Your 5-day tour from Tangier begins with a scenic drive through the virgin Rif Mountains, offering stunning views of the blue Mediterranean Sea and dramatic peaks. We’ll stop in Tetouan—a city with strong Spanish architectural influence and a beautifully preserved medina. Continue to Chefchaouen, where you’ll have free time to explore the blue-washed streets of the medina, visit creative arts shops, and relax in the charming Place Outa el-Hammam square. Dinner and overnight in a local hotel or riad.

After breakfast, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis—the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa, featuring intricate mosaics, ancient pillars, and arches. We then drive 30 km to Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities, to explore Bab Mansour gate, the Sahrij Souani basin, royal stables, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Continue to Fes, Morocco’s spiritual capital, for dinner and overnight stay in a riad or hotel.

After breakfast, we head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains to Ifrane—”Moroccan Switzerland”—known for its alpine architecture and cool climate. We continue to the cedar forests of Azrou to observe wild Barbary macaques (feel free to feed them as you walk among the trees). Lunch follows in Midelt, the “Apple Capital” of Morocco, before crossing the Tizi n’Tilghmt Pass and driving through the Ziz Valley. Arrive in Merzouga by late afternoon, where we mount camels for a sunset ride across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Check into our desert camp—a blend of traditional nomadic tents and luxury amenities—where you’ll enjoy dinner, Berber drum music, dancing around a fire, and stargazing under the open sky.

After breakfast, we drive to Erfoud, where you can optionally visit a metal excavation museum. We’ll stop at an ancient irrigation system to learn about traditional oasis farming techniques. Continue to the Todra Gorges—towering red cliffs carved by the Todra River—where we’ll take a short walk along the river. In the afternoon, we pass through Dades Valley, stopping to see the famous “Monkey Fingers” rock formations and the Tisdrin curves (where Cadillac set a historic driving record). Dinner and overnight in a hotel with views of the Dades Valley.

After breakfast, we drive to Kalaa M’Gouna in the Rose Valley, home to Morocco’s annual May rose festival where locals produce rose water, oils, and cosmetics. Continue through the Skoura Palm Grove to Ouarzazate—”Hollywood of Africa”—where we’ll visit film studios and the historic Taourirt Kasbah. We then explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has appeared in films like *Gladiator*, *The Mummy*, and *Game of Thrones*. After lunch, we cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), with stops for photos and panoramic views. Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon for dinner and overnight stay.