Eight days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Morocco. This private one-way tour starts in Marrakech, crosses the High Atlas to the Sahara for two nights at Merzouga, spends a full guided day in Fes and finishes in the Blue City of Chefchaouen, with a drop-off in Tangier, Fes or Casablanca at the end.
This 8 day Morocco tour covers the country’s highlights in one direction, from Marrakech to the Blue City, without backtracking.
This route covers Morocco’s greatest hits at a comfortable pace, without backtracking. You cross the High Atlas and visit Ait Ben Haddou, drive the Dades and Todra gorges, sleep in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend a full day around Merzouga. Then you cross the Middle Atlas to Fes for a day in its medieval medina, visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis on the way north, and finish with two nights in Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains.
On the last day, we drive you to Tangier (for the ferry to Spain or your flight), back to Fes or to Casablanca airport. Want to end in Marrakech? See our 10-day Marrakech, Sahara and Blue City loop.
At Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes rise to around 150 meters, among the tallest in Morocco. The Medina of Fez, founded in the 9th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Chefchaouen, founded in 1471 in the Rif Mountains, is famous for its blue-washed medina.
The best months for a full Morocco circuit are March to May and September to November, when both the cities and the desert are comfortable. Summer is hot inland and in the Sahara, and winter brings cold desert nights and snow in the mountains.
Your 8 day Morocco tour starts with a morning pickup from your riad or hotel in Marrakech. The road climbs into the High Atlas and crosses the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 m, with Berber villages and wide mountain views along the way.
In the afternoon, walk up through the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous film location. Continue past Ouarzazate and through the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight at a hotel with views of the gorge.
After breakfast, drive up the Dades Gorge to see its winding road and red rock formations. Continue east to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, where you walk between towering canyon walls.
The route then crosses the desert plains to Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the late afternoon, ride a camel into the Sahara and watch the sunset over the dunes. Spend the night in a desert camp, with dinner, music around the fire and a sky full of stars.
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. After breakfast, spend the day discovering life around Merzouga with your driver-guide.
Listen to Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia, explore the market town of Rissani and visit the nomad areas around the dunes. Sandboarding and quad biking are available as options. In the evening, check into a hotel at the edge of the dunes for a comfortable second night in the Sahara.
This is the longest drive of the tour, broken up by some of Morocco’s most varied scenery. Head north through the Ziz Valley, a canyon lined with palm groves and old kasbahs, to Errachidia and Midelt.
Cross the Middle Atlas through the cedar forests near Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques, and stop in Ifrane, a mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco. Arrive in Fes in the early evening and check into a riad in or near the medina.
Spend a full day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed local guide. This UNESCO-listed medina is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.
Visit the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas and see the outside of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 and often called the oldest university in the world. Look over the Chouara tannery from a terrace, then walk through the souks to meet coppersmiths, weavers and leather craftsmen at work. The evening is free to relax in your riad or try Fassi cuisine in the medina.
Leave Fes for Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its mosaics and triumphal arch. Continue to the nearby hilltop town of Moulay Idriss, one of the holiest places in the country.
In the afternoon, drive north through the green foothills of the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. Check into your riad in the Blue City and take an evening walk through its blue-washed lanes.
Enjoy a free day to explore the blue medina of Chefchaouen at your own pace. Visit the kasbah and its small museum on Outa el Hammam square, or browse the local crafts in the lanes around it.
In the late afternoon, walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset views over the town and the Rif Mountains. You can also hike to the Ras el Maa waterfall. Your driver-guide can suggest routes, viewpoints and restaurants.
After breakfast, your private 8 day Morocco tour ends with a transfer to your final stop.
Choose Tangier (about 2.5 hours) for the ferry to Spain or a flight, Fes (about 3.5 hours) for the airport or the train, or Casablanca (about 5 hours) for Mohammed V International Airport. We plan the departure time around your ferry, flight or train.
How much does the 8-day Morocco tour cost?
Our private 8-day Morocco tour from Marrakech to Chefchaouen starts from $1,090 per person, based on 2 travelers. That includes the private vehicle and driver-guide, 7 nights in riads, hotels and a desert camp, the camel ride, a licensed guide in Fes, daily breakfast and 3 dinners. Upgrades to luxury riads are available. Send us your dates for an exact quote.
Is 8 days enough to see Morocco?
Yes, for the highlights: Marrakech’s surroundings, the Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen. Add a day or two at the start to explore Marrakech itself.
Where does the tour end?
In Chefchaouen, with a transfer on the last day to Tangier, Fes or Casablanca, whichever suits your onward travel.
Is this tour private?
Yes. You travel only with your group, in your own vehicle with a driver-guide, and the itinerary can be adjusted.
Can I take the ferry to Spain at the end?
Yes. Tangier is about 2.5 hours from Chefchaouen, and ferries run from Tangier to Tarifa and Algeciras.
What kind of hotels are included?
Comfortable, characterful riads and hotels, chosen for location and cleanliness. Upgrades to luxury riads and camps are available.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
March to May and September to November. Summer is hot in the desert and Fes, and winter brings cold nights in the Sahara and the Middle Atlas.
