Day 1: Arrival in Tangier – Rif Mountains – Chefchaouen:
Today, our driver will meet you at Tangier Airport or Port with a warm welcome. Tangier is a unique city where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean and serves as a bridge between Africa and Europe. Start your journey with a visit to Cape Spartel, offering stunning views, and explore the Cave of Hercules, a famous natural landmark.
After exploring Tangier, we will drive to Chefchaouen, the “Blue City” in the Rif Mountains. The drive is beautiful, with views of mountains and green landscapes. When we reach Chefchaouen, you will check into your hotel and you will be free to enjoy this beautiful city on your own. You can take a stroll through the town’s blue-painted streets, capturing the beauty of the surroundings and making unforgettable memories. Wander through the Medina’s narrow alleys and discover picturesque scenes at every corner.
Don’t miss Rass el Ma, a peaceful spot where a natural spring flows from the mountains, accompanied by traditional water mills. It’s a perfect place to sit, relax, and watch locals gather water from the spring. In the afternoon, you can hike up to the Spanish Mosque, located at the top of the town.
From here, you will enjoy breathtaking views of Chefchaouen’s blue-painted buildings with the Rif Mountains in the background, especially stunning during sunset. Afterward, head to Outa el Hammam square, the heart of the town, where you can enjoy the lively atmosphere surrounded by local cafés and shops. You can also have dinner at one of the nearby restaurants while enjoying live local music performances. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 2: Chefchaouen – Guided Tour in Fes:
After breakfast, we will leave the blue city of Chefchaouen towards Fes. After arriving to Fes and checking into your hotel, you will meet our official guide and start to explore the city. First, you will visit the beautiful Royal Palace gates in Fes, stop by the Jewish Quarter (Mellah), and see a pottery cooperative where skilled artisans make ceramics.
You will also enjoy a great view of the Medina, the old part of the city. Next, you will walk with your guide through the Medina’s narrow streets and lively markets. You will visit the famous Al Karaouine Mosque and University, one of the biggest mosques in Africa and the oldest university in the world. It can hold up to 20,000 people. You will also see Medersa Bou Inania, a 14th-century school with amazing tile work, carvings, and brass doors.
Then, you will explore the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, a beautifully restored building where merchants once stayed and stored their goods. Next, you will visit the Chouara Tanneries, a famous spot where leather is made the traditional way. In the afternoon, we will get back to you Riad and you will be free to walk around the Medina, enjoy its atmosphere, and meet the locals. Overnight in your Riad.
Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Middle Atlas Mountains – Ziz Valley – Camel Trekking – Overnight Desert Camp
After breakfast, we will leave Fes and travel towards the Sahara Desert. On the way, we will enjoy views of the Middle Atlas Mountains and small Berber villages. Our first stop is Ifrane, a neat town built by the French in the 1930s. It looks like Switzerland, with red-roofed houses, flowers, and parks. Next, we will visit Azrou, a Berber town surrounded by cedar and pine forests. In the Cedar Forest, you can see and feed Barbary monkeys. This is Morocco’s largest forest. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Midelt, a town famous for its apples.
After lunch, we will drive through the green Ziz Valley and stop to take in the beautiful views. By evening, we will reach Merzouga. Here, you will ride camels into the stunning Erg Chebbi dunes to watch a magical sunset. As the sun goes down, you will continue the camel ride to the camp where you will be welcomed with mint tea. Overnight at the desert camp includes dinner, a live Berber drum show, and breakfast.
Day 4: Merzouga Desert – Rissani – Arfoud – Todgha Goges – Dades Valley
Today try to wake up early to watch the beautiful sunrise from the dunes. After breakfast at the camp, we will leave the Sahara and drive to the Dades Valley. Our first stop is Rissani, the town where Morocco’s royal family, the Alaouite dynasty, began.
You will visit its busy market, which has sections for dates, spices, vegetables, animals. Next, we will head to Erfoud to visit a workshop that creates items from fossilized marble. Afterwards, we will drive through green palm trees and small Berber villages to reach the Todra Gorge, a deep canyon about 300 meters (984 feet) high.
You will have time to walk around and enjoy the cool water of the Todra River. After lunch, we will continue to the Dades Valley to see amazing rock shapes called “monkey toes” and beautiful old buildings that look like sandcastles. You will stay overnight with dinner and breakfast included at a hotel looking at the green valley.
Day 5: Dades Valley – Ouarzazzate – Kasbah Of Ait Ben Haddou – Tizi N Tichka Pass – Marrakech
After breakfast, we will leave the Dades Valley and go to Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazate. On the way, we will drive along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, where you can take great pictures. In Kalaat Mgouna, also called the “Rose City,” we can stop at one of women local cooperatives to buy other rose products like, rosewater, perfume, lotion and more. Afterwards, we will drive through small Berber villages and arrive at Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa” because many famous movies were filmed there.
You can visit the Atlas Film Studio, one of the biggest in the world, where films like Gladiator and The Mummy were filmed. After that, we will visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, an old fortress built in the 18th century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have a guided tour of the Kasbah and then stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, we will drive to Marrakech through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass in the Atlas Mountains. In the evening, we will drop you off at your accommodation and you will be free to explore the main square in Marrakech, a lively place with lots to see. This will be the end of your 5 Days Desert tour From Tangier to Marrakech.
