6-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour

Overview

Add one extra day to the classic Tangier-to-Marrakech route and something changes: instead of passing through Fez, you actually get to know it. This six-day version builds in a full day dedicated to the imperial city, plus a stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the walled city of Meknes along the way — giving the northern half of the trip as much depth as the desert crossing that follows.

Starting from the Strait of Gibraltar in Tangier, the route heads inland through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen's blue lanes, then swings through two millennia of history before reaching Fez. From there it's on to the Sahara — cedar forests, Barbary macaques, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, a night beneath more stars than city skies ever show — and finally back over the High Atlas into Marrakech.

This same itinerary can also start from Casablanca if that fits your flights better, and like every trip we run, it's built to flex around your interests and pace rather than the other way around.

Tour Highlights

• Explore the blue city of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains
• Walk among the Roman columns of Volubilis
• Visit the imperial gates and mausoleum of Meknes
• Spend a full day discovering Fez with a local guide
• Cross the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, home to wild Barbary macaques
• Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
• Camp overnight beneath the stars of the Sahara
• Walk through the towering Todra Gorge
• Visit the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
• Cross the High Atlas Mountains into Marrakech

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Tangier - Chefchaouen

Pickup at the airport, port, or your hotel in Tangier, then a scenic climb into the Rif Mountains toward Chefchaouen. Free time in the afternoon to wander its blue-painted lanes, sample local cheese and honey in the markets, and settle into a riad for the night.

Driving distance: Approximately 115 km Driving time: Approximately 2 hours Meals: None

Day 2: Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes - Fez

The route winds through Rif farming villages before reaching Volubilis, a remarkably intact Roman settlement where mosaic floors and standing columns still mark out streets from nearly two thousand years ago. From there we continue to Meknes, one of Morocco's four imperial cities, to see the monumental Bab el-Mansour gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, before finishing the day in Fez. Overnight in a riad.

Driving distance: Approximately 220 km Driving time: Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Fez (guided tour)

A full day belongs to Fez — the best-preserved medieval city in the Arab world and still car-free at its core. With a local guide, we take in the Royal Palace gates, the UNESCO-listed medina, the Al-Qarawiyyin University (among the oldest in the world), the ornate Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine Fountain, the open-air Chouara Tannery, and the historic Jewish quarter, finishing with panoramic views from an old fortress above the city. Overnight in Fez.

Driving distance: Minimal (walking tour within the city) Driving time: — Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Fez - Ifrane - Middle Atlas - Ziz Valley - Merzouga

Leaving Fez, the road rises into the Middle Atlas through Ifrane, known for its Alpine-style stone architecture, and through cedar forests where Barbary macaques are a common roadside sight. After lunch, the landscape shifts dramatically as the Ziz Valley opens onto the edge of the Sahara. Arriving in Merzouga, camels take you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset, followed by dinner and Berber music at a luxury desert camp.

Driving distance: Approximately 460 km Driving time: Approximately 7 hours Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5: Merzouga - Rissani - Todra Gorge - Dades Valley

An early sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast before heading to Rissani for its traditional market, followed by a walk through the sheer rock walls of the Todra Gorge. The day ends at a hotel in the Dades Valley.

Driving distance: Approximately 300 km Driving time: Approximately 5 hours Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6: Dades - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - High Atlas - Marrakech

A morning stop in Ouarzazate to see the Atlas Studios, then on to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, protected by UNESCO and instantly recognizable from more than one big-budget film. After lunch, the route crosses the High Atlas one final time before descending into Marrakech, where the tour ends with a transfer to your hotel or riad.

Driving distance: Approximately 360 km Driving time: Approximately 6 hours Meals: Breakfast

What's Included

• Pickup at the airport, port, or hotel in Tangier
• Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
• Spanish-speaking driver/guide (other languages available on request)
• Local guide in Fez
• 5 nights of accommodation with breakfast
• Dinner at the desert camp and hotel in the Dades Valley
• Camel ride
• Sandboarding
• Final transfer to your hotel or riad in Marrakech

What's Not Included

• Lunches
• Drinks
• Monument entrance fees
• Tips (optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this itinerary flexible?

Yes, we adapt the pace, stops, and accommodation level to match what you're looking for.

Can we start from a different city?

Yes, this route can also begin in Casablanca — just mention it when you contact us.

Why does this version include a full day in Fez?

Fez's medina is dense enough that a single afternoon barely scratches the surface. The extra day lets you actually absorb its history rather than rush through it.

What accommodation is used?

Riads and hotels along the route, plus one night at a desert camp near the dunes.

Is the tour private?

Yes, every trip runs exclusively for your group, with no other travelers joining.

Are Volubilis and Meknes worth the stop?

Yes — Volubilis is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in North Africa, and Meknes offers imperial architecture on a scale that surprises most first-time visitors.

Will we definitely see Barbary macaques?

Sightings in the Middle Atlas cedar forests are common but never guaranteed, since they're wild animals moving freely through the trees.

What should I bring for the changing climates?

Layers work best — cool mountain evenings, warm desert days, and cold desert nights all happen within the same week.

Important Notes

• The order of stops may shift due to weather or road conditions.
• Entrance fees to certain monuments are not included in the price.
• Requests for a guide in a language other than Spanish should be made in advance.

Interested in six days across the best of northern and southern Morocco? Contact Maroccodeserttours and we'll design the trip around your dates.