Discover Morocco in 12 days tour from Tangier, exploring imperial cities, ancient medinas, desert landscapes, gorges, kasbahs, and coastal towns. Visit Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga Desert, Dades and Todra Gorges, Aït Ben Haddou, Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat, Asilah, and return to Tangier. Experience Morocco’s rich history, vibrant culture, traditional crafts, and authentic Berber and Arab heritage.
Tour Highlights: 12 days tour from Tangier
• Chefchaouen: Blue streets, Andalusian architecture, artisan shops
• Fes: Medieval medina, tanneries, Al Quaraouiyine University
• Merzouga Desert: Camel trek, desert sunrise and sunset, Berber music
• Todra & Dades Gorges: Dramatic rock formations, Berber kasbahs
• Skoura & Ouarzazate: Oasis, kasbahs, film studios
• Aït Ben Haddou: UNESCO Kasbah and historic fortified village
• Marrakech: Guided medina tour, souks, Jemaa el-Fna Square
• Essaouira: Coastal medina, fishing port, ramparts
• Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque, Corniche
• Rabat: Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Kasbah of the Oudayas
• Asilah: Whitewashed medina, art murals
• Tangier: Kasbah, medina, Corniche
Itinerary 12 days tour from Tangier
Day 1: Tangier – Chefchaouen
Begin your Moroccan journey in Tangier, a historic port city at the crossroads of Africa and Europe. Meet your private driver and leave the city, driving south through the scenic Rif Mountains. Stop along the way in traditional Berber villages and enjoy the views of lush valleys and rolling hills. Arrive in Chefchaouen, the iconic Blue City, famous for its blue-painted streets and Andalusian architecture. Wander through the medina and discover artisanal shops selling wool, pottery, and traditional crafts. Absorb the calm atmosphere, and visit the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views of the city surrounded by the Rif Mountains. Chefchaouen is not just photogenic—it reflects Morocco’s centuries-old blend of Berber and Andalusian culture. Overnight stay in a riad.
Day 2: Chefchaouen – Fes
After breakfast, depart Chefchaouen and journey to Fes, Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual heart. Travel through fertile valleys and small Berber villages, observing traditional lifestyles along the way. Upon arrival in Fes, settle into your riad and enjoy dinner. If time permits, take a short evening stroll through the medina, experiencing the city’s atmosphere as locals close the day. Fes has been Morocco’s center of learning and culture since the 9th century, with its medina considered one of the world’s most extensive and oldest living medieval cities. Overnight stay in Fes.
Day 3: Full-Day Fes Guided Tour
Spend the day exploring Fes with a licensed local guide. Visit the UNESCO-listed Fès el-Bali medina, a labyrinth of narrow streets, ancient madrasas, and bustling souks. Explore Al Quaraouiyine University, founded in 859 AD, the world’s oldest continuously operating university. Witness the traditional leather tanneries, where hides are dyed in open stone vats a craft unchanged for centuries. Learn about Morocco’s rich history under various dynasties and the blend of Arab, Berber, and Andalusian culture. Enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine in a local restaurant before returning to your riad for overnight stay.
Day 4: Fès – Middle Atlas – Merzouga Desert
Leave Fès early and traverse the Middle Atlas Mountains, known for their cedar forests and unique landscapes. Stop in Ifrane, “Morocco’s Switzerland,” with its European-style architecture and pristine streets. Continue through cedar forests, where you may spot Barbary macaques in their natural habitat. Descend into the Ziz Valley, passing oases and palm groves that have sustained local communities for centuries. Arrive in Merzouga and embark on a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Experience the magical sunset over the golden sands and enjoy a night in a Berber desert camp, listening to traditional music under a sky filled with stars a quintessential Moroccan desert experience.
Day 5: Sahara Sunrise – Merzouga – Todra Gorges
Wake early to witness the sunrise over the Sahara dunes, a breathtaking spectacle of shifting sands and desert light. After breakfast, depart Merzouga and drive toward Todra Gorges. Walk along the dramatic canyon with towering limestone cliffs, formed over millions of years by natural erosion and river flow. Continue to the Dades Valley, known for its striking “Monkey Fingers” rock formations. Along the way, observe the traditional mud-brick kasbahs, which illustrate Morocco’s historical defensive architecture and the ingenuity of Berber communities. Overnight stay in Dades Valley.
Day 6: Dades – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech
After breakfast, drive through the Valley of Roses, famous for its fragrant blooms and Berber festivals. Visit Skoura Oasis and its centuries-old kasbahs, showcasing Morocco’s rich architectural heritage. Continue to Ouarzazate, nicknamed the “Hollywood of Morocco,” home to historic kasbahs and major film studios where international movies have been shot. Visit Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and explore the fortified village’s mud-brick towers and labyrinthine streets. Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka Pass, admiring panoramic views of jagged peaks and traditional villages. Arrive in Marrakech in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Full-Day Marrakech Guided Tour
Explore Marrakech, Morocco’s vibrant imperial city. Visit the medina, Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, and the opulent Bahia Palace. Stroll through souks selling spices, textiles, and handmade crafts. Experience the energy of Jemaa el-Fna Square, where storytellers, musicians, and performers showcase centuries of Moroccan oral tradition. Learn about Marrakech’s role in Moroccan history as a political, cultural, and trade center. Return to your riad for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Marrakech – Essaouira
Leave Marrakech and drive to the Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira. Explore the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Portuguese, French, and Moroccan influences. Walk along the historic ramparts overlooking the ocean, watch fishermen at work, and enjoy the local seafood cuisine. Essaouira has a rich cultural history as a fortified port city and a hub for music, art, and trade. Overnight stay in Essaouira.
Day 9: Essaouira – Casablanca – Rabat
Depart Essaouira and drive north along the Atlantic coast. Stop in Casablanca to visit Hassan II Mosque, an architectural marvel built on the ocean’s edge. Walk along the Corniche and observe modern Moroccan urban life. Continue to Rabat, the capital city, to visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Hassan Tower, and Kasbah of the Oudayas. Explore the medina and learn about Rabat’s history as a center of governance and culture. Overnight stay in Rabat.
Day 10: Rabat – Asilah – Tangier
Leave Rabat and drive along the Atlantic coast to Asilah, a charming whitewashed town with colorful murals and a thriving arts scene. Explore the medina and enjoy views of the ocean. Continue to Tangier, a city historically known as a cultural crossroads of Africa and Europe. Check into your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Tangier – Optional Cultural Excursion
Spend the day exploring Tangier’s historic Kasbah, the medina, and the Mendoubia Gardens. Learn about Tangier’s rich history as a strategic port city connecting Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Visit the American Legation Museum and walk along the Corniche. Immerse yourself in the fusion of Moroccan, European, and Mediterranean influences. Overnight stay in Tangier.
Day 12: Tangier – Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast in Tangier. Depending on your departure schedule, take a last stroll through the medina or relax at your hotel. Depart for the airport, port, or hotel drop-off, concluding your 12 days tour from Tangier with unforgettable memories of history, culture, and landscapes.
What’s Included
• Pick-up and drop-off in Tangier (hotel, airport, or port)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide
• Guided tours of Fes and Marrakech
• Accommodation for 11 nights in hotels or riads
• 1 night in Merzouga desert camp
• Camel trek in Erg Chebbi dunes (one camel per person)
• Daily breakfast
• Dinner in Dades Valley and desert camp
• Fuel, road taxes, and transportation costs
What’s Not Included
• Lunches and drinks
• Entrance fees to attractions (except guided tours in Fes and Marrakech)
• Personal expenses and tips
• Flights to and from Morocco
