The Best Desert Tour from Marrakech To Chefchaouen

The first day of our Marrakech to Chefchaouen 6 days desert tour via the Sahara Desert starts with a pick up from your hotel or Ryad in Marrakech at around 7:30. The destination is the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. To reach this wonderful site, we need to pass through the famous Tizi N’Tichka Pass in the High Atlas Mountains, which is famous for its wonderful natural and architectural views.

During this drive, we can stop from time to time in order to allow you to take some pictures and take a break. Upon our arrival to the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can wander through the alleys and explore the architectural and cultural aspects of this Kasbah where many Hollywood movies took place such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia.

After visiting the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, we will head to Ouarzazate and visit the Atlas film studios. In Ouarzazate, we will have lunch at a local café or restaurant in order to taste the local food.

In the afternoon, we will head to the Skoura Oasis with its wonderful palm trees. In Skoura Oasis, we can visit one of the most preserved Kasbahs, the Kasbah of Amridil. In this site, we can explore the aspects of local architecture and agriculture (The irrigation system).

Our next step is the Valley of Roses in order to arrive to the town of Boumalne Dades where we will have dinner and spend the night in one of our lodges.

In the early morning and after having breakfast, we will drive you to the town of Tinghir with its famous oasis. So, you can wander through the oasis in order to unveil the secrets of this wonderful town. Your walk through the Tinghir Oasis will take you to the breath-taking Todgha Gorges where you can take a break, enjoy the natural scenes and take some unforgettable pictures.

Upon having lunch at one of the local restaurants in Tinghir, prepare yourself for another drive towards the holy town of Rissani. This town is the cradle of the Alaouite Dynasty that rules Morocco and the founder of this Dynasty Moulay Ali Cherif is buried in the town and has a Mausoleum. Rissani is also known for its traditional market.

The next destination is the town of Merzouga which is known for its golden sand dunes. So, late in the afternoon, you will find your camel caravan waiting for you next to the sand dunes. The caravan will take you to the Sahara Desert camp while enjoying the charming sunset on the back of your camel, which is a memorable and worthy experience. So, once you reach the Sahara Desert camp, you will be welcomed by local nomadic music bands, have dinner and spend the night under the starlit sky.

Upon having an early breakfast in the desert camp, you will embark on a 7 hours’ drive towards the city of Fes. On your way to Fes, you will pass through the Ziz Valley and the city of Errachidia which is the capital of the Draa Tafilalet Region. The next destination is the city of Midelt where you can have lunch. After lunch, we will pass through the Middle Atlas Mountains to enjoy the natural scenes of cedar forests before reaching the Berber towns of Ifran and Imouzar, known for being ski resorts in the winter.

Late in the afternoon, we will arrive to the historical city of Fes where you can have dinner and spend the night in an Old Medina Ryad.

Fes is considered to be the spiritual capital of Morocco. Some people even call it ‘’the Athens of Africa’’ thanks to its rich cultural and religious heritage.

So, in Fes you can visit the broad esplanade of the Royal Palace which depicts the richness and authenticity of the Moroccan architecture. After that, you can visit the 16^th century Borj Sud. You can also wander through the Old Medina which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the Old Medina, you can wander through the narrow alleys where the aroma of history fills the place. So, you can explore the Nejjarine Square and discover the Moroccan art in the Dar Batha Museum.

Upon finishing the tour, you will head to your Ryad or hotel in order to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Your 5^th day of your Marrakech to Chefchaouen tour via the Sahara Desert begins with a drive through the Sais Plain to reach the archaeological site of Volubilis which is considered to be one of the most important world heritage sites in Morocco. This site shows the urban development of the Roman Empire which is based on many materials such as marble, mosaics, bronze and sculpture. The site is also important to various civilizations like the Libyco-Berber, Mauritanian, Roman, Christian, and Arabo-Islamic.

After visiting the historical site of Volubulis, you will drive across the Rif Mountains to reach the town of Chefchaouen, nicknamed as ‘’the Blue Diamond’’, where you can enjoy the blue-walled buildings and the breath-taking natural mountainous views.  

In Chafchaouen, you can have dinner and spend the night in a Ryad.

After having breakfast in your Ryad, get ready for a tour inside the town of Chefchaouen. In this tour, you can discover the artisanal shops and Bazaars where you can buy some souvenirs. You can also take some memorable pictures in front of the blue and white walls. Chafchaouen is a beautiful town thanks to its rich history. It is influenced by the Andalucian Musim history as it was a host town for Muslims who left Spain after the Fall of the last Andalucian kingdom of Granada. So, Chafchaouen is also nicknamed the daughter of Granada.

Chefchaouen is also known for its calmness and wonderful ambiance. So, you will enjoy time in Chefchaouen by wandering through the maze-like alleys and visiting the old historical monuments such as Plaza Uta El Hammam where the Kasbah is located. After this wonderful journey, you will have lunch at one of the local restaurants in order to discover the local cuisine.

So, visiting the town of Chefchaouen is a chance to explore the traditional cultural heritage of this part of Morocco. It is also an attempt to captivate the hidden gems of historical sites.

Your 6-day Marrakech to Chefchaouen tour via the Sahara Desert comes to an end with a drive and a drop off at your Ryad or hotel in Marrakech or Casablanca.

PS: This tour can also end in Marrakech or Tangier with no extra fees.