Discover Morocco from north to south on this 5 Days Tour from Tangier to Marrakech. Start in Tangier and spend your first night in Chefchaouen, when the blue streets become quieter and the town feels more like itself.
From there, travel through the old lanes of Fes, sleep in the Sahara Desert, follow the traditional Kasbah road through Dades, and finish in Marrakech. In just five days, you’ll experience mountains, medinas, desert and valleys, each stop completely different from the last.
Unlike the faster four-day itinerary, this journey is part of our wider collection of Morocco tours from Tangier.
Your private tour from Tangier begins with flexible pickup from a Tangier hotel, Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, or the ferry port. We usually recommend leaving around 9:00 AM, although pickup can be adjusted to your arrival and travel plans. The drive to Chefchaouen takes about two hours through the green, often misty Rif Mountains, with a panoramic stop overlooking Nakhla Dam.
You normally arrive around lunchtime. If the room is ready, we help you check in; otherwise, your driver recommends restaurants that suit your dietary needs before you explore independently. Chefchaouen is easy to enjoy on foot, and your driver explains a simple route through the blue medina lanes, Outa El Hammam Square, Ras El Maa, and the Spanish Mosque.
The hillside medina is pedestrian-only and includes steps, so we drive to the closest accessible point and assist with directions and luggage. For quieter photographs, explore early the following morning; the Spanish Mosque is especially busy at sunset. Overnight in Chefchaouen includes breakfast. Dinner can be added on request.
After breakfast, we recommend departing Chefchaouen around 9:00 AM and driving directly to Fes, which takes approximately four hours before stops. Stops include an accessible viewpoint outside Chefchaouen and Sidi Chahed Dam, which supplies surrounding farms.
In Fes, the half-day guided visit begins by vehicle at the Royal Palace gates and Mellah before continuing to Borj Sud for a broad city view. You then explore the UNESCO-listed Medina of Fes on foot, entering near Bab Boujloud and walking through artisan quarters toward the tannery viewpoint. Al Quaraouiyine can be viewed only from publicly accessible exterior areas because it remains an active mosque.
Afterward, we help you check in at a riad within a short walk of an accessible meeting point. Breakfast is included; lunch can be taken in the medina, dinner recommendations are provided, and entrance fees are paid locally. A Volubilis and Meknes detour can be arranged, but it reduces the Fes visit. Travelers wanting both should consider our six-day Tangier tour.
After breakfast, departure is usually around 8:00 AM. Winter departures allow extra time for snow or road changes. The first stops are Ifrane and the cedar forest near Azrou. Barbary macaques may be seen, but wildlife is never guaranteed, and we do not recommend feeding them. Imagine Morocco route specialist Houssain recommends keeping a jacket nearby because Ifrane can be cold.
Instead of a crowded Midelt stop, we usually suggest lunch in Er-Rich or Errachidia. The road then reaches the Ziz Valley viewpoint, a green ribbon of palms marking the approach to Merzouga. Driving time is about seven hours, excluding visits and meal stops.
At Merzouga, choose a camel ride or 4×4 transfer to camp. The camel route pauses on a high dune for sunset. Your luggage travels safely with camp staff; carry only a small bag and an extra layer. Comfort-category tents include a private bathroom, shower, and charging. Dinner, breakfast, and the desert-camp night are included. This route also forms part of our three-day Fes to Marrakech tour.
Sunrise is optional, but we recommend waking early to see the changing light over Erg Chebbi before breakfast. You can return from camp by camel or 4×4. Most guests choose the 4×4 after the one-way camel ride for a different desert experience.
When the schedule allows, visit Rissani’s working local market, where traditional crafts are still sold. The journey then follows the quieter Alnif road toward Tinghir and Todra Gorge. Depending on timing, stops may include an old khettara irrigation system or seasonal scenes of grazing camels, sheep, and goats. Lunch is usually in Tinejdad or near Todra Valley.
At Todra Gorge, follow the easy riverside trail for a short walk. Continue through palm groves and mountain villages toward Dades Valley, stopping at viewpoints and the Monkey Fingers formations when the hotel location allows. Driving takes about four hours without stops. The shorter four-day Tangier route covers this region at a faster pace. Dinner and breakfast are included, and dietary needs are shared with the hotel in advance.
After breakfast, leave Dades early to reach Ait Ben Haddou before the busiest part of the day. Valley of Roses and Ouarzazate studio stops are optional. Kasbah Amridil can also be discussed as an alternative cultural stop.
Allow about one hour to explore the UNESCO-listed ksar. Access is free; your driver explains optional guide arrangements. If all optional stops are included, lunch is usually near Ait Ben Haddou; otherwise, we recommend eating in the High Atlas Mountains.
Continue across the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka, with scenic and rest stops along the winding road. Driving time is approximately six hours without visits, although mountain traffic, construction, and weather can cause delays. Arrival in Marrakech is normally around 5:00 PM and can be adjusted. We contact your accommodation and ensure you reach the hotel or closest riad meeting point before saying goodbye. Marrakech accommodation is not included unless requested in advance, and a same-evening flight is not recommended. Explore our tours from Marrakech to continue your trip.
The 4 days tour from Tangier to Marrakech route reaches the same major destinations but leaves almost no time to explore Fes. This five-day itinerary adds a half day guided visit without changing the classic three-day desert journey between Fes and Marrakech.
Five days is still a relatively fast way to cross Morocco. Travelers wanting more time in Chefchaouen, shorter driving days or additional Merzouga activities should consider the 6 Day or 8 Day tours from Tangier.
This route was designed with the experience of the Imagine Morocco team, including local members from the Merzouga region. The itinerary explains the real driving times, overnight locations and sightseeing possibilities instead of presenting every stop as a full visit.
Imagine Morocco can also arrange local desert experiences, accommodation upgrades and direct phone or video consultations before booking. Exact hotels, room types, desert-camp facilities and included meals are confirmed in every quotation.
Prices for our 5 Days Tour from Tangier to Marrakech start from €495 per person, based on four travellers choosing standard accommodation. The final price depends on the number of travellers, travel dates and selected accommodation category.
Standard options provide clean local accommodation with essential facilities, while mid-range packages normally include comfortable riads and private en-suite rooms. Luxury packages use upgraded properties and a more refined en-suite desert camp.
Yes. Imagine Morocco can customize this private five-day itinerary to match each customer’s arrival time, interests and preferred pace.
We have organized tours from the Tangier region for many years, with pickup available from Tanger Med International Port, Tangier City or Medina Port, Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, or your hotel or riad in Tangier.
The route can also be adjusted to suit your preferences—for example, spending more time exploring Chefchaouen, changing accommodation categories or coordinating the departure with your flight or ferry schedule.
Yes, five days allows time for Chefchaouen, a complete Fes visit and the Merzouga Desert. However, travelers should expect several long driving days.
Yes. Chefchaouen is visited on the first day. An overnight stay is planned here as it is one of the tour highlights.
Yes. Pickup can be arranged from the airport, ferry port or a Tangier hotel. A morning pickup is recommended.
Yes. Standard, mid-range and luxury accommodation categories are available. Facilities and the exact camp should be confirmed in the quotation.
It can be arranged for families, but parents should consider the long drive from Fes to Merzouga. A private tour allows additional comfort stops.
Spring and autumn generally offer comfortable weather. Summer is very hot around Merzouga, while winter nights can be cold in the mountains and desert.
Yes. Tangier and the north in general are good starting points for traveling deeper into the country.
