibraltar
• Explore Chefchaouen’s iconic blue-hued medina over two leisurely days
• 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
• Enjoy a full guided tour of Fes’ medieval medina—the world’s oldest university city
• 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 music
• 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 Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, featured in *Gladiator* and *Game of Thrones*
• 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

Meet your driver/guide at the airport, port, or hotel in Tangier. Begin your adventure with views of Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Drive inland through the scenic Rif Mountains, passing the historic city of Tetouan. Arrive in Chefchaouen—the “Blue Pearl”—and settle into your accommodation. Free evening to wander the cobalt-washed alleys. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 2: Explore Chefchaouen

Journey Duration: Full day at leisure

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed exploration of Chefchaouen. Visit Rass El Ma (the water source), where local women gather to wash clothes, and stroll through artisan quarters and rooftop cafés. Capture photos of blue stairways, flower-filled courtyards, and panoramic mountain views. Optional short hike for sweeping vistas. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

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

Depart Chefchaouen and cross the Rif into the fertile plains of northern Morocco. Visit the UNESCO-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis—admire mosaics, triumphal arches, and olive presses. Continue to Meknes, Morocco’s 17th-century imperial capital, to see Bab Mansour, the Royal Stables, and Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum. Arrive in Fes by evening. Check into a traditional riad. Overnight in Fes.

Day 4: Fes Guided Tour

Journey Duration: Full-day walking tour

Dedicate the day to exploring Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest car-free urban zone and a UNESCO site. With a local guide, visit Al-Qarawiyyin University (founded 859 AD), Bou Inania Madrasa, Chouara Tanneries, Nejjarine Fountain, and the Royal Palace gates. Enjoy lunch in the medina, then visit the Merenid Tombs for panoramic city views. Free evening. Overnight in Fes.

Day 5: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga

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

Drive south 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 6: Merzouga – Free Morning in the Desert

Journey Duration: Local exploration

Rise early to witness sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, enjoy free time: take a second camel ride, try sandboarding, relax at the camp, or photograph the desert in soft morning light. Late-morning departure for the north. Overnight in Dades Gorges.

Day 7: Merzouga → Rissani → Erfoud → Todra Gorges → Dades Gorges

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

After breakfast, visit Rissani’s lively souk—birthplace of Morocco’s royal 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 8: Dades Gorges → Valley of Roses → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → 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 Aït Ben Haddou. 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 8-day desert adventure.