Tangier to Marrakech: Private 8-Days Tour Imperial Cities, Mountains & Desert

Day 1: Arrival in Tangier - Tetouan - Chefchaouen

1. Tangier
   6h
   Pick up at the airport of Tangier, at Tangier Port or at your accommodation of Tangier and start of the tour (no city tour of Tangier included in this program).
2. Caves of Hercules
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   **Visit depending on your arrival time**
   If you'll start your tour in the morning, we'll have time to visit the fantastic Hercules caves before we drive to Tetouan and further to Chefchaouen.
   This popular tourist attraction is situated 14 km west of Tangier, just next to the King's Palace. The cave is part natural and part man-made, and the entrance to the sea has the shape of the continent Africa.
3. Tetouan
   2h
   We'll continue our drive along the Mediterranean Ocean for about 2 h until we reach Tetouan, where we'll stop for lunch. Before the city's foundation in the late 13th century, small fortifications existed here with the name Tittawin. You can have a short stroll around the city centre before we continue in direction Chefchaouen.
4. Chefchaouen
   12h
   Chefchaouen, the "blue city" in the Rif mountains, is famous for its photogenique Medina with the houses in all shades of blue. Stroll around the small alleys and discover this little jewel.

Day 2: Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fes

1. Volubilis
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   After breakfast in your Riad we head in direction of the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest of its kind in North Africa and very well preserved. It lies in a strategic position about 33 km north of Meknès and is famous for its mosaics.
   The best time for a visit is in springtime, when the wild flowers are in full bloom among the old stones. The roman city is over 2'000 years old and was destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake. You can explore this fascinating site by your own or with a local guide (not included). There is also a museum on site.
2. 3h
   After the visit of Volubilis we continue about 30 min to Meknes, which is famous for its luxurious palaces and beautiful mosques as well as one of the most important souks of Morocco. Enjoy a guided tour here together with a local city guide.
   
   Meknès, once capital of Morocco is a historic city full of life. The souks are spacious and ideal to explore. See the beautiful gate of Bab el-Mansour at the Place el Hedim, maybe the most beautiful of all the gates of the imperial cities. Visit the mausoleum of Mulay Ismail and his corn attics and stables that are called Heri es-Souani, which once accommodated up to 12,000 horses.
3. Fez
   12h
   After the city tour in Meknes, we continue our trip to Fes, where we'll stay for the next 2 days.

Day 3: Full Day City Tour of Fes

1. Royal Palace of Fez
   20m
   Today we'll spend the whole day exploring the impressive city of Fez with its huge Medina «Fes el-Bali» together with a local guide.
   Outside the medina lies the Royal Palace with its large plaza lined with palm trees.
2. Bab Boujloud
   3h
   Bab Boujloud is one of the gates which leads into the Medina. Here, we'll start our walking tour together with the city guide.
3. Museo Nejjarine
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and discover traditional tools, carpets, furniture and musical instruments in a beautifully restaurated caravanserai.
4. Chouara Tannery
   30m
   After lunchbreak in one of the hunderts of restaurants in the medina, we continue our tour to the famous tanneries, where the leather is processed still the same as hunderts of years ago. You can observe the workers from a lookout and they will be glad to explain you the different workings steps if you are willing to bargain for a bag or new belt afterwards. But be aware of the bad smelling of the furs and coloring goods!
5. Medina of Fez
   1h
   Last but not least we will drive up a hill to the cementary where we'll enjoy the panoramic view over the white sea of houses of the Medina.

Day 4: Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Erfoud - Merzouga

1. Ifrane
   30m
   We start our journey in the morning and head for the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop for a coffee in Ifrane, also known as «Switzerland of Morocco» with its chalet like houses.
2. Midelt
   2h
   From here we are heading south through several typical villages and you will have the opportunity to spot nomad families living in their tents along the road.
3. Midelt
   1h
   After lunch in Midelt we continue our drive and enjoy panoramic views crossing the Tizi N' Talghoumt pass. -1907 M
4. Erfoud
   15m
   In Erfoud, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the valley of the river Ziz lined with thousands of date palms.
5. Hassilabied
   12h
   Now we’re almost at the dunes! After arriving in Merzouga, we will enjoy dinner in the desert lodge where we'll spend the night.

Day 5: Merzouga - Erg Chebbi 4x4 Dunes Tour

1. Erg Chebbi
   6h
   Today will be devoted entirely to enjoy the desert. We'll cross the dunes with our 4x4, visit nomads for tea in their tents, explore an oasis and ride through the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
2. 45m
   Visit the famous village of Khamlia and enjoy its folk music.
3. Erg Chebbi
   12h
   After arriving back in Merzouga in the late afternoon, you will experience a one hour camel ride to reach the desert camp while the sun sinks down behind the dunes. Enjoy your evening dining in a berber tent, look for shooting stars at the camp fire and sleep in a nomad tent!

Day 6: Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Gorges

1. Erg Chebbi
   1h
   Wake up by the first strays of light to watch the sunrise over the Sahara before you enjoy your typical breakfast. We return on the camel's back or 4x4 to the village of Merzouga.
2. Rissani
   1h
   In Rissani we will have the opportunity to visit the local market with the «donkey parking» and have a look at some fossils outside the city.
3. Todra Gorge
   45m
   After lunch break, we will follow the road along the river to reach the gorges of Todra, where you can take a short but spectacular hike between the up to 300 m high rock walls.
4. Boumalne Dades
   12h
   Before arriving at our Riad for the night in the Dades valley, we head to Boumalne Dades where you can make some nice pictures of the special rock formations which look like monkey hands.

Day 7: Dades Gorges - Boutghrart - Skoura Valley - Ouarzazate

1. El Kelaa M'gouna
   2h
   We start the day with the drive from Dades to the Valley of Roses and the magnificent Berber village of Boutghrart where we will have tea with a local family. In this region, you can still find local Nomads living separated in caves carved in the stones. Learn about their simple live with their kettle. If you like to, you can help them with gifts like food or toys for their children. We will continue over a 4x4 route until we reach the route of 1'000 Kasbah's.
2. Skoura
   1h
   The Skoura Valley, also named Route of 1'000 Kasbahs, is famous for its huge palm groves and the numerous majestic Kasbahs along the road.
3. Kasbah Amridil
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Admire the views of the Valley of a thousand Kasbahs (Skoura Valley) and the famous Valley of Roses along the road. Visit the historic Amridil Kasbah, one of the biggest and most important Kasbahs in Southern Morocco.
4. Taourirt Kasbah
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   After arrival in the desert city Ouarzazate, also known as «Hollywood of Morocco», we start our visit at the old Kasbah of Ouarzazate named Taourirt where you have some time to explore the narrow pedestrian streets on your own and visit the palace with its countless rooms which seem like a labyrinth. Afterwards, you can have a look at the movie museum just on the other side of the road.

Day 8: Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Telouet - High Atlas - Marrakech

1. Atlas Film Studio
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Start your last day with the Atlas Corporation film studios, where you can discover the diverse sets and listen to the anecdotes of the multiple movies and actors. Several famous movies like Gladiator, Babel, Prince of Persia, and recently The Physician have been shot in those studios.
2. Ait Ben Haddou
   1h 30m
   A little outside of Ouarzazate lies Aït Ben Haddou, the fortified clay city with its numerous ksars and kasbahs, where several famous movies such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia have been shot. This photogenic city is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Telouet Kasbah
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Continue through the breathtaking landscape to Telouet. This fortress was occupied by Thami el Glaoui before he was expelled by independence efforts. One section has unfortunately disintegrated into red sand, but you can still visit the beautiful rooms with mosaic tiles and wood carvings.
4. High Atlas Mountains
   3h
   After the visit, we pass the High Atlas mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass with scenic views along the road and many opportunities to take photos. Evening arrival in Marrakech.

Pickup details

Please wait in the reception area of your accommodation in Tangier.
Pick up at Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport (arrivals) or at Tangier Ports also possible.
Pick ups at AirBnB's/private residences not possible - in this case, your meeting point will be in front of the train station of Tangier.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness