10 Days Tangier desert Tour

Day 1: Arrive at Tangier

We will meet you at the airport or the ferry terminal and take you to your hotel in Tangier. In Tangier, we will pick you up upon your arrival; then we will start exploring the city. It is known as “the gate of Africa”, one of the most vibrant, mysterious and interesting cities of Morocco. It was a center of the Oriental Hippy movement during the 1960s. We will have a coffee at cafe Hafa. Our last visit in Tangier will be to the caves of Hercules. According to the legend, this is where the mythical figure of Hercules rested after making his 12 tasks. The entrance to the cave is oriented toward the Atlantic, and is flooded during high tides. We will have time to wander alone in the city before a daylong tour in Chefchaouen the next day.

Day 2: Tangier – Chefchaouen.

After breakfast, we will head to Chefchaouen. During this day trip, we will travel to Chefchaouen then start exploring the Medina. This is a beautiful unique city with its white and blue washed walls and its blue doors and windows. Unlike many parts of Morocco, this city was occupied by Spain and the influences of Spanish civilization and architecture are all around. This city will give you a glimpse of the Mediterranean style of living and housing. We will also have the opportunity to meet locals to understand their culture.

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Fes

Early in the morning, we will head south to Fez. Upon our arrival to the city, we will start uncovering its mystics. Fez is the spiritual, cultural and intellectual center of the Kingdom. It makes a strong hold of both conservative and Modernist communities. As it is the second biggest city in Morocco, we will try to visit and stroll in its various districts. We will have time to see the new area of the old medina (15th century) or Fez el- Jdid, where we will find the Mellah (Jewish Quarter). We will also stroll in the Ville Nouvelle (Villa Nueva) French zone in the northwest of the city and of course, the Fez -Bali or the old town (8th century) inside the walls. We will wander in its maze like small streets to have a feeling of transcendence over the power of time. We will see potters, smiths; artisans and donkeys laden with goods from diverse backgrounds coexist with tourists transiting its labyrinthine streets, and also famous for its souk and tanneries. We will be able to partake the artisan process inherited from ancestors since the medieval ages to get that colorful leather. We will have lunch at one of the traditional restaurants in the old medina. After lunch, you will continue to explore the old city. Accommodation in a local Riad. .

Day 4: Fes – Meknes – Ifrane –Merzouga

We will depart from Fes on our way to Meknes. We will first make an excursion to nearby Volubilis, the remains of a Roman city. These ruins date back to the 5th century B.C. where some of the original mosaics are very well preserved. Our visit includes Moulay Idriss Mausoleum of the very first Sultan in Morocco as well as the Maghreb. Then we will continue to Meknes, the smallest and friendliest of the 5 imperial cities of Morocco. The old part of Meknes is stunning and has a print of the oriental and the Mediterranean at the same time. The immense city walls and gates lead the visitors’ imagination into times long gone. These walls were constructed to protect the newfound dynasty at that time from the cannons of nearby rebellious tribes.
Then, we will drive south towards the Sahara. During this journey, we will experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. During this day-trip, we will get a glimpse of lakes, high cedar forests and the white peeks of the Atlas Mountains. We will travel through the Tizi n’ Talghamt Pass to Midelt and along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rocks. We will continue along the luxuriant Ziz Valley stopping for panoramic views along the way for an opportunity to take pictures of the biggest oasis in North Africa. We will drive through welcoming Berber villages to Erfoud and then Rissani. We will arrive at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dune line to meet our desert guide and camel trek across the sand dunes to sleep under the stars in a deep desert camp attending an exotic dancing party around a fire camp.

Day 5: Merzouga – Rissani – AlNif – Tazarine – Zagora

You will wake up early in the morning to watch the spectacular sunrise in the dunes of the Moroccan Sahara. Following his blue human friend, our camel will carry us to our hotel where we will have breakfast and shower. Our trip will lead us to dive into the souk of Rissani and small shops trading all kind of local crafts. We will then continue on to AlNif where we will have lunch. We will follow the road through Tazarine, Nkob oasis and Tansikht, from here we will go off road crossing the Draa Valley and its procession of palms groves until Zagora. We will have Dinner and spend the night at a Hotel in Zagora

Day 6: Zagora – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

After breakfast, we will proceed from Zagora through Ouarzazate along the Dara’ valley. We will appreciate the thousands of palm trees and plantations. We will continue through Agdez, a typical village for this area giving a great example of a very different lifestyle from that we know in the modern world. Then, we will cross the Anti-Atlas via Tizi NTinifift, a mountain pass that sits at an altitude of 505.9m. We will continue to Marrakech through Tizi-Ntichka Pass. Upon our arrival to Marrakesh, we will have a chance to continue discovering many places that make it up We will have dinner and spend the night at a hotel or a Riad in Marrakech.

Day 7: Marrakech – Essaouira

You will spend the morning exploring and absorbing the mystical city of Marrakesh. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. Famous for having numerous monuments recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We will discover the majestic silhouette of the Koutoubia that worships the pink houses and the tombs of Saadian. Then visit the Bahia Palace of Great Vizier Ba Ahmed dating back to the late nineteenth century;now a museum of Fine Arts. The souks offer an incredible shopping experience with a myriad of narrow winding streets that lead through series of smaller markets clustered by trade. In the famous square Jemaa el Fna, we will wander among many Moroccan mystical characters. They will transcendentally carry us away in our psychedelic memory through the winding streets of the Medina. In Jemaa el Fna Square, we will live a scene of countless outdoor activities: jugglers, musicians, fakirs, and snake charmers, to waken all our senses with its multiple sounds, aromas, flavors and colors that characterize it.
After lunch, we will depart to Essaouira. The journey to this former Portuguese fortress, now a fishing village, offers delicious dishes with local spices. Many artists had made their pilgrimage to this hipster city such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. The region inspired Jimi to write his famous song “Castles Made of Sand”. Essaouira, known also as Mogador is famous for its annual festival of “Gnawa music”. Many artist from around the world still pay their annual pilgrimage to this mystic city. Old Portuguese ramparts guard the walled city where you can watch silver artisans and wood carvers at work in one of the most charming medinas in all of Morocco. We will have dinner and spend the night at a Hotel or Riad in Essaouira.

Day 8 : Essaouira – Safi – El Jadida – Casablanca

Early in the morning and after breakfast we will proceed to Safi, the main fishing port for the country’s sardine industry. It is also famous for its good quality pottery. We will continue to Oualidia via the coastal road ornamented with superb views over the Atlantic. Our lunch will be in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will drive to El Jadida. This city is famous with its beaches and resorts. Our tour includes a visit to the famous citadel, a reminder of the Portuguese occupation of the 16th Century. Then, we will continue to Casablanca where we will have dinner. Overnight in a Hotel in Casablanca.

Day 9: Casablanca – Larache – Assilah – Tangier

After a breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice with local pancakes in a clear-skied morning, we will leave Casablanca to visit Tangier. Our road trip will lead us to see one of the most beautiful coastal cities: Assilah. It is a small village of artists and anglers. The Medina is small, the houses are mostly blue and white, fortified by Portuguese style of fortifications as if their fate is to surrender to the Atlantic Ocean and not the Mediterranean. After having lunch, we will head to Tangier as our Last destination. Spend the evening exploring the city to get a glimpse of its nightlife. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel.

Day 10: End of the Tour

After breakfast, we will drop you at the airport/ the ferry terminal or your accommodation, if you want to profit more from this mystical bridge between Europe and Africa, the North and the South, as well as the West and the East.
If the itineraries that we offer do not match what you are looking for, contact us and we will prepare the trip to your measurements and needs