North to South
10-Day Morocco Tour: Tangier to Marrakech
Ten days from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Sahara and on to Marrakech
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Tangier → Marrakech
- About 30 hours over 10 days. driving
Start at the Strait, cross the blue Rif, work through imperial Fes, drop down the Ziz to the dunes, come back through the gorges and the kasbah valleys and finish in Marrakech. Four distinct geographic zones in one forward line, with not a kilometre driven twice. If you are arriving on the Tarifa ferry or a cheap flight into Tangier, this is your itinerary. I meet you at the port.
Why I run it this wayThe country read top to bottom in one direction. The big operators are all set up around Casablanca and Marrakech, so almost nobody sells this, but it is the most logical way to see Morocco.
The things worth stopping for
- Met at Tangier port or airport, straight off the ferry
- Chefchaouen with an overnight and a dawn
- Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and a guided day in Fes
- The cedar forest, the Ziz canyons and Erfoud's fossil beds
- Two nights at Erg Chebbi
- Rose Valley, Skoura, Todra, Dades and Ait Ben Haddou
- Marrakech's palaces and gardens at the end
- Not one kilometre repeated
Where this trip takes you
Straight lines between stops, not the exact roads — the driving is the winding version of this.
How the trip goes
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Day 1: Tangier to Chefchaouen
Driving: About 3 hoursMet at the port or airport. Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, then up into the Rif for sunset over the blue town.
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Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis
Driving: About 4 hoursThe blue lanes at first light, then the Roman mosaics at Volubilis and the holy hill town of Moulay Idriss. Into Fes.
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Day 3: Fes, guided
Driving: No drivingA full day in the medina with a licensed guide: Al-Qarawiyyin, the madrasas, the tanneries and the artisan quarters.
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Day 4: Fes to Midelt
Driving: About 4 hoursA short day on purpose. Ifrane, the macaques in the Azrou cedars, and the Middle Atlas plateau.
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Day 5: Midelt to Merzouga
Driving: About 5 hoursThe Ziz palm canyons and Erfoud's fossil workshops. 4x4 at the dunes, camel to camp.
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Day 6: The desert
Driving: About 2 hours localSunrise, then the 4x4 morning: nomad families, Khamlia, the fossil beds. Second night at camp.
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Day 7: Merzouga to Dades
Driving: About 5 hoursRissani's souk, Todra gorge, then up into the Dades for sunset on the switchbacks.
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Day 8: Dades to Ait Ben Haddou
Driving: About 3 hoursThe Rose Valley, Skoura and Amridil, Taourirt kasbah at Ouarzazate. Overnight below the ksar.
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Day 9: Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
Driving: About 4 hoursDawn at the ksar, the Ounila valley and the Tichka, into Marrakech by early afternoon.
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Day 10: Marrakech, guided
Driving: No drivingBahia palace, the Majorelle garden and the souks with a licensed guide, then drop-off.
I'll email you this itinerary — every day, what's included, what it costs — so you can think it over and share it.
One email with the itinerary. No account, and I don't pass your address to anyone — see the privacy policy.
What's included
Included
- Private van with me driving
- 4x4 and desert driver for the dune days
- 9 nights including 2 desert
- Licensed guides in Fes and Marrakech
- Half board outside cities
- Camel ride
- Tangier port or airport pickup, Marrakech drop-off
Not included
- Ferries and flights
- Most meals
- Entry fees
- Tips
Read more about where you'll be
A closer look
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Every route bends: more time somewhere, a different start, a night added. Send your dates and I'll plan it around you.