9-Day Tour from Marrakech to Tangier Via Essaouira and Desert

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN MARRAKECH

On arrival at Marrakech airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the surroundings on your own or take a good rest in your comfortable room.

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Riad Aubrac OR Charming Riad or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 2: MARRAKECH WITH A LOCAL GUIDE

Today, begin to unearth the secrets of Marrakech, starting in the medina, the old walled section of the city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret. Then, visit the beautiful Bahia Palace, home to the grand vizier of the Sultan in the early 19th century. Afterward, enjoy Jardin Majorelle, a picturesque garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by design legend Yves Saint Laurent. Explore the Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, which is filled with food stalls and vendors, along with fire-eaters, magicians, snake charmers, and street musicians performing at every turn. You may also wish to wander the city’s fabled, labyrinthine souks.

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Riad Aubrac OR Charming Riad or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 3: EXCURSION TO ESSAOUIRA

Venture to the west coast of Morocco to reach the laid-back fishing town of Essaouira, an alluring, unspoilt destination with a tangible North African feel. Spend the afternoon navigating the narrow alleyways, exploring the UNESCO-listed medina, the walled Jewish Quarter, and Skala fortress, or maybe just relaxing on the beach. You could try the mouth-watering seafood at the port. End of the day, return to Marrakech for overnight stay. (Total distance: 380km / 5 hours driving)

• Overnight in Marrakech
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Riad Aubrac OR Charming Riad or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 4: MARRAKECH – AIT BEN HADDOU AND OUARZAZATE – DADES VALLEY

Today our guide will pick you up from your Marrakech hotel at 08:30 AM and escort you to the departure point. We are going to travel over the Atlas geological formation and descend into the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. The Kasbah (there are literally six of them within a walled city) may be a place of wonder. Here you’ll feel almost as if you have stepped back in time to the times of gladiators, desert nomads, and ancient trading markets. Lunch on a primary day is taken within the Kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou after the sightseeing tour has finished. Our next stop on our first day is going to be at Ouarzazate. We are going to admire the scenery of a city where several block-buster movies are filmed like “The Mummy (1999 & 2001)”, “Lawrence of Arabia (1962)”, and “Gladiator (2000)” without forgetting “Game of Thrones” in 2013 are among the numerous films which have taken in a very city often called “The Gateway to the Desert”. In the desert’s gateway city, we will take a stop at a restaurant before venturing onto the Dades Valley. Once there you’ll be able to relax and unwind in a very private room at an area traditional riad in Dades with an en-suite bathroom and revel in the culinary delights of a Moroccan evening dinner.

• Overnight in Dades
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation: Kasbah Didis or Panorama Dades Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 5: DADES – TODRA GORGES – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA [NIGHT IN DESERT CAMP]

After breakfast, we go from Dades gorges to the Erg Chebbi Sahara in Merzouga. Berber villages are scattered along the way, we’ll pass through Tinjdad, Jorf, and Erfoud, during which we’ll feel the beginning of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet, then we continue to Merzouga where your guide and camels will be waiting to carry you across the high sand dunes of the Morocco Sahara Desert. Camel ride at sunset across the sand dunes to reach our nomad desert camp in Erg Chebbi, with drums and music in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Dinner and overnight under a nomad tent.

• Overnight in Merzouga
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation: Sandfish Desert Luxury Camp OR Akabar Luxury Desert Camp or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 6: MERZOUGA TO ZIZ VALLEY – MIDELT – IFRAN – FES

Continuing the Marrakech to Fes desert excursion, once you see various greens from the sun of the mountains of Erg Chebbi, breakfast is going to be served at the camp, and take a shower then ride the camels again back to the initial point as we will transfer you by a 4WD as an alternative to camels, it’s up to you. After being through with Merzouga sightseeing, you’ll be transferred to the subsequent destination to move to Fes through the Ziz Valley, Midelt, Ifrane City called the insufficient Switzerland of Morocco, and also the famed Middle Atlas cedar forest with its Barbery apes in Azrou where you’ll have a brief walk to take pictures… Late afternoon arrival to Fes. And drop you off at your hotel in Fes.

• Overnight in Fes
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Riad Jeanne OR Palais Houyam or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 7: FULL DAY TO EXPLORE FES WITH A LOCAL GUIDE

After having breakfast, you will meet your local guide and start to sightsee the old medina from the outside, admiring a beautiful panoramic view of the medina from the tombs of Merenids. Then continue by discovering the surrounding parts, covering the most important sites inside the city; admiring the city’s pretty fountains, the mosaic Nejjarine Fountain, and touring the Medersas (Koranic schools), dating back to the 13th century. Visiting The Royal Palace Gate, the Jewish Quarter Mellah dating back to the 14th Century, blue ceramics of the Bab Boujloud gateway and historic mosques, including the Quaraouiyine Mosque, founded by Fatima el Fihri in 859, and the Andalusian Mosque, dating back to 860. Afterward, you will wander inside the narrow streets lined with intricately woven Berber carpets, and many other arts and craft objects of Morocco, visit the ceramics Cooperative to see traditional Moroccan crafts, the big Chouara Tanneries, and Medersa Seffarin where metal and other decorated architectural masterpieces are made traditionally. Overnight in your Riad.

• Overnight in Fes
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Riad Jeanne OR Palais Houyam or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 8: FES – OUAZZAN – CHEFCHAOUEN

The day starts after meeting our driver, and departure to Chefchaouen. We will drive through the Rif Mountains and Ouazzan, as we will stop on the way to enjoy the panoramic view, wonderful landscape, and spotless air. We will have about 4 hours’ drive to reach the blue city. Chefchaouen is located in the north. It is known as “The Blue Pearl” because it is surrounded by high stunning walls painted with blue color. The city of Chefchaouen was flooded with Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. In the city, you will have to walk its narrow streets, which run up and down the steep sides, and you will find a photographic opportunity at every corner. You will visit the Plaza Uta El-Hammam square in the heart of Medina. A peaceful place lined with restaurants and cafes. There you will find the work of artists can be seen in newly established galleries. Also, you will have a chance to visit the Grand Mosque, the Ras Elma River runs through the old city, and the Ethnographic Museum which contains musical instruments, photographs of the old town, and other traditional things. After you walked all around the blue city you will go to your hotel for the overnight.

• Overnight in Chefchaouen
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Dar Chefchaouen OR Riad Hicham or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 9: CHEFCHAOUEN – TANGIER

After breakfast, check out from the hotel. Today you will discover the vividly blue-colored small town of Chefchaouen, which nestles in the hollow of the two mountains, Ech-Chaoua (The Horns), from which it takes its name. Steep narrow streets with white and indigo lime-washed buildings, small squares, ornate fountains, and houses with elaborately decorated doorways and red tile roofs make this a delightful town. Then, you will visit the UNESCO-listed old medina of Tetouan and have an orientation walk around. In the afternoon, you will visit the Cave of Hercules, Cape Spartel, and Phoenician Tombs. You will also have a nice opportunity to take pictures of Europe from the continent of Africa. At the end of the day, you will wander around the Medina of Tangier. You will be dropped off at your hotel, Tangier city center, your address, or Tangier airport around 2:00 PM. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers are mentioned in the itinerary.
• Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle with English-Speaking
• 3 Nights accommodation in a riad in Marrakech including breakfast only.
• Official local guide in
• 1 night in Dades Valley including dinner and
• Camel trekking activity in the desert (camel per each)
• Sandboarding activity in the desert
• 4×4 vehicle as an alternative to camels to transfer from the camp in the deep desert.
• 1 night in a desert camp with dinner and breakfast
• 2 Nights’ accommodation in Riad in Fes with breakfast only.
• Official local guide in
• 1 night accommodation in Chefchaouen with breakfast

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flight tickets.
• Visa to enter Morocco.
• Dinners in Marrakech, and Fes and chefchaouen.
• Monuments entrance.
• Lunches and any soft drinks.
• Personal expenses and tips.
• Any other service not mentioned above.
• Travel Insurance.