8 DAY TRIP FROM TANGIER TO MARRAKECH NORTH, SOUTH AND CENTER

DAY 1: TANGIER – TETUAN – CHAOUEN

Pick up at the Port or Airport of Tangier according to arrival time with a sign that says the name of our agency brothersideatours and start of the route towards Chaouen, a mysterious town founded as a secret place from which to attack the Portuguese settled on the northern coast of the country. Entry to the town was totally forbidden to Europeans until the arrival of the Spanish troops in 1920. It is located within a natural biosphere reserve. Chaouen is a holy city perched on the mountain, its streets painted white and blue, a town of wise, kind and respectful people, and that offer the visitor beautiful declining urban panoramas, precious samples of local crafts and a peace and serenity that is difficult to find today. Arrival in Chaouen and free afternoon. Accommodation in a riad in the medina.

DAY 2: CHAOUEN – ROMAN RUINS OF VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FEZ

After breakfast, free time to explore the small blue medina of Chaouen, surrounded by the Rif mountains, wandering through its winding streets, entering through any of its 5 doors and letting our senses carry us among its old blue and white houses, full of new smells, colours and sounds. We continue our route towards Fez, skirting the Mamora forest and turning off about 27 km from Meknes (stop to take a walk around its square), where the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis are located. Time to contemplate and walk among the wonderful archaeological remains from the Roman era. Finally, arrival in Fez where we will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

DAY 3: FEZ – FEZ (HISTORICAL AND PANORAMIC TOUR)

After breakfast we will begin the visit of the city, the first of the Imperial Cities, its origins date back to the 8th century. It is also one of the first holy cities of Muslim worship in Morocco and also has the pride of housing one of the oldest universities in the world. When you enter the streets of its medina (old city) you can feel that time goes backwards: the guild structure is still present at work, the narrowness of its streets does not allow any other means of transport than donkeys and a constant swarm of people moves through the labyrinthine alleys in the middle of which we will be surprised by neighborhoods such as the Andalusian neighborhood and magnificent mosques and Koranic schools. Fez has always been associated with study and religion, and remains the spiritual capital of Morocco. After visiting the medina, another option is to wander aimlessly through the streets of Fez-Jdid, where the royal palace, the mellah (Jewish quarter) and the oldest mosque in Fez are located. Night in Fez.

DAY 4: FEZ – IFRANE – AZROU – MIDELT – ERRACHIDIA – ZIZ VALLEY – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA

After breakfast, departure towards Midelt, passing through the mountains and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. Passing through Ifrane, a charming ski resort, and Azrou, an important centre of crafts specialising in cedar woodwork. After the Zad Pass (2178m / 7146ft), we will arrive in Midelt for lunch. In the afternoon, we will descend towards Erfoud and Errachidia through the Ziz Valley, dotted with palm trees. Continue towards the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the afternoon, the dromedaries await us as we enter the desert, as the sun sets, until we reach the tent camp in the middle of the desert of high dunes, where we will spend the night in a tent. Dinner and overnight in a tent under the desert stars.

DAY 5: MERZOUGA – KHAMLIA – RISSANI – TODRA GORGES – DADES GORGES

If you wake up before dawn you can climb to the top of a dune to watch the impressive sunrise and enjoy the sky again, after having spent a night under the stars of the Sahara. Return by camel to the hotel to rest and take a comforting shower and have breakfast. Then we continue our trip with a visit to Khamlia, a village originally from Mali, where you can relax with tea while enjoying a small concert of Gnawa music. We head towards Rissani, where you can visit its interesting African souk, the largest in the area, where inhabitants of the surrounding villages and nomads come to sell their products and livestock and buy the items they need. We continue on our way, where dunes and palm trees appear from time to time, small oases where life takes shape. In just over 2 hours we reach Tinerhir, the most leafy oasis in the south, from where we access the Todra Gorges. We continue the route towards the also spectacular Dades Gorges, with their peculiar mountain formations. Night in Dades.

DAY 6: DADES GORGES – VALLEY OF ROSES – SKOURA – OUARZAZATE – AÏT BEN HADDOU – MARRAKECH

We will continue along the route of the Kasbahs and cross the Valley of the Roses to reach Skoura, where you can walk through its labyrinthine palm grove where multiple Kasbahs are hidden and visit the Kasbah of Ameridil. In Ouarzazate you can see or visit the Kasbah of Taourirt and, if you like cinema, visit the film studios where many famous films have been shot. Next we can turn off towards Aït Benhaddou, one of the largest kasbahs in the whole south, which has kept some parts well preserved thanks to the fact that it has also been used as a setting for many films, such as “Gladiator”. You can walk through its streets and climb to the top where you can contemplate the beautiful views of the valley. We continue towards Marrakech crossing the High Atlas mountains. The road must be travelled slowly, due to its beauty and because it is a mountain pass that crosses the Atlas at almost 2,300m. Finally, arrival in Marrakech, where you can enjoy the magic offered by Jemma el Fna Square. Night in Marrakech.

DAY 7: MARRAKECH – MARRAKECH

Breakfast and free day to visit the most important places in Marrakech, a city famous for its Jemaa el Fna square, which will take up much of your time: an amalgam of aromas, sounds and sensations that cannot be repeated. The city also has countless places to wander around and enjoy: the Majorelle Gardens, the Menara, the Saadian Tombs, walks through the medina or the mellah (the old Jewish quarter), the route of the walls and the modern city (Gueliz) with its Western ways of life. Accommodation in a riad in the medina near Jemma El Fna square, so that you can easily get around the city on foot.

DAY 8: MARRAKECH – MARRAKECH AIRPORT

Breakfast and free day to continue visiting the city. Depending on your flight departure time, transfer to the airport and end of our services.

Take an 8 Day Trip from Tangier to Marrakech. Explore Morocco’s north, south, and center, including Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara, and Atlas Mountains.