Private multi-day tour · 9 days from Tangier
9-Day Morocco Grand Tour from Tangier: Imperial Cities and the Sahara
The whole country in one loop from Tangier: Chefchaouen, Meknes and Fes, a night in the Sahara, the Todra and Dades gorges, two nights in Marrakech, then Casablanca and Rabat on the way back north.
Price on request · your quote within 12 hours
- Private: your group only
- 40% deposit to confirm
- Free cancellation 48 h before
- Tangier Start
- Chefchaouen 1 night
- Meknes Stop
- Fes 2 nights
- Merzouga 1 night, camp
- Dades 1 night
- Marrakech 2 nights
- Rabat 1 night
- Tangier End
- Private tourYour group only
- Guide and driverFrom Tangier, the whole trip
- Round trip from Tangier9 days, 8 nights
- 8 nights includedAt the level you choose
- 40% depositRefunded up to 48 h before
The complete country
Every imperial city and the Sahara, back to Tangier
This is the tour for travellers who want to see all of Morocco without joining a group of strangers. A full loop that starts and ends in Tangier: the blue city, Meknes and Fes, the Sahara, the kasbah valleys, Marrakech, then Casablanca and Rabat on the way home along the Atlantic.
The desert-to-Marrakech crossing is split over two days with a night in the Dades valley, and Marrakech gets two nights, so the pace stays comfortable. Local guides join in Fes, Marrakech and Rabat.
It suits families who want the whole country at an easy pace, travellers who want more time in each place, and anyone who needs to be back in Tangier for a ferry or a flight at the end.
- 9 days, 8 nightsTangier round trip
- Local guidesFes, Marrakech and Rabat
- One desert nightAnd a night in the Dades
- PrivateYour group only
Day by day
Your 9 days, one by one
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 2.5 h, 115 km
- Riad in Chefchaouen
Pickup in Tangier and the drive into the Rif Mountains. An afternoon in the blue medina and sunset from the Spanish Mosque.
You see Blue medina · Spanish Mosque
Day02
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes
- About 6 h, with stops
- Riad in Fes
South to Volubilis, the Roman town on the UNESCO list, and Moulay Idriss, the white hill town beside it. Then Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, for the Bab Mansour gate and the El Hedim square, and on to Fes for the evening.
You see Volubilis · Moulay Idriss · Bab Mansour, Meknes
Day03
Fes
A full day in Fes with a local guide
- No long drive
- Riad in Fes
A licensed local guide leads the medina, the Chouara tannery, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and the artisan quarters.
You see Chouara tannery · Al Quaraouiyine
Day04
Fes to Merzouga
Over the Middle Atlas to the Sahara
- About 8 h, 470 km, with stops
- Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Through Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt and the Ziz valley. A camel ride at sunset into the dunes, dinner and a night at a private desert camp near Merzouga.
You see Cedar forest · Ziz valley · Erg Chebbi
Day05
Merzouga to the Dades valley
The Todra Gorge and the kasbah road
- About 4.5 h, 260 km
- Kasbah hotel in the Dades valley
Sunrise over the dunes, then a shorter, easier drive than on the express tours, with a walk in the Todra Gorge beneath its canyon walls. The night is in a kasbah in the Dades valley.
You see Todra Gorge · Dades valley
Day06
Dades to Marrakech
Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas
- About 6.5 h, 310 km, with stops
- Riad in Marrakech
Through Ouarzazate, with an optional stop at the Atlas Film Studios, to Ait Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Evening arrival in Marrakech.
You see Ouarzazate · Ait Ben Haddou · Tizi n'Tichka pass
Day07
Marrakech
A full day in Marrakech
- No long drive
- Riad in Marrakech
A licensed local guide leads the medina, the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Garden and the souks. The evening in Jemaa el-Fna.
You see Bahia Palace · Majorelle Garden · Jemaa el-Fna
Day08
Marrakech to Rabat via Casablanca
The Hassan II Mosque and the capital
- About 4 h, 330 km, with a stop
- Riad or hotel in Rabat
North on the motorway to Casablanca for the Hassan II Mosque, then on to Rabat for the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower with a licensed local guide.
You see Hassan II Mosque · Kasbah of the Udayas · Hassan Tower
Day09
Rabat to Tangier
Along the Atlantic, back to Tangier
- About 3 h, 250 km
- Drop-off anywhere in Tangier
A coastal drive back north, with an optional stop in Asilah or at the Roman ruins of Lixus near Larache, arriving in Tangier in time for your ferry, flight or hotel.
You see The Atlantic coast
Where you sleep
8 nights, 6 places
1 night
Chefchaouen
A riad in the medina
2 nights
Fes
A riad in or next to the medina
1 night
Merzouga
A private tent at a desert camp
1 night
Dades valley
A kasbah hotel above the river
2 nights
Marrakech
A riad in the medina
1 night
Rabat
A riad in the medina or a hotel
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 way out of the desert is split with a night in the Dades valley.
Pace
Relaxed
Relaxed, with two nights in Fes and Marrakech and the desert crossing split in two.
Pickup
Anywhere in Tangier
Your hotel, Ibn Battouta airport, Tanger Ville station, the ferry port or a cruise terminal.
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 and Marrakech, 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.
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Your guide speaks the language you choose. German and Italian with advance notice.
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.
Deposit
40% to confirm
Once every detail is agreed we send your invoice, and a 40% deposit by bank transfer or PayPal confirms the trip, and the balance is paid on the first day. The deposit is refunded if you cancel up to 48 hours before departure.
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, Marrakech and Rabat
- 8 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 a balloon flight, a hammam or quad biking
- Entry fees to monuments and museums
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Why this tour
Why travel this way
The whole country, back to Tangier
The only route here that covers every imperial city and the Sahara and still ends in Tangier.
An easier crossing
The desert-to-Marrakech leg is split with a night in the Dades, and Marrakech gets two nights.
Guided from Tangier
Your Tangier-based guide and driver the whole way, with licensed local guides for the medina walks in Fes, Marrakech and Rabat.
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 routes side by side: length, the desert, the pace and where each one ends.
| Imperial Cities & Sahara | Grand Tour to Marrakech | Luxury Grand Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 9 days | 6 days | 8 days |
| Route | Tangier round trip | Tangier to Marrakech | Tangier to Marrakech |
| Nights in the desert | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pace | Relaxed | Moderate | Relaxed |
| Ends | Tangier | Marrakech | Marrakech |
| You are here | See this tour | See this tour |
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, usually within 12 hours. Nothing to pay until every detail is agreed and you have our invoice.
Good to know
Questions about this tour
What travellers ask before they book.
What is the difference between this and the 6-day tour?
More depth and an easier pace. The desert-to-Marrakech leg is split over two days, Marrakech gets two nights, and Casablanca and Rabat are added on the way back to Tangier.
Is this tour suitable for families?
Yes. The pace is comfortable, and the 8-day family tour goes further, with no drive much over four hours.
Can we finish in Marrakech instead?
Yes. Stop after day seven and fly home from Marrakech, or take the 6-day tour.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Your group only, with your own guide, driver and vehicle for the whole trip. No other travellers join you.
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 12 hours. 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. The balance is paid on the first day of your tour.
More multi-day tours
Other routes from Tangier
Grand Tour to MarrakechChefchaouen, Fes with a local guide, a night under the stars in the Sahara and the kasbahs of the High Atlas, ending in Marrakech.See the tour
Luxury Grand TourThe north-to-south route at the Premium level: boutique riads, a luxury desert camp, a kasbah hotel and two nights in Marrakech, with time to slow down.See the tour
Family Morocco AdventureThe grand tour at a family pace, with no drive much over four hours: Chefchaouen, Fes, the Barbary macaques, a camel ride and a desert camp, ending in Marrakech.See the tour
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, cropped: the large tiled courtyard of the Bahia Palace in Marrakech by Val Traveler (CC BY-SA 4.0); a camel caravan crossing the Sahara dunes by Fbrandao.1963 (CC BY-SA 4.0); a blue and white lane in the Kasbah of the Udayas, Rabat by Alllexxxis (CC BY-SA 3.0); the red canyon walls of the Todra Gorge by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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