DAY 1: TANGIER → CHEFCHAOUEN

Your tour begins with a pick-up at Tangier airport, the ferry port, or your hotel. The scenic drive south through the Rif Mountains brings you to Chefchaouen in around two hours. On arrival, you’ll check in to your hotel or riad and have time to explore the famous blue-washed streets, browse the souks, or settle at a café for a relaxed first evening.

Approximate driving distance: 112 km
Approximate driving time: 2 hours 12 minutes

DAY 2: CHEFCHAOUEN → VOLUBILIS → MEKNES → FES

After breakfast, a scenic drive through the Rif villages brings you to Volubilis — an ancient Roman city with well-preserved 3rd-century mosaics and public buildings. The route then continues to Meknes, a 17th-century imperial capital. After lunch, you’ll explore the walled medina and its famous Bab el Mansour gate, and visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. The day ends in Fes at a riad in the old medina.

Approximate driving distance: 260 km
Approximate driving time: 4 hours 30 minutes

DAY 3: GUIDED TOUR OF FES

A full day in Fes with a local guide. You’ll begin at the Royal Palace gate before entering the UNESCO-listed medina. Along the way you’ll visit Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine Fountain, and the famous Chouara Tanneries. You’ll also explore the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and end the day with a panoramic view of the medina from an old hilltop fortress.

DAY 4: FES → IFRANE → MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA DESERT

After breakfast, the drive south to the Sahara begins with a short break in Ifrane. The route crosses the Middle Atlas with a stop in the cedar forest, where Barbary macaques are often seen. Lunch is served along the way before the drive follows the lush Ziz Valley with its long ribbon of palm groves.

You’ll reach Erg Chebbi in the afternoon. A camel trek takes you across the dunes for a spectacular sunset from a high ridge. On arrival at your luxury camp, a private tent is waiting. Dinner is followed by drumming, Berber music, and a long evening under the stars.

Approximate driving distance: 500 km
Approximate driving time: 7 hours 30 minutes

DAY 5: MERZOUGA DESERT → RISSANI → TODRA GORGE → DADES VALLEY

An early wake-up catches the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. If your trip falls on a market day (Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday), you can explore the traditional souk in Rissani.

The route then continues to the Todra Gorge, where you’ll walk beneath its towering cliffs, then past the striking “monkey fingers” rock formations at the entrance to the Dades Valley, with panoramic views along the way before you check in to your hotel.

Approximate driving distance: 310 km
Approximate driving time: 5 hours

DAY 6: DADES VALLEY → OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → MARRAKECH

The final day begins with a drive to Ouarzazate — the “Hollywood of Africa” — with an optional visit to the Atlas Studios. The route continues to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has served as a backdrop for many internationally famous productions. After lunch, the road climbs back over the High Atlas Mountains with photo stops along the way, before descending into Marrakech in the late afternoon.

Approximate driving distance: 353 km
Approximate driving time: 6 hours 30 minutes

IMPORTANT NOTES

– This tour can also start from Casablanca — see the Morocco Itinerary 6 Days.
– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated — please mention this when booking.
– Optional extras include a cooking class, a hammam experience, quad biking or buggy driving in the dunes.
– Prefer not to ride a camel? A 4×4 will take you to the camp at no extra cost.
– All our luxury camps feature private tents with en-suite bathrooms.