This 4 Days Tangier Desert Tour takes you from the coastal city of Tangier to the imperial cities of Fes and Marrakech, with stops at several iconic Moroccan destinations along the way. You’ll explore the blue city of Chefchaouen and discover the Rif mountains. Travel through the Middle Atlas mountains, Ifrane, Azrou to see the Barbary macaques and cross the Ziz valley, the second longest river in the country.
The highlight of the tour is reaching the Merzouga Desert, where you’ll experience a camel ride over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi and spend the night in a luxury desert camp including sunset and sunrise. The tour also includes visiting the spectacular Todra Gorges, Dades valley, experiencing Berber village life, movie studios in Ouarzazate, and discovering the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou.
You will cross over the High Atlas mountains via the Tizi N’Tichka pass where we’ll make several stops to admire its panoramic views and authentic Berber villages. Finally, we’ll arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon/evening.
Tour Highlights of 4 Days Tangier to Marrakech:
Your 4-day trip from Tangier begins with our friendly driver picking you up from your accommodation, Tangier airport, or the ferry at 8:00 am. Start to drive through the Rif Mountains and Tetouan city. Enjoy beautiful views of the mountains of Morocco till we get to Chefchaouen. Stops will be made for pictures and panoramic views.
Upon arrival, you’ll have ample time to explore this charming village, known for its distinctive blue-washed buildings and winding alleyways. Wander the narrow streets of the old Medina, visit the Plaza Uta el-Hammam square, and explore shops selling pottery, textiles, and jewelry.
After spending hours discovering the beautiful town of Chefchaouen, we will have lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Fes, one of the best-preserved imperial cities in Morocco. We’ll check into our accommodation and have free time to rest. Spend the first night of Tangier to Marrakech tour in Fes.
On the second day of our Tangier desert tour, after breakfast, we depart for the Merzouga Sahara Desert via the High Atlas Mountains. On the way, we will make a stop at Ifrane, known as the “Little Switzerland of Morocco” due to its Swiss-style architecture and alpine-like surroundings.
Continuing our drive, we will cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and make a stop in Azrou, the famous cedar forest. Here you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the famous Barbary macaques, a unique species of monkeys found in this region.
As we move forward, we’ll cross the Ziz Valley, a lush oasis dotted with palm groves and Berber villages. You will have the opportunity to admire the stunning landscape before reaching the apple town of Midelt. We will have lunch here.
In the afternoon, we will arrive at the desert, commencing your camel ride experience, taking us over the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi to our desert camp. Along the way, we’ll stop at the top of a high dune to witness a stunning sunset over the vast desert landscape. You can also choose to try your hand at sandboarding down the dunes.
At the camp, you’ll be welcomed with a refreshing glass of mint tea. Gather around a campfire to enjoy a traditional Berber dinner, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of live drumming and dancing performances. Spend the night under the starry sky of Sahara in a luxury nomadic tent.
Kick off your day by witnessing the breathtaking sunrise over Erg Chebbi’s dunes. After breakfast at the camp, you can choose to ride camels or take a 4WD vehicle to Merzouga village. Your driver/guide will be waiting to lead you on the next leg of the journey to Dades Valley.
On this leg, we will drive to Rissani, the capital of Tafilalet and a major trading center in the region. We will visit the weekly market of Rissani if our visit falls on a market day (Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday).
After a stroll in Rissani souk, we continue to Todra Gorges, one of the famous canyons in Morocco carved by the Todra River.
The towering rock walls, some reaching heights of 300 meters, create a narrow passage that offers stunning views and excellent opportunities for hiking and rock climbing. You’ll have ample time to explore the gorges and even visit a nomad family living in a cave. Free time for lunch.
Then we continue to Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades. Inevitable stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formation, and a stop atop a mountain overlooking the Dades valley. Check-in the hotel overlooking the valley.
After having breakfast at your hotel, our journey continues driving through the Valley of Roses. Take in the views of the rose fields and Berber villages along the way. If your timing is right during April-May, you may catch the annual Rose Festival and Harvest.
Continue to the village of Skoura, famous for its palm grove and kasbahs (fortified houses). We will explore the 17th-century Amerhidil Kasbah. Then we will reach Ouarzazate, touted as “the Hollywood of Africa”. Here you’ll find Atlas Studios, one of the largest and most famous movie studios in the world where films like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and many other blockbusters were filmed utilizing the desert scenery.
Then proceed to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, an incredibly well-preserved fortified village along the former caravan route. Free time for lunch. We’ll then begin the scenic drive across the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’Tichka pass, reaching an elevation of 2260 meters. Stops will be made along the way to take in panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.
Finally, we’ll arrive in the famed “Red City” of Marrakech in the late afternoon/evening. Drop-off will be provided to your hotel or riad within Marrakech, marking the end point of this 4-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour Itinerary.