Private cruise shore excursion · Atlantic coast
Asilah and Cap Spartel Shore Excursion from Tangier
A half day on the Atlantic coast: the lighthouse at Cap Spartel, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, then the Portuguese ramparts of Asilah, its medina painted by artists and its long beach.
From $120 per person
- Private group
- 5 to 6 hours
- Cap Spartel and Asilah
Ship times from three public Tangier cruise schedules. We confirm yours when you book.
- Licensed local guidesMinistry-certified
- 60-min safety bufferBack before all-aboard
- 46 km from TangierAbout a 45-minute drive
- All Tangier portsCity Port, Med, Ksar Sghir
- No prepayment40% deposit from 11 guests
Why Cap Spartel and Asilah
The calmest day out on this coast
This is the calmest day out on this coast, with two stops. First Cap Spartel, the headland and lighthouse at the northwestern tip of Africa, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Then Asilah, a small fortified town on the Atlantic 46 km south of Tangier, with Portuguese ramparts you can walk along, a medina of whitewashed lanes covered in murals, and a long beach at the edge of town.
This is a private shore excursion. Your group only, your own licensed guide and an air-conditioned vehicle, timed around your ship's schedule so you are back at the terminal well before all-aboard.
It suits a call of seven hours or more. If your ship is in port for less than that, or if it docks at Tangier Med, say so when you enquire and we will tell you honestly whether Asilah fits your day.
- 5 to 6 hoursPrivate guide and vehicle
- 46 km from TangierAbout a 45-minute drive
- From $120Per person, private
- Back 1 hour earlyBefore all-aboard, every time
Your port day
A half day, timed around your ship
Example times for a 10:00 docking. Your guide sets the real ones with you, from your ship's arrival and all-aboard.
- Port pickup
- Cap Spartel
- The coast road
- Ramparts and medina
- Lunch or free time
- Back at your ship
- 60-minute buffer
- All-aboard
Pick your ship at the top of the page and every time here moves to its arrival.
On arrival
Port pickup
We meet you at the terminal with a name sign and set off in an air-conditioned vehicle. No queue, no taxi negotiation.
First stop
Cap Spartel
The lighthouse on the headland where the Strait of Gibraltar opens onto the Atlantic. Time for the view over both seas and a photo at the signpost that points one way to the Mediterranean and the other to the Atlantic.
45 minutes
The coast road south
From the cape the road runs south along the Atlantic, past the beaches and the dunes. Your guide fills in what you are seeing as you go.
Late morning
Ramparts and medina
A guided walk along the sea wall and into the painted lanes, with time to stop for photographs and to look at the galleries.
Midday
Lunch or free time
Fresh fish by the harbour, mint tea on a terrace, or an hour on the beach. Lunch is at your own expense, so you choose the place.
Afternoon
Back to your ship
An easy drive back with an hour of buffer built in. You are at the terminal well before all-aboard.
What you will see
Seven places that make up the day
Cap Spartel
The lighthouse on the northwestern tip of Africa, where the Strait of Gibraltar opens onto the Atlantic. You stop for the view over both seas and the signpost photo on the way to Asilah.
The Portuguese ramparts
Built in the fifteenth century and still standing over the ocean. You walk the sea wall to the old gates and look straight down on the fishing boats.
The painted medina
Whitewashed lanes with blue and ochre doors, and large murals repainted each summer during the arts festival. This is the part guests photograph most.
Raissouli Palace
The seafront palace of Moulay Ahmed er Raisuni, the local chief who ruled this stretch of coast at the turn of the twentieth century.
Church of San Bartolomé
A Spanish church from the 1920s in the middle of a Moroccan town, and a reminder of how many flags this coast has flown.
The harbour and the market
The working side of Asilah. Boats unloading, nets being mended, and a small market where the town buys its fish.
The beach
A long Atlantic beach at the edge of the medina, for a walk, a coffee facing the water, or simply a sit down before the drive back.
Good to know
Before you book, for cruise passengers
Time in port
7 hours or more
The excursion takes 5 to 6 hours and we keep an hour before all-aboard.
Ports
All Tangier ports
From Tangier City Port it is about 45 minutes. From Tangier Med allow about an hour and a quarter each way.
Walking
A comfortable amount
The medina and the ramparts are flat and compact, with some cobbles and a few steps up to the sea wall.
Lunch
Your choice, not included
Fresh fish by the harbour or a terrace cafe. You pick the place and pay there.
Late ship
Covered
We track your actual docking time and plan the return with an hour in hand.
Cap Spartel
Included
Every Asilah excursion stops at Cap Spartel on the way out. On a longer call your guide can also add the Caves of Hercules; ask when you enquire.
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Your licensed guide speaks the language you choose at booking.
Group
Private
Your group only, with your own guide and vehicle. No coach, no other party.
Payment
Pay on the day
Cash (USD, EUR, GBP or MAD), PayPal or bank transfer. No prepayment; groups of 11 or more pay a deposit of 40% of the agreed price to hold the date. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
Clear terms, no surprises
What's included and what's not
Included
- Licensed Ministry-certified guide, in English, French, Spanish or Arabic
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the day
- Pickup and drop-off at your cruise terminal
- A stop at Cap Spartel and its lighthouse on the way to Asilah
- Guided walk of the ramparts, the medina and the seafront
- Bottled water on board
- All parking, tolls and local taxes
Not included
- Lunch and drinks, so you pick the place
- Entry to any paid site or museum on the day
- Souvenirs, tips and personal spending
- Travel insurance, which we recommend you hold
Why this one
Why cruise passengers choose Asilah
The reasons guests give us after the day.
Quiet, even in summer
Asilah never fills up the way the Tangier medina does on a cruise day. You walk the ramparts and the lanes at your own pace.
An open air gallery
Artists repaint the medina walls every summer for the town's arts festival, so the murals change from one year to the next.
Where two seas meet
At Cap Spartel the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic; in Asilah you have a wide beach, fishing boats and an ocean horizon. A different coast from the one you see from the ship.
Private from the start
No coach and no waiting for a big group. The vehicle carries your party only and the day is built around you.
Book direct, no agency fee
Clear per person pricing, paid to your guide on the day. No prepayment and no cruise line commission on top.
Timed to your ship
We track your actual docking time and plan the return with an hour in hand. We have never returned a guest late.
Compare
Asilah, Tetouan or a full day in Tangier?
Three ways to spend a 7 to 8 hour stop, side by side.
| Asilah and Cap Spartel | Tetouan | Full-Day Tangier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5 to 6 hours | 5 to 6 hours | 6 to 8 hours |
| Distance | 46 km, about 45 minutes | About 60 km, about an hour | In and around Tangier |
| The day | Cap Spartel, ramparts, painted medina, Atlantic beach | UNESCO medina, Royal Palace square, Spanish quarter | Cap Spartel, Hercules Caves, camel ride, Kasbah, Medina |
| Lunch | Your choice, not included | Optional, not included | Included, sit-down |
| From Tangier Med | Allow 1 h 15 each way | Yes | Yes |
| Price | From $120 | From $130 | From $75 |
| You are here | See Tetouan | See the Full-Day |
Guest reviews
What our guests say
Rated 4.9 from 89 reviews on Google.
★★★★★
Thank you, Fadi, for a wonderful day in Tangier. Your tour guide was friendly, very interesting, and entertaining. Highly recommended, Fadi's tour.
Claudio LupiLocal Guide · Level 5
★★★★★
We spent 3 amazing days in the north of Morocco visiting Tangier, Asilah, and Chefchaouen. The weather was really hot, but everything else was fantastic! Big thanks to Fadi who took great care of us. We got to try delicious Moroccan food like tajine and couscous. Also, the driver drove calmly so we could enjoy the beautiful views between Tangier and Chefchaouen. Unforgettable experience! Thanks Fadi !
El MALHOUF KacemLocal Guide · Level 5
★★★★★
Communication w the company was excellent prior to our tour. Our guide Nedi was excellent, met us promptly at the designated place and the tour was fantastic. Pace was perfect and it was customized to meet our interests…
Barbara RSLocal Guide · Level 5
Reserve direct
Reserve your Asilah and Cap Spartel excursion
Tell us your ship and your date. You get a personalised plan and a final price within 12 hours, with no prepayment and free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
Good to know
Asilah and Cap Spartel excursion FAQ
What cruise passengers ask us before they book.
How far is Asilah from the cruise port?
Asilah is 46 km from Tangier city, about a 45 minute drive from Tangier City Port. From Tangier Med allow about an hour and a quarter each way, which is why we suggest this excursion for calls of seven hours or more.
Will I be back on board in time?
Yes. We plan the day around your ship's actual docking and all-aboard times and keep an hour of buffer on the return. We have never returned a guest late.
Is this private?
Yes. Your group only, with your own guide and vehicle. There is no coach and no other party joining you.
How much walking is there?
A comfortable amount. The medina and the ramparts are flat and compact, with some cobbles and a few steps up to the sea wall. Tell us in advance about any mobility needs and we will adjust the route.
Is Cap Spartel included?
Yes. Every Asilah excursion stops at Cap Spartel on the way out, for the lighthouse and the view where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, then follows the coast road south to Asilah. On a longer call your guide can also add the Caves of Hercules; ask when you enquire.
How do we pay?
You pay your guide on the day, in cash (USD, EUR, GBP or MAD), by PayPal or by bank transfer. Most bookings need no prepayment; groups of 11 or more pay a deposit of 40% of the agreed price to hold the date. You can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before.
More shore excursions
Other ways to spend your day in port
TetouanThe UNESCO-listed medina, Andalusian architecture, and the Royal Palace square. The Spanish-Moorish side of Northern Morocco.See the excursion
Tangier Full-DayAll Tangier highlights, a traditional Moroccan lunch, and an optional camel ride on Achakkar Beach. The complete day.See the excursion
Tangier HighlightsCap Spartel, the Hercules Caves, the Kasbah, the Medina and Petit Socco. The essential four-hour itinerary for cruise schedules.See the excursion