10 Days Tour from Tangier: Chefchaouen, Fes, Sahara Desert, Marrakech and Essaouira
Read the Itinerary ↓Our 10 days tour from Tangier is the classic private loop of Morocco from the Strait of Gibraltar: a night in the Blue City of Chefchaouen, two nights in Fes, the Sahara at Merzouga, the gorges and kasbahs of the south, two nights in Marrakech, the ocean in Essaouira, and the way back up the Atlantic through Casablanca, Rabat and Asilah.
Ten days is the length that lets every place breathe: a full guided day in Fes and another in Marrakech, a real night in Chefchaouen and a seaside evening in Essaouira. You travel privately, only with your own group, in an air-conditioned vehicle with the same driver-guide all the way.
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
|---|---|
| Start | Tangier (pick-up at your hotel, Ibn Battouta Airport, Tanger Ville or Tanger Med port) |
| End | Tangier (drop-off at your hotel, the airport or the port) |
| Desert | Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga (1 night in a desert camp) |
| Tour style | Private tour, customizable |
| Accommodation | 1 night Chefchaouen + 2 Fes + 1 desert camp + 1 Dades + 2 Marrakech + 1 Essaouira + 1 Rabat (see options) |
| Meals | 9 breakfasts and 2 dinners |
| Total distance | About 2,300 km, as a loop |
| Price | On request (see what affects the price) |
Quick answers about the 10 days tour from Tangier
- What does the 10 days tour from Tangier cover? Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat and Asilah.
- Does it end in Tangier? Yes. It is a loop, so you finish at your hotel, the airport or the port for the ferry back to Spain.
- Are there guided visits? Yes. A licensed local guide shows you Fes on day 3 and Marrakech on day 7.
- How many nights in the desert? One, in a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes; a second night can be added.
- What is the longest day? Day 4, Fes to Merzouga, about 470 km and 8 hours with stops.
- What is not included? Lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips.
Highlights of the 10 days tour from Tangier
- A night in Chefchaouen, the Blue City founded in 1471.
- A full guided day in Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
- A camel trek at sunset and a night in a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- The Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley.
- The Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n’Tichka pass, 2,260 m.
- Two nights in Marrakech with a guided tour of the medina.
- A night by the ocean in Essaouira, a UNESCO town since 2001.
- The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat.
- Lunch in the white town of Asilah before the return to Tangier.
Why choose a private 10 day Morocco tour from Tangier?
The ten-day loop is the one we recommend most to travellers who cross from Spain. It covers the north, the imperial cities, the Sahara, the High Atlas and the Atlantic coast, and it ends at the port where it began, so there is no one-way flight and no extra transfer.
It keeps the long drives apart: after the 470 km day to the desert, the next days are shorter, and Marrakech and Essaouira give you time to rest. Read about private vs group tours in Morocco to compare the two formats.
Itinerary of the 10 days tour from Tangier
The plan below is our standard route for the 10 days tour from Tangier. We adjust the stops, the hotels and the camp to your wishes. Distances and driving times do not include stops.
Day 1: Tangier – Rif Mountains – Chefchaouen
Your driver-guide meets you at your hotel, at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or at the port of Tanger Ville or Tanger Med if you arrive on the ferry from Spain to Morocco. Before leaving, there is time for a short drive up to the Kasbah and the Café Hafa terrace, where the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of Spain are often visible, only 14 km away.
The road then climbs into the green Rif Mountains, past villages of farmers and goat herders, to Chefchaouen. Founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali Ben Rachid, the Blue City grew with Andalusian Muslims and Jews who arrived from Spain. Spend the afternoon on foot in the blue lanes, around the Outa el Hammam square and the red-walled kasbah, and climb to the Spanish Mosque for the sunset over the town.
- Driving distance: about 115 km
- Driving time: about 2 hours 15 minutes
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Chefchaouen
- Meals: not included (free choice of restaurant)
Day 2: Chefchaouen – Fes
After breakfast and a last walk in Chefchaouen while the streets are still quiet, you leave the Rif and drive south through the olive groves around Ouezzane and the wheat fields of the Saïss plain.
You reach Fes in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is free to settle in your riad, or your driver-guide can take you to the Borj Nord and the Marinid tombs, where the whole medina of Fes el-Bali spreads below you at sunset. On request, we take the longer road through the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes, which adds about 90 minutes.
- Driving distance: about 200 km
- Driving time: about 4 hours
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Fes
- Meals: breakfast
Day 3: Fes guided tour of the medina
Today a licensed local guide shows you Fes el-Bali, founded in the 9th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. With more than 9,000 lanes, it is the largest car-free urban area in the world, so the visit is on foot and the guide is essential.
You see the Bab Bou Jeloud gate, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, the Nejjarine fountain, and the Chouara tannery seen from a terrace above the dye pits. After lunch, visit Fes el-Jdid with the golden gates of the Royal Palace and the old Mellah.
- Driving distance: city day, on foot
- Driving time: —
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Fes
- Meals: breakfast
Day 4: Fes – Ifrane – Middle Atlas – Merzouga: camel trek and desert camp
Leave Fes after breakfast and climb into the Middle Atlas. Ifrane, built in the 1930s with sloping roofs, is called the Switzerland of Morocco. Near Azrou you stop in the cedar forest to see the Barbary macaques. Have lunch in Midelt, at the foot of the Jbel Ayachi, 3,737 m.
In the afternoon you follow the Ziz Valley, a green ribbon of palm groves between red cliffs, and continue through Erfoud to Merzouga. At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, which rise to about 150 m, you leave the vehicle and ride a camel to your camp for the sunset. Dinner is served in the camp, followed by Berber drums around the fire and a sky full of stars.
- Driving distance: about 470 km
- Driving time: about 8 hours with stops
- Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back by camel and have breakfast. You drive through Rissani, the old caravan town of the Tafilalt, and along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Tinghir.
Walk into the Todra Gorge, where limestone walls up to 300 m high close in to about 10 m apart over a clear stream. In the afternoon you continue to the Dades Valley and its Monkey Fingers rock formations, and sleep in a kasbah hotel overlooking the gorge.
- Driving distance: about 300 km
- Driving time: about 5 hours 30 minutes
- Overnight: hotel or kasbah in the Dades Valley
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 6: Dades Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Leave the Dades Valley through Kalaat M’Gouna, the valley of roses, and the palm grove of Skoura with the Kasbah Amridil. In Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa, you pass the Atlas film studios and the Kasbah Taourirt.
At Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, you climb through the ksar to the old granary for the view. Seen in Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones, it is the best-preserved fortified village in the south. In the afternoon you cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n’Tichka pass, 2,260 m, and reach Marrakech in the early evening.
- Driving distance: about 330 km
- Driving time: about 6 hours 30 minutes
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Meals: breakfast
Day 7: Marrakech guided tour
A licensed local guide takes you through the medina of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. You see the Koutoubia minaret from the 12th century, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, then walk into the souks of the dyers, the metalworkers and the spice sellers.
The afternoon is free for the Majorelle Garden, a hammam or the rooftop cafés. In the evening, walk to Jemaa el-Fna, the square of storytellers, musicians and food stalls, UNESCO-listed as a masterpiece of oral heritage.
- Driving distance: city day, on foot
- Driving time: —
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Meals: breakfast
Day 8: Marrakech – argan country – Essaouira
Leave Marrakech in the morning and cross the flat plain of the Haouz to the argan forest, where goats sometimes climb into the trees. Stop at a women’s cooperative to see how argan oil is pressed by hand.
In Essaouira, the old Mogador and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, walk along the 18th-century ramparts of the Skala, through the medina and down to the blue fishing boats of the port, where you choose fresh fish for lunch. The evening is free by the ocean.
- Driving distance: about 190 km
- Driving time: about 2 hours 45 minutes
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Essaouira
- Meals: breakfast
Day 9: Essaouira – Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque – Rabat
After breakfast you drive north to Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, finished in 1993 on a platform over the Atlantic; its minaret of about 210 m is one of the tallest in the world, and guided visits inside are open to non-Muslims, except on Friday mornings.
After a walk on the Corniche, the motorway follows the coast to Rabat, where you arrive in the early evening and stay in a riad in the medina or a hotel in the new town.
- Driving distance: about 470 km
- Driving time: about 5 hours 30 minutes
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Rabat
- Meals: breakfast
Day 10: Rabat – Asilah – Tangier
In the morning visit Rabat, the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012: the Hassan Tower, the marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the white and blue lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas, above the mouth of the Bou Regreg.
The motorway then takes you north to Asilah, a small white town inside 15th-century Portuguese ramparts, for lunch and a walk past the murals of the medina. You reach Tangier in the late afternoon, where your driver-guide drops you at your hotel, Ibn Battouta Airport or the port for the ferry to Spain. That completes the 10 days tour from Tangier.
- Driving distance: about 250 km
- Driving time: about 3 hours
- Overnight: end of the tour in Tangier
- Meals: breakfast
Gallery of the 10 days tour from Tangier
What is included in the 10 days tour from Tangier
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or the port of Tanger Ville or Tanger Med.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel and tolls.
- English-speaking driver-guide (Spanish or French on request).
- 1 night in Chefchaouen, 2 in Fes, 1 in a desert camp, 1 in the Dades Valley, 2 in Marrakech, 1 in Essaouira and 1 in Rabat.
- Licensed local guides for the medinas of Fes and Marrakech.
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi (one camel per person).
- 9 breakfasts and 2 dinners (desert camp and Dades Valley).
Not included
- Lunches and drinks.
- Entrance fees (Bou Inania, Bahia Palace, Hassan II Mosque, Ait Ben Haddou).
- Extra activities such as sandboarding, quad or buggy rides.
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Ferry tickets, flights and travel insurance.
Map of the 10 days tour from Tangier
In detail, the loop is: Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes (2 nights) → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga (desert camp) → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Tizi n’Tichka → Marrakech (2 nights) → Essaouira → Casablanca → Rabat → Asilah → Tangier.
Accommodation options
Every option of the 10 days tour from Tangier uses the same route, vehicle and driver-guide. Only the level of comfort changes, and we confirm the exact names when you book.
| Option | Cities (Fes, Marrakech, Rabat, Tangier) | Chefchaouen and coast | Desert camp and Dades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Comfortable city hotel or traditional riad, private room with bathroom | Traditional riad or guesthouse | Berber tent; guesthouse in the Dades |
| Superior | Four-star hotel or restored riad with roof terrace | Restored riad with terrace or sea view | Comfort tent with private bathroom; kasbah hotel |
| Luxury | Five-star hotel or palace riad | Boutique riad or hotel | Luxury tent with private bathroom; boutique kasbah |
10 days tour from Tangier price
The price of the 10 days tour from Tangier is on request, because every private tour is quoted for your own group. In practice, four things change it:
- Group size: the price per person falls as more travellers share the vehicle, so couples, families and small groups each get their own quote.
- Accommodation level: standard, superior or luxury riads, kasbahs and desert camps.
- Season: Christmas, New Year, Easter and the spring and autumn peaks book up first.
- Extras: local guides, entrance fees, sandboarding, quad or buggy rides, a private dinner on the dunes.
Send us your dates and the number of travellers through our contact page or on WhatsApp, and we reply with a written quote and no hidden costs. Every Morocco tour package we send already includes the vehicle, fuel, the driver-guide, the hotels, the desert camp and the meals listed below.
How to book this 10 day Morocco tour from Tangier
Booking the 10 days tour from Tangier takes three short messages, and we answer the same day.
- Send your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred accommodation level through the contact form, by email at favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com or on WhatsApp (+212 786 278 943).
- We reply the same day with a personalised itinerary and a clear, all-in price for your group.
- You confirm the dates. Payment by PayPal is accepted, and we explain the details when you book.
- Your driver-guide meets you at your hotel, Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or the port of Tangier on the first morning, holding a sign with your name.
Favorites Morocco Tours vs other Morocco tour companies
Many ten-day Morocco tour packages from Tangier stop in a new city every night. Ours keeps two nights in Fes and two in Marrakech, so you unpack twice and have time for the guided visits, and it closes the loop along the Atlantic instead of driving the same mountain road twice.
We are a local team, so we publish real driving times, keep one driver-guide for the whole trip and never add compulsory shopping stops. For two more days and a full day in Tangier, compare the 12 days tour from Tangier.
Know before you go
- Day 4 (Fes to Merzouga) and day 9 (Essaouira to Rabat) are the longest days, about 8 and 6 hours with stops.
- The Hassan II Mosque is closed to visitors on Friday morning; if day 9 is a Friday, we visit it in the afternoon.
- Ferries from Tarifa reach the Tanger Ville port in about one hour, and those from Algeciras reach Tanger Med in about 90 minutes; see our ferry from Spain to Morocco guide. Morocco is one hour behind Spain for most of the year.
- Bring your passport, not only an ID card: it is required to enter Morocco from Spain.
- From December to February, snow is possible in the Middle Atlas and on the Tizi n’Tichka, and desert nights drop close to freezing. Pack a warm layer; see what to wear in Morocco.
- In July and August the south is very hot, often above 40 °C. Spring and autumn are the best seasons: check the best time to visit Morocco.
- Bring cash in dirhams for lunches, entrance fees and tips. ATMs exist in every city on the route but not at the desert camp; see our guide to the Moroccan dirham and to tipping in Morocco.
- Pack a small overnight bag for the desert camp, because your main luggage stays in the vehicle.
- Tell us about any allergy or diet before departure. Riads and camps prepare vegetarian and vegan meals with notice.
Extra activities
These activities are optional on the 10 days tour from Tangier. We book them on request, at an extra cost.
| Before or after the tour | During the tour |
|---|---|
| Agafay desert quad bike and camel ride | Sandboarding in the Erg Chebbi dunes |
| Ourika Valley day trip | Quad bike or buggy ride around the dunes |
| Imlil Valley day trip | Private dinner on the dunes |
| Ouzoud waterfalls day trip | Licensed local guide in Fes, Rabat or Marrakech |
| Essaouira full-day trip | Guided visit inside the Hassan II Mosque |
Reviews
Travellers who start their private Morocco tour in Tangier, many of them after the ferry from Spain, share their experience after each trip, and a short review helps other people choose. If you have already travelled with us, read and write reviews on TripAdvisor.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough to see Morocco from Tangier?
Yes. Ten days covers the north, the imperial cities, the Sahara, the High Atlas and the Atlantic coast at a comfortable pace, and brings you back to Tangier.
Can we skip Essaouira and add a desert night?
Yes. We can replace Essaouira with a second night in Merzouga and drive back to Tangier from Marrakech by the motorway.
Can the tour end in Marrakech instead?
Yes. We can stop the tour in Marrakech after day 7 or 8, which suits travellers flying home from there.
Can you pick us up at the port after the ferry from Spain?
Yes. Your driver-guide waits at the Tanger Ville port (ferries from Tarifa) or at Tanger Med (ferries from Algeciras), and we follow your ferry time if it changes. See our ferry from Spain to Morocco guide for routes and crossing times.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel only with your own group, in a private air-conditioned vehicle with the same driver-guide all the way, and you can change the stops and the pace.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Yes. A 4×4 can drive you to the camp instead, at no extra cost.
Do the desert camps have private bathrooms?
Superior and luxury tents have a private bathroom with shower and toilet. Standard camps have shared facilities.
What is the best time of year for the 10 days tour from Tangier?
March to May and September to November. Winter nights in the desert are cold, and July and August are very hot in the south.
What vehicle do you use?
A private air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group, from a Toyota Land Cruiser or Prado to a Mercedes Vito or Sprinter minibus.
How far in advance should I book?
Two to four weeks is usually enough. For Easter, Christmas, New Year and the summer ferry season, book as early as possible.
How do I pay?
We accept payment by PayPal, and we explain the details when you confirm your booking.
Have another question about the 10 days tour from Tangier?
Write to us through our contact page or on WhatsApp.
Who we are
Favorites Morocco Tours is a local travel agency based in Marrakech, and the 10 days tour from Tangier is one of the private routes we run every season. We design tailor-made Morocco tours from Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier. Our drivers and guides grew up on these roads, speak English, Spanish and French, and know the small places that big coach tours never stop at. Learn more about us.
Popular tours from Tangier
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More Morocco tours and guides
- All tours from Tangier
- All Morocco tours and packages
- Morocco tours from Spain: crossing from Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia
- Ferry from Spain to Morocco: routes, crossing times and prices
- Chefchaouen, the Blue City: guide
- Asilah, Morocco: guide
- Tetouan, Morocco: things to do
- Fes, Morocco: complete city guide
- Sahara Desert in Morocco: travel guide
- Best Morocco tour companies: how to choose
Contact us
- Phone / WhatsApp: +212 786 278 943
- Email: favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com
- Office: Marrakech, Morocco
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