Private multi-day tour · 12 days from Tangier
12-Day Morocco Tour from Tangier: Sahara, Marrakech and the Atlantic
A 12-day Morocco itinerary that starts and ends in Tangier: Chefchaouen and Fes, two nights by the Sahara dunes, the kasbah road, two nights in Marrakech, then Essaouira on the Atlantic and home along the coast by Casablanca, Rabat and Asilah.
Price on request · your quote within 2 hours (8am to 10pm)
- Private: your group only
- Licensed guides the whole way
- Free cancellation 48 h before
- Tangier Start
- Chefchaouen 1 night
- Fes 2 nights
- Merzouga 2 nights, 1 at camp
- Dades 1 night
- Ait Ben Haddou 1 night
- Marrakech 2 nights
- Essaouira 1 night
- Casablanca 1 night
- Tangier End
- Private tourYour group only
- Guide and driverFrom Tangier, the whole trip
- Round trip from Tangier12 days, 11 nights
- 11 nights includedAt the level you choose
Back where you started
Why a round trip: back to Tangier and the ferry on the last day
Tour Guide Tangier's 12-day private tour is a round trip: it leaves Tangier, crosses the Atlas to the Sahara and Marrakech, and comes back up the Atlantic coast, so you finish where your ferry or flight leaves. Your Tangier-based guide and driver are with you on all twelve days.
The first nine days take the unhurried road to Marrakech, with two nights by the Erg Chebbi dunes and the kasbah road split over two days. Then the trip turns west to Essaouira, a walled port on the Atlantic, for sea air and grilled fish after the desert, and north by Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, Rabat and Asilah to Tangier.
It suits travellers arriving by ferry from Spain who want to sail back from the same port, families who would rather not take a train at the end, and anyone with a return flight from Tangier.
- 12 days, 11 nightsTangier round trip
- Local guidesIn Fes and Marrakech
- The Sahara and the seaTwo desert nights, then Essaouira
- Longest driveAbout 8 hours
Day by day
Your 12-day Morocco itinerary, day by day
Drive times are estimates with stops. Every day can be changed before you travel, or on the road.
Day01
Tangier to Chefchaouen
Into the Rif and the blue city
- About 2 to 2.5 h, 110 km
- Riad in Chefchaouen
Pickup in Tangier at your hotel, the ferry port, the airport or the station, and the drive into the Rif Mountains. An afternoon in the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, a stop at the Ras el-Maa spring on the edge of the medina, and sunset from the Spanish Mosque.
You see Plaza Uta el-Hammam · Ras el-Maa spring · Spanish Mosque
Day02
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Volubilis, Meknes and on to Fes
- About 6 h, 265 km, with stops
- Riad in Fes
A day of two empires: the Roman town of Volubilis, its mosaics still on the floors, and Meknes, which Sultan Moulay Ismail made his capital in the 17th century. The Bab Mansour gate faces El Hedim square, and Fes is an hour further on.
You see Volubilis · Bab Mansour, Meknes · El Hedim square
Day03
Fes
Fes el-Bali with a local guide
- No long drive
- Riad in Fes
A licensed local guide takes you into Fes el-Bali, the old walled city, through the Bab Boujloud gate: the tanneries, the madrasas, the fountains and the craft quarters where copper is still beaten by hand. The afternoon is free for the riad or more of the souks.
You see Bab Boujloud · Chouara tannery · Nejjarine fountain
Day04
Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane and Midelt
Across the Middle Atlas to the dunes
- About 8 h, 470 km, with stops
- Hotel by the dunes, Merzouga
Ifrane first, the mountain town with its stone lion, then the cedar forest near Azrou and its Barbary macaques. The road crosses the high plateau to Midelt and drops through the Ziz gorges and the palm groves of the Ziz valley to Merzouga, where you sleep in a hotel by the dunes.
You see Ifrane · Cedar forest · Ziz valley
Day05
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
Khamlia, the dunes and a camp night
- Short drives around the dunes
- Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
A day to take in the desert: the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, sandboarding on the slopes if you like, and a camel ride into Erg Chebbi as the light turns gold. Dinner and the night are at a private desert camp among the dunes.
You see Khamlia · Camel ride · Desert camp
Day06
Merzouga to the Dades valley via Rissani and the Todra Gorge
Rissani and the Todra Gorge
- About 5.5 h, 290 km, with stops
- Kasbah hotel in the Dades valley
After sunrise on the dunes, the souk town of Rissani and the road west past palm oases and earthen villages to the Todra Gorge, where the river runs between sheer walls. The night is in the Dades valley.
You see Rissani · Todra Gorge · Dades valley
Day07
Dades to Ait Ben Haddou via Skoura and Ouarzazate
Skoura's palm grove and Ait Ben Haddou
- About 3.5 h, 175 km, with stops
- Guesthouse at Ait Ben Haddou
Down the valley to Skoura, an oasis of palms where earthen kasbahs such as Amridil stand among the trees, then Ouarzazate and its Taourirt kasbah. The evening at Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified village on the UNESCO list.
You see Skoura palm grove · Ouarzazate · Ait Ben Haddou
Day08
Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
The Tizi n'Tichka and Marrakech
- About 4 h, 180 km, with stops
- Riad in Marrakech
Over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with an optional detour to the Glaoui kasbah at Telouet, and down through Berber villages to Marrakech. The evening in Jemaa el-Fna, when the food stalls light up.
You see Tizi n'Tichka pass · Telouet · Jemaa el-Fna
Day09
Marrakech
Palaces, gardens and the souks
- Short transfers in town
- Riad in Marrakech
A licensed local guide leads you through the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks, and the Majorelle Garden fills the afternoon. Dinner on a roof terrace above the medina, if you like.
You see Bahia Palace · Majorelle Garden · The souks
Day10
Marrakech to Essaouira
West to the Atlantic and Essaouira
- About 3 h, 185 km
- Riad in Essaouira
Across the argan country, with a stop at a women's argan oil cooperative, to Essaouira, the walled port on the UNESCO list. The afternoon on the Skala de la Ville ramparts and their cannons, in the medina and at the fishing harbour, with grilled fish by the port.
You see Argan cooperative · Skala de la Ville · Fishing harbour
Day11
Essaouira to Casablanca
A morning by the sea, then Casablanca
- About 5 h, 370 km, with stops
- Hotel in Casablanca
A last walk in Essaouira in the morning light, along the ramparts and through the medina. Then up the Atlantic coast on fast roads to Casablanca, in time for a walk on the Corniche by the ocean.
You see Essaouira medina · The Corniche
Day12
Casablanca to Tangier via Rabat and Asilah
The Hassan II Mosque, Rabat and home to Tangier
- About 4.5 h, 340 km, with stops
- Drop-off anywhere in Tangier
The morning at the Hassan II Mosque on its platform over the ocean, with a guided visit inside at one of the set times (the ticket is paid on site). An hour north to Rabat for the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower, then Asilah inside its Portuguese ramparts, and Tangier in the evening.
You see Hassan II Mosque · Kasbah of the Udayas · Asilah
Where you sleep
11 nights, 8 places
1 night
Chefchaouen
A riad in the medina
2 nights
Fes
A riad in or next to the medina
2 nights
Merzouga
A hotel at the edge of the dunes, then a private tent at a desert camp
1 night
Dades valley
A kasbah hotel above the river
1 night
Ait Ben Haddou
A guesthouse facing the ksar
2 nights
Marrakech
A riad in the medina
1 night
Essaouira
A riad in the medina
1 night
Casablanca
A hotel in the city, near the ocean
Three levels, one route
Standard
Family-run riads and guesthouses, each room with its own bathroom. At the desert camp, a private tent.
Comfort
Boutique riads with more space and character, often with a roof terrace or a pool. At the camp, a larger tent with its own bathroom.
Premium
The best riads and kasbah hotels on the route, and dinners in the riads on request. At the camp, a luxury tent with proper beds.
Tell us the level you want when you ask for your quote. You can mix them, for example a Comfort riad in the city and a Premium tent in the desert.
Good to know
Before you ask for a quote
Longest drive
About 8 hours
Fes to Merzouga on day four. The coast road home is split with a night in Casablanca.
Pace
Moderate
Two nights in Fes, at the desert and in Marrakech, then a night in Essaouira and a night in Casablanca on the way back north.
Pickup
Anywhere in Tangier
Your hotel, Ibn Battouta airport, Tanger Ville station, the ferry port or a cruise terminal. Tanger Med port for an extra fee.
Ends
Tangier
Drop-off at your hotel, the ferry port, the airport or a cruise terminal.
Walking
About 5 to 8 km on city days
Medina lanes in Chefchaouen, Fes, Marrakech and Essaouira, at an easy pace.
Best months
March to May, September to November
Desert nights are cold from December to February, and the south is very hot in July and August. Essaouira stays mild all year and is often windy.
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Your guide speaks the language you choose.
Group
Private, any size
One travel party per vehicle: a car for up to 3, a minivan for 4 to 7, larger vehicles for bigger groups.
Price
On request
Every trip is quoted for your dates, group size and hotels. Once every detail is agreed and you have our invoice, a 40% deposit by bank transfer or PayPal holds it, refunded if you cancel up to 48 hours before departure; the rest is paid on the first day.
Children
Welcome
Tell us their ages with your dates: the quote counts every guest, and child seats are on request.
Your booking
Confirmed in writing
Nothing is booked until we confirm it by WhatsApp or email.
Limited mobility
Tell us when you book
Tell us about limited mobility or a wheelchair when you ask for a quote: we tell you honestly what works and plan the route, the hotels and the walks around you.
Clear terms
What's included and what's not
Included
- A private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole trip
- Your Tangier-based guide and driver from start to finish
- Licensed local guides in Fes and Marrakech
- 11 nights of accommodation at the level you choose
- Breakfast every day
- The camel ride at sunset, dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Flights and ferry tickets
- Lunches, and dinners not listed as included
- Optional extras such as quad biking in Merzouga, a hammam or a balloon flight in Marrakech
- Entry fees to monuments and museums, including the guided visit of the Hassan II Mosque
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Why this tour
Why travel this way
Ends where it began
A full loop back to Tangier, so you sail or fly home from the port you arrived at, with no train at the end.
Two nights by the dunes
A hotel at the edge of Erg Chebbi, then a camp night, with a whole day between for the desert.
Guided from Tangier
Your Tangier-based guide and driver the whole way, with licensed local guides for the medina walks in Fes and Marrakech.
Your trip, your pace
One vehicle, one guide and your group only. Stop where you like and change the plan on the road.
Compare
This tour or a nearby one?
Three round trips from Tangier side by side: length, the desert, the sea and the pace.
| 12-Day Round Trip | Imperial Cities & Sahara | 14-Day Mountains, Desert and Sea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 12 days | 9 days | 14 days |
| Nights by the dunes | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Nights in Essaouira | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Pace | Moderate | Relaxed | Relaxed |
| Details | You are here | See the Imperial Cities & Sahara | See the 14-Day Mountains, Desert and Sea |
The same for all three Route: Tangier round trip
Your quote
Get a price for your dates
Tell us when you travel, how many you are and the hotel level you like. You get a day-by-day plan and a per-person price. Nothing to pay until every detail is agreed and you have our invoice.
Price on request per person, for your group
- Private: your group only
- 12 days, 11 nights
- Starts in Tangier, ends in Tangier
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
- Free quote, no obligation
- 40% deposit once every detail is agreed
- Reply within 2 hours (8am to 10pm)
Good to know
A 12-day round trip from Tangier: questions about this tour
What travellers ask before they book.
What is the difference between this and the 9-day round trip?
Three more nights, spent where the 9-day round trip is quickest: a second night by the Sahara dunes, a night at Ait Ben Haddou on the kasbah road, and a night in Essaouira on the Atlantic before the drive home.
Is 12 days enough to see Morocco?
Yes, for a first full circle: 12 days in Morocco take in the north, Fes, the Sahara, the kasbah road, Marrakech and the Atlantic coast, with two nights in Fes, by the dunes and in Marrakech. Nights can be added anywhere; a second night in Essaouira or in Marrakech is the most common change. For more time in the mountains, two weeks with a night in the High Atlas adds a village below Jbel Toubkal and a night in Rabat.
What is the longest driving day?
Day four, Fes to Merzouga: about 470 km and about 8 hours with stops, broken by Ifrane, the cedar forest and Midelt. The coast road home is split with a night in Casablanca: about 5 hours from Essaouira on day eleven, then the Hassan II Mosque, Rabat and Asilah on the last day. Every other day is shorter.
Can we take the ferry back to Spain on the last day?
Yes, you can take the ferry back to Spain on the last day: day twelve ends in Tangier in the late afternoon, and your driver takes you to Tangier City Port (Tanger Ville) for the ferry to Tarifa. Tell us your sailing time when you book and we plan the last day around it.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on your dates, your group size and the hotel level you choose, so we quote it for you, usually within 2 hours (8am to 10pm). The per-person price falls as the group grows.
Is a deposit required?
Yes, 40% of the trip price. Once we have agreed every detail, we send you an invoice and you pay the deposit by bank transfer or PayPal. It is refunded in full if you cancel up to 48 hours before departure; a later cancellation or a no-show is not refunded. The balance is paid on the first day of your tour, in cash, by PayPal or by bank transfer.
More multi-day tours
Other routes from Tangier
Imperial Cities & SaharaEvery imperial city and the desert, with the Atlas crossing split over two easy days, then back up the Atlantic coast to Tangier.See the tour
The Slow Road to MarrakechThe classic road south with time to breathe: Chefchaouen, Fes, a night in Midelt, a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, a night at Ait Ben Haddou and two nights in Marrakech.See the tour
Mountains, Desert and SeaTwo weeks at an easy pace: Tetouan, Fes, two Sahara nights, a night in a High Atlas village with a morning walk, Marrakech, Essaouira and the coast road home.See the tour