8 days · 7 nights
Private tours from Tangier
5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour
Cross Morocco from the Strait of Gibraltar to Marrakech in five days — Cape Spartel, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes and Fes, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the southern gorges and Ait Benhaddou.
- Duration
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Departure
- Tangier
- Destination
- Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes)
- Ends in
- Marrakech
Overview
This five-day route is the fastest way to cross Morocco from north to south, ideal if you arrive by ferry or plane in Tangier and fly home from Marrakech.
In five days you see the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet at Cape Spartel, sleep in the blue town of Chefchaouen, visit Volubilis and Meknes, reach the Sahara for a camel trek and a night in the dunes, and travel the gorges and kasbah valleys of the south. Expect some long driving days; our 8-, 10- and 12-day tours from Tangier cover similar ground at a gentler pace.
Route
- Tangier
- Chefchaouen
- Volubilis
- Meknes
- Fes
- Merzouga
- Todra Gorge
- Dades Valley
- Ouarzazate
- Ait Benhaddou
- Marrakech
Highlights
- Tangier, the Caves of Hercules and Cape Spartel
- The blue town of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains
- Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes
- Ifrane, the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley
- Camel trek and a night in a luxury desert camp
- Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Valley of Roses and Ait Benhaddou
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Tangier – Chefchaouen
We pick you up from your accommodation, the airport or the port in Tangier, the "Bride of the North", where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic off Cape Spartel. Explore the city, the Caves of Hercules and Cape Spartel, with free time for lunch, then drive through Tetouan and the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, stopping for views.
- Overnight:
- Hotel in Chefchaouen
Day 2
Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Wander the blue lanes of Chefchaouen after breakfast, then visit Volubilis, a UNESCO-listed Roman site with mosaics, columns and archways. Thirty kilometres on, in the imperial city of Meknes, see Bab Mansour, the Sahrij Souani basin, the royal stables and granaries and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail before continuing to Fes.
- Overnight:
- Riad in Fes
Day 3
Fes – Ifrane – cedar forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
Drive south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, famous for its alpine-style houses, then into the cedar forest of the Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt, cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and follow the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. Ride camels across the dunes to watch the sunset, then continue to a camp that combines nomad tents with hotel comforts, for Berber drums, dinner and the night.
- Overnight:
- Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Day 4
Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast. Visit Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet, and a fossil-marble workshop in Erfoud. Cross the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad to the Todra Gorge for a walk and lunch, then continue via Boumalne Dades to the "Monkey Fingers" and a viewpoint over the Dades Valley.
- Overnight:
- Hotel in the Dades Valley
Day 5
Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech
Visit the Valley of Roses at Kelaat M'Gouna and the palm groves of Skoura, then the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate. A 20-minute walk takes you up through the ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before we cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech, with stops for lunch and photographs.
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4, including fuel
- English-speaking driver
- 3 nights in hotels or riads
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
- Sandboards available at the camp
- Daily breakfasts
- 2 dinners (Merzouga and the Dades Valley)
- Stops at points of interest along the route
- Berber drumming evening at the camp
What's not included
- Flights
- Other dinners
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
- Night 1: hotel in Chefchaouen
- Night 2: riad in Fes
- Night 3: luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Night 4: hotel in the Dades Valley
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private, one-way tour: starts in Tangier and ends in Marrakech
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation, the airport or the ferry port in Tangier
- Pace
- Long driving days — ideal if you are short on time. Add nights to slow down.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Our tours are private: you travel only with your own group, with a dedicated driver and vehicle. You will not be joined by other travellers.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts in Tangier, with pick-up from your accommodation or the airport, and finishes in Marrakech. If you would like to start or finish somewhere else, let us know — the starting and end points can be adapted.
How much does this tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, your travel dates and your choice of accommodation. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a personal quote.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every itinerary can be adapted to your pace, interests and budget — you can add nights, skip stops or combine routes. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
Related tours
- 8 days · 7 nights
10 days · 9 nights
12 days · 11 nights
Ready to plan your Morocco journey?
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally with ideas, availability and a quote.
WhatsApp +212 633 136 786 · greatmoroccoexperience@gmail.com