Day 1: Tangier – Tetouan – Chaouen
The first day of this Morocco tour in 5 days is dedicated to discover the main attractions of the north of the country. Upon arrival in Tangier, the staff of our agency will pick you up at the port or at the airport in a private vehicle to start the route. Depending on the arrival time of the plane or ferry, the itinerary could make its first stop in Tetouan, a city declared World Heritage Site and full of attractions. Among them, its white historical medina and the Spanish influence still visible in its streets, as it was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate in the first half of the 20th century.
In the afternoon you will arrive in Chaouen or Chefchaouen, also called ‘the blue city’ for the wonderful appearance of its historic center, full of houses painted in this color. You will freely visit the picturesque narrow streets of the medina and you will reach viewpoints with spectacular panoramic views, from where you can see the crowded urban center of the town and the mountainous environment of the Rif. In the evening you will rest in a charming riad located in the medina.
Day 2: Chaouen – Fez
After breakfast at the riad in Chaouen, our express tour of Morocco in 5 days takes us to Fez. We will arrive in this city after a road trip that will leave behind the mountains and forests of the Rif, to end in this city declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco thanks to its history and beauty.
And therefore, we will spend the rest of the day to know its attractions, with the help of an official guide. His visit will lead us through the most important places, many of them in the medina and its surroundings. One of them may be the Al-Karaouine Mosque, which houses the medersa of the same name and one of the oldest educational institutions of Islam. Or the Nejjarine square, with its famous Fountain. Or the Bou Inania medersa, the tanners’ quarter, the Mellah or the golden gates of the royal palace, among other options.
After the guided tour, there will be free time for shopping in its prestigious craft souks or to expand your knowledge of the city in its museums. At the end of the day, you will enjoy a well-deserved night’s rest in a charming riad.
Day 3: Fez – Ifrane – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert Dunes
After breakfast, which is included in the riad in Fez, we will head south to reach the Sahara desert. On the way, there will be landscapes and places of great interest, where we can stop to take pictures and get to know some of its charms.
One of these first stops may be Ifrane, known as the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’ for its striking gabled buildings: in winter it is covered with snow, as it is located at 1,713 meters above sea level, in the middle of the Middle Atlas. The landscape has already become greener and wooded, as we can see for ourselves in the Cedar National Park, located between this town and Azrou, which is also called the Monkey Park because of the large population of Barbary monkeys, in danger of extinction.
Crossing the Middle Atlas, we will cross the Ziz Valley to Erfoud, already in the desert and famous for its wealth of fossils and marble quarries. And soon after we will arrive at the last town, Merzouga, where we will climb aboard another means of transport: the dromedaries (replaceable by 4×4). On the back of these animals we will reach the spectacular dunes of Erg Chebbi. In this golden sea, the light of the sunset reaches a unique magical color.
The camel ride concludes in our tents camp, located in the heart of the desert. A Berber tea will be waiting for us as a welcoming gesture. Here you will have dinner and rest for the night in a traditional Berber tent. All this under a starry sky of unparalleled brilliance.
Day 4: Merzouga desert dunes – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley – Ouarzazate
In this circuit of Morocco in 5 days, the fourth day lends itself to get up early: watching the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi is a unique spectacle. After that and after breakfast at the camp, we will climb back on the backs of camels to return to the town of Merzouga. There will also be time for a shower (at the camp or in a hotel, depending on the package contracted).
From Merzouga we will continue our roadtrip by private vehicle. The first stop will be Rissani, a desert town that still maintains an interesting traditional life, visible in its medina, its market and its donkey parking. From here we will head to the Dades Valley and its surroundings, and the road will bring us some special surprises. For example, the Todra Gorges, a rocky canyon with natural walls that reach 200 meters in some points.
Along the road, some palm groves dot the landscape, in ‘competition’ with the Berber fortresses made of adobe: this announces that we are on the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs. And we will be lucky enough to visit one on this day: Taourirt, in Ouarzazate, a city known as the Hollywood of Morocco for its film studios.
After visiting the aforementioned Taourirt Kasbah, with its traditional Berber architecture (adobe, ceramics, wood, etc.), we will spend the night in a hotel in Ouarzazate, where dinner is also included.
Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Breakfast on the fifth day will give us strength to complete the final leg of this circuit of Morocco in 5 days. The first stop on the route will be a few kilometers from Ouarzazate: the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village in good condition. In addition to maintaining intact its traditional Berber charm, it was declared a World Heritage Site for its high historical and artistic value. Game of Thrones fans will recognize it because scenes from the third season of the series were filmed here.
After visiting this ksar, we will return to the road, this time with the objective of crossing the High Atlas through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at about 2,260 meters above sea level. On the ascent and descent, there will be a succession of panoramic views and typical villages perched on the slopes, inviting to be captured by a camera.
From here, we are only about 100 km away from Marrakech, the final destination of this day and of this circuit of Morocco in 5 days. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a free afternoon and a night in a charming riad, located in the medina.
TOURIST PACKAGE INCLUDED
- Pick up and drop off at the airport
- Comfortable private transportation with air conditioning
- English speaking driver / tour guide
- Sandboarding in the desert
- Camel ride
TOURIST PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS
- Plane tickets
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Tickets
