6-Day Private Tour from Tangier to Marrakech via Sahara

Blue streets, desert stars, and the road between them

This private 6-day tour travels from Tangier to Marrakech, crossing northern Morocco's mountains and the Sahara Desert with a local guide. You'll wander Chefchaouen's blue medina, explore the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the medieval streets of Fes, ride camels across golden dunes at sunset, and sleep under the stars in a desert camp. The route ends at Ait Ben Haddou's fortified ksar before dropping you in Marrakech.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tangier to Chefchaouen journey

• Drive from Tangier through Rif Mountains
• Explore blue streets of Chefchaouen medina
• Visit Ras el-Maa Waterfall
• Overnight at 4-Star hotel or traditional Riad

Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

• Visit ancient Roman city of Volubilis
• Discover monumental gates in Meknes
• Arrive and check into Fes accommodation
• Overnight at 4-Star hotel or traditional Riad

Day 3: Guided tour of Fes

• Visit Royal Palace and Jewish Quarter
• Enjoy panoramic city viewpoint
• See pottery workshop artisans
• Have traditional Moroccan lunch in Medina
• Explore Al-Attarine and Bou Inania Madrasas
• Visit Al-Qarawiyyin University
• Tour Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
• Wander souks and Chouara Tannery
• Overnight at 4-Star hotel or Riad

Day 4: Fes to Merzouga Sahara Desert experience

• Visit Alpine-style town of Ifrane
• Walk through cedar forests of Azrou
• Drive through Middle Atlas landscapes
• Arrive in Merzouga and camel ride at sunset
• Dinner and night at desert camp under stars

Day 5: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorges

• Walk through Todra Gorges rock walls
• Pass through Valley of Roses
• Arrive in Ouarzazate, explore city sights
• Overnight at 4-Star hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 6: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Visit UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
• Arrive in Marrakech and tour ends

The experience

The journey starts with a scenic drive from Tangier through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, where the medina's blue-painted streets and mountain views set the tone for what follows. The next day takes you to Volubilis, a UNESCO site of Roman arches and mosaics, then through Meknes to Fes, where you spend two nights exploring one of the world's largest car-free medieval cities. You'll see the Royal Palace and the Jewish Quarter, watch potters at work, walk through the Al-Attarine and Bou Inania Madrasas with their tile work and carved wood, and wander the souks where leather, spices, and textiles fill the air.

The fourth day pushes south toward the Sahara. You'll pass through Ifrane's Alpine-style streets and the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live wild, then drive across the Middle Atlas toward Merzouga. The desert camp sits in the dunes. You reach it by camel at sunset, eat a traditional Berber dinner, and sleep under open sky. The next morning, you walk through Todra Gorges, towering rock walls carved by water, and pass the Valley of Roses before arriving in Ouarzazate, the film industry's desert hub. The final day takes you to Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified clay village that has stood for centuries and appeared in countless films, then on to Marrakech where the tour ends at your hotel.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French (you choose at booking), travels with you the whole way, and the air-conditioned vehicle carries your group only. Bottled water is provided throughout. Children from age one are welcome, and infant seats are available if you need them.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• five nights in 4-star hotels or traditional riads.
• one night in a 4-star desert camp.
• camel ride across the Sahara dunes.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• expertised local guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Excellence Morocco

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so your group travels alone with your guide at a pace that suits you, rather than joining a shared bus with other travelers. Choose it if you want the flexibility to linger in a medina or adjust the day's rhythm, and if sleeping in a desert camp under stars is a priority. The overnight in Merzouga is built into the itinerary and not an add-on option.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 11 years).

What is there to do in Chefchaouen on the first day?

Chefchaouen's medina is built around blue-painted streets and a central square. You'll wander through it, visit local artisan shops, and climb to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the surrounding mountains and the Rif landscape.

Do I get to ride a camel in the Sahara?

Yes. On day four, you ride camels across the dunes at sunset to reach your desert camp, where you'll spend the night under the stars with traditional Berber music and dinner included.

What are the Todra Gorges like?

Todra Gorges is a narrow canyon with towering rock walls rising hundreds of feet on both sides. You'll walk through it on day five, and it's a popular spot for rock climbers and photographers.

How much time do I spend in Fes?

You arrive on day two and spend two full days there, including a guided tour of the medina, the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, pottery workshops, and the Al-Qarawiyyin University, one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world.

What is Ait Ben Haddou?

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed fortified village built from clay and stone in a traditional ksar style. It has been used as a filming location for major movies and TV series and sits on the route between Ouarzazate and Marrakech.