6 Days Tangier Desert Tour to Marrakech via Chefchouan

Pick up from the ferry terminal in Tangier or your accommodation. Depends on your time of arrival, you will explore the Cape Spartel lighthouse, Tangier’s Kasbah, sultan’s palace and the hills of Tangier. After that,we will drive through the Rif mountains passing by Tetoun city to enjoy the views of the beautiful mountains till we get to Chefchaouan one of the stunning villages in the feet of Rif mountains. Chefchaouen medina had a Spanish-style square surrounded by many funky arts and crafts stores, roof-top restaurants and cafes. You will have enough time to explore Chefchouan's distinctive pale blue and whitewashed buildings and winding alleyways, Chefchaouen is a charming place with strong Andalusian connections. It was here that many Jews and Moors fled during the Spanish Inquisition. Overnight in your Riad with breakfast.

After breakfast, you will leave Chefchaoun to head to the second imperial city: Fes. We pass by Ouazan to Volubilis. We will drive to explore Volubilis; the UNESCO World Heritage Site and very well-preserved; Roman ruins. You will have time to see the well-preserved mosaics. We will continue to Fes via Meknes. You may choose to do a little exploring after you’ve rested. Your driver will be available to transport you, if desired. Overnight will be at your Riad in Fes.

After breakfast, you will explore Fez, the cultural capital, is one of the most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Passing through the gates and walls into the alleyways beyond transports you back in time. The streets are just as they were when they were built in the 8th century, with high walls that protect the courtyards inside from the heat of the midday sun. Enormous theosophical colleges, beautiful mosques and fascinating souks spilling their goods onto the pavement are all part of the scene. You will have a walking tour to some of the major points of interest as well as some free time to wander. You’ll visit the Place an-Nejjarine, where an ancient caravanserai overlooks a fountain; wander outside the great Qayrawan mosque, passing 14th century merchant's shops; or head to the tanneries - where leather is stained in vats of strikingly colored dyes. In the souk al- Attarine the scent of exotic spices fills the air and close by a hammam, or traditional bathhouse, steams away the stresses of life

Morning departure around 9am. Leaving the cultural capital of Morocco behind we’ll drive into the pam tree oasis of the Ziz Valley via the cedar forest of Azrou where you will see colony of Barbary apes. From here we start climbing down the route of the Middle Atlas with a lunch stop in Midelt. As we start approaching Errachidia and Erfoud reaching Merzouga and the magnificent apricot colored sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Here we head off into the vastness of the dunes on a camel caravan accompanied by camelteers. You can ride or walk alongside as you slip into the pace of the caravan led by Berber guides and marvel at the awesome spectacle of the desert and the solitude a silence that comes with it. The camel trek can be as short or as long as you wish. As evening falls we retreat to the comforts of our desert camp.Nothing compares to the millions of stars, silence and peacefulness of the Sahara. We sleep in luxury tents feeling like we walk into one of the stories from the Arabian nights

Wake up to enjoy the sunset over Erg Chebbi desert dunes which will be the highlight and the best moment of your Morocco desert tour. Today we depart to Todra Gorge, a spectacular gash in the hills that surrounds Tinerhir. The cliffs loom above as you approach the mouth of the Todra Gorge. Rising 300m, the honey-colored hues of the sheer face change constantly as the sun moves across the sky. Nomads can often been seen in the gorge. Many deserted Kasbahs, mud brick villages and green oasis, dot the whole area: A photographer’s paradise! Then we pass the city of Tinghir and onto the home of Rose valley, Kellaa Mgouna where you will stay overnight in a nice authentic Kasbah.

Following the breakfast, we will take onto the road of Thousand Kasbahs passing the Skoura Oasis to Ouarzazate. We will continue towards Kasbah Ait ben Haddou which was once an important stop along the caravan routes that carried salt from the Sahara and on return, gold and ivory.This is probably the best-preserved fortified Kasbah in the country. With its dramatic walls of red earth, slit windows and crumbling towers, it is a magnificent example of a traditional stronghold. Chosen as a location for Hollywood films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel in the Nile, and more recently Gladiator, Ait Ben Haddou sits upon a lofty pinnacle of rock overlooking a river. Dating from around the 15th century, its importance as a trading post gradually waned, and today's inhabitants eke a living from farming... and as film extras! You will start crossing the breathtaking Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n‘Tichka pass, the direct route towards Marrakech. It is spectacular and dramatic road that presents astonishing views of the snow topped peaks of the Atlas as well as many Berber villages. Drop off at your Riad around 5 pm.