This private 6 days tour from Tangier to Marrakech connects northern Morocco with the Sahara Desert and the High Atlas Mountains. Spend your first night in Chefchaouen, continue through Fes and then enjoy two nights in Merzouga—one inside a desert camp and another near the Erg Chebbi dunes.
The additional Sahara day allows you to explore beyond the usual camel ride. You can visit nomadic families, listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia, discover old mining villages, try Berber pizza and choose from optional activities such as quad biking, dune buggies or horse riding.
Imagine Morocco can collect you from Tangier Airport, Tangier Ville Port, Tanger Med Port or your accommodation. The tour is one example of our collection of Morocco tours from Tangier and can be adapted around your arrival time, accommodation preferences and travel interests.
| Duration | 6 days and 5 nights |
|---|---|
| Route | Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes → Merzouga → Dades → Marrakech |
| Overnights | Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga twice and Dades Valley |
| Sahara Experience | Two Merzouga nights, including a desert camp and a full desert exploration day |
| Travel Style | Private, flexible and customizable |
| Tour Pace | Active journey with scenic drives and regular stops |
| Best For | Couples, families, friends and small private groups |
| Tour Finish | Marrakech on the evening of Day 6 |
Your private Morocco tour begins with collection from your hotel, Tangier Airport, Tangier Ville Port or Tanger Med Port. When your arrival time allows, we can start with a short introduction to Tangier, including places such as Cap Spartel, the Kasbah or the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
We then travel through the green landscapes of the Rif Mountains towards Chefchaouen. After arriving, you will have time to explore the blue-painted lanes, small squares, craft shops and relaxed cafés of the old medina. Staying overnight gives you an opportunity to enjoy Chefchaouen after many day-trip visitors have left.
Driving distance: Approximately 115 km
Driving time: Around 2 hours and 30 minutes
Overnight: Chefchaouen
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and some additional time in Chefchaouen before travelling south. Our first major stop is Volubilis, where you can explore the remains of an ancient Roman city, including its mosaics, arches and historic streets.
Continue towards Meknes for lunch and a short introduction to one of Morocco’s imperial cities. Depending on time, you may see Bab Mansour, El Hedim Square and the exterior of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
In the late afternoon, continue to Fes and settle into your riad. The evening is free for dinner and a first walk near the medina.
Driving distance: Approximately 260 km
Driving time: Around 5 hours, excluding visits
Overnight: Fes
Today is one of the longest but most varied driving days of the tour. Leave Fes in the morning and travel into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop in Ifrane, known for its alpine-style architecture, before continuing to the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques are sometimes seen.
After lunch around Midelt, the landscape becomes increasingly dry and dramatic. Cross mountain passes and follow the palm-filled Ziz Valley towards Erfoud and Merzouga.
After arriving near the Erg Chebbi dunes, prepare for a camel ride across the sand as the sun begins to set. A 4×4 transfer can be arranged for guests who prefer not to ride camels. Dinner, local music and your overnight stay are provided at the desert camp.
Driving distance: Approximately 470 km
Driving time: Around 7 to 8 hours, excluding stops
Overnight: Merzouga desert camp
Wake early to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before breakfast at the camp. Afterwards, begin a private 4×4 tour around the Merzouga desert.
The experience may include a visit to the former mining settlement of M’Fis and a stop with a nomadic family living beyond the dunes. Share tea, learn about everyday desert life and see a side of Merzouga that travellers following the quickest routes often miss.
Continue to Khamlia village, where local musicians preserve the Gnawa musical tradition. Around lunchtime, you can try madfouna, sometimes called Berber pizza—a traditional stuffed bread associated with the Tafilalet region.
The afternoon is flexible. You can relax near the dunes, try sandboarding or reserve optional quad biking, dune buggy or horse-riding activities. When conditions allow, we can also visit the seasonal Dayet Srij lake.
The second night is normally spent in a comfortable hotel or riad near the dunes, giving you time to rest after the camp experience. A second night at the desert camp can also be arranged on request.
Local driving: Approximately 50–80 km by 4×4
Overnight: Merzouga hotel, riad or desert camp
After breakfast, leave Merzouga and travel towards Rissani. When your visit coincides with a market day, you can explore the traditional souk, where local families trade produce, spices, clothing, livestock and household goods.
Continue through desert towns and changing rocky landscapes towards Tinghir and Todra Gorge. Walk beneath the canyon’s towering walls and enjoy lunch around the gorge before continuing towards Dades Valley.
The afternoon journey follows a scenic road through old villages, cultivated valleys and unusual rock formations. Dinner and accommodation are provided at a hotel or traditional guesthouse in Dades.
Driving distance: Approximately 270 km
Driving time: Around 4 hours and 30 minutes, excluding stops
Overnight: Dades Valley
After breakfast, travel through the Valley of Roses towards Skoura and Ouarzazate. Depending on your interests and available time, you can stop at Kasbah Amridil or visit one of Ouarzazate’s film studios.
Continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic fortified village built from earth and clay. Walk through its narrow passageways and climb to a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding valley. Visiting earlier in the day is preferable when possible, before the busiest tour groups arrive.
After lunch, cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Stops will be made for mountain views before descending towards Marrakech.
Arrival in Marrakech is normally during the early evening. We will drop you off at your hotel, riad or Marrakech Airport, depending on your travel arrangements.
Driving distance: Approximately 330 km
Driving time: Around 6 hours, excluding visits
Tour ends: Marrakech
The first night is spent in Chefchaouen, giving you more time to experience the blue city in the evening and early morning. Many faster itineraries only stop there briefly during the busiest part of the day.
The route was prepared by the Imagine Morocco team using our experience travelling between northern Morocco, Fes, Merzouga and Marrakech. Our team includes people from the Merzouga area who understand the Sahara, the seasonal conditions and the realistic travel time between destinations.
We also remain honest about the pace. Days three and five involve long drives, but regular stops are made for viewpoints, meals, rest and local visits. The tour is private, so the daily schedule can be adjusted within the limits of the route.
Six days is enough for travellers who want to begin in Tangier, spend a night in Chefchaouen, experience the Merzouga Desert and finish in Marrakech. However, it is an active itinerary covering a large part of Morocco.
This itinerary is ideal for travellers whose main priorities are Chefchaouen and the Sahara Desert. This version includes an overnight stay and free evening in Fez which can be a guided tour of the Fez medina.
Travellers who want a full day in Fes should consider extending the journey to eight days. We prefer to explain this clearly instead of promising more visits than can comfortably fit into six days.
The price depends on the number of travellers, travel dates, room arrangements and selected accommodation category. Private tour prices per person are usually lower when more people share the same vehicle.
On average, the 6-day private tour from Tangier to Marrakech starts from €790 per person, based on four travelers sharing standard or mid-range accommodation.
Contact Imagine Morocco with your dates, number of travellers and preferred category. We will prepare a transparent quotation with the proposed hotels, camp and all confirmed inclusions.
The standard category uses clean, comfortable hotels and riads with private rooms and essential facilities. The desert accommodation is in a traditional camp with the exact bathroom arrangement confirmed before booking.
Our mid-range option normally combines comfortable three- or four-star hotels, well-selected riads and an upgraded desert camp. It offers a good balance between comfort, location and price.
The luxury category includes high-quality boutique riads or five-star properties where available. In Merzouga, accommodation is provided in a luxury desert tent with a private bathroom and enhanced services.
Yes. Night three is normally spent in a Merzouga desert camp, while night four is spent in a hotel or riad near the Erg Chebbi dunes. Two camp nights can also be arranged.
A shorter alternative is the 4 Days from Tangier, where you mainly visit the same places but a faster pace.
The day normally includes a 4×4 desert tour, Khamlia village, Gnawa music and a visit with a nomadic family. Optional quad biking, dune buggies and horse riding can be added.
You will spend the second night in Fes and have a free evening, or a guided medina tour. A seventh day is recommended for that.
Arrival is normally in the early evening on Day 6. The precise time depends on traffic, weather and the duration of visits along the route.
We can collect you from Tangier Airport, Tangier Ville Port, Tanger Med Port or your hotel or riad. Collection from Tanger Med should be confirmed in advance because it is outside central Tangier.
Yes. Transportation is private for your group, and the itinerary can be customized around your arrival time and travel preferences.
No. Travellers who cannot or prefer not to ride camels can reach the Merzouga desert camp by 4×4.
Yes. Standard, mid-range and luxury accommodation packages are available. We will confirm the camp name, room type and bathroom facilities in your quotation.
Experience real Morocco on a 6 days tour from Tangier. Explore the Rif Mountains, the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, and the cultural hub of Fes. Discover Ifrane’s alpine buildings, Azrou’s Cedar Forest with wild apes, and the scenic Ziz Valley. Enjoy a camel ride and overnight at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, witnessing stunning sunsets and sunrises. Visit Rissani’s market, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate film studios, and the UNESCO-listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou while immersing yourself in Berber culture and the Sahara.
Experience real Morocco on a 6 days tour from Tangier. Explore the Rif Mountains, the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, and the cultural hub of Fes. Discover Ifrane’s alpine buildings, Azrou’s Cedar Forest with wild apes, and the scenic Ziz Valley. Enjoy a camel ride and overnight at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, witnessing stunning sunsets and sunrises. Visit Rissani’s market, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate film studios, and the UNESCO-listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou while immersing yourself in Berber culture and the Sahara.
Experience real Morocco on a 6 days tour from Tangier. Explore the Rif Mountains, the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, and the cultural hub of Fes. Discover Ifrane’s alpine buildings, Azrou’s Cedar Forest with wild apes, and the scenic Ziz Valley. Enjoy a camel ride and overnight at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, witnessing stunning sunsets and sunrises. Visit Rissani’s market, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate film studios, and the UNESCO-listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou while immersing yourself in Berber culture and the Sahara.
Experience real Morocco on a 6 days tour from Tangier. Explore the Rif Mountains, the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, and the cultural hub of Fes. Discover Ifrane’s alpine buildings, Azrou’s Cedar Forest with wild apes, and the scenic Ziz Valley. Enjoy a camel ride and overnight at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, witnessing stunning sunsets and sunrises. Visit Rissani’s market, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate film studios, and the UNESCO-listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou while immersing yourself in Berber culture and the Sahara.
Experience real Morocco on a 6 days tour from Tangier. Explore the Rif Mountains, the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, and the cultural hub of Fes. Discover Ifrane’s alpine buildings, Azrou’s Cedar Forest with wild apes, and the scenic Ziz Valley. Enjoy a camel ride and overnight at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, witnessing stunning sunsets and sunrises. Visit Rissani’s market, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate film studios, and the UNESCO-listed Ksar Ait Benhaddou while immersing yourself in Berber culture and the Sahara.