Day 1: Tangier – Asilah

Meet our staff in Tangier (airport, port, or city center) to begin the tour. Leaving behind this city on the Strait of Gibraltar, travel around 50 km to Asilah, one of the most beautiful Atlantic coastal towns in northern Morocco. Enjoy free time to explore its picturesque, bohemian medina, enclosed by walls of Portuguese origin, where artists live and work in creative studios and murals decorate many walls — a legacy of the town’s summer art festival. Overnight stay in a riad in Asilah.

Day 2: Asilah – Tetouan – Chaouen

After breakfast, continue to Tetouan, just 10 km from the Mediterranean, known for its whitewashed historic medina and its 20th-century expansion inspired by the modernist and neo-Andalusian architecture of southern Spain, a legacy of its role as capital of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco. After free time to explore, head south through the Rif Mountains to Chaouen, one of the standout surprises of the trip, where the blue-painted medina creates a fairytale atmosphere, best admired from surrounding viewpoints and the winding alleys of Uta el-Hammam square and its medieval citadel. Overnight stay in a riad in Chaouen.

Day 3: Chaouen – Rabat

After breakfast, travel from the Rif Mountains back to the Atlantic coast to visit Rabat, the first of Morocco’s Imperial Cities and, together with Salé across the Bou Regreg River, one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. As the political capital, Rabat is home to key symbols of the kingdom, including the Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, along with major historical monuments such as the 12th-century Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas. The day is free to explore at your own pace — the medina souks, contemporary art museums, and nearby beaches are all worth considering. Overnight stay in a riad in central Rabat.

Day 4: Rabat – Volubilis – Meknes – Fez

After breakfast, leave Rabat, the current capital, and travel to destinations that were also historic capitals: Volubilis, Meknes, and Fez. Volubilis is an archaeological site preserving the remains of a Roman city that remained inhabited and served as a capital after the Arab conquest, until the 9th century — with temple columns, triumphal arches, house mosaics, baths, and basilicas among its highlights. About 20 km further, Meknes was the capital of the kingdom during the 17th and 18th centuries, and today offers a Royal Palace, monumental gates including Bab Mansour, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, all within a still-lively medina. Continue to Fez in the late afternoon, with free time for a first look at the city. Overnight stay in a riad in Fez.

Day 5: Fez

Dedicate the full day to discovering Fez, widely considered Morocco’s most culturally, historically, and religiously significant city, combining a guided tour with free time. With a certified official guide, explore the Karaouine Mosque, home to a university considered by many to be the oldest in the world (10th century), along with the Bou Inania and Attarine medersas and other historic landmarks. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to browse the medina’s craft stalls — carpenters, goldsmiths, and potters selling directly to visitors — or visit museums such as Borj Nord, with its collection of period weapons, and the Nejjarine Museum of woodwork. Overnight stay in a riad in Fez.

Day 6: Fez – Ifrane – Monkey Forest – Erfoud – Erg Chebbi Dunes

This is the day the tour heads deepest into the desert, with several stops along the way. Begin with a brief visit to Ifrane, where gable-roofed houses and grassy parks create a scene reminiscent of the Alps, thanks to its elevation of 1,700 meters in the Middle Atlas and heavy seasonal rainfall (snow in winter). Continue to Ifrane National Park, known locally as “Monkey Forest” for its population of Barbary macaques, as well as its centuries-old cedars and flowing streams. Cross the Middle Atlas and follow the Ziz Valley into increasingly arid terrain, stopping in Erfoud, known for its fossil shops, before reaching Merzouga. From there, set off on a camel ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, arriving at a luxury tented camp for welcome tea, dinner, and stargazing. Overnight stay in a luxury tent camp in the dunes.

Day 7: Erg Chebbi Dunes – Visit to Nomads – Khamlia – Merzouga Desert

Wake early in the dunes to watch the sunrise over the golden sands, then enjoy breakfast at the camp before heading back toward Merzouga. From there, embark on a 4×4 route through remote desert tracks and hammada terrain. Visit Khamlia, known as the “black village” for its population descended from former slaves brought along historic caravan routes, and enjoy a live performance of Gnawa music, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Continue to semi-nomadic Berber settlements, where local families share their hospitality and daily way of life. On the return to Merzouga, stop at a viewpoint overlooking more than 25 km of dunes. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Merzouga, featuring traditional desert architecture and design.

Day 8: Merzouga Desert – Rissani – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate

After breakfast, leave the Sahara behind and head toward the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech, stopping first in Rissani, a town with a picturesque medina and an atmosphere from another era. Continue along the Dades River through palm groves and farmland, detouring to the Todra Gorges, a dramatic rocky canyon with towering walls best explored on foot. Continue through the rest of the Dades Valley, passing through the Valley of the Roses, known for its abundant flowers after spring. Overnight stay and dinner at a hotel-riad in Ouarzazate.

Day 9: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

Ouarzazate is internationally known for its Atlas Studios, where films such as Lawrence of Arabia were shot, but the highlight here is the Kasbah of Taourirt, a striking example of Berber desert architecture, castle-like outside and palace-like within. Continue about 30 km to the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified UNESCO World Heritage village that has appeared in productions including Game of Thrones, protected by walls with crenellated towers and topped by a kasbah. From there, ascend the Tizi-n-Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains, at an altitude of over 2,200 meters, before descending through scenic mountain valleys to Marrakech. Enjoy free time in the “Red City” before an overnight stay in a riad in central Marrakech.

Day 10: Marrakech

Spend the day discovering Marrakech, Morocco’s most visited city, known for its blend of history, art, luxury, and vibrant street life. In the morning, take a guided tour of the medina’s most iconic sites, including Jemaa el-Fna square and the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, an Almohad-era masterpiece from the 12th–13th centuries, along with other highlights such as the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa. The afternoon is free to explore further on your own, whether through the city’s museums or neighborhoods such as Gueliz, home to Marrakech’s main luxury shopping district. Overnight stay in a riad in Marrakech.

Day 11: Marrakech – Essaouira

This 12-day tour concludes with a refreshing trip to Essaouira, known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic.” Travel there in the morning through landscapes dominated by argan fields, stopping at a local cooperative to see how argan oil is produced. Once in Essaouira, enjoy free time to explore this city shaped by Portuguese heritage (visible in its Skala sea fortress), a once-significant Jewish community (visible in its mellah), and a laid-back atmosphere that famously captivated visitors like Jimi Hendrix. Wander the medina, relax on the beach, or try a water activity on the coast. Overnight stay in a riad in Essaouira.

Day 12: Essaouira – Marrakech Airport

After a final night in Essaouira, transfer back to Marrakech Airport at the agreed time, arriving with ample time before your departure. This marks the end of your 12-day tour from Tangier to Marrakech.