Morocco 6-day trip from Tangier

Your 6 day trip Tangier to Marrakech begins with a pick-up from the port, airport, or your hotel in Tangier. Before we head south, we take a brief tour of Tangier’s captivating coastline. We visit Cap Spartel, the northwesternmost point of Africa where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Just nearby are the Caves of Hercules, shrouded in Greek myth and shaped like the map of Africa.

Leaving the coast, we drive inland towards the Rif Mountains. Unlike the arid south, this region is green and lush. The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours, winding through landscapes dotted with cork oak trees and small Berber villages.

We arrive in Chefchaouen (Chaouen) by early afternoon. Founded in 1471, this city served as a fortress against Portuguese invasions. Today, it is famous for its blue-washed walls—a tradition believed to have been started by Jewish refugees in the 1930s to symbolize the sky and heaven. You have the rest of the day free to wander.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

Don’t just stay in the main square (Outa el Hammam). For the best sunset photo, hike 20 minutes up the hill to the Spanish Mosque. It’s abandoned, but the view of the blue city glowing in the twilight is unmatched. Also, try the local goat cheese (Jben), a specialty of the Rif region that you won’t find easily in Marrakech.

After a traditional breakfast, we leave the blue city behind and head south into the agricultural heart of Morocco. Our first major stop is Volubilis (Walili), the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will walk among the ancient basilicas, the triumphal arch, and the stunning mosaic floors that depict mythological scenes like the Labors of Hercules.

From Rome, we travel to the 17th century in Meknes, one of the four Imperial Cities. We stop to admire Bab Mansour, a colossal gate built by Sultan Moulay Ismail. The gate is famous for its intricate zellige tilework and the inscription that boasts of its own beauty. We also visit the Sahrij Swani granary, designed to store enough grain to feed the Sultan’s 12,000 horses.

We finish the day by driving to Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco. You will check into a traditional Riad in the Medina for the night.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

When visiting Volubilis, look for the “House of Orpheus.” It contains a mosaic of Orpheus charming animals with his lyre, and it’s often less crowded than the main Decumanus Maximus street. It’s a quiet spot to contemplate the reach of the Roman Empire.

Today is dedicated entirely to Fes, the oldest of the imperial cities. Navigating the 9,000 alleyways of Fes el-Bali can be overwhelming, so a local certified guide will lead you through the labyrinth.

Your tour includes:

• The Royal Palace Gates: Admire the 7 golden gates of the palace (Fes el-Jdid).

• The Mellah: The first Jewish quarter in Morocco, established in 1438, featuring different architecture with open balconies.

• Al-Attarine Madrasa: A masterpiece of Marinid architecture with incredible cedar wood carving and zellige tile work.

• Chouara Tannery: The iconic view of Fes. You will see men working in vats of colorful dye—using saffron for yellow, poppy for red, and indigo for blue. This process has remained unchanged for nearly a thousand years.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

The smell at the tanneries can be strong due to the pigeon droppings used to soften the leather (the ammonia). The shopkeepers will offer you a sprig of fresh mint. Take it! Hold it under your nose while you watch the workers from the terrace. It makes the experience much more pleasant.

This is the longest driving day of your Morocco itinerary 6 days, but it is also the most diverse ecologically. We start by climbing into the Middle Atlas Mountains to Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland” for its alpine architecture and snow-capped winters.

Just nearby is the Azrou Cedar Forest, home to the endangered Barbary Macaques. We will stop so you can see these monkeys in their natural habitat. Continuing south, the landscape turns arid as we cross the Tizi n’Talghamt pass. We descend into the Ziz Valley, a spectacular gorge filled with thousands of date palm trees.

We arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon. Here, you will trade the 4×4 for camels. You will ride across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun sets, arriving at your luxury desert camp. Enjoy a dinner under the stars followed by traditional Berber drumming music.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

In the Ziz Valley, ask your driver to stop at the panoramic viewpoint near Aoufous. It offers the best angle to see the contrast between the dry red canyon and the lush green river of palms below. Also, if you are in Erfoud, visit a fossil workshop to see how they extract 300-million-year-old ammonites from the rock—this area used to be an ocean!.

Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Algerian border—a highlight of any 6 days Morocco tour. After showering and breakfast at the camp, we drive to Rissani. This town is the foundation of the current ruling dynasty and holds a bustling market. It is the most authentic souk in the south, trading in donkeys, sheep, and spices.

Next, we head to the Todra Gorges. These limestone cliffs rise 300 meters high and leave only a narrow corridor for the river and hikers. It’s a paradise for climbers. We take a walk along the riverbank before continuing to the Dades Valley.

As we drive through the Dades Valley, look out for the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations—strange, bulbous rock shapes caused by erosion that look like fingers rising from the earth.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

In Rissani, you must try Madfouna, often called “Berber Pizza.” It’s a stuffed flatbread filled with minced meat, onions, almonds, and spices, baked in a traditional oven. It is a local delicacy of the Tafilalet region and absolutely delicious.

On the final day of your 6 Day Trip Tangier to Marrakech, we follow the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” to Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa. You can see the Atlas Studios where movies like The Mummy were filmed.

The crown jewel of the day is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar. This fortified village is a striking example of southern Moroccan earthen clay architecture. You will recognize it from Game of Thrones (Yunkai) and Gladiator.

Finally, we cross the majestic High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260m). The road winds through Berber villages and offers vertigo-inducing views. We descend into the Haouz plains and arrive in Marrakech in the evening, concluding your 6 days tour from Tangier.

Nomad’s Pro-Tip:

When at Ait Ben Haddou, cross the river using the stepping stones (or the bridge) and climb all the way to the Agadir (granary) at the very top of the hill. The view looking back over the ksar with the snowy Atlas Mountains in the background is the classic “money shot”.