5 Days Desert Tour from Tangier

Day 1: Tangier – Chefchaouen

We meet you at the port, the airport or your hotel in Tangier. First, we drive into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, the famous “Blue Pearl”, about 2.5 hours away. Then, you have free time to wander its blue-and-white medina at your own pace.

Overnight

Hotel or riad in Chefchaouen, with breakfast.

Day 2: Chefchaouen – Ouezzane – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes

After breakfast, we cross the Rif via Ouezzane to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco. Then, we visit Meknes, with its walls and the Bab Mansour gate. In the late afternoon, we reach Fes and check in at a traditional riad.

Overnight

Riad in Fes, with breakfast.

Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

Your driver picks you up at your riad or hotel in Fes at 8:00 AM. First, we climb into the Middle Atlas and stop in Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco”. Next, we cross the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often sit by the road; please watch them, but do not feed them.

Then, we stop for lunch in Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas. Afterwards, the road follows the gorges and palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Erfoud. Finally, we reach Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, in the late afternoon.

After a mint tea, your camel trek in Merzouga begins. The ride takes about one hour, so you reach the camp at sunset. Later, you share a Berber dinner and listen to drums around the fire.

Overnight

Private tent in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, with dinner and breakfast.

Day 4: Merzouga – Rissani – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

Wake up early for the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for a shower and breakfast. Next, we drive west through Rissani, Erfoud and Tinejdad, with a stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, we reach Tinghir and walk into the Todra Gorge, where limestone walls rise about 300 metres. Finally, we continue to the Dades Valley for the night.

Overnight

Hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast.

Day 5: Dades Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

After breakfast, we follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley and Kelaat M’Gouna. Then, we stop in the palm grove of Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate, often called the “Hollywood of Africa”.

Next, we visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar, and have lunch nearby. Afterwards, we cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) and stop at an argan oil cooperative. Finally, we reach Marrakech around 5:30–6:00 PM.

Drop-off

At your riad or hotel in Marrakech.