10-Day Imperial Cities & Desert Tour from Tangier
Ten private days from the Strait of Gibraltar across the whole of Morocco: two nights in blue Chefchaouen, the imperial cities of Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, two nights in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges and the kasbahs of the south.
- Duration10 days / 9 nights
- StartTangier (port, airport or hotel)
- EndCasablanca airport
- Tour typePrivate, 4×4 or minibus
- CitiesMeknes, Fes, Marrakech
Tour Overview
Morocco's Imperial Cities and the Sahara, from Tangier
This private ten-day tour is a complete journey through Morocco, starting in Tangier — perfect if you arrive by ferry from Spain or fly into the north — and ending at Casablanca airport. It combines the country's imperial cities with two nights in the Sahara, and builds in slower days so you can enjoy the places rather than just pass through them.
After Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, you spend two nights in Chefchaouen, the blue town of the Rif. The route then continues to Roman Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes, followed by two nights in Fes with a full day guided through its medieval medina, madrasas and tanneries.
From Fes, cross the Middle Atlas to Merzouga for a sunset camel trek, a night in a Berber camp and a full day around the dunes with nomads and Gnaoua musicians. The road west leads through the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses, Aït Ben Haddou and Telouet, over the High Atlas to Marrakech for a guided day, before your transfer to Casablanca.
Highlights
What Makes This Tour Special
- 01
Tangier & Cape Spartel
The lighthouse where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean and the legendary Caves of Hercules.
- 02
Two Nights in Chefchaouen
Time to wander the blue medina at your own pace and hike to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.
- 03
Four Imperial Cities
Roman Volubilis, Meknes, a guided day in Fes and a guided day in Marrakech.
- 04
Two Nights in the Sahara
A camel trek to a Berber camp in Erg Chebbi, then a full day with nomads and Gnaoua musicians.
- 05
Gorges & Kasbahs
The Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses and UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou.
- 06
Over the High Atlas
The Kasbah of Telouet and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the highest road in Morocco.
Day by Day
10-Day Itinerary from Tangier: Imperial Cities & Desert
Your driver meets you at Tangier airport, the ferry port or your hotel. Start with Cape Spartel, the headland and lighthouse where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean, then visit the Caves of Hercules, whose sea-facing opening is said to resemble the map of Africa.
After free time for lunch, drive east into the Rif Mountains, through green hills and small farming villages, to Chefchaouen. Check in and take a first evening walk through the blue lanes of the medina.
A full day to enjoy Chefchaouen at an easy pace. Wander the colourful old medina with its blue doors, stairways and small craft workshops, and stop in the Outa el Hammam square beside the red-walled kasbah, whose garden and small museum are worth a visit.
In the late afternoon, walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hillside for the best view over the town and the mountains as the sun goes down.
Drive south through the Rif foothills to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where floor mosaics, the basilica and the triumphal arch still stand among the olive groves.
Continue to Meknes, the imperial capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail. See the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the vast royal stables and granaries and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, then drive on to Fes and check in to a traditional riad in the medina.
Spend the day with a licensed local guide in Fes, Morocco's oldest imperial city. Begin at the golden gates of the Royal Palace, then enter the maze of Fes el-Bali to see the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Karaouine Mosque and University, the fondouks and the souks of the coppersmiths and weavers.
Finish at the Chouara tanneries, where hides are still dyed by hand in stone vats, seen from a terrace above. The evening is free in the medina.
Leave Fes early and cross the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, the alpine-style "Switzerland of Morocco", then walk in the cedar forest where wild Barbary macaques live. After lunch in Midelt, follow the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and the palm-lined Ziz Valley south.
In Merzouga, meet your camels at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes and ride into the sand to watch the sunset from a high dune. At the Berber camp, enjoy dinner, drums around the fire and a night under the stars.
Wake early for the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. Set off by 4×4 on off-road trails to an old mine once worked for lead and kohl, then visit a nomad family in their handwoven tent to share Berber tea.
In Khamlia, a village whose people trace their roots to Mali and Sudan, enjoy a live Gnaoua music and dance performance. After lunch, finish at Dayet Srji, the seasonal lake where flamingos gather after the rains. Evening at your hotel by the dunes.
After breakfast, visit the souk of Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalet, and a workshop in Erfoud where fossil-rich marble is cut and polished. Head west through the palm groves of Tinjdad to Tinghir.
Walk through the Todra Gorge, a canyon of red limestone cliffs up to 300 metres high above a clear stream, then continue along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley for the night.
Drive to Kelaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses and through the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate, where you see the Taourirt Kasbah. Continue to Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones, and climb to its granary for the view.
Take the scenic Ounila Valley road to the Kasbah of Telouet, with its painted Glaoui reception rooms, then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. You arrive in Marrakech in the evening and check in to your riad.
With a licensed local guide, visit the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Koutoubia Mosque, then wander the traditional souks of the medina. After a lunch break, visit the Majorelle Garden with its cobalt-blue villa.
In the evening, head to Jemaa el-Fna square as the food stalls, musicians and storytellers bring it to life.
After breakfast, drive north to Casablanca. If your flight time allows, stop at the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, built partly over the Atlantic. Your driver then takes you to Mohammed V Airport for your flight home.
Tour Details
What's Included & Not Included
Included
- Pick-up in Tangier (airport, port or hotel) and drop-off at Casablanca airport
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus with fuel
- Professional multilingual driver throughout
- 8 nights in hotels and riads (Chefchaouen ×2, Fes ×2, Merzouga, Dades, Marrakech ×2)
- 1 night in a Berber tent camp in Erg Chebbi
- Camel ride and 4×4 excursion in Merzouga
- Local guides for the Fes and Marrakech city tours
- Daily breakfast and 3 dinners (desert camp, Merzouga, Dades)
- Free visit to a women's argan oil cooperative (on request)
Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments, kasbahs and film studios
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Tailor-made on request. This itinerary is a suggestion. Every tour is private, so we can add a night in Aït Ben Haddou to split the drive to Marrakech, include Rabat or Asilah, upgrade to a luxury camp, or finish in Marrakech instead of Casablanca. The price depends on group size and accommodation — send us your dates for an exact quote.
Book This Tour
Request Your Private 10-Day Tour
Tell us your dates, group size and preferred accommodation. We reply within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and price — no payment needed to enquire.
- Private tour — only your group in the vehicle
- Free itinerary changes before departure
- Local team based in the south of Morocco
Booking Enquiry
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
It starts with a pick-up in Tangier (airport, ferry port or hotel) and ends with a drop-off at Casablanca airport. We can also finish in Marrakech if you are flying out from there.
It is fully private. Only you and your travel companions are in the vehicle, and the pace and stops can be adjusted to suit you.
The route covers about 2,100 km. Several days are short or spent in one place (Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Marrakech); the longest days are Fes to Merzouga and Dades to Marrakech, at 8 to 9 hours including visits.
Yes. Adding a night in Aït Ben Haddou between the Dades Valley and Marrakech makes day 8 much more relaxed and turns the trip into 11 days.
Tents in the Erg Chebbi dunes have proper beds and blankets, with dinner served at the camp. Standard and luxury camps are available; luxury tents have an en-suite bathroom.
Yes, camels are led on foot by a guide at a slow pace. If you prefer not to ride, a 4×4 transfer to the camp can be arranged.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. Winter is sunny but nights in the desert and mountains are cold, and summer days in the south are very hot.
Comfortable layers, a warm jacket for the evenings, good walking shoes for the medinas and gorges, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf for sun and sand, and a small overnight bag for the camp.
The price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation level, since vehicle costs are shared by the group. Send us your dates and group size for an exact quote within 24 hours.
Gallery
Moments from the Journey
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