This thirteen-day tour is a complete loop of Morocco from Tangier, combining the north, the imperial cities, the Sahara, the High Atlas and the Atlantic coast. Along the route you discover Cape Spartel and the Cave of Hercules, Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, Meknes, Fes, Ifrane, the Merzouga desert, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat and Assilah.
You start in Tangier and cross the Rif to Chefchaouen, then visit Volubilis and Meknes on the way to Fes for a day with a guide. Then you cross the Middle Atlas to the Sahara at Merzouga for a camel ride, a night in the desert and a full 4×4 day, before travelling through the gorges and Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech for a day with a guide. The final part takes you to Essaouira and then north along the coast via Casablanca, Rabat and Assilah, ending back in Tangier.
Good to know: the Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, one of the stops on this itinerary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your driver meets you at your accommodation, the airport or the port in Tangier, the bride of the north, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic at Cape Spartel. A short tour of Tangier includes the Cave of Hercules and Cape Spartel. There is free time for lunch. Then the road turns inland via Tetouan and through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, with stops for the views. Night in a riad.
Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
Following breakfast, a local guide shows you around Chefchaouen. The blue city, also called Achaoun, which means horns in Berber, is famous for its streets and houses painted blue and white. You wander through the charming old medina with its striking doors. There is free time for lunch. In the afternoon you can hike up to the Spanish Mosque on the hill for a superb view over the whole town. Overnight at the same riad.
No driving / 2 hours walking · Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
Following breakfast, enjoy a last walk through the lanes of Chefchaouen before driving to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with mosaics, columns and arches. A 30 km drive then brings you to Meknes to see Bab Al-Mansour, the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, the granary and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. The day ends in Fes. Night in a riad.
Approx. 4 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Fes
Following breakfast, you are collected from your riad to discover Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. First, a drive takes you to the Royal Palace Gate, the Mellah, the panorama from the Borj Sud fortress, and the Ceramic Village and School. Then a local guide walks with you through the medieval medina, visiting the Al Attarine Madrasa, the University and Mosque of Al-Qarawiyyin and the colourful Chouara tanneries.
About 30 min by car / 3–4 hours on foot · Night: Riad in Fes
Following breakfast, you travel south via Imouzzer to Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco, and then to the cedar forest to meet the Barbary macaques. Lunch break in Midelt (free time). The road crosses the Tizi n’Tilghmt pass and follows the Ziz Valley, with stops for the views.
In the afternoon you reach Merzouga, where camels carry you across the golden dunes to a high ridge for sunset. Then it is on to a luxury desert camp for Berber drums around the fire under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Approx. 7 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
Following breakfast, the whole day is dedicated to the Merzouga area: dunes, a seasonal lake, fossil sites, small mines and green oases. You visit an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, followed by tea with nomads in their woven tents. Then you visit the village of Khamlia for Gnaoua music and dance. There is free time for lunch. You walk through a palm grove and drive to Merzouga’s wild lake, where flamingos are often spotted, before returning to Merzouga. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
About 2 hours of off-road driving · Night: Hotel in Merzouga
Waking up early for the sunrise is a must. Following breakfast, you leave the dunes for Rissani, a major regional market town, busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Then you visit a fossil workshop in Erfoud and drive through the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves to the Todra Gorge. There is free time for lunch. The road continues via Boumalne Dades to the Dades Valley, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and at a valley lookout. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
About 5 hours on the road · Night: Hotel in the Dades Valley
Following breakfast, you drive to Kalaat M’Gouna to discover the Roses Valley. Then you drive through the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate for a visit of the film studios.
Then you head for the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive then continues to Marrakech across the Tizi n’Tichka pass and the High Atlas, with stops for lunch and photos. Overnight at a riad in Marrakech.
Approx. 6 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
Following breakfast, a local guide takes you to the best of Marrakech: the 19th-century Bahia Palace, the beautifully restored Ben Youssef Madrasa, the medina and its souks, the lively Jemaa el-Fna Square and the Koutoubia Mosque from outside.
Free time for lunch. In the afternoon you visit the Majorelle Garden (tickets must be booked online in advance), then drive through the Gueliz district before returning to your riad.
About 45 min by car / 3 hours on foot · Night: Riad in Marrakech
Following breakfast, you travel west to Essaouira, stopping at argan plantations and cooperatives and, with a bit of luck, spotting goats climbing in the trees. In Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, you have free time to see the fishing harbour, the old cannon-lined ramparts and the medina, before we take you to your hotel. Night in Essaouira.
About 2.5–3 hours on the road · Night: Hotel in Essaouira
You leave Essaouira and take the motorway north to Casablanca. Your first visit is the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco, set on a headland over the Atlantic. After lunch you discover the rest of Casablanca: Mohammed V Square, a photo stop at Rick’s Café and a stroll along the Corniche. Overnight in Casablanca.
Approx. 5–6 hours driving · Overnight: Casablanca
The coastal road takes you to Rabat, an imperial city and the modern capital, to visit the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Kasbah of the Oudayas. There is free time for lunch. In the afternoon you continue north to Assilah, a lovely town by the sea. Night in a riad.
Approx. 3–4 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Assilah
On the last day you travel from Assilah to Tangier, where we drop you at your departure terminal and the tour ends.
Approx. 1 hour driving
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The tour is fully private: only you and the people in your booking travel together, with no other guests added. We focus on quality, personal journeys, and that is why nearly all of our tours run privately.
Depending on the camp, the camel ride takes from 40 minutes up to about 1.5 hours. If you would rather not ride, a camp 4×4 can drive you and your bags to and from the camp. Quad bikes (ATVs) are also available at an extra cost.
Yes. Every tent at the luxury camp is just for you, with its own en-suite bathroom and hot water.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the ideal seasons, with mild, comfortable weather across most of the country. Winter is also a good choice, especially for the south and the Sahara.
Yes, travellers of all ages can enjoy it, and most stops include two nights for a relaxed pace. Some days involve around 5 to 7 hours of driving. If you prefer shorter drives, just let us know and we will adjust the itinerary to your pace.