PRIVATE TOUR — 6 DAYS PRIVATE TOUR FROM TANGIER TO MARRAKECH

OVERVIEW

Six days adds the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes to the standard Tangier-to-Marrakech route, plus a proper guided day in the Fes medina. You still cross to Chefchaouen, ride camels to a luxury desert camp in the Sahara, walk through the Todra Gorge, and cross the High Atlas to Marrakech — but with more breathing room and a deeper look at Morocco’s Roman and imperial history along the way.

Every itinerary is fully customisable to suit your preferences and pace.

DURATION: 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
START: TANGIER
END: MARRAKECH
TOUR STYLE: PRIVATE

HIGHLIGHTS

– Chefchaouen, Morocco’s blue city
– The Roman ruins of Volubilis
– Imperial Meknes — Bab el Mansour and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
– A full guided day in the Fes medina
– Camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes
– Sunset and sunrise over the Sahara
– A night under the stars in a luxury desert camp
– A walk through the Todra Gorge
– The “monkey fingers” rock formations of the Dades Valley
– The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
– Crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass

ITINERARY

DAY 1: TANGIER → CHEFCHAOUEN

Pick-up at Tangier airport, one of the ferry ports, or your hotel in town. From there, a relatively short drive south into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen — Morocco’s blue city.

You’ll arrive with plenty of time to check in at your hotel or riad and start exploring the old town. The blue alleys, small souks, and cafés in the main square are all within easy walking distance. Overnight in Chefchaouen.

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

DAY 2: CHEFCHAOUEN → VOLUBILIS → MEKNES → FES

After breakfast, we drive south through the Rif villages and central Moroccan farmland. First stop is Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco — large mosaics still in situ, alongside the basilica, triumphal arch, and public baths dating to around the 3rd century.

From Volubilis we continue to Meknes, a 17th-century imperial city that was briefly the capital of Morocco under Sultan Moulay Ismail. After lunch in town, we walk through the medina to see Bab el Mansour — one of the most decorated city gates in the country — and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.

The day ends in Fes, where you’ll sleep in a riad inside the old medina.

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

DAY 3: GUIDED TOUR OF FES

Full day in Fes with a local guide. The medina is UNESCO-listed and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world — trying to navigate it without a guide usually means getting lost and missing most of what makes the place interesting.

The day starts at the golden gate of the Royal Palace, then moves into the medina proper. You’ll see Al-Qarawiyyin University (founded in 859 AD, often cited as the oldest continuously operating university in the world), the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain, and the Chouara tanneries — the famous open-air dye pits, best viewed from the leather shops on the surrounding terraces.

The afternoon takes you through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, before climbing up to an old fortress on the hills above the city for a panoramic view over the medina. Back to your riad for the night.

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

The long desert day. After breakfast we head south — first stop is Ifrane, a small mountain town sometimes called the Switzerland of Morocco for its chalet-style houses. From there, the road climbs across the Middle Atlas with a stop in a cedar forest where Barbary macaques often appear at the roadside. Lunch is at a roadside restaurant along the way.

The route then drops down through the Ziz Valley — a long ribbon of palm groves and small Berber villages — before continuing to Merzouga.

By late afternoon you’ll meet your camels and ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes to your luxury camp, pausing on a high ridge for sunset. After settling into your private tent and a generous dinner, the evening ends around a campfire with Berber drumming and music — stars overhead.

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

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

Sunrise over the dunes is worth the early wake-up. After breakfast, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4.

If it’s a Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, we can stop at the traditional souk in Rissani. Then on to the Todra Gorge for a walk under its towering cliffs (around 300 metres high), and through the Dades Valley with its famous “monkey fingers” rock formations before checking in at your hotel. Overnight in Dades.

Approximate driving distance/time: 310 km / 5 hours

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

Final day. We drive to Ouarzazate — the Hollywood of Africa — with an optional stop at Atlas Studios. Then on to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed kasbah used in Gladiator, Indiana Jones, and Game of Thrones. You’ll have time to walk up through it.

After lunch, the road climbs into the High Atlas and over the Tizi n’Tichka pass before descending to Marrakech. Drop-off at your accommodation ends the tour.

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

IMPORTANT NOTES

– Driving times don’t include stops for lunch and sightseeing.
– The same itinerary can also start from Casablanca via the 6 Day Morocco Itinerary.
– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated — please mention this when booking.
– Prefer not to ride a camel? A 4×4 can take you into and out of the camp at no extra cost.
– Three accommodation categories are available — comfortable riads, mid-range, or luxury (Palais Faraj, Desert Luxury Camp, etc.).
– Shorter (5 day) or longer (7, 8 day) versions available.
– Optional extras: professional photographer, romantic desert dinner, desert proposal setup, quad biking, buggy driving, cooking class, hammam, Marrakech guided tour, hot air balloon, Essaouira day trip, Ouzoud Waterfalls, Ourika Valley.