A private 7-day, one-way tour from Tangier to Marrakech via Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, a full day in Fes, and a night in the Merzouga dunes, returning through the Dades Valley, Todra Gorge and Ait Ben Haddou — for travelers arriving from Spain who want the Sahara included without a separate booking.
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Departure
Tangier
Destination
Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech
From
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How long is the Tangier to Marrakech Sahara tour?
This private tour runs 7 days and 6 nights, starting in Tangier and ending in Marrakech, with stops in Chefchaouen, Fes and a night in a desert camp near Merzouga along the way.
Why include the desert on a Tangier departure
Our original Tangier to Marrakech route covers the north and the imperial cities but stops short of the Sahara, since reaching Merzouga and returning to a southbound route adds real distance. This version builds the detour in from the start, so travelers arriving from Spain don’t need a separate desert booking once they reach Marrakech or Fes — the whole crossing, coast to desert to Marrakech, runs as one continuous private trip.
Route and stops
The first three days follow the same corridor as our 6-day Tangier tour — Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes and a full day in Fes — before turning south through the Middle Atlas to Merzouga rather than cutting directly to Marrakech. The return leg then picks up the classic desert route home: the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, crossing the High Atlas into Marrakech on the final day.
A practical route for ferry arrivals
Because pick-up is available directly from the Tangier ferry port, this tour is often used by travelers who’ve just crossed from Tarifa or Algeciras and want their whole Moroccan itinerary — north, imperial cities and desert — booked as a single private trip rather than pieced together separately once they reach Marrakech.
Who this itinerary suits
This is the tour for travelers entering Morocco through Tangier who want the Sahara Desert included in their route south, rather than treating it as a separate add-on later. If the desert isn’t a priority and you’d rather stay in the north and return to Tangier, our 5-Day Northern Morocco Tour covers Chefchaouen, Tetouan and the coast as a round trip instead.
Tour Highlights
●Start in Tangier, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, with pick-up available directly from the ferry port
●A night in Chefchaouen's blue-painted medina, tucked into the Rif Mountains
●The Roman ruins of Volubilis and Meknes' monumental Bab Mansour gate
●A full guided day in the Fes medina, including the Chouara tanneries
●Cross the Middle Atlas cedar forests near Ifrane, home to wild Barbary macaques
●Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, with a night in a desert camp
●The Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley on the road back west
●The Ait Ben Haddou ksar before crossing the High Atlas into Marrakech
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Tangier to Chefchaouen
Pick-up from the Tangier ferry port, airport or your hotel, with a short stop at Cape Spartel and the Hercules Caves on the way out of the city if time allows. Head south through Tetouan and into the Rif Mountains, arriving in Chefchaouen with time to see its blue-washed streets before dinner.
Day 2
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Head south out of the Rif Mountains to Volubilis, where mosaic floors and standing columns mark a former Roman provincial capital, then continue to Meknes for the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the vast royal stables built under Sultan Moulay Ismail. Arrive in Fes in the evening.
Day 3
Fes Medina
A full day guided through Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world: the Chouara tanneries, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university district, and the covered souks.
Day 4
Fes to Merzouga via the Middle Atlas
Cross the Middle Atlas cedar forests near Ifrane and Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques, before following the Ziz Valley south toward Merzouga. In the late afternoon, set off by camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes, reaching the desert camp in time for sunset, dinner and a night under the stars.
Day 5
Sunrise in the dunes and on to the Dades Valley
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes before riding back to Merzouga by camel. After breakfast, head west through the Todra Gorge for a walk beneath its towering red cliffs before continuing to the Dades Valley for the night.
Day 6
Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou
Continue west through Ouarzazate and the Rose Valley to the Ait Ben Haddou ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Arrive in Marrakech in the evening.
Day 7
Departure from Marrakech
The tour ends after breakfast, with free time before your onward flight, or the option to extend your stay in Marrakech.
What's Included
✓Private, air-conditioned vehicle for the entire route, with fuel and toll costs covered
✓English-speaking driver throughout, present for all 7 days rather than swapped between regions
✓Hotel or riad accommodation for all 6 nights
✓A local guide for the Fes medina walk
✓One night in a desert camp at Merzouga, including the camel trek
✓Dinner at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley area
✓Daily breakfast
✓Bottled water in the vehicle every day
What's Not Included
✕International or domestic flights and ferry tickets
✕Most lunches and some dinners
✕Entrance fees to monuments (roughly €65 per person across the whole route)
✕Tips for your driver, guide and camp staff
✕Travel insurance
Accommodation
Six nights are included across Chefchaouen, Fes (two nights), a desert camp at Merzouga, the Dades Valley area, and Marrakech. Hotels and riads default to a comfortable mid-range standard, with the option to upgrade any stop to a higher category, and the desert camp can be arranged as a shared-tent setup or a private tent with its own bathroom.
Important Information
This tour ends in Marrakech rather than returning to Tangier — a practical option if your onward flight leaves from Marrakech, or if you're continuing your trip south from there.
The longest driving day is from Fes to Merzouga, crossing the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley; expect around 7 to 8 hours with stops.
The camel trek to the desert camp can be substituted with a 4x4 transfer on request.
If you'd rather stay in the north and return to Tangier instead of continuing to the desert and Marrakech, our 5-Day Northern Morocco Tour covers Chefchaouen, Tetouan and the coast as a round trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start this tour right after arriving by ferry from Spain?+
Yes — pick-up is available directly from the Tangier ferry port, so this tour works well as a continuous itinerary for travelers crossing from Tarifa or Algeciras.
How does this differ from your 6-day Tangier to Marrakech tour?+
The 6-day tour covers Chefchaouen and Fes before crossing the Middle Atlas directly to Marrakech, without a desert stop. This 7-day version adds a night in the Merzouga dunes and the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge on the way, for travelers who want the Sahara included without booking it separately.
Does this tour return to Tangier?+
No, it's a one-way route ending in Marrakech. If you need to return to Tangier — for a ferry back to Spain, for example — let us know when booking and we can discuss options, or consider our round-trip 5-Day Northern Morocco Tour instead if the desert isn't a priority.
Is 7 days enough for this route?+
It's a full itinerary covering the north, the imperial cities and the desert in one trip, so expect a mix of longer driving days and full sightseeing days. If you'd like more time in any one region, ask us about extending specific stops when booking.
Book This Tour
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