Overview
The 7 Days Tour from Tangier to Marrakech is the journey that captures everything Morocco has to offer — beginning at the meeting point of two continents and two seas, and ending in the city that best represents the extraordinary collision of Africa, Arabia, and Andalusia that defines this country. This north-to-south route hits every major highlight: the blue medina of Chefchaouen, the medieval labyrinth of Fes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the towering dunes of the Merzouga Sahara, the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, and finally the pulsing energy of Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech.
Tangier has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades — from a faded international zone infamous for its intrigue to a genuinely exciting city with a dynamic arts and gastronomy scene, a spectacular new waterfront, and its irreplaceable position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean. Begin your journey here with a morning in the Kasbah, its whitewashed walls perched over the strait with views of the Spanish coast just 14 kilometres away, and the Grand Socco market square humming at the edge of the medina.
The road south through the Rif Mountains leads to Chefchaouen — the most photographed city in Morocco and, many argue, the most beautiful. Overnight here allows you to experience the blue medina at its most magical: at dusk when the last day-trippers have departed, or at dawn when the alleyways are wet from the night’s mist and the light turns the blue walls to silver.
Fes is the intellectual and spiritual heart of Morocco — a city where the call to prayer echoes from hundreds of minarets simultaneously, where the world’s oldest university still teaches, and where the medieval city plan has survived essentially intact since the ninth century. Your licensed Fes guide will decode this extraordinary place — the tanneries, the madrasas, the fountains, and the souks — in a way that makes the complexity of the medina navigable and deeply rewarding.
The eastern desert stage takes you through Ifrane (Morocco’s alpine resort town), over the Middle Atlas plateau, through cedar forests inhabited by Barbary macaques, and down to Merzouga and the vast sea of golden dunes that marks the Algerian border. Sunset on a camel and a night in a Berber camp beneath the Saharan sky is the journey’s emotional centrepiece.
The return west passes through Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, the cinematic kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, and the movie city of Ouarzazate before crossing the High Atlas to Marrakech — arriving in the Red City with a week’s worth of unforgettable memories and a completely transformed understanding of what Morocco actually is.
Highlights
- Begin in Tangier — two continents visible on a clear day
- Explore the blue medina of Chefchaouen at dusk and dawn
- Full-day guided tour of Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest medieval city
- Visit Volubilis, Morocco’s finest Roman ruins
- Cross the Middle Atlas cedar forests with Barbary macaques
- Sunset camel ride and overnight in a luxury Merzouga Sahara camp
- Explore Todra Gorge — Morocco’s most dramatic canyon
- Visit Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO kasbah and Hollywood film set
- Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech
- End with a night in the legendary Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Tangier — City Tour & Departure to Chefchaouen
Arrive in Tangier (or begin with a morning city tour if arriving the previous evening). Visit the Kasbah Museum and the Grand Socco market. After lunch, depart south through the Rif Mountains for the 2.5-hour drive to Chefchaouen. Arrive at golden hour and take your first walk through the blue medina. Overnight in a medina riad.
Day 2: Chefchaouen — Blue City Exploration
Full morning in Chefchaouen with your guide: Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the crumbling kasbah, the Ras el-Maa waterfall, and the climb to the Spanish Mosque for the classic panoramic photograph. Afternoon free for independent exploration, shopping for Rif textiles and handicrafts, and the excellent local restaurants. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis
Depart Chefchaouen and drive east through the Rif Mountains toward the Roman ruins of Volubilis — a two-hour detour that reveals Morocco’s ancient past. Explore the triumphal arch, basilica, forum, and extraordinary in-situ mosaic floors. Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon. Overnight in a medina riad.
Day 4: Fes — Full Day Medina Tour
Dedicated full day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed medina guide. Highlights: Bou Inania Medersa, Attarine Medersa, the Chouara tanneries, the potters’ quarter, and the Andalusian quarter. Lunch at a traditional Fassi restaurant. Evening at leisure in the medina. Overnight in Fes.
Day 5: Fes to Merzouga via Middle Atlas & Sahara
Early departure through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas (Azrou — home to Barbary macaques), across the Ziz Valley palm oasis, through the palm-lined gorge road to Merzouga. Arrive in the early evening. Camel ride at sunset into Erg Chebbi. Overnight in a luxury Berber camp in the dunes.
Day 6: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge & Dades Valley
Morning in the desert — sunrise from the dune crest, breakfast at camp. Drive west through the dramatic Todra Gorge (a walk through the 300-metre-high canyon walls is unmissable), then through the rose-valley of the Dades Gorge. Continue to Ouarzazate via the Valley of the Roses and the Skoura palm oasis. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Day 7: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou
Morning visit to Ait Benhaddou — the most cinematic kasbah in Morocco, backdrop to dozens of films from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones. Then over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka pass, with stops at panoramic viewpoints, and down to Marrakech. Arrive in time for your first evening in the Red City — head directly to Jemaa el-Fnaa.
What’s Included
- Private transport throughout in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
- Expert English-speaking licensed guide
- Licensed specialist guide for Fes medina tour
- Camel ride at sunset in Erg Chebbi (Merzouga)
- Overnight in luxury Berber desert camp (dinner and breakfast included)
- 5 nights in riads or guesthouses (breakfast included)
- Entrance fees: Volubilis, Bou Inania Medersa, Ait Benhaddou
What’s Not Included
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Travel insurance
- Personal lunches (Days 1, 2, 3, 6, 7) and most dinners
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Optional activities (quad biking, hammam, cooking class)
- Visa fees where applicable
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Travel Tips
This tour covers all of Morocco’s climate zones — Rif Mountains, Atlantic coast, Saharan desert, High Atlas — so packing versatility is essential. Light cotton for the desert days, a warm layer for mountain evenings, and good walking shoes for the medinas. The longest driving day is Day 5 (Fes to Merzouga, approximately 7 hours including stops) — an early departure makes this manageable. Book this tour at least 2 weeks in advance to secure the best riad and desert camp availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can this tour be done in the opposite direction — Marrakech to Tangier? A: Yes — we offer this exact itinerary in reverse. Many travellers prefer to fly into Marrakech and fly home from Tangier, or take the ferry to Spain at the end.
Q: Is this suitable for first-time Morocco visitors? A: This tour was designed specifically for first-time visitors who want to see as much of Morocco as possible in one week. It covers the highlights comprehensively while still allowing time to slow down and absorb each place.
Q: What type of accommodation is used? A: We use carefully selected riads in each medina city and a quality Berber camp in Merzouga. We can upgrade to luxury riads or boutique hotels at any point on request.
Q: What are the Merzouga dunes like? A: Erg Chebbi near Merzouga is Morocco’s most spectacular sand sea — golden dunes rising to over 150 metres, stretching along the Algerian border for 28 kilometres. It is the closest Morocco gets to the classic Sahara Desert image.