This 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour is a private, one-way crossing of Morocco, from the port or airport in Tangier to your accommodation in Marrakech. A week is the right amount of time to cross Morocco from Tangier without feeling rushed. This private 7 day tour from Tangier to Marrakech gives you the two things shorter trips leave out: a full guided day in the Fes medina, and two nights in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi with a free day between them.
Along the way you sleep in Chefchaouen, stop at Volubilis and Meknes, walk in Todra Gorge and finish over the High Atlas via Aït Ben Haddou. You have your own vehicle and English-speaking driver from the ferry port or airport to your door in Marrakech.
On day 2 you visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, listed by UNESCO as the Archaeological Site of Volubilis.
7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour at a glance
| Duration | 7 days, 6 nights |
| Start | Tangier — city port (Tanger Ville), Tanger Med port, Ibn Battouta Airport or hotel |
| Finish | Your accommodation in Marrakech, early evening on Day 7 |
| Style | Private tour for your party only |
| Transport | Air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus, depending on group size |
| Overnights | Chefchaouen (1), Fes (2), Merzouga desert camp (2), Dades Valley (1) |
| Meals | Breakfast and dinner every day; lunches not included |
| Main experiences | Guided Fes medina day, two nights in Erg Chebbi, camel trek, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Meknes, Todra Gorge, Aït Ben Haddou |
| Pick-up / drop-off | Port, airport or hotel in Tangier / your accommodation in Marrakech |
| Price | €940 per person for 2 travellers (€1,880 in total) — less per person in larger groups |
Why this itinerary: slow down where it counts
On a short crossing, the two places that suffer most are Fes and the desert. Fes becomes a hotel stop, and the Sahara becomes one night that starts after a nine-hour drive. This week-long plan fixes both.
Two nights in Fes mean you arrive without pressure and then spend a whole day in the medina with a local guide: the old gates, the craft quarters, the tanneries and the courtyards you would never find alone.
Two nights in the Sahara mean the long drive from Fes is followed by a day with no driving at all. You wake up in the dunes, choose how active you want to be, and watch a second sunset from the same camp. For many travellers this rest day is what makes the week feel like a holiday rather than a road trip.
The rest of the route — Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Todra, Dades and Aït Ben Haddou — is the same line through the country as our 5-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour, simply with room to breathe.
What makes this week different
- A real day in Fes with a local guide [CONFIRM licensed guide included], not just an overnight.
- Meknes added on the way to Fes, so you see two imperial cities.
- A full day in Merzouga between two camp nights, with optional activities.
- No driving on Day 5, which splits the two longest drives of the trip.
- The same driver all week, who knows your plans, your pace and your luggage.
Day-by-day itinerary
Distances and times are estimates for driving only. Stops, lunch and visits add to each day.
Day 1: Arrival in Tangier → Chefchaouen
About 115 km / around 2 hours from Tangier city (longer from Tanger Med [CONFIRM])
Your driver meets you off the ferry, at the airport or at your hotel. We time the pick-up to your crossing or flight. The road leaves the coast and climbs into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. Settle into your riad, then walk up through the blue medina to the square, Outa el-Hammam. For a view over the town at sunset, many travellers walk up to the small Spanish mosque on the hill (about 30 minutes, optional). – Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen [CONFIRM name] or similar – Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
About 5–5.5 hours of driving in total [CONFIRM]
A quiet morning walk in Chefchaouen, then you drive south. At Volubilis you visit the Roman site: the basilica, the arch of Caracalla and floor mosaics still in place [CONFIRM entry and guide arrangement]. Lunch is in the area (paid by you).
In Meknes, a short drive away, you make a short stop at the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the square of El Hedim [CONFIRM whether any interior visit is included]. This is a taster of the city, not a full visit. You reach Fes in the late afternoon and settle into your riad for two nights. – Overnight: Riad in Fes [CONFIRM name and location] or similar – Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3: Guided day in Fes
No long drive today
After breakfast you meet your local guide [CONFIRM: guide included, licensed, half day or full day]. Fes el-Bali, the old walled city, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.
Depending on your interests, the day can include:
– the Bab Bou Jeloud (“Blue Gate”) entrance;
– the outside of the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university (non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall);
– a medersa (Koranic school) with carved cedar and tilework [CONFIRM which, and entry fees];
– the Chouara tannery, seen from a terrace above the dye pits;
– workshops of metalworkers, weavers and potters;
– a panoramic view from outside the walls, such as the Merenid tombs.
Some visits pass through shops and cooperatives. You are never obliged to buy. If you prefer fewer shops, tell your guide at the start. The afternoon is free. – Overnight: Riad in Fes – Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: Fes → Middle Atlas → Ziz Valley → Merzouga desert camp
About 460 km / 7.5–8.5 hours of driving — the longest drive of the week
An early start across the Middle Atlas. Short stop in Ifrane, then the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road (photo stop; please do not feed them — they are endangered). Lunch in Midelt at your own cost. In the afternoon you follow the Ziz Valley with its palm groves (photo stop) and pass through Errachidia and Erfoud.
At Merzouga, you switch to a camel for the ride into the dunes (about [CONFIRM camel ride duration]; a 4×4 transfer is available instead if you have back or knee problems). Take only a small bag. Dinner at the camp, then a campfire with Berber drums. – Overnight: Mouhou Luxury Camp, Erg Chebbi — private tent with private shower and toilet – Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5: A full day in the Sahara
No long drive today
This is your free day in the desert. Climb a dune for sunrise, have breakfast at camp, and then choose your pace.
Options often include [CONFIRM which are included and which cost extra]:
– Khamlia, a village known for Gnawa music, with a short performance and tea;
– Rissani, the old market town of the Tafilalt, best on a souk day [CONFIRM souk days];
– a 4×4 circuit around the edge of Erg Chebbi, with nomad families, seasonal lakes and old mines — see our Merzouga 4×4 desert tour;
– sandboarding on the dunes near camp;
– quad biking or buggy rides at extra cost — see quad biking and buggy rides in Merzouga.
In the middle of the day, especially from May to September, the heat is strong. Most travellers rest in the shade and go out again in the late afternoon. Your second sunset is from the dunes, followed by dinner and a quieter night under the stars. More ideas are on our page of things to do in Merzouga. – Overnight: Mouhou Luxury Camp (second night) — [CONFIRM whether both nights are in camp or one can be in a Merzouga hotel such as Kasbah Le Berger or Riad Madu] – Meals: Breakfast, dinner (lunch not included [CONFIRM lunch arrangement on the desert day])
Day 6: Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
About 280 km / around 5 hours of driving
Leave the dunes after sunrise and breakfast. The road runs west past oasis villages to Tinghir. At Todra Gorge you walk between rock walls roughly 300 metres high, where the river runs through the narrowest point. Lunch near the gorge (paid by you). In the afternoon, drive on to the Dades Valley. If time and light allow, your driver can take you up the gorge to see the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations and the hairpin road at Tissadrine [CONFIRM whether included]. – Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, such as Riad Gabsi or Ksar Sultan, or similar [CONFIRM] – Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7: Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
About 340 km / 6–6.5 hours of driving
Follow the valley west past Kalaat M’Gouna and the Valley of Roses (pass through; in May the rose festival takes place here) and the Skoura palm oasis (photo stop). In Ouarzazate, stop outside Taourirt Kasbah or Atlas Studios (photo stop; entry optional and paid locally [CONFIRM]). Then visit Aït Ben Haddou on foot — the fortified village that has appeared in many films. After lunch (own cost) you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, around 2,260 m, and reach Marrakech in the early evening. – Meals: Breakfast
Visited, stopped at, or passed
- Visited with time on foot: Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes medina (guided day), Erg Chebbi (two nights), Todra Gorge, Aït Ben Haddou.
- Short stops: Meknes (Bab Mansour and El Hedim), Ifrane, Ouarzazate.
- Photo stops: Azrou cedar forest, Ziz Valley, Skoura, Tichka viewpoints.
- Passed through: Errachidia, Erfoud, Tinghir, Kalaat M’Gouna.
- Optional on Day 5: Khamlia, Rissani, 4×4 circuit, sandboarding, quad or buggy.
Where you sleep
| Night | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chefchaouen | Riad [CONFIRM name] or similar |
| 2–3 | Fes | Riad [CONFIRM name] or similar, two nights |
| 4–5 | Erg Chebbi, Merzouga | Mouhou Luxury Camp, two nights, private tent with private bathroom |
| 6 | Dades Valley | Riad Gabsi or Ksar Sultan, or similar [CONFIRM] |
You stay in the same riad for both Fes nights and the same tent for both desert nights, so you only unpack properly twice in seven days.
Price and how it is calculated
Your quote is built from: – Group size. On a private tour the vehicle and driver cost is fixed, so it is split between more people as your group grows. – Accommodation level in Chefchaouen, Fes and Dades. – The Fes guide — half day or full day [CONFIRM]. – Season. Peak periods such as spring, autumn and holidays can cost more. – Day 5 activities you add, such as quad or buggy rides.
| Travellers | Standard (per person) | Upgraded (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €1,640 | On request |
| 2 | €940 | On request |
| 3–4 | €590–€707 | On request |
| 5–6 | €474–€520 | On request |
| 7 or more | On request | On request |
Children: [CONFIRM CHILD PRICING]. Single supplement: [CONFIRM]. Deposit and payment methods: [CONFIRM]. Cancellation terms: [CONFIRM CANCELLATION POLICY].
You do not pay online. Send us your dates, we send a quote and a written itinerary, and you confirm once you are happy with it.
Included and not included
Included – Pick-up in Tangier (port, airport or hotel); drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech – Private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel and road taxes – English-speaking driver throughout – 6 nights’ accommodation: 4 nights in riads/hotels and 2 nights in a private desert tent with its own bathroom – Breakfast and dinner daily (6 of each) – Local guide for the Fes medina [CONFIRM] – Camel trek to and from the camp (4×4 transfer as an alternative) – Campfire with Berber drum music
Not included – Lunches and drinks – Entry fees to Volubilis, medersas, kasbahs, Aït Ben Haddou and studios [CONFIRM] – Optional activities on Day 5 (quad, buggy, and any others not confirmed as included) – Ferry and flight tickets – Travel insurance (recommended) – Tips
Is this 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour the right choice?
Choose it if you: – Have a full week between arriving in Tangier and leaving from Marrakech. – Want Fes explained by a local, not just seen from a car window. – Like the idea of a rest day in the dunes after the long drive south. – Travel with children or older relatives and want shorter average days.
Think again if you: – Only have five days. The 5-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour covers the same line in less time. – Are arriving by plane in Casablanca rather than Tangier. Our 7-day Morocco itinerary from Casablanca adds Rabat and avoids the extra transfer north. – Dislike heat and plan to travel in July or August — two desert nights in high summer are hot during the day.
Practical tips for the week
- Seasons: March–May and September–November are the most comfortable. In December–February, desert nights can be close to freezing and snow can close the Tichka pass for a few hours; we will reroute if needed.
- Arriving by ferry: send your ferry company, port and arrival time. Tanger Med is well outside the city, so Day 1 is longer from there.
- Packing for two desert nights: your main bag stays in the vehicle. Pack two nights’ worth in a small bag: warm layer, spare clothes, sun cream, sunglasses, a torch and a charger [CONFIRM charging availability in camp].
- Fes day: wear shoes with good grip; the lanes are steep and can be slippery.
- Cash: carry dirhams for lunches, tickets, tips and market shopping. The desert day has few cash machines.
- Dietary needs: vegetarian and vegan meals on request.
Frequently asked questions
What can we do on the free day in the desert?
You can rest at camp or choose from options such as a visit to the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the Rissani market, a 4×4 loop around Erg Chebbi or sandboarding. Quad and buggy rides cost extra. We will confirm which options are included in your quote [CONFIRM].
Is the Fes guide a licensed official guide?
We work with local guides in Fes [CONFIRM: official licensed guides, and half or full day]. Tell us your interests — architecture, crafts, food or history — and we will brief the guide.
Will the Fes guide take us shopping?
Some routes pass cooperatives and workshops, and the guide may suggest them. There is no obligation to buy. If you prefer to skip shops, say so at the start of the day.
Can we spend one of the two desert nights in a hotel instead?
Possibly. Some travellers prefer one night in a Merzouga hotel, such as Kasbah Le Berger or Riad Madu, and one in the camp [CONFIRM availability and price difference]. Ask when you request a quote.
How much time do we actually get in Meknes?
A short stop — enough to see Bab Mansour and the main square and take photos. It is not a full city visit. If Meknes is important to you, we can discuss a longer stop [CONFIRM].
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, many families prefer this week-long version because the rest day in the desert and the guided Fes day break up the driving. Day 4 is still long. Tell us your children’s ages so we can plan stops [CONFIRM CHILD PRICING and child seats].
Can we add a night in Tangier at the start?
Yes, on request. Arriving the evening before and starting the tour the next morning is a good idea if your ferry lands late [CONFIRM].
Related tours
- 5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour via Chefchaouen and Fes — the faster version with one desert night.
- Morocco tours from Tangier to the Sahara — compare all routes from Tangier and read our ferry pick-up guide.
- 7-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca — a week of cities, Chefchaouen and the Sahara if you fly into Casablanca.
- Our Merzouga desert camp — what your two nights in the Sahara look like.
Getting ready for your 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour
Sending these details early helps us plan the first and last days of the week:
- Arrival: ferry company and port, or flight number, with your arrival time.
- Departure: your flight or train from Marrakech, so we can warn you if day 7 is too tight.
- Interests in Fes: architecture, crafts, food or history, so we can brief the guide.
- Your desert days: whether you want activities on day 5 or a quiet rest day.
- Needs: dietary requirements, mobility needs and children’s ages.
Extra questions
Can we end at Marrakech airport?
Please ask. A drop-off at the airport on day 7 may be possible [CONFIRM], but we advise against an evening flight on the last day of a 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour.
Can we extend the week?
Yes. The 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour can be extended on request. Common additions are an extra night in Chefchaouen or Fes, or a night in Marrakech with a guide [CONFIRM availability and price].
Is the 7 day Tangier to Marrakech tour too much driving?
Average days are shorter than on our 5-day route, because day 3 and day 5 have no long drive. Day 4, from Fes to Merzouga, is still long, so plan a calm first evening at camp.
Do we need cash in the north?
Yes. Cards are not accepted everywhere in Chefchaouen and the Rif, so withdraw dirhams in Tangier before you set off.
Plan your week from Tangier
Send us your arrival details, travel dates and number of travellers. We will reply with a written itinerary and a quote for your group.
Check availability & get a quote · Ask on WhatsApp: +212 667 850 421
Business hours: 8:30–20:00 Morocco time. Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS].
We are Morocco Desert Excursions, a local company founded by Sahara natives from Merzouga.
[INSERT VERIFIED REVIEW WIDGET / LINK – e.g., TripAdvisor or Google profile]
