PRIVATE TOUR — 7 DAYS PRIVATE TOUR FROM TANGIER TO MARRAKECH

OVERVIEW

Seven days is enough to cover the country properly without rushing. This tour starts in Tangier, heads into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, then takes in the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes before a full guided day in Fes. You then cross the Middle Atlas to the Sahara for a camel trek and a night in a luxury desert camp, head back west through the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley, stop at Ait Ben Haddou, and cross the High Atlas to Marrakech — with a guided day in Marrakech to finish.

You walk through two UNESCO-listed medinas (Fes and Marrakech), see Roman ruins, sleep a night in the desert, cross two mountain ranges, and visit Morocco’s most photographed kasbah. A week is about the minimum for all of that to feel unhurried.

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

DURATION: 7 DAYS / 6 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
– A full guided day in Marrakech
– 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 short drive south into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.

You’ll arrive with plenty of time to check in at your hotel or riad and start exploring the old town at your own pace. The blue-washed 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

A day of history. Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, has mosaics still in place on the ground along with the basilica, triumphal arch, and public baths dating to the 3rd century. Then on to Meknes, the 17th-century imperial capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail — lunch in town, a walk through the medina to see Bab el Mansour, and a stop at 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. Royal Palace gate, then into the UNESCO-listed medina to see Al-Qarawiyyin University (founded in 859 AD), the Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain, and the Chouara tanneries. The afternoon takes you through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, before climbing to an old fortress for a panoramic view over the city. Overnight at your riad.

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

The long desert day. South through Ifrane (the Switzerland of Morocco), across the Middle Atlas via the cedar forest (Barbary macaques often turn up), lunch on the road, then down the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. Camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes to a luxury camp, sunset from a high ridge, dinner, then drumming around the fire. Overnight in your private tent.

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

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

Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at camp, then back to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. Rissani souk if the day lines up (Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday), then on to the Todra Gorge for a walk, and into the Dades Valley with its “monkey fingers” rock formations. Overnight in Dades.

Approximate driving distance/time: 310 km / 5 hours

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

Ouarzazate first, with an optional stop at Atlas Studios, then Ait Ben Haddou — UNESCO-listed, used in Gladiator, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones. Lunch, then the climb over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka and down to Marrakech by late afternoon. Check in at your riad; dinner is open (at your riad, or on one of the rooftops around Jemaa El Fna).

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

DAY 7: GUIDED TOUR OF MARRAKECH

Full day in Marrakech with a local guide — Jemaa El-Fna Square, Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Koutoubia Mosque. After lunch, an optional visit to the Majorelle Garden in the newer part of the city.

If you’re flying out today, we’ll transfer you to either Marrakech Menara (RAK) or Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) depending on your departure flight.

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.