9 Days Morocco Tour from Marrakech: Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen
9 days Morocco tour from Marrakech via the Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen
9 Days Morocco Tour from Marrakech – Private 9 days Morocco tour from Marrakech: Ait Ben Haddou, two nights in Merzouga, a full day in Fes, two nights in Chefchaouen and Rabat.
Overview:This private 9 days Morocco tour from Marrakech is a complete loop of the country. You cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades and Todra gorges, spend two nights in the Merzouga desert, enjoy a full day in the medina of Fes, spend two nights in the blue city of Chefchaouen with a walk to the Akchour waterfalls, visit Rabat and return to Marrakech via Casablanca.
Tizi n'Tichka pass, the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and a night in the Dades Gorges.
Todra Gorge and its limestone walls about 300 metres high.
Two nights in an Erg Chebbi desert camp with a private bathroom, with a camel ride at sunset.
Full day in Merzouga by 4×4: nomad families, the black desert and Gnawa music in Khamlia.
The Middle Atlas and a full day in Fes el Bali.
Two nights in Chefchaouen with the Akchour waterfalls, then Rabat and Casablanca.
Note: The price of the tour depends on how many people share the trip from your group: family, friends, students.
Pick-up at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. We cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with wide views over Berber villages, and visit the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site used as a setting for many films.
We continue through Ouarzazate, the Skoura oasis and the Rose Valley to the Dades Gorges. Night in a hotel in the gorges, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: hotel in the Dades Gorge
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast we walk in the Todra Gorge near Tinghir, then continue through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga. At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes you ride a camel to the camp in about one hour, watching the sunset on the way. Dinner, Berber music and a night in a private tent with its own bathroom.
Overnight: desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes (private tent with bathroom)
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After the sunrise and breakfast, we explore the area around Erg Chebbi by 4×4: a visit to a nomad family for tea, the black stone desert, old mines and the village of Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music.
In the afternoon you have free time in the dunes, for sandboarding or simply enjoying the views. Second night in the desert camp with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: second night at the desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
A long but beautiful day north. We follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley, pass Errachidia and Midelt, and cross the Middle Atlas through the cedar forest of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live in the wild.
After a stop in Ifrane, the "Switzerland of Morocco", we arrive in Fes in the early evening. Night in a hotel or riad in Fes, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: hotel or riad in Fes
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast, spend the day discovering Fes el Bali, the oldest medina in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk through its maze of lanes to Bab Bou Jeloud, the Bou Inania madrasa and the Chouara tanneries, and watch artisans at work in the souks of leather, brass and weaving.
A licensed local guide can be arranged to show you the medina. Late in the afternoon we drive up to the Merinid tombs for a view over the whole city. Second night in your hotel or riad in Fes, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: second night at your hotel or riad in Fes
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast we drive north through the green hills of the Rif foothills to Chefchaouen, the blue city in the mountains.
In the afternoon you explore its blue lanes, Outa el Hammam square and the kasbah, and you can walk up to the Spanish Mosque for the sunset. Night in a hotel or riad in Chefchaouen, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: hotel or riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast we drive to the Talassemtane National Park for a half-day walk to the Akchour waterfalls and the natural rock bridge, with clear pools and shaded paths in the Rif Mountains.
Back in Chefchaouen, free afternoon in the blue medina. Second night in Chefchaouen, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: second night at your hotel or riad in Chefchaouen
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
We enjoy a quiet morning in the blue medina before driving to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
Visit of the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the ocean. Night in a hotel or riad in Rabat, with dinner and breakfast.
Overnight: hotel or riad in Rabat
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast we drive along the coast to Casablanca to see the Hassan II Mosque, built over the Atlantic. We then head south to Marrakech and drop you at your hotel or riad, or at Marrakech airport, in the late afternoon.
End of the tour: drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech, or at Marrakech airport, in the late afternoon.
9 Days Morocco Tour from Marrakech: useful information
With Merzouga Packages, “9 Days Morocco Tour from Marrakech” is a private experience run by a local Berber team that lives in Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The program adapts to your pace, with pick-up from your hotel or riad, an experienced driver-guide and hand-picked accommodation.
For more ideas, see also these pages: Morocco Tours and FAQ. To learn more about the places you will visit, read the article on Marrakech on Wikipedia.
Included:
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus
- Driver / guide / fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- 6 hotel nights: one in the Dades Gorges, two in Fes, two in Chefchaouen, one in Rabat (dinner and breakfast included)
- Two nights in a desert camp with a private bathroom (dinner and breakfast included)
- Camel ride, 4×4 excursion around Erg Chebbi, sandboarding, sunset and sunrise
Not included:
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees
- Tips
Route, distances and driving times
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges | 331 km | about 6 h 30 |
| Day 2 | Dades Gorges – Todra Gorge – Merzouga | 291 km | about 5 h 30 |
| Day 3 | Day in Merzouga (no long drive) | – | – |
| Day 4 | Merzouga – Erfoud – Errachidia – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes | 467 km | about 8 h 30 |
| Day 5 | Day in Fes (no long drive) | – | – |
| Day 6 | Fes – Chefchaouen | 195 km | about 4 h |
| Day 7 | Day in Chefchaouen (no long drive) | – | – |
| Day 8 | Chefchaouen – Rabat | 246 km | about 4 h 30 |
| Day 9 | Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech | 328 km | about 4 h |
Total distance: about 1,858 km. Driving times are approximate and do not include stops for visits, photos and meals.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive on this 9-day tour?
The whole loop is about 1,860 km, plus a short drive to the Akchour waterfalls. Rest days in Merzouga and Fes and Chefchaouen keep the pace relaxed; the longest stage, from Merzouga to Fes, is about 465 km with several stops.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts and ends at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. We can also drop you at Marrakech airport on the last day.
Where do I sleep?
Night 1 in a hotel in the Dades Gorges, nights 2 and 3 in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes with a private bathroom, nights 4 and 5 in a hotel or riad in Fes, nights 6 and 7 in Chefchaouen and night 8 in Rabat. Dinner and breakfast are included every night.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel only with your own family or friends, in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a local Berber driver. Every itinerary can be adapted: contact us.
Is there a discount for groups?
Yes. The price depends on how many people share the trip, so families, friends and student groups pay less per person. See our Morocco special offer for details.
What our travelers say
Merzouga Packages is a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice winner, thanks to real reviews from our travelers.