12 Day Morocco Discovery Tour from Tangier

After breakfast we will begin our journey with a drive to Chefchaouen, uniquely located in a natural reserve high in the Rif Mountains. This blue and white painted village is a haven of peace and serenity. You will also see a wonderful selection of the local crafts. Accommodation in a local riad.

We will spend another day exploring this mountain village in the heart of the Rif, known for its Moorish architecture and blue and white painted homes.

We will visit the medina to enjoy its cultural and historical heritage significance, wander the streets, see the picturesque Uta el Hammam square, the Rass el Maa Waterfall and, of course, the colourful shops filled with local crafts. We can also walk to the Spanish Mosque that offers a very good view of the town, perhaps drink traditional mint tea at a cafe terrace while relaxing and watching people come and go. There are many options for you to choose! Accommodation in a local riad.

We will leave the culturally rich world of Chefchaouen and drive to Fes, one of Morocco's imperial cities which proudly is home to one the world's oldest universities. Along the way we will visit the well preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis. We will also see a panoramic view of the holy city of Moulay Idriss. In the afternoon we will arrive in Fes with time to see the walls and gates of the medina and watch the sunset. Accommodation in a riad.

Breakfast in your riad, before your day of exploration in the old medina of Fez where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world. Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will also view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah,” where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes. Overnight accommodation at your riad.

After breakfast in your riad, we will leave towards the southeast following the ancient caravan route to Merzouga. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. Stopping at the Cedar forest of Azrou, the largest one in Morocco, if we are lucky we will sight some Barbarian apes.

After lunch in Midelt, we will continue through the large open high desert, watching how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as we approach the city Errachidia. Our journey continues along the Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet date palm grove, famous for date cultivation. This area is the home of the Alaouite dynasty - the current ruling royal family in Morocco. We will arrive at Merzouga at the end of the afternoon – to be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check in to your riad.

After breakfast in the riad we will start our full ‘desert day.’ We will visit the Gnawa people - originally slaves brought from Sudan - to experience their music and lifestyle. We may also visit the souk in Rissani (depending on the day), a traditional town which was the meeting place of the caravans trading as far as Timbuctoo in Mali. We will head back to the village of Merzouga for some rest.

In the afternoon you will mount your camel, guided by an experienced camel man, to explore within the sand-sea of Merzouga. Overnight will be at our desert camp. Enjoy sunset and dinner before spending the night in the dunes, listening to Berber music, or stargazing.

It is worth waking up early again to catch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast we will drive to the local market in Rissani, which is a traditional souk.

Leaving the desert behind, our journey will continue across southern Morocco, past palm groves, oases, ancient adobe cities and Kasbahs, until we reach the spectacular Todra Gorge. The course of the river has carved out a cliff-sided canyon. You will have some free time to walk through the gorge to better appreciate the beauty of the landscape. We will spend the night here.

During the day we will visit the Dades Valley, taking a little side trip to visit some nomads who live in caves in the Atlas Mountains. We will then continue on through the Valley of the Roses, the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate.

If you are interested we can visit the cinema studios in Ouarzazate. In the late afternoon you can wander around the sleepy medina of this city known as the 'gateway to the desert.'

After an early breakfast in the riad, we start our journey to reach the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Sahara with Penélope Cruz and Game of Thrones.

After visiting the kasbah we will head to Marrakech through the Tizi n’Tchka pass. At 2.260m we can enjoy spectacular views. We will enjoy beautiful landscapes from the viewpoints along the way, before arriving to Marrakech at early evening.

Full day in Marrakech: after breakfast in the riad, you will enjoy some of Marrakech’s historical and cultural sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret; the Saadian tombs; the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Quranic School. Finally, end the morning by walking through the medina alleys -getting a chance to admire the different artisans performing their crafts before arriving at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square. Lunch at a restaurant near the square, and then in the afternoon visit the gardens at Majorelle, and have a short tour at Gueliz -the new city of Marrakech. After dinner you will have the option to walk through the square entertained by magicians, story-tellers, tooth-pullers and food sellers. Overnight accommodation in your riad.

Today we will drive you to the airport (or your onward travel) and end our journey together..