12-Day From Tanger Through Merzouga

This 12-Day From Tanger Through Merzouga itinerary features a perfect mix of culture, history, adventure, and relaxation. Explore mountain villages, landscapes, and ramparts. Begin in Tangier then the blue washed walls city of Chefchaouen before working your way through the medieval city of Fes and all the way to the famous magnificent Sahara of Merzouga, through the road of 1000 Kasbahs to reach the famous city where Game of Thrones was shot Essaouira and Red City Marrakech

Highlights

Wander around the Historical city Essaouira
Discover the Old Medina of the Red City Marrakech
Ride a camel into the shifting sands of the Sahara
Explore markets and souks during your tour around the road of 1000 Kasbah

Brief Itinerary

Day	Highlights	Overnight
Day 1	Tangier – Chefchaouen	Chefchaouen
Day 2	Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Fez	Fes
Day 3	Fez	Fes
Day 4	Fez- Ifran- Azrou- Ziz Valley- Merzouga	Merzouga
Day 5	Merzouga Erg Chebbi	Merzouga
Day 6	Merzouga, Todra Gorges, Dades Gorges	Dades Gorge
Day 7	Dades Gorges, Ouarzazate	Ouarzazate
Day 8	Ait Ben-Haddou, Marrakesh, Essaouira	Essaouira
Day 9	Essaouira, Marrakesh	Marrakech
Day 10	Marrakesh	Marrakech
Day 11	Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Asilah	Asilah
Day 12	Asilah, Tangier	Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Tangier and the “Blue City” of Chefchaouen

Tangier—gateway Europe’s to Africa—welcome! Visit the medina (old district), a café in the fashionable Zoco Chico plaza, or a paseo along the seafront in this southern Spanish city. Continue to the Rif Mountains’ blue-washed Chefchaouen. Stop to walk the Cascades d’Akchou on the picturesque route (Waterfalls of Akchour). Chefchaoen has infinite small lanes and beautiful structures. Eat in a restaurant or café at Plaza Outa el Hammam and people watch. The Great Mosque is worth seeing even if non-Muslims cannot enter. See the surrounding kasbah (ancient fortress), garden, museum, and jail cells. . For the somewhat more active, take the roadway east across the Ras el Ma Spring and climb the trail (20-30 minutes) to the abandoned white Spanish Mosque. See the sunset over Chefchaouen.

Hike: 2-3 hours

Day 2: Roman Ruins of Volubilis and the imperial cities of Meknes and Fes

Before going for Fes, photograph the empty streets. See the UNESCO-protected Roman remains of Volubilis. See merchant residences with working heating systems, temples, and mosaics. Travel to Meknes, a smaller, less crowded Fes, to see a medieval imperial city. . See the Royal Stables, Bab al-Mansour gate, and Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Reach Fes. Fes’ massive historic medina is worth getting lost in. Visit the Merenid Tombs north of Fes for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding region before entering the medina. Descend the hill and return to your riad (a typical Moroccan residence with an internal garden) for the evening.

Day 3: Fes: Exploring the Imperial City and medieval Medina

Fes is the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities (Meknes, Marrakech, and Rabat). The UNESCO-protected city retains its medieval beauty. Fes has two historic medina neighborhoods, Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, and the early 20th-century French-designed Ville Nouvelle. Start at Fes el Bali with your guide to tour the small, maze-like medinas (789 ACE). Pass the spice, leather, and pewter souks with Spanish and Tunisian architecture. Visit the Chouara Tannery, famous for its bitter scent, and climb to the roof of an adjacent store for a better view. Before visiting Al-Qarawiyyin University, observe the zellij tile work of the 14th-century Al Attarine Madrasa (859 ACE). Fes el Jdid’s mellah (ancient Jewish district) offers another panoramic perspective.

Day 4: Over the Middle Atlas and into the desert: Erfoud, Merzouga and the Sahara

Proceed south through the Middle Atlas cedar trees across the Col du Zad pass (7,146 feet or 2,178 m). When you drive to Midelt, the “apple city,” for lunch, you’ll witness Barbary macaque monkey families in the trees and along the road. Enjoy the Moulouya River and apple orchards. Then, cross the Tizin’Talremt pass into the Ziz Valley’s oasis and palm trees. Many merchants erected ksars to secure their goods (gold, salt, and spices).

. Winds move the dunes. You may meet a nomadic Berber household and enjoy tea together. . Erg Chebbi’s vast sand dunes await. Some dunes reach 656.2 feet (200 m) and cover 13.5 square miles (35 square km), changing color with the sun.

. Climb the closest sand dune to see the sunset over the massive dunes. . Sleep in a Bedouin tent.

Day 5: Merzouga Erg Chebbi

The journey continues after breakfast in the hotel, you’ll start your explorative adventure of the area, by exploring the small desert town Erfoud and Rissani. In the afternoon, the adventure will start by riding a camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore inside the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. At the Camp, you will spend your night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent. Dinner will be served at the Camp where you will spend the night.

*If a camel trek is not really your thing, you can still experience the magic of the dunes by staying in a hotel right at their edge.

Day 6: Merzouga, Todra Gorges, Dades Gorges

After seeing the sunrise in the desert, we go back on camels to Merzouga. After breakfast, shower in the Hotel then starts our journey to Boumalne Dades. Where the towering canyons reach heights of 250 meters. Picture the river valleys for a beautiful journey. After exploring Todra, continue to Boumalne Dades, through its snaking road lines, amazing rocks formations, small cultivated fields with silver birch along the river, and pass along dozens of predominantly seventeenth-century kasbahs made from the local red mud. Overnight in Dades.

Day 7: Dades Gorges, Ouarzazate

Along the way to the rose city, Kelaat M’Gouna where a rose festival is held every May. Drive on to Skoura oasis, along a tributary of the Draa, the Oued Amerdil it’s an extraordinary sight even from the road, a very extensive, dense palmery and an incredible confusing network of tracks winding across fords and through palms to scattered groups of Ksour and kasbah. This whole region is called The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Overnight in Ouarzazate.

Day 8: Ait Ben-Haddou, Marrakesh, Essaouira

After a traditional breakfast, set off to Essaouira via the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, used for shooting films more than any other location in Morocco, Movies like Lawrence of Arabia and The Gladiator… Continue to Marrakesh, via the stunning Tichka Pass (2260m) which offers dramatic panoramic views in the heart of the Atlas Mountain chain. Lunch in Marrakesh, after we keep going to Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. A welcome respite from the bustle of Marrakesh, relax over a freshly caught fish lunch, stroll through the serene squares, browse artisan shops and galleries, and observe the handicrafts of the ’tuya’ wood found only in Morocco. Overnight in Essaouira.

Day 9: Essaouira, Marrakesh

After breakfast, visit the old city of Essaouira accompanied by a local guide or by yourself. Relax at the Beach, in About 3 o’clock in the afternoon we drive back to Marrakesh, night at a hotel or Riad.

Day 10: Marrakesh

Our journey will continue, with an optional private Guided Tour of Marrakesh. To visit the Medina with an official guide. Furthermore, You will see the famous Mosque of Koutoubia, the Medina and its souks. Explore some more of Marrakesh’s secrets: Ali Ben Youssef Koranic school, the Saadian the Bahia Palace and Majorelle Gardens… At night in the Riad inside the Medina.

Day 11: Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Asilah

Early morning departure to Casablanca. Visit the Mosque of Hassan II, then continue along the stunning coastal road, through Rabat and Larrach to get to Asilah a beautiful coastal town with its whitewashed houses, blue walls and doors, and many murals. Overnight in a Hotel at Asilah.