North to south in seven days, Tangier to Marrakech. It covers a lot of latitude, so it suits travellers who want range rather than one town lived in slowly.
- Duration
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Route
- Tangier → Marrakech
- Pace
- Two driving days, short hops in between
Overview
A week that crosses the country from the Strait to the south. It covers a lot of latitude, so it suits travellers who want range rather than one town lived in slowly.
Photos
Route
- 1Tangier
- 2Fes
- 3Meknes
- 4Marrakech
Highlights
- North to south: Tangier to Marrakech
- Fes and Meknes, two of the four imperial cities
- Coast, medina, plains and the south in seven days
- Built for range, not for staying put
Day by day
A representative plan. Every trip is adjusted to your dates, your pace and what you want to see.
1
Day 1
Arrive in Tangier
You land in Tangier and the day stays open. The Kasbah looks over the port, the Petit Socco sits in a pocket of the medina, and the streets between them change character block by block.
Nothing is scheduled beyond getting settled. Tangier faces the Strait, and on a clear evening you can see the coast of Spain from the waterfront.
2
Day 2
Tangier, Cap Spartel and the caves
Out to Cap Spartel, about forty minutes from the centre, where the Atlantic side of the Strait begins. The Cave of Hercules is just below it, a short walk down and back.
Back in town for the afternoon. The American Legation quarter is small and walkable, and the medina takes a slow loop before dinner.
3
Day 3
Tangier to Fes
About five hours south, mostly motorway with a stop for lunch. It is a full driving day, and there is no shorter way to make the jump from the Strait to Fes.
You reach Fes in the late afternoon. The medina gates are closed to cars, so you are dropped at the edge and walk in the rest of the way.
4
Day 4
The Fes medina
A full day on foot in Fes el-Bali: Bou Inania madrasa, the Chouara tanneries, and the lanes that run between the workshops. It is the largest car-free medina in the country.
Guides earn their fee for the first half, so you can wander alone after. The evening belongs to the square by Bab Boujloud, which stays busy well after dark.
5
Day 5
Fes to Meknes and Volubilis
Meknes is about an hour from Fes, so the move is short. Bab Mansour faces the main square, and the Heri es-Souani granaries sit behind the old royal quarter.
Volubilis is another half hour on, the best-preserved Roman site in the country, with mosaics still in place. Add it in the afternoon and you are back in Meknes by evening.
6
Day 6
Meknes to Marrakech
The longest day of the route, about five and a half hours south across the plains. Flat country for long stretches, then the High Atlas shows up ahead of you.
You arrive with daylight left for a first walk to Jemaa el-Fna and a look at the Koutoubia before dinner.
7
Day 7
Marrakech
Your last day. Jemaa el-Fna in the late afternoon, the Koutoubia beside it, and the covered souks a few minutes behind the square.
Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs take a couple of hours if you want them. The transfer to the airport runs to your departure time.
Good to know
Best season
March to May and October are the easy months. Tangier can be grey and wet in winter, and Marrakech is hot in July and August. The driving days are air conditioned either way.
Pace and driving
Two days move the distance, Tangier to Fes at about five hours and Meknes to Marrakech at about five and a half. Between them the hops are short and most of the sightseeing is on foot.
Who it suits
Travellers who want range. Four settings in a week, and you move on before any of them gets old. Pick this over a slower itinerary if seeing more of the country matters more than staying put.
What's included
- Private vehicle and driver for the whole itinerary
- Accommodation each night, with breakfast
- Airport transfers at the start and end
- A local guide in the medinas where a guide adds most
- A named contact in Marrakech throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches, dinners and drinks unless listed
- Entrance fees to monuments and sites
- Tips for your driver and guides
- Travel insurance
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