Journey Overview: the absolute Morocco tour, a grand 13-day, 12-night adventure that forms a complete circle through the nation’s most amazing places. This journey begins and ends in the northern port of Tangier, guiding you through all four imperial cities, the magical “Blue City” of Chefchaouen, the vast Sahara Desert, the majestic High Atlas Mountains, and the charming Atlantic coast. With dedicated time to explore each region, from the desert dunes to the bustling medinas, this is the ultimate itinerary for those who want to experience the complete, diverse beauty of Morocco.
Tour Highlights:
Day 1: Arrival in Tangier & Journey to Chefchaouen Your tour begins as we pick you up in Tangier. We’ll explore the city, visiting the Cave of Hercules and Cape Spartel. After lunch, we drive through the scenic Rif Mountains to the magical blue city of Chefchaouen for your overnight stay.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Chefchaouen (The Blue City) Today is dedicated to exploring the famous “Blue Pearl” of Morocco. Stroll through its charming old medina with its beautiful authentic blue doors and whitewashed walls. In the afternoon, you can hike to the Spanish Mosque for a spectacular panoramic view of the whole city.
Day 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes After a final morning in Chefchaouen, we drive to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis (a UNESCO site) and then to the imperial city of Meknes to visit its historic landmarks. Our day concludes as we arrive in the cultural capital of Fes for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Fes Explore the highlights of Fes with an expert local guide. Your full-day tour will take you into the world’s largest living medieval medina to visit the famous Blue Gate, Medrasas, the Najjarine fountain, the fascinating Tanneries, and the historic Quaraouine Mosque and University.
Day 5: Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Ziz Valley → Merzouga Sahara We depart Fes, driving south into the Middle Atlas Mountains. We’ll stop in Ifrane (“the Switzerland of Morocco”) and the nearby cedar forests to see Barbary macaques. After lunch, our journey continues along the spectacular Ziz Valley to the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, where you’ll take a sunset camel trek to your luxury desert camp.
Day 6: Full Day Exploring the Merzouga Region After watching the desert sunrise, you will have a full day to explore the incredible Merzouga region by 4×4. We will visit an ancient mine, share tea with a nomadic family, see the wild “flamingos lake,” and travel to Khamlia village to enjoy traditional Gnaoua music. You’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel at the desert’s edge.
Day 7: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley After breakfast, we leave the desert to visit Rissani’s traditional market and Erfoud’s fossil workshops. Our journey continues to the Todra Gorges for a walk through its immense canyon. We then proceed to the Dades Valley, famous for its dramatic rock formations.
Day 8: Dades Valley → Roses Valley → Ouarzazate After breakfast, we travel through the Roses Valley and the palm groves of Skoura. We reach Ouarzazate, where we visit the famous film studios and the historic Taourirt Kasbah. Overnight stay in Ouarzazate.
Day 9: Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → High Atlas → Marrakesh We depart Ouarzazate to visit the legendary Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou (a UNESCO site) and the Telouet Kasbah. We then make the scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-N-Tichka pass, arriving in the vibrant city of Marrakesh for an overnight stay.
Day 10: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Marrakesh Explore the highlights of Marrakesh with a local guide. Your visit will include the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Quranic Mosque, the Koutoubia Mosque, the beautiful Majorelle Garden, and a stroll through the largest traditional souk in Morocco, ending near the famous Jemaa El-Fna square.
Day 11: Marrakesh → Essaouira Today we drive west to the charming coastal city of Essaouira. Along the way, we’ll stop to see the famous Argan trees. In Essaouira, you can explore the fishing port, the ancient ramparts, and the relaxed, artistic old Medina. Overnight stay in Essaouira.
Day 12: Essaouira → Casablanca → Rabat We depart from Essaouira and drive along the scenic coastline to Casablanca, where we will visit the Hassan II Mosque and the Cornish. After lunch, we continue to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, for an overnight stay.
Day 13: Rabat Sightseeing & Departure from Tangier After breakfast, we explore the highlights of Rabat, including the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas. After free time for lunch, we head north, driving through Assilah to reach Tangier airport for your departure, bringing your absolute Morocco tour to a close.
Day 1: Marrakesh – Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou – Draa Valley – Zagora Dunes Your Saharan expedition begins with an early morning departure from Marrakesh. We’ll ascend into the High Atlas Mountains, navigating the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260m), with stops to admire the panoramic vistas and pass through traditional Berber villages. Our journey takes us to the famed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, an ancient fortified village and a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognizable from films like “Gladiator” and “Lawrence of Arabia,” as well as the series “Game of Thrones.” After exploring this historic marvel and enjoying lunch (at your own expense) either here or in Ouarzazate, we’ll continue our drive. You’ll travel through the starkly beautiful Anti-Atlas Mountains, passing through more Berber settlements and alongside the lush Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest river and largest palm oasis. As afternoon approaches, we’ll arrive in Zagora. Here, your desert adventure truly begins with a memorable camel trek into the dunes. Witness a spectacular sunset paint the desert sky before proceeding to your Sahara desert camp. An authentic Moroccan dinner awaits, followed by an evening of traditional Berber drumming and music beneath a canopy of brilliant stars.
Day 2: Zagora – Ouarzazate – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakesh Rise early to the serene beauty of the desert. Experience another camel ride over the dunes to greet the magical sunrise, a truly unforgettable moment. After a hearty Moroccan breakfast at the camp, we bid farewell to Zagora and journey towards Ouarzazate, often called “The Gateway to the Desert.” In Ouarzazate, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the historic Taourirt Kasbah and see the renowned film studios where many famous movies have been filmed. Later, we begin our scenic drive back to Marrakesh, once again crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Your incredible 2-day Zagora desert tour concludes with a convenient drop-off at your accommodation or the airport in Marrakesh in the late afternoon/early evening.
