DAY 1: MARRAKECH → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → AIT BEN HADDOU → DADES VALLEY

Your driver picks you up from your accommodation in Marrakech in the morning. The road heads south, climbing the switchbacks of the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass — one of North Africa’s most dramatic mountain drives, punctuated by Berber villages and sweeping views.

Your first major stop is the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou — a spectacular UNESCO-listed fortified village of earthen towers and alleyways that has served as a backdrop for many internationally famous productions. The afternoon drive heads east along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, through palm groves and old fortresses, until you reach your hotel in the Dades Valley for dinner and the night.

DAY 2: DADES VALLEY → TODRA CANYON → MERZOUGA DESERT

A morning drive brings you to the Tinghir oasis, where a wide belt of palm groves hugs the river — a vivid reminder of how life in this region depends on water. Beyond Tinghir, the road enters the Todra Canyon, where limestone walls rise hundreds of metres on either side of a narrow passageway.

The route continues southeast as the landscape slowly shifts into pre-Saharan plains — flat, stony, and increasingly golden. By late afternoon, the Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon. You’ll arrive in time to saddle up your camel and ride into the sand as the sun puts on a fiery show, turning the desert copper and orange.

Dinner at your luxury desert camp is followed by drumming, Berber singing around the campfire, and one of the world’s most extraordinary night skies overhead.

DAY 3: MERZOUGA DESERT → ZIZ VALLEY → MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS → IFRANE → FES

After sunrise and a final breakfast at the camp, you’ll begin the drive north to Fes. The route follows the Ziz Valley — a green corridor of palm groves along the riverbanks — before climbing into the cooler, forested landscapes of the Middle Atlas.

Near Azrou, keep an eye out for Barbary macaques in the cedar forest. The alpine-feeling town of Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco”, makes for an atmospheric stop before the road descends toward Fes.

You’ll arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and check in to your riad or hotel in or near the medina.

DAY 4: EXPLORE FES → CHEFCHAOUEN

The morning is spent exploring the UNESCO-listed medina of Fes el-Bali — one of the world’s largest living medieval cities. With a knowledgeable local guide, you’ll navigate its labyrinth of narrow alleyways, visit the famous Chouara Tanneries, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Andalusian Quarter, and the bustling souks where artisans still craft leather, brass, ceramics, and textiles by hand.

In the early afternoon, the drive continues north toward the Rif Mountains and the blue city of Chefchaouen. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon, with time to start wandering the medina’s photogenic blue-painted lanes before dinner.

DAY 5: EXPLORE CHEFCHAOUEN → TANGIER / FES / CASABLANCA / MARRAKECH

Your final morning in Chefchaouen is one of the most peaceful of the trip. Get up early to wander the medina before the day-trippers arrive — the blue alleyways in the morning light are unforgettable. Visit the central Plaza Uta el-Hammam, browse the handicraft shops for locally woven blankets and handmade goods, and hike above the town to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views of Chefchaouen against the Rif Mountains.

In the afternoon, your driver will take you on to your chosen destination — Tangier, Fes, Casablanca, or back to Marrakech — depending on your onward travel plans.

IMPORTANT NOTES

– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated — please let us know when booking.
– All vehicles are air-conditioned and regularly maintained.
– The itinerary is fully flexible and can be adjusted on request.
– Chefchaouen’s medina is best explored on foot — comfortable shoes are essential.
– Entrance fees for Fes medina monuments are not included.