Itinerary
- Day 1
Tangier
You'll arrive in Tangier either by ferry from Spain or at Ibn Battuta Airport, where your driver will be waiting with a nameplate to greet you. From there, it's a straightforward transfer into the city. Tangier sits right at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, so you're immediately in a place where cultures blend together in interesting ways.
- Start point
- Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco (We offer convenient pick-up services from any location within Tangier, 00:00 - 00:00)
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (La Tangerina or Palais Zahia or similar)
Landmarks/POIs Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport Strait of Gibraltar 
- Day 2
Tangier
This morning starts with a drive through La Montagne that takes you out to Cap Spartel Lighthouse for coastal views. After that, you'll head to the Grottes d'Hercule where there's a famous rock formation shaped like Africa. Back in the Medina, you can walk through the 15th-century Portuguese fortress and check out the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Culture. The afternoon brings you to St Andrew's Church and an art exhibition at Centre Culturel Ibn Khaldoun.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (La Tangerina or Palais Zahia or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Cap Spartel Lighthouse
- Explore Grottes d'Hercule
- Visit Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Culture
- Visit St Andrew's Church
- View art exhibition at Centre Culturel Ibn Khaldoun
Landmarks/POIs Cap Spartel Lighthouse Grottes d'Hercule Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Culture St Andrew's Church Centre Culturel Ibn Khaldoun Tangier Medina - Day 3
Tangier to Chefchaouen
Early morning drive takes you from Tangier to Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, where everything is painted blue. You'll spend time walking the narrow streets and getting used to the blue buildings all around. Plaza Outa el Hammam is good for grabbing food and watching people go by. Later, you can tour the Grand Mosque exterior and explore the kasbah with its gardens and museum. If you want more activity, there's a hike to an abandoned Spanish Mosque where you can catch sunset views over the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Jibal Chaouen or similar )
Included Activities
- Travel to Chefchaouen
- Explore Plaza Outa el Hammam
- View Grand Mosque exterior
- Tour Kasbah with gardens and museum
- Climb to Hotel Atlas rooftop for panoramic views
Optional Activities
- Hike to abandoned Spanish Mosque (20-30 minutes, more athletic activity)
Landmarks/POIs Chefchaouen Medina Plaza Outa el Hammam Grand Mosque Chefchaouen Kasbah Hotel Atlas Rooftop Ras el Ma Spring Spanish Mosque (Abandoned) 
- Day 4
Chefchaouen to Fes
Wake up early to photograph Chefchaouen's quiet streets before the crowds show up, then head toward Fes. Along the way, you'll stop for fresh juice at a local dam. Once you reach Fes, the Pottery Cooperative south of the city shows you hand-made crafts and how they're produced. By evening you're settled into a traditional riad, a Moroccan house with an interior garden, in this city known for its massive maze-like medina.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Riad Fes Mahal or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Pottery Cooperative
- Travel to Fes
Optional Activities
- Fresh juice stop at dam
Landmarks/POIs Pottery Cooperative Fes Medina 
- Day 5
Fes
You're exploring Fes with a guide navigating the narrow ancient streets of Fes el Bali (founded 789 CE) and Fes el Jdid. The souks here sell spices, leather goods, and pewter, and there's a lot to see in each section. The Chouara Tannery is famous for good reason, and climbing a nearby shop roof gives you perspective on how vast it is. The Al Attarine Madrasa from the 14th century has intricate zellij tilework worth studying. You'll also see Al-Qarawiyyin University, established in 859 CE and still operating, making it one of the world's oldest universities. The mellah, or old Jewish quarter, is in Fes el Jdid.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Riad Fes Mahal or similar)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Fes el Bali medina
- Browse Souk el Attarin (spices)
- Browse Souk Haddadine (blacksmiths)
- Browse Souk Smata (slippers)
- Visit Souk des Teinturiers (dyers' souk)
- Visit Chouara Tannery with rooftop view
- Visit Al Attarine Madrasa (14th century)
- Visit Al-Qarawiyyin University (859 CE)
- Explore mellah (old Jewish quarter) in Fes el Jdid
Optional Activities
- Visit Marrakech Museum
- Visit Museum of Moroccan Arts
Landmarks/POIs Fes el Bali Fes el Jdid Souk el Attarin Souk Haddadine Souk Smata Souk des Teinturiers Chouara Tannery Al Attarine Madrasa Al-Qarawiyyin University Mellah - Day 6
Fes to Erfoud
Today's drive heads south over the Col du Zad pass at 7,146 feet through cedar forests in the Middle Atlas mountains, where you might spot families of Barbary macaque monkeys. Midelt stops you for lunch with views of the Moulouya River and apple orchards (it's known as the apple city). Later you cross the Tizi n'Talremt pass into the Ziz Valley with its dotted oases and palm clusters. You'll see ksars, those fortified merchant houses that protected valuable trade goods. As you approach Erfoud, the Sahara sand dunes start appearing on the horizon. A visit to Erfoud's fossil mines happens before continuing to Erg Chebbi, an extensive sea of sand dunes covering 35 square kilometers with dunes over 200 meters high.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Riad Chebbi or Riad Azawad or similar )
Included Activities
- Travel through Middle Atlas cedar forests
- Spot Barbary macaque monkeys
- Visit Erfoud fossil mines
Optional Activities
- Meet nomadic Berber families for tea
- Lunch in Midelt
Landmarks/POIs Col du Zad Middle Atlas Mountains Midelt Moulouya River Tizi n'Talremt Ziz Valley Erfoud Erg Chebbi 
- Day 7
Erfoud to Merzouga
Wake early to catch the desert sunrise and try climbing sand dunes if you want to. Optional yoga is available. A traditional Berber lunch of Madfouna (stuffed flatbread with beef or lamb) comes next. You'll visit Khemliya, a typical Saharan village where there's traditional drumming and dancing, plus a short walk through the settlement. After taking a break near Merzouga to store baggage and pack, you're riding a camel accompanied by a blue-turban-robed guide into the sand dunes. The ride takes about an hour before you watch the sun set over the Sahara and spend the night in a Berber-style tent.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Berber Madfouna (stuffed flatbread with beef or lamb, diced onions, and spices, baked in fire pit or mud oven)), Dinner (Dinner in Berber-style tent under the stars in desert setting)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Chebi Camp or Azawad camp)
Included Activities
- Desert sunrise experience
- Climbing sand dunes
- Visit Khemliya village
- Experience traditional drumming and dancing
- One-hour camel ride in Erg Chebbi dunes
- Stay in Berber-style tent
Optional Activities
- Yoga session
Landmarks/POIs Erg Chebbi Dunes Khemliya Merzouga - Day 8
Merzouga to Dades Gorge
Leaving the dunes behind, you head to Rissani to explore its impressive gate and famous livestock auction, including the unique sensory experience of the 'donkey parking lot'. From there, continue to Tinerhir, a desert town with views of a 30-mile-long palm-tree river oasis. Todra Gorge comes next, rising 984 feet high and carved by the Todra River through red limestone, where you can take a leisurely walk and optionally cool off in the shallow river. A visit to the women's cooperative of rugs and carpets follows before heading to Dades Gorge. You'll settle into accommodation and have time to explore small family farms and the valley in the late afternoon, then enjoy a quiet dinner overlooking the valley.
- Meals
- Dinner (Quiet dinner overlooking the valley in Dades Gorge)
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Auberge Atlas Dades or Similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Rissani
- Visit Tinerhir
- Explore Todra Gorge
- Leisurely walk in Todra Gorge
- Visit women's cooperative of rugs and carpets
Optional Activities
- Swim in shallow river at Todra Gorge
Landmarks/POIs Rissani Tinerhir Todra Gorge Todra River Dades Gorge - Day 9
Dades Gorge to Marrakech
Today's drive follows the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs toward Aït Benhaddou. You pass through the Rose Valley and stop in Kelâat M'Gouna to see rose bushes and visit a rose collective learning how petals become rose water and oil. West toward Ouarzazate, you'll discover its film heritage (Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down were all filmed here). Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage 11th-century mud-brick ksar from the trans-Saharan trade route, gets explored after lunch. Then you ascend into the High Atlas mountains where Mount Toubkal appears at 13,671 feet. Panoramic mountain views continue as you descend into Marrakech, the vibrant Red City.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Riad Dar Nadwa or hotel Racine or similar)
Included Activities
- Travel through Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Pass through Rose Valley
- Visit rose collective in Kelâat M'Gouna
- Visit Ouarzazate
- Explore Aït Benhaddou (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Landmarks/POIs Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs Rose Valley Kelâat M'Gouna Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou High Atlas Mountains Mount Toubkal Marrakech 
- Day 10
Marrakech
Marrakech exploration starts with a half-day tour through colorful souks with your guide: Souk el Attarin for spices, Souk Haddadine for blacksmiths, Souk Smata for slippers, and Souk des Teinturiers for dyers. The iconic Koutoubia Mosque has a 253-foot minaret and adjoining gardens worth relaxing in. Ben Youssef Madrasa from the 16th century shows off carved cedar, stucco plaster, and zellij tiling. Museum options are available, and the Kasbah area includes Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, Jewish Mellah, and a cemetery to explore.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Riad Dar Nadwa or hotel Racine or similar)
Included Activities
- Half-day guided tour of Marrakech
- Browse Souk el Attarin (spices)
- Browse Souk Haddadine (blacksmiths)
- Browse Souk Smata (slippers)
- Visit Souk des Teinturiers (dyers' souk)
- Visit Koutoubia Mosque
- Relax in Koutoubia gardens
- Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa (16th century)
- Explore Kasbah area including Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, Jewish Mellah, and cemetery
Optional Activities
- Visit Marrakech Museum
- Visit Museum of Moroccan Arts
Landmarks/POIs Souk el Attarin Souk Haddadine Souk Smata Souk des Teinturiers Koutoubia Mosque Ben Youssef Madrasa Saadian Tombs El Badi Palace Bahia Palace Jewish Mellah Marrakech Museum Museum of Moroccan Arts - Day 11
Marrakech to Essaouira
Saying goodbye to the Red City, you travel west toward Morocco's coast over vast rolling plains. You'll pass through an argan tree forest and spot goats dining on argan fruit in tree branches, which is actually a common sight here. An Argan Cooperative visit shows you how argan oil is extracted and used in food and cosmetics. Arriving in Essaouira feels like a nice change from Marrakech's intensity. The rest of the day is yours: walk the 18th-century Skala de la Kasbah seafront ramparts with brass cannons and Atlantic views, explore the UNESCO-protected medina, or head to the windswept beach. Fresh seafood dinner wraps up the evening.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Riad Zahra or similar)
Included Activities
- Pass through argan tree forest
- Visit Argan Cooperative
Optional Activities
- Walk Skala de la Kasbah seafront ramparts
- Explore UNESCO-protected medina of Essaouira
- Visit windswept beach
- Visit Diabat (where Jimi Hendrix reportedly spent time)
- Enjoy fresh seafood dinner
Landmarks/POIs Argan Tree Forest Argan Cooperative Essaouira Skala de la Kasbah Essaouira Medina Essaouira Beach Diabat - Day 12
Essaouira to Casablanca
Around 8am you head north to El-Jadida, formerly called Mazagan, a 15th-century Portuguese fortified city nicknamed 'the Deauville of Morocco'. Portuguese structures and fortified ramparts surround a medina built out into the sea, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status as a testimony to Portuguese architecture. From there, continue driving north to Casablanca where you spend your final night in Morocco before your flight.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Campanile or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit El-Jadida (Mazagan) - 15th century Portuguese fortified city
Landmarks/POIs El-Jadida (Mazagan) Casablanca 
- Day 13
Depart Casablanca
Your Moroccan adventure is ending today. You'll reflect on the memories from your journey through Morocco's diverse landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality. Your driver ensures a timely transfer to the airport, getting you there three hours before your scheduled flight so you have plenty of time for check-in and security.
Landmarks/POIs Casablanca Airport
