8 Day Mountains, Desert & Kasbahs: Tangier to Marrakech

This is Morocco Nomad Travels’ most ambitious single-journey tour — an 8-day private expedition that takes you from Tangier in the far north all the way to Marrakech in the south, passing through the Rif Mountains, the ancient medinas of Chefchaouen and Fez, the Saharan dunes of Merzouga, the kasbah-lined Dadès Valley, and the High Atlas. By the time you arrive in Marrakech, you will have experienced the extraordinary range that makes Morocco one of the world’s most diverse travel destinations: Mediterranean coastline, alpine forests, Saharan desert, and everything in between.

Tour Highlights

• Chefchaouen blue medina and Rif mountain scenery
• Fez el-Bali deep-dive with an expert local guide
• Middle Atlas cedar forests and Barbary macaques
• Saharan dunes of Erg Chebbi with camel ride and desert camp
• Todgha Gorge and the dramatic Dadès Valley
• Roses Valley and the ksar road through the south
• UNESCO Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
• Tizi n’Tichka High Atlas crossing
• Marrakech city highlights

What’s Included

• Private air-conditioned 4WD or minivan (fuel included)
• Tangier port/hotel pickup; Marrakech drop-off
• Licensed multilingual driver-guide
• Licensed local guides in Fez and Marrakech
• 6 nights hotel/riad (breakfast & dinner)
• 1 night desert camp (dinner & breakfast)
• Camel ride in Erg Chebbi
• Complimentary bottled water

Not Included

• Lunches
• Gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Optional paid activities

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Tangier › Chefchaouen

Pickup from Tangier and a scenic drive through Tétouan and the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. Afternoon at leisure to explore the blue alleyways independently. Overnight in a riad.

Day 2 — Chefchaouen › Fez

Morning guided walk of Chefchaouen’s medina and Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Drive to Fez via Ouezzane, a small hilltop town famous for its olive oil and its role as a spiritual centre of the Sufi Tijaniyya order. Arrive Fez by evening. Overnight in a riad.

Day 3 — Fez Medina Exploration

Full guided day in Fez el-Bali: tanneries, Bou Inania Madrasa, al-Qarawiyyin quarter, coppersmiths’ souk, and the Jewish mellah. Overnight Fez.

Day 4 — Fez › Middle Atlas › Midelt › Merzouga

Head south through the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou where Barbary macaques play among the ancient trees. Lunch in Midelt, then down through the dramatic Ziz Valley to Merzouga. Dinner and overnight at a desert lodge.

Day 5 — Erg Chebbi Desert Day

A full day in the Sahara: morning 4×4 tour past nomadic camps and the Gnawa village of Khamlia, sandboarding on the dunes, and a sunset camel ride to your Berber desert camp. Live music, tagine dinner, and stargazing. Overnight in camp.

Day 6 — Merzouga › Todgha Gorge › Dadès Valley

Early sunrise, then drive west to the spectacular Todgha Gorge for a walk between soaring limestone cliffs. Continue through the Valley of Roses and the winding Dadès Gorge road to Boumalne Dadès. Overnight in a gorge-view hotel.

Day 7 — Dadès › Ouarzazate › Aït Ben Haddou › Marrakech

Drive through the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate for a visit to Atlas Studios and Kasbah Taourirt, then explore the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou with its earthen towers. Cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass through the High Atlas and arrive in Marrakech by evening. Overnight in a riad.

Day 8 — Marrakech City Tour › Farewell

Guided morning tour of Marrakech: Jemaa el-Fna, Koutoubia, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, souks, and Majorelle Garden. Drop-off at hotel or Marrakech Menara Airport.