13-Day Classic Morocco Tour from Tangier

Welcome to Morocco. Meet your private driver at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, Tangier Ville Port, your hotel or another agreed pickup location. Depending on your arrival time, begin exploring Tangier — the old medina and Kasbah, where narrow streets reflect the city's long relationship with Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean. If time permits, travel to Cap Spartel for views across the coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, and perhaps the Hercules Caves. Return to Tangier and check into your accommodation; if you arrive later, sightseeing is adjusted so you can rest. Overnight: Tangier.

After breakfast, leave Tangier for Tétouan, known for its Andalusian influence, with a possible short visit before continuing into the Rif Mountains. Arrive in Chefchaouen, one of Morocco's most recognisable towns, and check into your riad. Spend the afternoon walking through the blue-painted medina — Plaza Uta el-Hammam, small craft shops and residential lanes — and continue towards Ras El Maa. Because Chefchaouen is best explored on foot, the afternoon is intentionally flexible. Overnight: Chefchaouen. Meals: breakfast.

Enjoy breakfast and some final time in Chefchaouen before travelling south through the countryside to Volubilis, exploring the archaeological remains of an ancient Roman city — surviving columns, arches and mosaic floors. Continue to Meknes, one of the four imperial cities, with time for part of the historic centre and lunch depending on timing, then on to Fes in the afternoon. Check into your traditional riad in or near the old medina and enjoy a relaxed evening before tomorrow's guided exploration. Overnight: Fes. Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your local guide and explore Fes el-Bali — a maze of narrow streets, markets, workshops and residential neighbourhoods where many areas remain inaccessible to cars. Depending on opening conditions and interests, visits can include Bou Inania Madrasa, Nejjarine, the area around Al Quaraouiyine and the famous Chouara Tanneries, seeing craftspeople working with leather, ceramics, metal, wood and textiles. Your guide explains the history of Fes and daily life inside one of Morocco's oldest medinas, after which the afternoon is yours. Overnight: Fes. Meals: breakfast.

Leave Fes early and travel south through the Middle Atlas. Stop in Ifrane, then the cedar forests near Azrou where Barbary macaques can sometimes be seen, and continue through mountain landscapes to Midelt for lunch. In the afternoon, continue through the Ziz Gorge with a viewpoint over the palm-filled Ziz Valley, then through Erfoud towards Merzouga as the large Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon. Check into your hotel or riad close to the dunes and enjoy the evening at your own pace. Overnight: Merzouga hotel or riad. Meals: breakfast. Approx. driving: 470 km / around 7–8 hours excluding stops.

After breakfast, begin a full day exploring Merzouga and Erg Chebbi by private 4×4 along desert tracks around the dunes. Visit Khamlia, known for its Gnawa musical traditions, with time to listen to local musicians; when circumstances allow, continue farther into the desert to meet a nomadic family and learn respectfully about life in this environment. Return towards Merzouga for lunch, with time for sandboarding and optional quad-bike or buggy excursions. Later, meet your camel guide and ride across the dunes, stopping for the sunset before continuing to your Sahara camp for dinner, traditional music and a night beneath the desert sky. Overnight: Merzouga desert camp. Meals: breakfast & dinner.

Wake early for sunrise over the Sahara, then after breakfast return from the camp by camel or 4×4 and meet your driver. Continue to Rissani, historically an important trading centre, with a possible stop at its traditional souk on market days. Continue through Erfoud towards Tinghir and visit Todra Gorge, walking beside the river between its high limestone cliffs. After lunch, continue towards the Dades Valley with panoramic stops over the valley, villages and unusual rock formations before reaching your accommodation for dinner. Overnight: Dades Valley. Meals: breakfast & dinner.

After breakfast, travel through the Valley of Roses towards Ouarzazate, passing kasbahs and traditional villages. After time in the Ouarzazate area, continue to Aït Ben Haddou, one of Morocco's best-known fortified villages, with time to explore the ksar on foot — its earthen buildings and narrow passages — and climb higher for panoramic views over the valley. Instead of rushing onward to Marrakech, spend the night in the Aït Ben Haddou/Ouarzazate region, which creates a more relaxed day and prepares you for the less common route towards Ouzoud the following morning. Overnight: Aït Ben Haddou / Ouarzazate area. Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, leave the Aït Ben Haddou region and travel towards Ouzoud Waterfalls. Today's route moves away from the standard Marrakech-bound desert circuit and takes you through changing Atlas landscapes, with stops for photos, coffee and lunch along the way. Arrive in the Ouzoud area and check into your accommodation; depending on arrival time and daylight, enjoy an introductory walk around the village or towards viewpoints over the falls. Spending the night near Ouzoud is an important part of this itinerary — instead of a rushed day trip from Marrakech, you can enjoy the area in the afternoon and again the following morning. Overnight: Ouzoud. Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, explore the Ouzoud Waterfalls, one of Morocco's best-known natural attractions, walking along the paths and viewpoints as the water drops through several levels into the valley below, surrounded by olive trees and rocky landscapes. Barbary macaques are sometimes seen around the area, though sightings cannot be guaranteed. There's time to walk towards the lower part of the falls and enjoy lunch in the area. Later, meet your driver and continue to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon or evening to check into your riad and enjoy a free evening around Jemaa el-Fna. Overnight: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, meet your local guide and explore Marrakech, walking through the historic medina while learning about the city's history, architecture and everyday life. Depending on conditions and interests, visits can include Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia area and other historic sites, continuing through the traditional souks, where streets specialise in spices, leather, carpets, metalwork and lamps. Your guide helps you understand the layout of the medina and introduces places easily missed on your own. The guided portion normally finishes around Jemaa el-Fna, leaving the afternoon free. Overnight: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, leave Marrakech and travel west towards the Atlantic, passing countryside where argan trees are common before reaching Essaouira after about three hours. Check into your riad and explore the medina — white-and-blue streets and local workshops towards the historic ramparts and fishing harbour. Enjoy fresh seafood near the port, browse art galleries or take a long walk along the beach. Essaouira provides a very different atmosphere from Marrakech, Fes and the Sahara, an excellent final destination before completing your journey. Overnight: Essaouira. Meals: breakfast. Approx. driving: 190 km / around 3 hours.

Enjoy breakfast and a relaxed final morning in Essaouira — depending on your departure schedule, there may be time to return to the fishing harbour, walk along the beach or do final shopping. Later, meet your private driver and travel back towards Marrakech, normally around three hours depending on traffic and stops. Your tour ends with drop-off at your Marrakech hotel, riad or Marrakech Menara Airport; for a flight on Day 13 we recommend an evening departure, and for an early flight the itinerary should be adjusted so Night 12 is spent in Marrakech instead. End of tour: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.