Chefchaouen
The blue mountain town where the trip begins.
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7 Days • Private Desert and Imperial Cities Morocco Tour
Our 7 Days Tour from Tangier via Merzouga takes you from the Strait of Gibraltar through Chefchaouen and Fes to a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, then over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Departure
Tangier (hotel, airport or port)
Tour Type
Private tour
Destination
Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Marrakech
Transport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
Availability
Daily, flexible start date
Overview
The 7 Days Tour from Tangier via Merzouga is the classic north to south crossing of Morocco in one week. It suits travelers arriving from Spain who want mountains, an imperial city and the Sahara. The first half is about culture, with a night in Chefchaouen, a stop at Volubilis and two nights in Fes. Then you cross the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and the Ziz palm valley to Erg Chebbi, where you ride a camel to a desert camp. The return west follows Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and the kasbah road to Aït Ben Haddou before the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
One week from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara dunes and the red city of Marrakech.
What to expect
Explore the blue lanes of Chefchaouen
Guided walk through the Fes medina
Camel ride to a camp in Erg Chebbi
Walk between the cliffs of Todra Gorge
Cross the High Atlas by Tizi n'Tichka
Day by day
1
Tangier → Chefchaouen
Approx. distance: 115 km
Your driver collects you from your Tangier hotel, the airport or the ferry port and heads into the green hills of the Rif. The drive takes around two and a half hours with a short coffee break.
The afternoon is free in Chefchaouen to wander the blue streets, visit the kasbah garden on Outa el Hammam square and, if you like, walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset. Dinner and the night are at a local riad.
KEY STOPS: Rif mountains, Chefchaouen medina, Spanish Mosque
STAY: Riad in Chefchaouen
MEALS: Dinner
2
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Fes
Approx. distance: 270 km
Leaving the mountains after breakfast, you drive south through olive and wheat country to Volubilis. The Roman ruins are known for their mosaics and the view toward the holy town of Moulay Idriss on the hillside opposite.
Next comes Meknes, where you stop at the great Bab Mansour gate and El Hedim square. You reach Fes in the late afternoon and settle into your riad for two nights.
KEY STOPS: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Meknes (Bab Mansour)
STAY: Riad in Fes
MEALS: Breakfast
3
Fes → Fes el Bali → Fes
A licensed local guide spends the morning with you in Fes el Bali. You visit a madrasa, pass the walls of Al Quaraouiyine, watch metalworkers at the copper square and look down on the dye pits of the Chouara tannery from a leather shop terrace.
The rest of the day is free. Rest well tonight, as tomorrow is the longest drive of the trip.
KEY STOPS: Fes el Bali, Chouara Tannery, Al Attarine madrasa
STAY: Riad in Fes
MEALS: Breakfast
4
Fes → Ifrane → Merzouga
Approx. distance: 470 km
You leave early and climb into the Middle Atlas. Short stops include Ifrane, often compared to an alpine town, and the Azrou cedar forest where Barbary macaques live. Lunch is usually in Midelt.
In the afternoon the land opens up and you follow the Ziz Valley, a long ribbon of palms, through Errachidia and Erfoud to Merzouga. A camel caravan then carries you into the dunes of Erg Chebbi to watch the sunset before dinner and a night at the camp.
KEY STOPS: Ifrane, Azrou cedar forest, Midelt, Ziz Valley, Erfoud
STAY: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
5
Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
Approx. distance: 290 km
Wake early to see the sunrise from a dune, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. The road west passes Rissani and the oasis towns of Alnif and Tinejdad.
At Todra Gorge near Tinghir you walk along the river between rock walls that rise around 300 meters. You then continue to the Dades Valley for dinner and the night at a family-run hotel with views of the valley.
KEY STOPS: Rissani, Tinghir palm groves, Todra Gorge
STAY: Hotel in the Dades Valley
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
6
Dades Valley → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Approx. distance: 330 km
Today you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Kelaat M'Gouna, known for its roses, and the palm oasis of Skoura to Ouarzazate. A little further on you visit Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified earthen village listed by UNESCO and used in many films.
The afternoon drive crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass at about 2,260 meters, with Berber villages along the switchbacks. You reach Marrakech in the early evening and check in to your riad.
KEY STOPS: Kelaat M'Gouna, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou, Tizi n'Tichka
STAY: Riad in Marrakech
MEALS: Breakfast
7
Marrakech → Medina Tour → Drop-off
On the last morning a local guide shows you the Marrakech medina, including the Bahia Palace, the souks, the Koutoubia Mosque from outside and the main square of Jemaa el-Fna.
After the tour your driver takes you to the airport, the train station or another hotel in the city, depending on your onward plans.
KEY STOPS: Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa el-Fna
STAY: Not included
MEALS: Breakfast
The route
The blue mountain town where the trip begins.
Discover →
Two nights and a guided morning in the old medina.
Explore →
A camel ride and a night at a camp in the dunes.
Explore →
An earthen ksar on the old caravan road to Marrakech.
Explore →
Photography
Practical details
Pickup in Tangier and drop-off in Marrakech
Private vehicle, fuel and English-speaking driver
6 nights in riads, a desert camp and a Dades hotel
6 breakfasts and 3 dinners
Camel ride plus guided tours in Fes and Marrakech
Lunches, drinks and other dinners
Entry fees for monuments and historic sites
Tips and personal expenses
Enquiry
Send us your preferred start date and group size and we will check availability. We can also add an extra night in the desert or in Fes.
Good to know
How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?
It is about 470 km and takes most of the day, with stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley.
What is the desert camp like?
You stay in a tented camp in Erg Chebbi with proper beds, blankets and dinner. Standard and luxury tents are available, with shared or private bathrooms depending on the camp you choose.
Can you meet me at Tangier Med port?
Yes. We pick up at Tangier Med, the Tanger Ville port, the airport or any hotel in Tangier.
Is the 7 Days Tour from Tangier via Merzouga private?
Yes. The vehicle and driver are for your group only, and you can set the pace and stops each day.
Are the days in the car very long?
Two days have six or more hours of driving. They are broken up with photo stops, lunch and short walks.
What should I pack?
Bring layers and a warm jacket for the desert night, sunscreen, a hat and modest clothes for towns and religious sites.
Can I finish in Casablanca instead of Marrakech?
Yes. We can extend the last day with a drive to Casablanca for an extra cost.
More journeys
Share your dates with us and we will send a clear plan and price. We are glad to adjust stops or hotel levels.