Classic Morocco From Tangier

Welcome to Tangier. On arrival, an included transfer takes you to the hotel, and the rest of your first day is at leisure.

Tangier - Casablanca - Marrakech. Enjoy a morning to explore Tangier, a historic port city where Africa and Europe have met for centuries. You can visit the Petit Socco, once a lively gathering place for traders, writers and artists, and wander through the town centre with its blend of Moroccan, Spanish and French influences, set against views of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Later, you travel south on the high-speed Al Boraq train, Morocco’s modern rail link, to Casablanca. Here, you see the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, dramatically positioned on the Atlantic coastline and known for its intricate tilework and the tallest minaret in Africa.

From Casablanca, you continue by bus to Marrakech, the former imperial capital famed for its historic medina, vibrant souks and distinctive red-hued architecture. Spend the night in a traditional riad.

You enjoy a morning city tour of Marrakech with a local guide, discovering the city’s rich history and distinctive architecture. You explore key highlights of the old medina, with its maze of narrow streets, historic monuments and lively souks, and gain insight into Marrakech’s role as an imperial city and trading centre for centuries.

The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. You might choose to visit the Secret Garden, a beautifully restored 19th-century palace and gardens that showcase traditional Islamic design and offer a calm escape within the medina. Alternatively, you could head to the modern district of Gueliz, developed during the French protectorate, with its wide boulevards, cafés and boutiques, or stroll along Avenue Mohamed VI, a grand avenue lined with gardens, contemporary architecture and views towards the Atlas Mountains.

Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Dades Valley. You travel over the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the dramatic Tizi n Tichka pass, one of the highest road passes in North Africa. The route offers striking mountain scenery, with winding roads, traditional Berber villages and wide views across valleys and peaks.

Arriving at the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, you have time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a remarkable fortified village made of earth and clay. Famous for its well-preserved architecture, the kasbah has also been used as a backdrop for numerous films and television series, adding to its cultural interest.

You then continue onwards through changing landscapes to the Dades Gorge, an area known for its rugged rock formations, palm-lined valleys and dramatic canyon scenery.

Dades Valley - Valley of the Roses - Todra Gorge - Sahara Desert. You travel along the Valley of the Roses, a fertile stretch known for its fragrant rose fields and traditional villages, set against the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The route continues through the impressive Todra Gorge, where sheer limestone cliffs rise dramatically above the valley floor, creating one of Morocco’s most striking natural landscapes.

Later, you arrive at the edge of the desert to meet your camel team. From here, you walk into your desert camp, taking in the changing colours of the sand and the sense of vast open space as day fades into evening. Dinner is served at the camp, enjoyed under the stars in the quiet of the desert night.

Sahara Desert - Fes. An early morning offers the chance to see the sunrise over the sand dunes, as the desert light gradually reveals the shapes and colours of the landscape. You then set off on a long but scenic journey north, travelling across the High Atlas Mountains and into the Middle Atlas region.

The route passes through cedar forests, home to ancient trees and often Barbary macaques, before continuing towards the historic city of Fes. One of Morocco’s most important imperial cities, Fes is known for its vast medieval medina, religious schools and long-standing traditions of craftsmanship and learning.

You have a full morning to experience the sights and sounds of Fes with a specialised local guide, exploring the UNESCO-listed old medina, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. You discover its labyrinth of narrow streets, historic madrasas, mosques and bustling souks, and learn about the city’s long history as a centre of religion, education and traditional crafts.

The afternoon is free to continue exploring at your own pace. You may wish to revisit favourite areas of the medina, browse the artisan workshops or enjoy a café overlooking the rooftops of the old city.

Fes - Chefchaouen. Today you travel north to the blue city of Chefchaouen, set in the Rif Mountains and known for its calm atmosphere and striking blue-washed streets. On arrival, you have time to explore the maze of narrow alleyways, where different shades of blue cover walls, doors and steps, creating one of Morocco’s most distinctive and photogenic towns.

You can relax in the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the social heart of Chefchaouen, surrounded by cafés, local shops and views of the kasbah and mountain slopes beyond.

Chefchaouen - Tangier. You take the short journey from Chefchaouen to Tangier, returning to this lively port city at the meeting point of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. On arrival, the rest of the day is free to explore at leisure.

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check-out. An included transfer takes you to the airport, or the port if preferred.