8 Days: Marrakech to Marrakech

Overview

In short: Private tour · 8 days / 7 nights, starting and ending in Marrakech airport — about 1,895 km and 21 places, including 1 night in the desert.

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

Starts

Marrakech airport

Ends

Marrakech airport

Tour type

Private tour

Group size

Up to 50 travellers

Language

Flexible, on request

Distance

≈ 1,895 km in total

Stops

21 places

A complete programme starting and ending at Marrakech airport: a Moroccan cooking class, a sunrise hot-air balloon flight, a guided visit of Marrakech, then across the Atlas to the desert and north to Fes and Chefchaouen before returning to Marrakech.

Along the way you travel through Morocco's long history: the land of the Amazigh (Imazighen), then Carthage and Rome, the Arab conquest in the 7th century, the Almoravid empire of the 11th century stretching from Andalusia to sub-Saharan Africa, the French protectorate in 1912 and independence in 1956.

Highlights

• The alleys of the Fes medina
• A night under the stars in a Sahara dune camp
• Chefchaouen, the Blue City
• Hidden oases, old caravan routes and fortified kasbahs
• Souks, the Atlas and the desert
• Sandboarding and camel ride
• Hot-air balloon over Marrakech
• Moroccan cooking class

Route

• Day 1
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6
• Day 7
• Day 8

Lines join the stops in order; they are not the exact roads. Distances are road estimates. Open the route in Google Maps

Day by day

1. Day 1Arrival at Marrakech airport – Cooking class

   Marrakech Airport › Marrakech

   Airport welcome and transfer to your riad to rest.

   Cooking class for Moroccan dishes, then a free evening to discover Marrakech by night.

   ≈ 10 kmOvernight: Riad in Marrakech
2. Day 2Hot-air balloon – Marrakech city tour with a local guide

   Pick-up at 5:00, take-off around 6:00 to watch the sunrise from the sky, followed by breakfast and return to Marrakech.

   Guided visit of the medina: Bahia Palace, the Mellah, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia Mosque, Ben Youssef Madrasa and museum, Menara Gardens, the ramparts, Majorelle Garden and Jemaa el-Fna square with its storytellers and musicians.

   Overnight: Riad in the medinaMeals: Breakfast
3. Day 3Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

   Marrakech › Tizi n'Tichka › Ait Ben Haddou › Ouarzazate › Skoura › Kelaat M'Gouna › Boumalne Dades

   Departure at 8:00 across the High Atlas; visit Ait Ben Haddou (more than 20 films, and a fortress on the old caravan route).

   Ouarzazate, 'the Hollywood of Africa', then Kelaat M'Gouna and Skoura, overnight in the Dades Valley.

   ≈ 300 kmOvernight: Hotel in the Dades ValleyMeals: Breakfast + dinner
4. Day 4Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga

   Boumalne Dades › Tinghir › Todra Gorge › Tinjdad › Erfoud › Merzouga

   Through Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud, the start of the Tafilalet oasis.

   Sunset camel ride, desert dinner, drums and singing, and a night in a luxury tent.

   ≈ 305 kmOvernight: Luxury campMeals: Breakfast + dinner
5. Day 5Erg Chebbi – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

   Merzouga › Erfoud › Errachidia / Ziz › Ziz Gorges › Midelt › Ifrane › Fes

   Camel ride back after sunrise, shower and breakfast, then tea with a nomad family.

   Lunch in Midelt, then Ifrane and arrival in Fes.

   ≈ 455 kmOvernight: Riad in FesMeals: Breakfast + dinner
6. Day 6Fes city tour (half day) – Chefchaouen

   Fes › Chefchaouen

   Fes, the oldest imperial city (founded 789–790 AD): the medina, Al-Qarawiyyin, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate), the Chouara tannery and the souks, then a panoramic view over the city.

   After lunch, drive directly to Chefchaouen.

   ≈ 170 kmOvernight: Riad in ChefchaouenMeals: Breakfast + dinner
7. Day 7Chefchaouen with a local guide – Return to Marrakech

   Chefchaouen › Rabat › Casablanca › Marrakech

   Walk among the blue walls, doors and shops, plus the new town with its Andalusian-style architecture and the park at the end of Avenue Mohammed V.

   In the afternoon, drive to Marrakech (end of the touring part).

   ≈ 645 kmOvernight: MarrakechMeals: Breakfast
8. Day 8Transfer to Marrakech Menara airport

   Marrakech › Marrakech Airport

   After breakfast, transfer to the airport (be there two hours before departure).

   ≈ 10 kmMeals: Breakfast

What’s included

Good to know

• Best season for the desert: October to April. In summer daytime heat often exceeds 40°C; in winter nights at camp can drop close to freezing.
• The Tizi n'Tichka pass (about 2,260 m) can get snow or brief closures in winter; the driver adjusts timings to road conditions.
• Pack a small daypack for the camp night (water, charger, warm layer, toiletries). Large luggage stays in the vehicle or hotel.
• Essentials: sunscreen, sunglasses, a scarf/cheche against sand, comfortable shoes and a warm jacket for the evening.
• In the old medinas (Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen) wear comfortable shoes; alleys are narrow and unsuitable for wheeled suitcases — riads usually arrange porters.
• Use only official licensed guides and ignore unofficial 'guides' at the medina gates.
• Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) near religious sites; Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque open to non-Muslims, on guided visits.
• Balloon flights depend on the weather and may be moved to another morning if winds are strong.

Guided visits on this route

Our local guides also lead these walks and day trips in towns this tour passes through. Ask us to add one.

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