8 Days Essential Morocco Tour from Marrakech

Private Tour From Marrakech

8 Days Essential Morocco Tour from Marrakech

This eight-day tour travels across the whole of Morocco from Marrakech to Tangier, combining the Sahara, the imperial cities and the blue town of the Rif. Along the route you discover the High Atlas and the Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Amridil Kasbah, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, and the Sahara at Merzouga, which you explore by 4×4.

Leaving Marrakech, you cross the High Atlas and visit Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou on the way to Ouarzazate. The second day takes you east via The Amridil Kasbah in the Skoura oasis, the Roses Valley and the Dades Valley. On day three you travel through the Todra Gorge and Erfoud to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride, and day four is a full 4×4 day around Merzouga. Day five runs north via Rissani, the Ziz Valley, the cedar forest and Ifrane to Fes, and day six is spent with a guide in the Fes medina. Day seven takes in Meknes, Volubilis and Chefchaouen, and on day eight we drive you to Tangier.

Good to know: the Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, one of the stops on this itinerary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Tizi n’Tichka pass, the High Atlas and the Telouet Kasbah
The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate, its Atlas film studios and the Taourirt Kasbah
The Amridil Kasbah in the Skoura oasis
The Dades Valley and the Roses Valley
The Todra Gorge
A sunset camel ride into the Merzouga dunes
One night in a comfortable luxury desert camp
A full 4×4 day around Merzouga: nomad families, Khamlia and the flamingo lake
The Rissani souk, the fossil workshops of Erfoud, the cedar forest and Ifrane
A full day with a guide in the Fes medina: Al-Qarawiyyin University and the Chouara tanneries
The imperial city of Meknes and Bab Al-Mansour
The ancient Roman site of Volubilis
Chefchaouen, the famous blue city

TOUR Itinerary

Your journey starts with an early pick-up from the airport or your accommodation in Marrakech. You cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with stops to take in the scenery, and visit the Telouet Kasbah.

Then you continue to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on to Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.

Approx. 4 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate

Following breakfast, you explore Ouarzazate, starting with the Atlas Studios and then the Taourirt Kasbah. Then you drive east to the Amridil Kasbah, set among the palm groves of Skoura. Next is Kalaat M’Gouna, famous for the Roses Valley, followed by the Dades Valley via Boumalne Dades, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and at a valley viewpoint. Dinner and overnight at the riad.

Approx. 3 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Boumalne Dades

Following breakfast, you continue to the Todra Gorge, a striking red-walled canyon, with time to explore on foot. The route then crosses the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves, with free time for lunch on the way.

In the afternoon you arrive in the Sahara at Merzouga, where camels carry you over the sand to a high dune for sunset. Then it is on to the luxury camp for Berber drums and dancing under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Approx. 5 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga

Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes, then return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. The rest of the day is dedicated to the Merzouga region: dunes, a wild lake, old mines, fossil sites and oases.

An off-road drive takes you to an ancient kohl (eyeliner) mine, followed by Berber tea with a nomad family. Then you visit the village of Khamlia for Gnaoua music and dance. Free time for lunch. Later, you walk through a palm grove and drive to Merzouga’s wild lake, also called the flamingo lake. Dinner and overnight.

Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Merzouga

Following breakfast, you leave the dunes for Rissani and its large souk (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays). Next you visit a fossilised-marble workshop in Erfoud.

The road then follows the Ziz river, with a stop at a viewpoint over the Ziz Valley. Lunch break in Midelt (free time). Then you drive through the cedar forest, home of the Barbary macaques, and visit Ifrane, often called the Switzerland of Morocco. The day ends with a drop-off at your accommodation in Fes.

Approx. 7 hours driving · Overnight: Riad in Fes

Following breakfast, you are collected from your riad to explore 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, your first stop is Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismail, to visit Bab Al-Mansour, the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables, the granary and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. There is free time for lunch. Then a 30 km drive brings you to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After your walk among the ruins, the road heads north via Ouazzane to Chefchaouen, the blue city of the Rif Mountains. Night in a hotel.

Approx. 4 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Chefchaouen

Following breakfast, and depending on your flight time, you may have a little free time in the blue city before the drive through the Rif Mountains to Tangier airport, where the tour ends.

Approx. 2 hours driving

8 days of private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan, fuel included
English-speaking private driver
Knowledgeable local guide in Fes
Nights in excellent hotels and riads
One night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
Camel ride (one camel for each person), or a 4×4 transfer instead
Sandboards available at the camp
Desert excursion in a 4×4
Pick-up from any location in Marrakech
Drop-off at the airport, the port or your accommodation in Tangier
4 dinners, in Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, and the Merzouga riad and camp
Daily breakfasts

Lunches and a few dinners
Entrance fees to monuments

Know Before You Go

This route is only a suggestion: if it is not exactly what you have in mind, get in touch and we will design a new itinerary around your interests and the days you have. We create private, tailor-made tours everywhere in Morocco.
Prices depend on the number of travellers, as the cost of the vehicle is fixed and shared by the whole group. The category of accommodation you choose also affects the price. Ask us for a precise quote.
You may also like a longer tour, such as the 10-day from Marrakech, or another 8-day route such as the 8-day from Casablanca.

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Is this a private tour or a group tour?

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.

Do we get our own tent with a private shower?

Yes. Every tent at the luxury camp is just for you, with its own en-suite bathroom and hot water.

How long does the camel ride take, and is there another option?

Depending on the camp, the camel ride takes from 40 minutes up to 2 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.

Which vehicles do you use?

We use air-conditioned 4x4s and minivans. Our 4×4 is a Land Cruiser Prado for up to 4 travellers; our minivans are a Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo or similar for up to 8. Larger groups of more than 8 travel in a minibus with up to 18 seats.

Is this tour suitable for every age?

Yes, travellers of all ages can enjoy it, and the itinerary is well balanced. The drive from Merzouga to Fes takes about 7 hours, but it is easy to split it with an optional overnight stop.