This tour from Tangier, throughout Morocco, is one of the most complete in our catalog. In 16 days you can get to know this country practically in its entirety, without leaving out any relevant destination from the program. It travels from north to south, from east to west, from the mountains to the sea, from the desert to its oases and waterfalls. And on the day that the route ends, you will feel that Morocco will already be part of your life, as it will have been one of the best trips of your life, in the company of whoever you want if you book the private package.
If Morocco has become one of the preferred destinations for travelers, it is in large part due to the beauty of its landscapes and monuments. There are many places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and we include many of them in this program: Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Volubilis, Tetouan, Ait Ben Haddou, Essaouira… And also others that (still) do not hold this title but well deserve it for their beauty, both architectural and environmental: Chaouen, Asilah, the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Todra Gorges… In short, a mosaic of urban and natural landscapes that will make up one of your most fascinating travel albums.
But the appeal of Morocco lies not only in its places, but also in the people who inhabit them. And on this great tour you will have the opportunity to get in touch with them, either on your own or with our mediation. The visits to the nomadic families and the Gnawa musicians in the Merzouga desert will be very enriching, as they will show us lifestyles and folk traditions that remain intact despite the passage of time. On the other hand, in the medinas of the big cities you can see firsthand the extraordinary craftsmanship of Morocco, as well as the talent and negotiating skills of its artisans. And thanks to the explanations of our guides, you will better understand the local popular culture, which will unfold before your eyes every day.
In 16 days and 15 nights, Morocco will no longer have secrets for you. And to deploy a program as rich as the one we show you below, we use a private vehicle with a driver, as well as dromedaries and all-terrain vehicles when necessary in the desert:
As soon as you arrive in Morocco, our staff will be ready to welcome you at the airport or port of Tangier, depending on the means chosen to enter the country. Immediately afterwards, we will transfer you in a private vehicle to your hotel, which will be a charming riad in the city center to spend the first night of the tour.
This first day will be determined by the arrival time of your plane or ferry, and there may be free time available after check-in and the informative briefing about the tour. If that time is enough, it will be worth taking a walk on your own along the historic medina, which highlights the kasbah and its museum.
After a first contact with the country, on this second day of the tour we will begin to learn more about Morocco. During the morning, we will take a panoramic tour by car, with our driver-guide. In this way, we will discover the most interesting places around the medina and in the new part, including its large beaches and the promenade, renovated in recent years.
After them, the road route itself will begin. In the first days of the tour, we will visit the most beautiful and emblematic places in northern Morocco, among which is Asilah: also known as Arcila, it is a small but picturesque city on the shores of the Atlantic.
Its defensive fortress, built by the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the medina that protects it, developed in later centuries. Inside it, alleys and charming corners that exude art, as a cultural festival takes place here annually that marks local life. Mural painting interventions are carried out on the whitewashed facades in white and blue… two colors that will also be recurrent in other destinations in the north of the country, as we will see.
In this welcoming and bohemian atmosphere you will find the riad for your second night, to further integrate you into the characteristic atmosphere of Asilah.
On a tour from Tangier throughout Morocco, in which the north of the country occupies an important part of the program, it is almost mandatory to pass through Tetouan. And that is what we will do on the morning of this third day, after leaving Asilah. In this way, we temporarily leave the Atlantic coast to get closer to the Mediterranean: although Tetouan is about 10 km from the coast, its influence is felt in the environment.
This city was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco in the 20th century, and therefore the footprint of this neighboring country is still evident today. Especially in its Ensanche, the neighborhood projected on the outskirts of the medina, with neo-Andalusian architecture. The old town, where white predominates, preserves charming corners and the Caliph’s Palace, the holiday residence of the King of Morocco.
After getting to know Tetouan, the white will give way to green: that of the nature of the Rif mountains, which we must cross to reach Chaouen. And here, green mixes with blue, which is the predominant color in the houses of the medina. Upon arriving in Chaouen, you will check in to your riad in the center and you can enjoy a first contact with this picturesque town.
Chaouen is one of the four cities in which you will spend a full day. And there is no shortage of reasons. You will do it on this fourth day, with a free program on your part with the aim of getting lost in the intricate streets of the medina and enjoying the panoramic views of the surroundings, as the old town extends along a steep slope.
Among the main visits you can make is the ethnographic museum of the kasbah, in the heart of Uta el-Hammam square. Reaching the different gates of the medina (Bab El Mahrouk, Bab El Hammar, Bab El Onsar) will help you get an idea of the extension and layout of the historic site. And entering the craft shops crafts will make you understand the humility and mastery of the artists who work in this region with wool, leather or wood, among other materials.
This day can also be a good opportunity to get to know the Berber Rifeña gastronomy better, which you will find in the different venues in the center. And at the end of the day, you will rest again in the same riad in the medina.
The capital of the kingdom, Rabat, is another of the places that could not be missing on a tour from Tangier throughout Morocco. Therefore, on the morning of the fifth day we will leave for this city, which houses some of the most emblematic monuments in the country, as well as other corners full of history and charm.
From the arrival in Rabat, your time will be free. In the program of the day, you can include visits as interesting as the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Hassan Tower and the kasbah of the Oudayas, with views towards the coast and local beaches. Other attractions of the city are the Chellah site or the neighboring Salé, where the Bou Regreg river port is located. For its part, the Grand Theater of Rabat represents the best of contemporary Moroccan architecture, which is increasingly powerful and innovative.
The riad in which you will rest tonight will be located in the heart of the medina or very close to it, so any tour of the center will allow you to easily return to your accommodation.
Rabat is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco, being the capital of the kingdom since the times of the French Protectorate. And on this sixth day of the tour, we will arrive at two more of them: Fez and Meknes (the fourth and last will be Marrakech).
But before that, we will discover a unique site: that of Volubilis. This is the best preserved Roman site in the country, with elements still standing, such as the Arch of Caracalla or the columns of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Mosaics, baths and other original constructions are spread throughout the site, which became the most important city in the province of Mauritania Tingitana, in the early centuries of our era.
After knowing Volubilis, we travel about 20 km to Meknes and thus advance sixteen centuries, because in the seventeenth century this city became the capital of the Alawite sultanate, thanks to the efforts of Moulay Ismail. The main monuments and archaeological remains of the medina date back to that period, such as the Bab Mansour gate or the mausoleum of said monarch. All this in a historic center that continues to maintain the rhythm of popular life marked by its souk and shops.
The last stop of the day will be Fez, capital in times of the Idrisid, Merinid, Wattasid and early Alawite dynasties. So large and historic is its medina that we will leave its in-depth exploration for the next day, so that upon arrival you will only have free time for a first contact, before resting in the riad of the medina.
Although Fez is no longer the capital of the kingdom, it still holds the prestige of being the most important city in Morocco in terms of culture and religion, with historic mosques and madrasas, as well as sanctuaries, such as that of Idriss II. All this spread over the two sectors of the medina: Fez el-Bali (old medina) and Fez el-Jdid (new medina).
Therefore, a guided tour in the morning will allow you to explore the most symbolic corners, on a route designed by our official guide. And there are many places that deserve to be part of it: Nejjarine Square, the Karaouine and Andalusian mosques (exterior only), the Chowara neighborhood, the Bou Inania madrasa… On the itinerary, explanations about the history and daily life of Fasi will be intermingled, with crafts as the main activity and focus of attraction for international travelers.
The program for the afternoon is free and will depend on the tastes of each one. For example, shopping in the aforementioned stores. Or more cultural visits, for example through the Jewish mellah, the Golden Gates of the Royal Palace or the rooms of a museum, such as the Borj Nord.
Whatever the option chosen, the epilogue of the day will again be a well-deserved rest in the riad of the medina.
Until now, historical monuments and frenetic medinas had occupied the time in this first part of the tour. But from the eighth day, it is nature in its most varied forms that will claim our attention, with wild landscapes of enormous beauty.
For example, that of Ifrane National Park, dominated by an immense cedar forest: we are in the Middle Atlas, the wettest region of the country, so these iconic trees grow in abundance naturally. And in them lives the Barbary macaque, an endangered animal but that, for sure, will come to meet us. On the way, by the way, we will get to know the city that gives it its name, Ifrane, nicknamed the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for having been projected in the 30s as a winter resort in the image and likeness of the Alpine ones, with gabled roofs.
After crossing to the other side of the Middle Atlas, the atmosphere becomes much more arid, but the landscape becomes interesting for another reason: we are getting closer to the desert. We will do it by touring the Ziz Valley, with this endorheic river as a constant companion until we reach Erfoud. Here, fossil lovers will feel fascinated, as that is the main tourist attraction of the city.
After that, we will arrive at Merzouga, a town that gives its name to a sector of the Moroccan Sahara desert. Here we will park our vehicle, as the asphalt disappears and the Erg Chebbi dunes. make their appearance. Therefore, we will get on the backs of dromedaries (can be exchanged for 4×4 vehicles) and, guided by a Touareg, we will travel the gentle undulations of fine sand.
The walk will end around sunset at the Haima camp located in the heart of the dunes. Its Berber canvas haimas have the best amenities and are organized around a central bonfire. It will be here where you will have a typical dinner, before retiring to rest in your tent, in an atmosphere of extraordinary silence.
On this ninth day of the tour, you will enjoy two other great attractions of the desert. First, the fascinating sunrise over the dunes which, although it takes place every day, is always different and equally exciting. Getting up early, before dawn, will be well worth it on this day.
The second attraction of the desert is that of the people who inhabit it, despite the difficulties involved. Therefore, after breakfast we will return by dromedary to Merzouga to undertake a 4×4 route through the places where these anonymous heroes live, not only for their ability to survive but also for the merit of preserving traditions.
This is how we will understand it, for example, in Khamlia, a small town where people of sub-Saharan origin have lived for centuries: their ancestors were brought as slaves and implemented Gnawa music. Today this genre is listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and you can listen to it in person thanks to a live performance. The dance and clothing associated with the show are also complementary points of interest in the activity.
Much quieter but equally enriching will be our visit to nomadic families of the desert. Although they are adopting some habits typical of sedentary life, their day-to-day life follows in the wake of their ancestors: exploitation of the scarce resources of the land, with an important presence of livestock and manual activities. You will share a Berber tea and experiences, with the mediation of our driver-guide for greater confidence.
On this day there will, of course, be different movements on the ground. And that will be another attraction: we will travel along tracks formerly used by the Paris-Dakar rally Paris-Dakar rally and we will reach significant places in this portion of the desert. Among them, abandoned kohl mines and an elevated viewpoint to contemplate the Erg Chebbi dunes.
At the end of the day, we will arrive at the accommodation planned for this day: a hotel-kasbah delicately decorated according to Berber parameters, which will be a good prelude to what awaits us in the following two days: a route marked by ancient adobe fortresses.
The tenth day of the tour will take us to the Dades Valley, formed by this river and in which palm oases, small towns with crops and Berber fortresses made of adobe, in ruins or restored, succeed one another. That is why this area is also called the “Route of the Thousand Kasbahs”. Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.
Before getting there and as soon as we leave Merzouga, Rissani. Known for its beautiful historic medina and its weekly market, with a popular atmosphere and typical local products. Here it is common to see donkeys parked, as they are used as a means of transport, especially on market days.
Already in the Dades Valley, we will take a detour to see the Todra Gorges: the gorge of this river is a canyon with high rock walls, a paradise for climbers. In our case, we will limit ourselves to taking a walk along the humble watercourse, from where the landscape is equally charming.
Today’s route, one of the longest of the tour, does not end here but continues to Ouarzazate. In this city is precisely one of the most monumental and best preserved kasbahs: the kasbah of Taourirt, an old bastion of Thami el Glaoui and his family. Its architecture, with battlemented towers and refined interior, is very representative of this type of construction.
The hotel for this day is located in this city and dinner will be served there, in addition to resting.
If the kasbah of Taourirt, the day before, fascinated you, no less will be what the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou will achieve: this fortified town, about 30 km from Ouarzazate, will be the first stop on this eleventh day.
Emerging from the heat of the caravan routes and used for filming movies and series such as Game of Thrones, its high walls and adobe houses, huddled under a ruined kasbah, offer an almost unreal image. All this, together with a small green oasis formed by the Asif Ounila River.
From Ait Ben Haddou, the road gains more and more altitude until it reaches the area of Telouet: in this town the Glaoui family had another majestic kasbah, a sign of their power in the region, as their patriarch held the titles of ‘Lord of the Atlas’ and ‘Pasha of Marrakech’. The 2023 earthquake caused damage to its structure, so the visit will depend on its condition at the time of travel.
A few kilometers from Telouet, the Tizi n’Tichka pass is crowned, located at more than 2,200 meters of altitude. It is the natural passage between the two slopes of the High Atlas and, as such, the panoramic views of the surroundings are impressive. The peaks that can be seen from here are among the highest in the country and remain snow-covered for a large part of the year.
From here, the road to Marrakech is only downhill and flat, arriving in the city during the afternoon. And from that moment on, your time will be free to start getting a feel for this vibrant city.
Marrakech is the most visited city in Morocco, and not by chance. It is full of monuments, which are a legacy of its golden periods with Almoravids, Almohads and Saadis, mainly. But it also offers a populous and lively face in its squares, as you will see on this twelfth day of the tour.
In the morning, an official guide will take you on a route through the medina and its immediate surroundings: Jemaa el-Fna square, the Koutoubia mosque (exterior), the Ben Youssef madrasa or the Bahia Palace are some of those essential places that you will surely visit together.
But what there is no time for on that guided tour can be left for the afternoon, which is free: museums (MACMA, Orientalist), gardens (Majorelle, Menara) and other historical constructions, spread throughout the interior and exterior of the medina. Those who prefer leisure plans can get lost in the souks of the medina to shop, or go to Gueliz to see the most modern side of the city.
Gastronomic experiences in restaurants, hammams for a relaxing bath or simply a good tea to relieve stress are other good plans in the city, before returning to the riad to sleep at night.
In this great tour of Morocco there is also time for an excursion: that is, a day trip, returning to the place of departure. In this case, from Marrakech, to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, one of the favorite getaway places for Marrakech residents.
For this, we will pick you up at the riad and travel to this waterfall, the largest in the country, located about 160 km away. Contemplating its fall, especially striking in spring, and taking a bath in the waters of its pool, are among the proposals to enjoy the place, which also has restaurants and even small boats.
In the afternoon, return to Marrakech, where there may be some free time for a last moment of shopping or leisure. And at night, rest again in the riad of the medina.
Two weeks of the tour are completed and we head towards its final part, which from now on will have a destination as its protagonist: Essaouira. Known as the ‘pearl of the Atlantic’ for its location facing the ocean coast, we will travel to it in a journey of about two hours. Upon arrival, the time will be at your entire disposal, either to visit its medina and surroundings or to carry out leisure activities, as there are many proposals in both cases.
Its interest lies not only in its location, but also in the historical monuments that have been preserved. The Skala is the maritime fortress built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, when they founded the city with the name of Mogador. In its shelter, a medina created in later centuries, after the Muslim conquest, where there are also Jewish vestiges such as its cemetery and several synagogues, a sign of the coexistence between cultures that occurred here.
And to explore all this, there is nothing better than staying in a riad in the medina, as will be your case tonight and the next.
The penultimate day of the tour is a free day in Essaouira. Therefore, it can be the perfect ending to the program, for example with a swim in one of the local beaches, or with an aquatic or sports activity, as the offer is very wide in this sense.
Art galleries, gnawa music performances or a wellness treatment based on argan oil produced in the region can be other very diverse plans to enjoy during this free day in the city.
The sixteenth day is the last of this tour started in Tangier, throughout Morocco and with the final destination in Essaouira. In reality, the true place of completion of the program will be the Marrakech – Menara Airport, and towards it we will transfer you directly from this city. For this, we will establish a pick-up time early enough to make the trip without complications.
And already at the terminal we will say goodbye, with the hope that Morocco and our services have lived up to your expectations.
The list of services included in this package is very wide, not only because of the length of the trip but also because of the desire to offer the best treatment, without random details:
These other services are excluded from the package so that each traveler can decide on them, before or during the tour:
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