Morocco’s Northern and Desert landscapes

Embark on an unforgettable 9-day Morocco’s Northern and Desert landscapes, beginning in the lively port city of Tangier. This journey explores Morocco’s diverse landscapes, from historic towns to sweeping desert dunes. After arrival in Tangier, head south to Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue Pearl of Morocco.” Wander its tranquil, blue-washed streets nestled against the stunning Rif Mountains, a picturesque start to your adventure.

As you travel further, discover Volubilis, an ancient Roman city and UNESCO World Heritage site, where impressive ruins and intricate mosaics reveal Morocco’s early history. Close by lies Meknes, one of Morocco’s famed Imperial cities, where you can admire grand gates, royal palaces, and a bustling medina. Continue to Fes, Morocco’s cultural capital, where the labyrinthine medina, centuries-old mosques, and artisan workshops provide an immersive experience into Moroccan heritage.

From Fes, head into the desert toward Merzouga, the gateway to the dramatic Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride camels through golden sands, stay overnight in a traditional Berber camp, and watch a spectacular sunrise over the Sahara. The journey then leads to the Dades Valley, where striking rock formations and lush greenery create unforgettable scenery.

Continue to Marrakech, Morocco’s vibrant heart, filled with lively souks, opulent palaces, and the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Dive into the city’s bustling atmosphere, sampling local dishes and discovering Moroccan crafts. Finally, reach Essaouira, a scenic coastal town with windswept beaches and a relaxed vibe, the perfect end to your tour.

Return to Marrakech, carrying memories of Morocco’s Northern and Desert landscapes, from the culture-rich cities to the serene Sahara and Atlantic coast. This tour is an immersive exploration of Morocco’s history, landscapes, and vibrant traditions from Tangier to Marrakech.

Itinerary

During the first day of your trip we will meet you in the port and drive through the Rif mountains and Tetoun city to enjoy the beautiful views until we get to Chefchaouan, one of Morocco’s most picturesque cities. Chefchaouen medina has a Spanish-style square surrounded by many funky arts and crafts stores, roof-top restaurants and cafes. We’ll spend the night here in the blue city in a local riad.

After your breakfast in the riad our authentic journey will start towards Volubilis crossing via Wazan and other rif villages. At Volubilis we will discover the Roman ruins and learn about this archeological site of Moroccan history. We will then make our way to Meknes, a city with much 17th-century heritage, where we will stop for lunch, hang around the historical walls of the medina, see the Bab el mansour and enjoy a visit of Moulay Ismail shrine. Finally, our journey takes us to Fez where we will spend the night.

Begin your day with a riad breakfast before embarking on exploration in Morocco’s oldest city. Wander its alleys with a local guide. The journey starts at the Royal Palace gate and the 16th-century Jewish quarter, Morocco’s first Mellah. Discover cultural gems like the ancient Al Qaraouine University, the region’s oldest, the Tanneries, Attarine museum, and Moulay Idriss mausoleum. Post-lunch, visit the tiles cooperative and soak in a panoramic Medina of Fez view.

After breakfast in your hotel you will travel to Merzouga via Errachidia and Erfoud. You will be travelling through the fascinating Tiz Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge, taking in views of the High Atlas plateau, you’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert. We’ll stop to see the wild monkeys and to have lunch along the way. We will snake our way along to Erfoud and Rissani as we get closer to the desert, arriving in Merzouga village in the afternoon. You’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before your checking into your desert hotel. In this tranquil and friendly town, you can venture out on your own to see the community garden or to explore the dunes a little on foot.

After breakfast in your riad, your driver will take you on a desert tour around the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You will hear the music of the Gnawa people – originally from Mali, Senegal and Sudan – in Khamlia village. later, we will meet nomad families to explore their way of life. Today our lunch will be a traditional berber meal (Berber pizza). In the afternoon, we will return to the desert hotel in Merzouga where you will meet your camels and your camel guide. Hop on the caravan and head into the heart of the dunes until you reach our desert camp. Here, dinner will be served in front of the traditional nomad tent where you will spend the night.

Early the next morning, you’ll hop back on the camel caravan and return to the desert hotel where breakfast awaits. Take some time to shower at the hotel if you wish. Depending on whether it is market day, your driver may suggest a visit to the old city of Rissani – the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Rissani is surrounded by about 360 ksar (a fortified village with many towers) and has a big souk (an open market), held three times a week. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali. Here you’ll see merchants selling spices, vegetables and cloth. Next we’ll continue to the mountains where we’ll see the steep rock walls of Todra Gorge and also the peculiar geological formation known as the “monkey fingers.” We’ll spend the night in the peaceful Dades Valley.

After breakfast, we will travel through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. We will stop at Ait Benhaddou Kasbah for lunch, the largest Kasbah in Morocco. Now the kasbah is a UNESCO heritage site. After that we will shift the way to cross high atlas mountains full of panoramic views and attractive Berber villages all along the way until Marrakesh, where we will spend the night in a traditional riad.

After breakfast in the riad, we will start exploring Marrakesh, the red city of Morocco. We will ensure that you see the most important sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Majorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Tower, the Saadian tombs and the Bahia Palace. After Lunch at a restaurant near the square, you will walk through the souks and view hundreds of handicrafts. On the afternoon, you will have some free time to wander by yourself near the main square.

Seaside day trip ! After breakfast in your riad, you will start travelling to the coastal city of Essaouira. You’ll visit the Skala Fortress, see Thuya wood carved by artisans, walk through the alleys of the medina and view hundreds of handicrafts. This “City of the Wind” attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira knew many civilisations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture – however, it remains a small village with much history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it is also regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantic.” Lunch will be done the Moroccan way – fresh fish from the seafood market. In the afternoon you will travel back to Marrakech. We conclude the tour when we drop you off at a location of your choice in Marrakesh.

Included and Excluded

Transportation/Fuel - air-conditioned
Services of a qualified multilingual local guide / driver.
Comprehensive sightseeing with guidance.
bottels of water in the car
Flights
Lunch
Tips, entrance fees, drinks & personal items

Maps

FAQ

Morocco has been the most visited nation in North Africa in recent years, and it is one of the safest countries in the world, with over 10 million tourists in the past few years. Generally seen as a secure destination and the terrorist attacks are thankfully rare in Morocco compared to France, Belgium, and the UK. As a traveler, you are unlikely to be assaulted or seriously hurt because there is a low level of crime, and the Moroccan government has raised infrastructure investment and security measures to attract more visitors and provide more security.

There is really no time of year when you wouldn’t enjoy your trip to Morocco; although you should keep in mind that it tends to get a little too crowded with tourists during the winter holidays season. Then it’s up to you to decide what season suits you the best to come to visit, according to your schedule and preferences. The weather in Morocco is more on the mild side during Spring and Autumn (from March to May and from September to November respectively). For these reasons, the temperatures could be ranging anywhere from 11° to 32°C. Winter usually lasts from December to February, with a relatively low-temperature range (7° to 21°C). You should also expect to see snowfall in Morocco’s mountainous regions. As for Summer (from June to August), temperatures can land anywhere between 19°C and 40°C in the middle of the day.

Yes! The tours our company offers are all completely private. This will allow experience Morocco the way YOU want to. In addition to that, you will of course be always welcome to request stops along the way during the tours, in order to take memorable photographs (or whatever other reason you want!). In case you are interested in booking a group desert tour, please go ahead and contact us so as to make a suitable group tour for you.

If you can’t find the exact tour you are looking for withing our tours page, you may check the website’s map or contact us, and we will create a customized Moroccan tour.

The price for each individual person participating in the tours goes lower the more people there are in the group participating.

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