Private tours in Marrakech and across Morocco with local drivers and guides: Sahara Desert adventures, imperial cities and day trips, designed around you.
(5.0)
13 Days
English
From Tangier
Our 13 days Morocco tour from Tangier is designed for travelers who want to see the whole country, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, in less than two weeks. First, you explore Tangier and the painted walls of Asilah. Next, you spend two relaxed nights in blue Chefchaouen before visiting Volubilis, Meknes and Fez. Because the trip starts at the port, it is also one of the easiest Morocco tours from Spain. Of all our Morocco tours from Tangier, this is the most varied route, with six different landscapes in a single trip.
After Fez, you spend two nights in the dunes of Merzouga, then follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ait Ben Haddou. Afterwards, you sleep in a Berber village in the High Atlas before reaching Marrakech. Finally, you finish by the sea in Essaouira. In other words, it is a complete Tangier to Marrakech tour and a near two week Morocco itinerary in one. Because this is one of our private Morocco tours, planned by a local Morocco travel agency, your English-speaking driver adapts every day to you. As a result, you travel at your own rhythm, in comfort and with complete peace of mind.
Welcome to Morocco! Your 13 days Morocco tour from Tangier begins the moment you arrive. Whether you come by ferry or by plane, your English-speaking driver meets you, which makes this a smooth Morocco tour from Tangier port. After a short transfer, you check in to your riad in the old medina.
In the afternoon, you explore the Kasbah, the Grand Socco and the lively medina. Then, enjoy a mint tea at the historic Café Hafa, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. To learn more about the city, visit VisitMorocco’s Tangier page. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant.
Overnight: riad in Tangier.
After breakfast, you drive to Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Next, you follow the coast south to Asilah, a whitewashed fishing town surrounded by old Portuguese ramparts. Along the way, the ocean views are beautiful on a clear day.
In Asilah, you stroll through the medina, where local and international artists paint colorful murals on the walls. Afterwards, you head inland into the Rif Mountains. Finally, you arrive in Chefchaouen, the famous blue city, in time for dinner and a first stroll through its blue lanes. For more, see VisitMorocco’s Chefchaouen guide.
Driving time: about 3.5 hours with stops. Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen.
Today is a relaxed day in the Rif Mountains. In the morning, you drive about 45 minutes to Akchour, where a trail follows a green river to waterfalls and natural pools. On a warm day, you can even cool off in the clear water.
Alternatively, you can stay in town and explore the blue lanes, the old Kasbah and the craft shops at your own pace. In the late afternoon, walk up to the Spanish Mosque for a golden view. If you later stay longer in Fez, you can also return here with our Fes to Chefchaouen day trip.
Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen.
After breakfast, you drive south to the Archaeological Site of Volubilis, where Roman columns and floor mosaics are almost 2,000 years old. Meanwhile, your driver shares the history of this ancient city, once a Roman provincial capital.
Then, you continue to the Historic City of Meknes, where you admire the grand Bab Mansour gate built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Finally, you arrive in Fez in the early evening and check in to your riad in the medina. For a single-day version of this route, see our Volubilis day trip from Fez.
Driving time: about 5 hours. Overnight: riad in Fes.
After breakfast, a licensed local guide leads you through the Medina of Fez, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. First, you admire the golden gates of the Royal Palace, then enter the medina through the Blue Gate. From there, narrow lanes lead you into a city that has changed little in centuries.
Next, you visit the Bou Inania Madrasa and watch leather being dyed at the Chouara Tannery. Afterwards, you see the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, one of the oldest centers of learning in the world. Fez is also the starting point of all our Morocco tours from Fez. For more details on today’s visit, read about our Fez medina guided tour.
Overnight: riad in Fes.
This morning, you climb into the Middle Atlas and pass Ifrane, nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco. Then, you cross the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road. Gradually, the green forests give way to wide, open plains.
After lunch in Midelt, you follow the Ziz Valley on the final stretch from Tangier to Merzouga. At sunset, you ride a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Once at camp, dinner is served under the stars. If you only want this part of the trip, see our 3 days tour from Fes to Merzouga.
Driving time: about 7 to 8 hours with stops. Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi.
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, a 4×4 takes you to Khamlia, where Gnawa musicians play rhythms that trace back to West Africa. Next, you visit a nomad family and share a glass of tea. Over tea, they explain how they live with very little water.
Later, you explore Rissani, the historic cradle of the Alaouite dynasty. In the afternoon, you can try sandboarding or simply relax. Indeed, this free day turns a simple Tangier desert tour into a true Sahara desert tour. Learn more on VisitMorocco’s Merzouga page.
Overnight: desert camp or hotel in Merzouga.
After breakfast, you drive west through the oasis towns of Erfoud and Tinejdad. Along the way, you stop at a fossil workshop, since Erfoud is famous for its ancient fossils. There, artisans show you how they cut and polish the stones.
In the early afternoon, you reach the Todra Gorge, where rock walls rise almost 300 meters above a clear stream. Then, you continue to the Dades Gorge, where the road winds up in tight hairpin bends. Finally, enjoy dinner at your hotel while the evening light turns the cliffs red. Meanwhile, the quiet valley offers a perfect place to rest.
Driving time: about 5 hours. Overnight: hotel in the Dades Gorge.
This morning, you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Kelaat M’Gouna, the heart of the Rose Valley. Next, you pass the palm groves of Skoura, dotted with old mud-brick fortresses. Here, local cooperatives also sell rose water and natural cosmetics.
After lunch in Ouarzazate, often called the Hollywood of Africa, you continue to the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou and climb to the top for sunset. Afterwards, you spend the night here, once the day visitors have left. For a shorter visit from Marrakech, see our Ait Ben Haddou day trip from Marrakech.
Driving time: about 4 hours. Overnight: guesthouse in Ait Ben Haddou.
After breakfast, you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass at about 2,260 meters. Then, you descend towards Marrakech and turn south into the mountains to Imlil, a village at about 1,740 meters. Along the way, the mountain views are some of the best of the trip.
In the afternoon, you take a gentle walk through walnut orchards at the foot of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked tagine at your guesthouse. Our 12 days Morocco tour from Marrakech also includes Imlil, while our Ourika Valley day trip offers another taste of the Atlas.
Driving time: about 4.5 hours. Overnight: guesthouse in Imlil.
In the morning, a local mountain guide takes you on an easy walk to the Berber village of Aroumd. Along the trail, you stop for mint tea with a local family and enjoy wide views over the valley. The walk takes about two to three hours and suits most fitness levels.
Afterwards, you drive about 90 minutes to Marrakech, the end point of this Tangier to Marrakech tour and the starting point of all our Morocco tours from Marrakech. In the evening, walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the lively heart of the Medina of Marrakesh, where musicians and food stalls fill the square at night.
Driving time: about 1.5 hours. Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
After breakfast, a licensed local guide shows you the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks. Along the way, your guide shares stories about the dynasties that built the city. Then, in the early afternoon, you leave the Red City and drive west through the argan forest.
On the way, you stop at a women’s cooperative that makes argan oil by hand. You may even spot goats climbing the argan trees. Finally, you reach Essaouira and walk the Skala ramparts of the Medina of Essaouira. If you prefer a shorter visit, see our Essaouira day trip from Marrakech.
Driving time: about 3 hours. Overnight: riad in Essaouira.
On your last morning, watch the blue fishing boats unload their catch at the port and browse the art galleries of the medina. Then, enjoy a last coffee overlooking the ocean. You can learn more on VisitMorocco’s Essaouira page.
Afterwards, you drive back to Marrakech, arriving about three hours later. Depending on your flight, you can enjoy a final lunch in the medina. Finally, your driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport, and your journey from Tangier to the Atlantic coast comes to an end. If you stay longer, discover our day trips from Marrakech.
Driving time: about 3 hours.
Yes. The tour is fully private, so only you and your travel companions share the vehicle and the English-speaking driver. Therefore, you can change the pace, choose your hotels and stop wherever you like.
Yes. We pick you up at Tangier Ville port or Tanger Med port, as well as at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport. In fact, most of our Morocco tours from Spain start right at the port.
Yes. Thirteen days is almost a full two week Morocco itinerary. It lets you see the north, Fez, the Sahara, the High Atlas, Marrakech and the coast without rushing.
You spend two nights in Merzouga. The first night is in a desert camp after the camel trek, and the second can be in the camp or in a hotel at the edge of the dunes.
Yes. Our 10 days Morocco tour from Tangier follows a similar route without the Atlas and the coast. In addition, our 7 days Morocco tour from Tangier covers the highlights in one week.
Yes. If you need to return to Spain by ferry, our 12 days Morocco tour from Tangier is a loop that ends in Tangier.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. Summer is very hot in the Sahara, while winter brings cold nights in the desert and snow in the High Atlas.
Private tours in Marrakech and across Morocco with local drivers and guides: Sahara Desert adventures, imperial cities and day trips, designed around you.
