Arrival to Tangier

Arrival to Tangier airport and transfer the short distance to the Medina of the city, which dominates the port area. Overnight for this and the following night in a renovated town-house in the Medina, overlooking the port. 

Tangier is quite unlike any other Moroccan city in that it was an international zone until the mid 20th Century, at the point of liberation from the French. 

As you are spending two nights in Tangier, there will be time to explore both the town and further afield; we suggest a side visit to Asilah a short distance down the coast.

Fes via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss

Aim for an early start to the day, today is a full day before reaching Fes early evening.

Leave the Rif mountains behind to descend southwards, stopping firstly at the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Explore the ruins with a local guide or on your own. 

Volubilis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is home to the largest and most well-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. Above, are its triumphal arches and basilicas, and below, the mosaic floors have been preserved and left in situ.

From Volubilis, drive the short distance to the holy town of Moulay Idriss (the town is on a short-list for nomination to UNESCO) where you will take lunch. The town is named for the founder of the first Muslim dynasty of Morocco and its shrine attracts many pilgrims. 

Mid-afternoon, drive on to Meknes (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for a short visit.

In Meknes, the impressive monuments recall the splendour of a city first built in the 17th Century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail to rival the court of Louis XIV of France.

Reach the Fes medina by early evening. Check in to your riad, where you will overnight for this and the following night.

Todra Gorge

Early departure for the day’s journey through the Atlas Mountains to the Todra Gorge.

Leave Fes after breakfast to ascend to the High Atlas mountains via the cedar forests outlying Fes (and home to Morocco’s endangered Barbary Macaque species), the alpine scenery of Ifrane, and to the market town of Midelt. Travel through the evermore barren mountains on little-used roads to descend to the Todra River and its Gorge, before reaching the verdant palm oasis of Tinghir. 

Overnight in a guest house at the palm oasis.

Draa Valley

Spend a leisurely morning exploring one of the palm oases with a guide, walking amidst cultivation and simple dwellings. Thereafter, your driver will take you to have lunch in a Moroccan home. 

Spend the afternoon at the hotel and enjoying the views all around. Or walk to explore one of the nearby kasbah ruins. 

Erg Chigaga dunes

Drive south along the Draa Valley to the Sahara desert. The route south passes via Tamegroute, with the option to visit the pottery coop/library, and then M’hamid El Ghezlane (where the tarmac road ends). At M’hamid, have lunch in a restaurant, before your driver will take you to the old Ksar settlement, itself on the southern banks of the now-dry Draa River. Visit a home in the Ksar and enjoy the Moroccan tea ritual. 

Expect to reach the desert camp during late afternoon. Late afternoon is spent exploring the nearby dunes by foot and camel-back. Trek to the tallest dune in the entire Erg. Enjoy the sunset from this unique vantage point, before returning to camp for a hearty Moroccan meal.

Overnight at the camp for this and the following night.

Tata oasis

Depart the desert north-west, via the dried lake bed, Lake Iriqui, the Madouar canyon mountains and the Acacia groves. The first part of the journey is off-road and there is plenty of opportunity to stop for photos and a fossil hunt. Re-join the tar road at Foum Zguid and break for lunch. Then travel along the mountainous Jebel Bani ridge westwards to reach Tata and its palm oasis, in the midst of canyon reliefs and other-worldly geology. 

Overnight for this and the following night at Tata oasis.

Taroudant

Today take in the scenery of the Anti-Atlas mountains as you drive northwards to Taroudant. The region is dotted with luxuriant palm groves, gorges and barren mountains. Not far north from Tata, stop to visit the ancient grain store (‘agadir’) of Tagmoute, a striking example of this type of earthern architecture (prevalent in the region). 

Descend from the Anti-Atlas to the fertile Souss River plain, which sits between the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas ranges. The broad river plain is one of the bread-baskets of Morocco, the region cultivating citrus fruit, and vegetables.  

Expect to reach the medieval, walled town of Taroudant by early afternoon. Taroudant has been described as the little sister of Marrakech and has a much smaller, less-visited medina.

Spend the afternoon in the medina, and take time to photograph the town’s remparts which have been restored.

You will overnight just outside the medina. 

Marrakech

Another day of mountain driving, as you re-cross the High Atlas mountains, to reach Marrakech late afternoon. Travel via the adventurous Tizi n Test mountain pass (single track and winding in places, and with far-reaching views back down to the river plain below). On the approach to the mountain road, you will likely see some of Morocco’s famed Argan trees, before the hillsides become rock-strewn. 

On the north side of the mountains the scenery becomes more verdant and the hillsides are dotted with small plots of terracing and earth-built homes. 

Early afternoon reach the partly-restored ruins of the mosque of Tin Mal, dating back to the 12th Century and sitting in an isolated part of the mountains (NB: the site was part of a large town, itself not evident, which was the seat of the Almohad dynasty, please refer to below section on Marrakech). The mosque is on a short-list for nomination to UNESCO. A guardian will allow you to enter and explore at leisure. 

The mountain scenery will become more alpine reaching Ouirgane valley, and, beyond, at Asni, you are able to see the highest peak in North Africa, Mt Toubkal. 

Reach the Marrakech medina and check in to your riad, where you will stay two nights. 

Departure Day

Transfer to the Marrakech airport.

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