12-Day Morocco Tour from Tangier: Fes, Sahara & Coast
A full loop from Tangier through Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, and the Atlantic coast, back to Tangier — for travelers who want to see the north, the desert, and the imperial cities in one trip.
Overview
A full loop from Tangier through Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, and the Atlantic coast, back to Tangier — for travelers who want to see the north, the desert, and the imperial cities in one trip.
This is a 12 Days / 11 Nights private tour for your group only, starting with pickup from your accommodation in Tangier and finishing back in Tangier. You travel in a private vehicle with driver-guide, so the pace, stops and photo breaks are set around you.
Gallery
Highlights
- ✓Explore the blue-washed lanes of Chefchaouen
- ✓Guided walks in Fes and Meknes
- ✓Camel trek and overnight camp in the Merzouga dunes
- ✓Cross the High Atlas and visit Ait Ben Haddou
- ✓Coastal stop in Essaouira before returning north
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrive Tangier
Arrival and an orientation walk in Tangier, the city where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic — a good first taste of its medina and seafront before the road trip begins.
Tangier to Chefchaouen
We drive south into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, known for medina buildings washed in shades of blue, a look that developed over the 20th century and has since made it one of the most photographed towns in the country.
Chefchaouen to Fes
We continue to Fes, with time to settle in before a guided medina walk — a first orientation ahead of the fuller day to come.
Fes medina and Meknes
A full day exploring the Fes el-Bali medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, and the nearby imperial city of Meknes, known for the monumental Bab Mansour gate built under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century.
Fes to Merzouga
We cross the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley's palm groves toward the Sahara, reaching Merzouga by late afternoon at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Camels take over for the roughly hour-long ride into the dunes, timed for sunset, followed by dinner and the night at a desert camp, with sunrise from a dune the next morning.
A day around Merzouga
After sunrise over the dunes and breakfast at camp, the day is yours to explore the desert around Merzouga with your driver-guide: the villages and landscapes at the edge of Erg Chebbi. The night is at a riad in Merzouga, or back at the desert camp if you prefer.
Merzouga to Dades Gorge
We drive the Dades Gorge's switchback road through a landscape of dramatic eroded rock formations, overnighting nearby.
Dades to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
We visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar used in numerous film productions, and continue to Ouarzazate, nicknamed "the Hollywood of Morocco" for its film studios.
Ouarzazate to Marrakech
We cross the High Atlas at the Tizi n'Tichka pass into Marrakech, with time to explore the medina on arrival.
Marrakech
A full day at leisure or guided sightseeing — Jemaa el-Fna, the Majorelle Garden, and the city's palaces are the usual highlights if you'd like it guided.
Marrakech to Essaouira
A day trip or overnight on the Atlantic coast at Essaouira, whose UNESCO-listed medina and sea-facing ramparts make for a cooler, breezier change of pace from Marrakech.
Return to Tangier
A final drive north to Tangier for departure.
Want to change the pace or add a night?
Every tour is private and can be adjusted. Send us your dates and group size.
✓ Included
- ✓Pick-up in Tangier and drop-off in Tangier
- ✓Private trip — your group only
- ✓Private transportation in an air-conditioned, comfortable vehicle
- ✓Fuel and all vehicle expenses
- ✓Private English-speaking, well-experienced driver-guide for the whole trip
- ✓10 nights hotel/riad accommodation
- ✓1 night desert camp near Merzouga, including camel trek
- ✓Breakfast every morning at your hotel, riad or desert camp
- ✓5 dinners — 2 in Merzouga, 1 in the Dades Gorge, 1 in Ouarzazate and 1 in Essaouira
- ✓Guided walks in Chefchaouen, Fes, and Marrakech
- ✓Sandboarding at the desert camp (optional)
- ✓Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad every day
✕ Not included
- ✕International flights
- ✕Lunches, and dinners in Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech
- ✕Entrance fees to monuments and sites
- ✕Tips and personal expenses
Route map
Frequently asked questions
Is 12 days enough to see the north, the desert, and Marrakech?
It's a full loop with real driving days built in — this itinerary is paced so no single day is rushed, but it is an active trip.
Can we shorten this to skip Essaouira?
Yes — the coastal stop can be dropped to shorten the trip to around 10 days, or replaced with extra time in Marrakech.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, fully private for the entire 12 days — your own vehicle, driver-guide, and pace throughout, ending back in Tangier.
Is the camel trek and desert camp included?
Yes — one night at a Berber-style desert camp near Merzouga with a camel trek in at sunset and a sunrise view the next morning.
Is a local guide included for the medina walks?
Yes — Chefchaouen, Fes, and Marrakech each include a guided walk, which matters most in Fes el-Bali's maze of car-free lanes.
Is this trip suitable for older travelers or families?
It's a long trip covering the north, the desert, and the south, so the main things to plan around are stamina for consecutive travel days and any mobility needs for medina walking. Mention this when booking so we can pace the itinerary around it.
What should we pack for a route through the Rif, the desert, and the Atlantic coast?
Layers throughout — the Rif and Essaouira run cooler than the desert, and desert nights are cold regardless of the season. Comfortable shoes for medina walking and Ait Ben Haddou, plus a scarf for the camel trek, round it out.
What is the best time of year for this route?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) suit this itinerary well, since it covers everything from the Rif mountains to the Sahara in one trip.
Are entrance fees and lunches included?
No — entrance fees to monuments and sites, and most lunches and dinners, are excluded; breakfast is included daily.
Customize your journey with Through Morocco
Want to add a day, skip a stop, or travel at a different pace? This itinerary is a starting point — tell us what you have in mind and we'll adjust the route.
Have a question?
We're here to help you plan your Morocco trip. Send us a message and our team will reply with availability, pricing, or a personalized itinerary just for you.
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13-Day Morocco Tour from Tangier
The full Tangier loop with the coast built in — Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, Marrakech, a day trip to Essaouira, and a run down to Casablanca and Rabat before circling back north.
- A day exploring Tangier itself — the Kasbah Museum, the medina, and the Caves of Hercules
- Chefchaouen's blue streets and the Roman ruins at Volubilis
- A guided walk through the Fes medina, including its madrasas and tanneries
- Camel trek and overnight camp in the Merzouga dunes, plus a Berber family visit
8-Day Tangier Morocco Tour: Chefchaouen, Fes & the Sahara
A tighter week-long loop out of Tangier than our longer tours — the north, the Sahara, and Marrakech, with an airport transfer built into the final day.
- Chefchaouen's blue-washed lanes in the Rif mountains
- Roman ruins at Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes
- A guided day in the Fes medina, including its historic tanneries
- Camel trek and overnight camp in the Merzouga dunes
14-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour: Chefchaouen, Sahara & Essaouira
Our longest Tangier itinerary — the same north-to-Sahara route with room for the Akchour waterfalls, a choice between Ouzoud Waterfalls or Imlil, and two full days on the coast at Essaouira.
- Chefchaouen's medina and a hike to the Akchour waterfalls
- Roman ruins at Volubilis and a guided day in the Fes medina
- A full day around Merzouga, including a nomadic family visit
- Choose Ouzoud Waterfalls or a day trekking in the Imlil valley
12-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca
The Casablanca loop that adds the Sahara — Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, a night in the Merzouga dunes, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech, an Ourika Valley day among Berber villages, and the Atlantic coast at Essaouira.
- Chefchaouen's blue medina and Rabat's royal landmarks
- A full day in the Fes medina
- Camel trek and overnight camp in the Merzouga dunes
- Todra and Dades Gorges, and UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou