13-Day Tour of Morocco from Tangier

Day 1: Arrival in Tangier – Chefchaouen (The Blue City)

On the first day of your 13-day tour of Morocco, you will be picked up at your accommodation, the airport, or the port in Tangier, known as “the bride of the north.” The city is located in the northwest where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean in front of Cape Spartel. First, we will explore the beautiful city, visiting the Hercules Cave and Cape Spartel. Enjoy some free time for lunch. After that, we will head inland to Chefchaouen, passing through the city of Tetouan and the Rif Mountains. Stops will be made along the way for panoramic views. Finally, we will arrive in Chefchaouen, where we will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 2: Visit to Chefchaouen, the Blue City

After breakfast, the tour continues exploring the blue city of Chefchaouen, also known as Achaoun, which means “horns” in Berber. The city is located in the Rif Mountains in northwest Morocco and is famous for its blue and white painted buildings and alleys. We will stroll through its charming old medina, which has many authentically blue doors, perfect for photos. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, you can hike to the Spanish Mosque, situated on elevated ground, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the entire blue city. Overnight stay at the same hotel.

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Roman Ruins of Volubilis – Meknes – Fez

After breakfast, feel free to stroll through the beautiful alleys of the blue city of Chefchaouen. Then, we head to visit the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis. It is well-preserved and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring many beautiful mosaics scattered here and there, along with stunning pillars and ancient arches. After walking through the ruins, we drive 30 km to visit one of the imperial cities, Meknes, the capital of the Ismailis. Here, we will visit Bab Al-Mansour, the Sahrij Souani basin, the Royal Stables, the granary, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. We will then head to Fez, where we will spend the night in a riad.

Day 4: Guided Tour of Fez

We will pick you up from your accommodation in Fez after breakfast to explore the city, considered an imperial city and the cultural and religious center of Morocco.
We start the day by visiting the Royal Palace gate. Next, we will visit the well-preserved medieval medina, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud) is the entrance to the old medina. You will enter the medina with a local guide to visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Najjarine Fountain, the tanneries, and finally the Quaraouin Mosque and University – the oldest university in the world. After that, we will leave the medina to visit the Jewish Quarter, “the Mellah.” We will then head to an ancient fortress to enjoy panoramic views of the medina and the city of Fez. Afterward, we return to your riad.

Day 5: Fez – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Sahara

After breakfast, the tour continues south through Imouzzer to visit Ifrane, famous for its cool temperature, snow, and alpine-style architecture. It’s no wonder it’s called the Switzerland of Morocco. We then continue to the Cedar Forest, home to Barbary macaques. Feel free to feed them as you wander through the forest. Later, we continue to Midelt, where we will have free time for lunch. We will then drive through the Tizi-n-Tilghmt pass and along the Ziz Valley, with stops for panoramic views.

In the afternoon, we arrive at the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, where we switch to camels and cross the sandy desert, with a stop at the top of a high dune to enjoy the sunset. We will then continue to the camp, which is a combination of traditional nomad tents and hotel luxuries. Here, you can enjoy the sound of Berber drums while dancing around the campfire under a vast sky full of stars. Overnight stay at the camp.

Day 6: Explore the Merzouga Region – Nomads – Khamlia – Merzouga Lake – Erg Chebbi – Palm Grove

After breakfast, we dedicate the day to exploring the Merzouga region. The area has so many incredible sites, from sand dunes, wild lakes, mines, fossil areas, to fabulous oases, making it ideal for various outdoor activities. We start our journey in Merzouga, driving off-road to visit an ancient kohl mine. We will then visit the nomads in their handmade tents and learn about their lifestyle while enjoying a Berber tea.

Our next destination is the village of Khamlia, where you can enjoy the music and dances of the Gnaoua. Its inhabitants come from sub-Saharan countries like Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Free time for lunch at a restaurant. After that, we will take a stroll through a palm grove. We will then drive a few kilometers to see the wild Merzouga Lake, also known as the flamingo lake. Finally, we return to Merzouga. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 7: Merzouga Sahara – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

Waking up early in the morning is a must to contemplate the beautiful sunrise. Free time for breakfast. We then leave the desert to visit the city of Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Rissani remains an important trade center in the region, with a bustling souk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After a stroll through Rissani’s souk, we continue to Erfoud, where we visit one of the fossilized marble workshops.

We then cross the palms of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges. The course of the Todra River has formed a great canyon through the mountains. This tall and red cliff canyon is an ideal place for climbers. Feel free to walk through the gorges and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Free time for lunch at a restaurant. We then continue to the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades, with unavoidable stops at the rock formation “Monkey Fingers” and a lookout point with views of the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 8: Dades Valley – Roses Valley – Skoura Palms – Ouarzazate

After breakfast, we continue our journey to Kalaa Magouna to visit the Valley of Roses. The Rose Festival is held annually in May, where locals sell their rose products, including perfumes, rose water, oil, and cosmetic products. We then drive through the Skoura Palms and visit the Amredhyle Kasbah. Upon arriving in Ouarzazate, we will visit the studios where famous movies were filmed and also visit the Taourirt Kasbah. Overnight stay in Ouarzazate.

Day 9: Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Telouet – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

After breakfast, we leave to visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a fortified village recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Additionally, the kasbah has appeared in many movies such as Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy, etc., and in television series like Game of Thrones. After that, we will visit the Telouet Kasbah. We then continue to Marrakech, passing through the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass and the High Atlas Mountains. There will be stops for lunch and for taking photos in interesting places. Finally, we arrive in Marrakech, where we will spend the night in a riad.

Day 10: Guided Tour to Discover Marrakech

After a hearty breakfast, we will explore the highlights of Marrakech with a local guide. The city is considered one of the imperial cities of Morocco. The tour includes: the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Quranic School, and a stroll through the largest traditional souk in Morocco. Free time for lunch near Jemaa El-Fna Square. Later, we will visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech, and the Majorelle Garden. Transfer to your accommodation. Feel free to stroll through Jemaa El-Fna Square at your own pace.

Day 11: Marrakech – Essaouira

After breakfast, we head west to the city of Essaouira. On the way, we will make stops to see the argan trees and for panoramic views. We will arrive in the city of Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, one of the most important coastal cities in Morocco. We will visit the fishing port, the ancient ramparts with cannons, and the historic medina. Overnight stay in Essaouira