DAY 1: Tangier port (Sightseeing) → Rif Mountains → Drive to Chefchaouen

Whether you’re arriving by ferry or plane, we will meet you upon arrival and go on a short tour to introduce you to Tangier’s old medina. From there we will drive up into the valleys of the magnificent Rif Mountains, its peaks rising as high as 2456 meters at Jbel Tidirhine. After crossing the mountains we will continue across the fertile plains of Tetouan and limestone cliffs covered in cork oaks, pines, and wild olive trees before arriving in the mountain town of Chefchaouen, set like a gem between two Rif Mountain peaks.

Chefchaouen is renowned for the distinctive blue-washed facades of its houses, painted that way by Jewish refugees who lived there in the 1930s, and is an unreal and unmissable destination for any trip to Morocco. The Chefchaouen medina features a Spanish-style plaza surrounded by numerous cafes, rooftop restaurants, and crafts stores that sell items unique to the Moroccan highlands. We will explore Chefchaouen in the afternoon and settle into our hotel, from which we will be able to enjoy the relaxed environment and spectacular mountain views of this one-of-a-kind town.

DAY 2: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

After breakfast we will continue our journey to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. This important Roman town features detailed and gorgeous mosaics that will give you a window into Morocco’s ancient history. We will also visit the nearby town of Moulay Idriss, where Moulay Idriss I, who brought Islam to Morocco, is entombed. Moulay Idriss is considered to be the holiest town in Morocco.

From Moulay Idriss we will continue to Meknes, often called the “Versailles of Morocco” due to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments. We will take some time to explore its highlights, including the massive Bab Mansour Gate, the old Medina, and Moulay Ismail’s shrine. From Meknes we will continue to Fes, where we will check in at your hotel before having dinner and settling in for the night. 

DAY 3: Fes sightseeing escorted by a local official guide 

After breakfast you will enjoy a guided half-day city tour of Fes, Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual capital and home to the largest old medina in the world. There you will visit Jemaa El Karaouine, the first university to be established in the world. As you enter the shady souks, you will encounter aromas from the market stalls where countless spices and perfumes are traded.

In stark contrast, you’ll brave the stink emanating from the leather tanneries where men often stand up to their waists treating leather in noxious baths in the same way that it has been done for centuries. Despite the smell, the ethnic leather products produced by these craftsmen are world-class and are the perfect thing to take home with you. In the evening you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants and spend the night at your hotel.

DAY 4: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Canyon → Erfoud → Merzouga

After picking you up from your hotel in Fes, we will embark on a picturesque journey towards Ifrane, through hills covered in forests of cork oak and giant cedar in which a few Barbary apes still make their home. Crossing strikingly beautiful passes over both the Middle and High Atlas ranges we will catch our first glimpse of the South’s incredible architecture. After passing through a barren plain of scrub and desert on the other side of the mountains, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, from which we will have a fantastic view of the dramatic peaks of the High Atlas rising behind the town.

Crossing Tizi-n-Talremt (Pass of the She-Camel), we will descend into a desert plain along the Ziz valley, which is particularly well-known for its palm trees and the length of the oasis. We will then head south to Erfoud and Rissani, into a huge oasis containing over six million palm trees and edged by many ksours (fortified villages). Our route will continue through an immense palm oasis and a vast area of stony plain that marks the transition to the desert before reaching the tranquil desert town of Merzouga, where we have selected a charming kasbah hotel on the outskirts of the Erg Chebbi golden sand dunes. There you will be able to relax (beside the swimming pool- if available and depends on the weather), and in the evening enjoy the live music.

DAY 5: Merzouga Culture and Traditions → Tea with Nomads → Camel Trekking in the Erg Chebbi

After breakfast, we will be able to relax for a couple hours before taking a 4WD off-road tour around the dunes. On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear Gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life. We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you’ll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea and have some time to relax.

You will have a chance to leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms at a hotel before mounting your camel (or 4WD if you can’t do the camels) and riding into the Moroccan Sahara. Your camel will take you to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in North Africa, with some dunes rising to 820 feet. In the afternoon we will have time to wander around the dunes before watching the sunset. In the evening we will dine on Moroccan cuisine and enjoy traditional live music around the campfire. You will spend the night in warm Berber tents in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky, and maybe even see some shooting stars.‍

DAY 6: Merzouga → Ziz oases → Rissani → Todra Canyon → Dades valley.

‍If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes – after which you might want to try your hand at sand-boarding down them. After a refreshing shower and breakfast, we will ride the camels or fun 4X4 off-road drive through the dunes back to the kasbah in Merzouga town, where we will be able to freshen up before heading to the fortified village of Rissani in the Tafilalet region. Nestled at the edge of the Ziz Valley, Rissani is a traditional desert village, yet houses the impressive Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif, the first ruler of the Alawite dynasty which ruled here in the 17th century.

After leaving Rissani we will journey through the Todra Gorge and past the eastern slopes of the Atlas Mountains to the Tinghir Oasis, surrounded by green palm valleys and local Berber villages, before arriving in the beautiful Dades Valley, known as the “Valley of 1000 Kasbahs” due to the ruins of ancient kasbahs dotting the landscape alongside the palm trees. We will spend the night among the spectacular rock structures of the Dades Valley. ‍

DAY 7: Dades Valley → Rose Valley → Skoura Oasis → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou

After breakfast we will drive through the villages of this charming area, passing fields cultivated by Berber women and getting some brilliant views of the Atlas Mountains. Our journey will continue toward Ouarzazate, going off-road along the piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and join them for a glass of tea. From here, we will continue through the Valley of the Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May, and past the “Road of 1000 Kasbahs” by the Skoura Oasis before arriving in Ouarzazate.

In Ouarzazate, also known as the “Hollywood of Morocco”, we will visit the Taourirt Kasbah and the cinematographic museum before continuing on to Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters such as “Gladiator” “Indiana Jones” and “Lawrence of Arabia”.

You will have the chance to explore some of the ruined buildings and climb to the top of the hill where the agadir (granary) offers a spectacular view over the village and the surrounding countryside. You may also want to enter one of the houses and share a glass of mint tea with some of the locals to gain a better understanding of their way of life.

DAY 8 & 9: Marrakech sightseeing escorted by a local official guide.

Today after breakfast you will explore Marrakech, the second oldest imperial city, known as the “Southern Pearl” of Morocco, which has for centuries been an important stop for traders and travelers alike. A guided tour will lead you through the labyrinth of Marrakech’s winding streets and past hidden gardens and souks. You will continue to the Djemaa el Fna, which is one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakech and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque towering alongside.

In the evening this square is overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians, and henna artists. You will have a chance to relax at one of the many cafes surrounding the square to take in all the sights. You will have the afternoon to spend at leisure, pampering yourself at a local hammam or exploring the souks of the medina for yourself. We will spend the night at our hotel in Marrakech.

Today we will make as much use of our time as possible, wandering around the souks of Marrakech and finding souvenirs or last-minute gifts for friends and enjoying your last night in Morocco.