Tangier Morocco Tours to Marrakech: North, Cities & Coast 9 Days

• Morocco Private Tours
• Morocco Private Tours from Tangier

Tangier Morocco Tours to Marrakech: North, Cities & Coast 9 Days

This authentic intimate Tangier Tours to Marrakech – Northern Morocco Adventure 8 Days from Northern Morocco provides a journey of a lifetime through one of the best, diverse and unbelievably beautiful parts of Morocco. Starting and finishing in Casablanca, we explore some of the most scenic places in Northern Morocco & Sahara Desert. We navigate routes that are embedded into Moroccan History and Berber Culture: we follow the Ziz valley River as we leave Fes Medina, make our way to the Majestic Sahara Desert and Rocky Atlas Mountains before following the Caravan Trade Routes to Todra gorge and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. Along the way, you will experience distinctly Moroccan activities that will deepen your understanding of Moroccan culture, nature and landscape. Be sure to pack your binoculars for this real life experience tour!

DAY 1 : MEET AT TANGIER PORT

• Meet at Tangier port, Drive to chefchaouen in the Rif mountains.
• Arrive in early afternoon. Check into your riad and have lunch, or venture out for lunch at one of the local cafes that offer an intimate view of the old blue and whitewashed city.
• Explore the blue and whitewashed town’s old medina on foot along with your guide who will share stories of Chefchaouen’s history.
• Start your tour with the Kasbah Museum in the main square outa Hmam. The Kasbah of Chefchaouen dates back to the 18th century and was built by the legendary ruler Moulay Ismail. It is fairly simple without architectural decor, however it is surrounded by gardens on the interior and exterior. Inside the Kasbah, you can visit the ethnographic museum of Rif tribes containing antique Arms, Traditional musical instruments, and photographs of the old Chefchaouen.
• Step onto the Kasbah roof and take pictures of a panoramic view of the town lined with blue and whitewashed houses, tiny balconies, tiled roofs, and patios embellished with citrus trees. The Mosque and its nearby buildings were built by Jewish refugees who, alongside Muslims, escaped the Spanish persecution and settled in Chefchaouen.
• Try fresh goat cheese salad, a local Rif specialty, chicken pastilla, or a lamb tajine with prunes. For dessert sit outside by the mulberry trees of Plaza Uta El-Hammam square and enjoy local pasteries from one of the cafes. check the small shops famous for selling woven carpets, and woolen Djellabas.
• End your day with a guided walk in the hills to the Spanish mosque.

• The Rif Mountains has been inhabited by Berbers for thousands of years. In the 11th century BC, the Phoenicians began to establish trading posts with the approval of the local Berbers on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. They founded cities such as Tetouan, Melilla (Rusadir), and Tangier.
• The Riffians are the Berbers who inhabit the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco. The original language of the Riffians is called Riffia, though many also speak Moroccan Arabic, Spanish, or French.
• Dine with a Local Family.
• Spend the night at a 4 star riad or Hotel in Chefchaouen. (Hotel Dar Echchaouen )

DAY 2 CHEFCHAOUEN – VOLUBILIS – FES ( 220 KM )
Breakfast at your riad or hotel in Chefchaouen, Journey through the Rif Mountains to Fes. The Rif mountains are still relatively unexplored by visitors, partly because they are quite remote, and partly because of the hashish that is grown in fields of the hidden valleys. With your guide and driver you will be safe and enjoy this unspoiled region of Morocco, towards the sacred pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss (approximately 3 hours). From here it’s a short journey out to the World Heritage site of Volubilis. The remains of this Roman city make an undeniably impressive sight as they come into view on the edge of a long, high plateau. Take a tour around the arches, basilicas, and superb mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact. The reward for walking in the sun lies in an incredibly memorable lunch of traditional Roman recipes in the shadow of the ancient ruins. Recline on Moroccan Kilims and dine on local ingredients, much like the Romans did a thousand years ago. Once forbidden to non-Muslims, your next stop at ancient Moulay Idriss offers a great insight into traditional Moroccan life. Here the faithful gather to pay homage at the tomb of Moulay Idriss I – the great-grandson of Mohammed and the man who brought Islam to Morocco. Explore the delightful streets, perhaps sampling the famous nougat candy sold at street-side stalls. we’ll head to the lesser-visited Imperial City of Meknes. Once you meet your local expert and guide, you’ll be able to visit the famed gate of Bab El Mansour, Dar Jamai Palace, the Royal Stables, and the tomb of Moulay Ismail Continue on to Fes, arriving by evening (approximately 1 hours), the spiritual heart of Morocco.
Accommodation : Riad (2 nights)
Activities : Visit to Meknes
Guided walking Tour Volubilis
Meals Included : Breakfast

DAY 3 EXPLORE FES
Enjoy the guided city tour of Fes. Begin with the entrance to the largest royal palace in Morocco. Continue with a panoramic view of the ancient medina. Enjoy an authentic experience at the traditional ceramic crafts village of Fes after that. Your next stop is Fes El Bali, the ancient town or Medina, which is a medieval part of Fes that has not changed for centuries. Optional lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the famous Al-Karaouine mosque, built by Fatima Al Fihria in 857. Al-Karaouine mosque became home to the University of Al-Karaouine, which is the first university in the world and the world’s foremost center of learning at the beginning of the second millennium. The university was built by Fatima Al Fihria in 859, and, since then, it has become one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world. In the medina, visit also a Merdersa, which is a Coranic school. Complete the city tour of Fes with the leather Souq and the oldest Leather Tannery in the world. The tannery dates back at least nine centuries.
Fes is the spiritual and cult

• Visit the following sites on a route that takes you through the medina starting with the old Jewish Quarter.
• The 14th Century Palace Gates of the King – The Royal Palace in Fes is one of the oldest and largest in Morocco.
• Jewish Mellah – A mellah is the Jewish quarter located in the old cities of Morocco with a walled boundary. The Fes Mellah is also walled and it has a fortified gateway. These Jewish quarters are located near the royal residencies which enabled its inhabitants to be protected from the wrath of the Muslim populace. The Fes Mellah was once solely inhabited by Jews. This was the first mellah in Morocco and originated in 1438. In contrast with the young Casablanca Mellah, the Fes Mellah is over 650 years old. This picturesque neighborhood adjoins the royal palace where Jews took shelter during the 1912 pogrom.
• Ibn Danan Jewish Synagogue – Fes was once home to a flourishing Jewish community during the 17th century. The Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Danan Synagogue was built and founded by the Ibn Danan family, as well as the nearby Mansano Synagogue.

Next, you drive to the Pottery village to witness the Ceramic work, p[rices here are very high, avoid shopping arts here, only small souvenirs, we will then drive to the Medina, walk in the old city, visit the Fez al Bali, Funduk Ennajjarine, Al karawyin university, head to the Tanneries,  explore the site and take photos of the oldest tanneries. end of your Fez exploration arount 6pm.

Notes, please avoid all shopping in Fez as craft is over priced
• Spend the night at a 4 star riad or hotel in Fes. ( Riad )

DAY 4: FES TO MARRAKECH VIA MIDDLE ATLAS

• Breakfast at your Riad. Depart Fès to and drive to Marrakesh.
• En route stop to see the view of Ifrane University and go for a short walk around the garden. Ifrane is nick named “Little Switzerland” of Morocco for its architecture, cedar forest, and winter ski resort options. Developed by the French during the protectorate era for their administration due to its Alpine climate, this Morrocan town has a remarkable European style, as if it were an Alpine village. Because of its elevation, the town experiences snow during the winter months and a cool climate during the summer. Ifrane is also the place where the lowest temperature was ever recorded in Africa. Animals to be found in the vicinity include the threatened Barbary Macaque. Among the local tree species are the native Atlas cedar, Scrub oak, and the introduced London plane.
• Lunch en route.
• Arrive in Marrakesh in the early evening. Check into your riad and explore the Djemaa El Fna Square.
• Dinner Recommendations: La Maison Arabe, Le Tobsil, Dar Moha, La Trattoria, or Cafe de la Poste
• Spend the night at a 4 Star riad or hotel in Marrakesh.

DAY 5 MARRAKECH CITY TOUR
• Breakfast at your riad. Begin your one day historical tour of Marrakesh. Explore the sites, the sounds, and the souks. Head to the Majorelle Gardens by Kalech.
• The Majorelle Gardens – The Majorelle Gardens, previously the Jardin Bou Saf, bears its name from its original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy, France in 1886. Jacques Majorelle was the son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. In 1947 he opened his gardens to the public and during this time also painted a magnificent ceiling space at La Mamounia, a five-star hotel with gardens. Jacques Majorelle studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy in 1901 and later, in 1919, he went to Marrakesh to recover from heart problems. He built the garden during those years using a special color of blue extensively in the garden that is now named after him, Majorelle Blue. Jacques Majorelle returned to France in 1962 after a car accident and died later that year of complications from his injuries. As a collector of unique plants from five continents Jacque Majorelle left Yves Saint Laurent one of the more unique collections of flora and fauna of this era, as well as a place of inspiration and contemplation. Even though Morocco is no longer under the French protectorate, this originally French creation is one of the most beloved areas in Morocco.
• Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens – The largest mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco. The minaret was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199) and was used as the model for the Giralda of Seville and for the Hassan Tower of Rabat. The name is derived from the Arabic al- Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind. The tower is 69 m (221 ft) tall with a lateral length of 12.8 m (41 ft).
• Visit the Saadian Tombs. The Saadian tombs in Marrakesh date from the time of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. The tombs were only recently discovered in 1917 and were restored by the Beaux-Arts service. The mausoleum comprises the tombs of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the the Draa Valley.
• Visit the El Bahia Palace. The El Bahia Palace in Marrakesh is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century that represents the trends and standards of the wealthy at that time. The palace is surrounded by an eight hectare garden.
• Next visit the old Medina, the old quarter of the Marrakesh. From here we will explore this historically charming area on foot. In Djemaa el Fna, you will visit the famous 12th century Koutouba Mosque, its influential minaret and gardens.
• Your guide will lead you through the labyrinth streets and alleys of the Djemaa. Enjoy aromatic smells, taste fresh squeezed orange juice, and venture into the souks specializing in Berber carpets, silver jewelry, artisan workshops, handmade shoes, and tanneries. Enjoy a three-course lunch consisting of fresh salad, tajine, and fruit at one of Marrakesh most delectable restaurants.
• Next we will visit the Museum of Marrakesh, a Contemporary Moroccan Art Museum or Tiskiwin, a private museum dedicated to popular arts and crafts located in a beautiful Spanish-Moroccan house, next door to Dar Si Said palace, a smaller version of the Bahia.
• Your evening free to explore Marrakesh on your own. Your private driver will be available to escort you to a variety of restaurants we recommend.
• Dinner Recommendations: Your riad, Le Marrakechi, Le Fonduk, Dar Moha, La Trattoria, or Le Comptoir Darna.
• Spend the night at a riad in the Marrakesh medina – traditional restored palace-style or riad with an interior palmerie.

DAY 6 COOKING CLASS
• Breakfast at your Riad. Stroll through the old city and then being your day of a cooking adventure.
• Begin your Half-Day Marrakech Cooking Class.
• 10:00am – 14:30 (2:30opm) La Maison Arabe Cooking Class
The workshops are conducted by a dada (traditional Moroccan cook) or a chef from our Moroccan restaurant, and are held at the hotel. Small groups of maximum 10 participants work alongside a translator (Arabic/English/French), using easy-to-use modern equipment found in everyday kitchens. At the end of each workshop, participants dine on the meal they have prepared. At a typical half-day workshop, one learns to prepare an appetizer and a main dish, or a main dish and dessert.
• Cooking Class Overview:
• Greeting and overview of Moroccan cuisine by an English speaking interpreter
• Demonstration of how Moroccan bread is made
• Visit a communal bread oven and hotel spice market
• Work and cook at your own workstation alongside the Dades to prepare a delicious Moroccan meal
• Moroccan Meal Description: Two Moroccan cooked salads, Chicken & Lemon Tajine with Preserved Lemons & Olives. Pastilla with Milk for Desert.
• Participate in a Moroccan Tea Ceremony
• Dine on the mouth-watering lunch that you have prepared
• Option to add Moroccan wine pairings

• OPTION FOR POST COOKING CLASS: FREE TIME TO EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN OR VISIT THE PALMERAIE GARDEN & MUSEUM OUTSIDE OF MARRAKECH
• Spend the night at the : luxury Riad
• Boutique Hotel in the heart of Marrakech medina.
• (Breakfast Included)

DAY 7 : MARRAKECH TO ESSAOUIRA
• Driving Time: 3 Hours
• After breakfast at your riad, depart for Essaouira.
• The journey to Essaouira, a former Portuguese fishing village, offers a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village. Essaouira is a seaside medieval town that boasts lovely whitewashed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries, and delicious seafood.
• In the 1960s and 1970s, Essaouira was a pitstop on the hippie trek from Marrakech. Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Cat Stevens all made the pilgrimage here and Essaouira was the inspiration for the Hendrix song “Castles Made of Sand”.
• Once called Mogador by European sailors and traders, Essaouira is known for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival that attracts over 300,000 people in June. There is also an expansive beach for surfing called Plage de Safi.
• Visit the Skala du Port and the Essaouira Medina. Stroll along the sunlit pedestrian main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan. Skala du Port, the fishing harbor, offers breathtaking views of the Portuguese ramparts.
• The medina of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is an example of a late-18th century fortified town.
• Walk along Mohammed Ben Abdualllah Avenue that leads to the Jewish Mellah in Essaouira.
• Stop by the fish market, visit the jewelry market, and tour the Thuya Wood Cooperative. Thuya is a wood that is indigenous to Essaouira and is unique for its earthy, menthol, and woody smell.
• Have lunch at the fish-grill cafes with wooden tables and benches laid out overlooking the harbor that was the only Moroccan port south of Tangier in the 19th century.
• Visit Orson Welles Square. This memorial, designed by local artist Samir Mustapha, pays homage to Orson Welles who filmed Othello in Essaouira.
• Essaouira’s history is a reminder of the times when Spain, Portugal, and England fought to maintain control over Africa’s coasts. It has a typical Portuguese harbor that is a stunning example of Moorish and Portuguese architecture.
• Dinner Recommendations: Taros, Le Sirocco, Elixer, Chez Sam
Spend the night at https://www.villa-maroc.com/en/ / https://hotel-darloussia.com/en/
https://www.essaouira-lodge.com/fr/
• (Room Type: Superior Room
• Breakfast Included

DAY 8 : FREE DAY ESSAOUIRA
• Breakfast at your riad in Essaouira. Explore the seaside city at your leisure.
• Visit the local markets and take in the sea.
• Options for Free Day:
• Relax on the beach.
• Visit a local winery for wine and cheese tasting and have lunch with views overlooking the vineyard.
• Relax at your resort. Take in the surroundings at L’Heure Bleue. Sunbathe with a bottle of champagne.
• Take a magical camel trek on the beach at sunset.
• Ride quads on the beach for an active and dynamic outing.
• Horseback ride in Siki Koki. Ride until you drop, then lunch in the surfer town which boasts a charming and tranquil mausoleum.
• Dinner Recommendations: Taros, Le Sirocco, Elixer, Chez Sam
• Spend the night at https://www.villa-maroc.com/en/
• Room Type: Superior Room
• Breakfast Included

DAY 9: MARRAKECH AIRPORT
• Breakfast at your Hotel. Depart Marrakech from Airport.
Pick Up : Pick up at Tangier airport / Drop Off : Drop off Marrakech /