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

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Tangier - Tetouan - Chefchaouen
4 stops
1
Tangier
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).
6 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Caves of Hercules
**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.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
3
Tetouan
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
4
Chefchaouen
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.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fes
3 stops
5
Volubilis
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 hours • Admission ticket not included
6
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 hours • Admission ticket free
7
Fez
After the city tour in Meknes, we continue our trip to Fes, where we'll stay for the next 2 days.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Full Day City Tour of Fes
5 stops
8
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.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
9
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 hours • Admission ticket free
10
Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts and discover traditional tools, carpets, furniture and musical instruments in a beautifully restaurated caravanserai.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
11
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!
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
12
Medina of Fez
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Fes - Ifrane - Midelt - Erfoud - Merzouga
5 stops
13
Ifrane
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.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
14
Midelt
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
15
Midelt
After lunch in Midelt we continue our drive and enjoy panoramic views crossing the Tizi N' Talghoumt pass. -1907 M
1 hour • Admission ticket free
16
Erfoud
In Erfoud, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the valley of the river Ziz lined with thousands of date palms.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
17
Hassilabied
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.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Merzouga - Erg Chebbi 4x4 Dunes Tour
3 stops
18
Erg Chebbi
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.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
19
Visit the famous village of Khamlia and enjoy its folk music.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
20
Erg Chebbi
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!
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Gorges
4 stops
21
Erg Chebbi
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
22
Rissani
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
23
Discover Todra Gorge with Locals - Tourist Information & Experience Center
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
24
Boumalne Dades
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.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Dades Gorges - Boutghrart - Skoura Valley - Ouarzazate
4 stops
25
El Kelaa M'gouna
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 hours • Admission ticket free
26
Skoura
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
27
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
28
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Day 8
Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Telouet - High Atlas - Marrakech
4 stops
29
Atlas Film Studio
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
30
Ait Ben Haddou
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.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
31
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
32
High Atlas Mountains
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.
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

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

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