5-Day Tour from Marrakech to Tangier

Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges

Our journey from Marrakech to Chefchaouen begins in the medina of Marrakech, climbing into the High Atlas Mountains to reach the highest pass of Tizi n’Tichka at 2,260 meters. Throughout the trip, you can observe Amazigh life as we pass through adobe villages, terraced fields, and beautiful landscapes. From the pass, we will stop to take a photo before descending to visit the ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a fortified fortress on the ancient salt caravan route to Timbuktu. This is also a favorite filming location, and many movies have been made here. After a break for lunch, we continue to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa, a name well earned due to the numerous films shot here. We then drive through the palm groves of Skoura and continue to Kelaat M’gouna: the Valley of Roses and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to reach the Dades Gorges. This is a journey full of breathtaking landscapes, kasbahs at every turn, and valleys full of fruit, roses, and crops. Half-board accommodation in a traditional guesthouse.

Day 2: Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga

After breakfast, we leave this incredible gorge to visit another one further down the valley. In Tinghir, we take the road that climbs up to the Todra Gorges, a favorite spot for international climbers as it features a 300-meter vertical fault with a crystal-clear glacial river running through it. This pink-tinged canyon is only 10 meters wide at its narrowest point and was formed by glacial activity. You can see nomads with their donkeys filling water containers. After a break for lunch here, we continue south through palm groves and Berber villages with adobe kasbahs until the landscape changes and the sands of the Sahara welcome us to the dunes of Erg Chebbi and Merzouga. After a welcome mint tea, we will enjoy the sunset on a camel ride through the dunes to our nomad-style camp where dinner and local music are served under a starry sky.

Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fez

One of the quietest moments of the day is just before sunrise. Your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning, and you will have the opportunity to witness perhaps the most memorable sunrise of your life. The way the light changes as the sun rises can be breathtaking. You will then return by camel to the hotel for a well-deserved breakfast and a shower if you wish. Then, our journey continues as we travel to Fez via Erfoud, Aoufous, and Errachidia along the magnificent Ziz Valley that has been carved through volcanic rock, and through the Tizi n’Talghemt pass to Midelt, where we stop to enjoy lunch and refresh ourselves with a glass of mint tea. From there, we are in the Middle Atlas, home to the great cedar forests and native Barbary macaques that can be seen in Azrou. They are fun to watch and often steal food from passing cars. We then head to Ifrane, known as Little Switzerland due to its Alpine-style architecture, where we stop to take a photo and have a coffee before arriving at the Imperial City and the old medina of Fez. Accommodation will be in a typical riad with half board.

Day 4: Fez – Volubilis – Chefchaouen

After breakfast, there will be a half-day guided tour of the spiritual and cultural medieval city. After lunch, we will head to the Roman ruins of Volubilis for another cultural tour of ancient lifestyles with enormous columns and intricate mosaics. Heading north, we will cross the picturesque countryside filled with wildflowers and rolling fields to reach the rugged Rif Mountains and the hidden medina of Chefchaouen. Overnight stay in a riad with breakfast. We recommend a visit to the atmospheric square for dinner.

Day 5: Chefchaouen – Tangier

In the morning, you can stroll through this charming blue city and discover its hidden streets and blue doors. It has many interesting craft shops ideal for those last-minute gifts as well as for taking incredible photos. After lunch, we take the road north to Tangier, where our tour from Marrakech to Chefchaouen ends.