The Ultimate experience

8 Day Morocco Tour

Duration

8 Days

Starting Location

Tangier

Ending Location

Marrakech

8 Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour

Our 8 day Morocco imperial tour is a private journey planned by our local Moroccan team. Instead of heading into the Sahara, the 8-Day Tour of Tangier to Marrakech by Bahma Tours takes you along the historic west-coast corridor of Morocco, connecting four of the country’s most important cities in one route. Destinations include Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. It’s for travellers who prefer architecture, history and city life to camping in the desert.

Why choose our 8 day Morocco imperial tour

It links all four of Morocco’s imperial cities – Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech – as well as Casablanca, but follows the coast rather than taking the diversion into the Sahara. That means shorter, steadier days of driving and more time in each city, more suitable to travellers seeking history and architecture rather than desert landscapes.

8-Day Tangier to Marrakech Route Highlights

  • The medina of Tangier, Hercules' Cave and Cap Spartel where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean
  • Blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen and sunset at the viewpoint of the Spanish Mosque
  • Volubilis, the best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco and Bab Mansour gate in Meknes
  • Fes el-Bali: a day of tanneries, madrasas and the Al-Qarawiyyin
  • Kasbah des Oudayas and Hassan Tower, Rabat
  • The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is among the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims
  • Full day in Marrakech: Bahia Palace, souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa

8 Days Itinerary Tangier to marrakech

Day 1: Arrival in Tangier

Morning:
Most visitors fly into Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, or take a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar from points in southern Spain. The ferry ride takes anywhere from about 35 to 90 minutes, depending on the route. The morning is largely taken up with arrival logistics and check-in, as Bahma Tours will pick you up directly from the airport or port.

Noon:
This portion of the day is deliberately left open to give travellers time to recover from flights or overnight travel before the more active days of the itinerary kick off.

Afternoon:
If you have energy after checking in, a short walk near the hotel or along the Tangier waterfront is a good introduction to the city, with views across the strait toward Spain on clear days. Eat whenever you like. Tangier has a choice of Mediterranean and Moroccan food.

Day 2: Tangier → Chefchaouen

Morning:
A walk through the medina of Tangier. Smaller and easier to navigate than the medinas of Fes or Marrakech, the medina of Tangier is a good first taste of old-city Morocco, with the Petit Socco square and Kasbah quarter. From the medina the group heads to Hercules Cave, a cavern on the coast facing the sea that supposedly once sheltered the mythological hero Hercules; the rock formations and ocean views make it worth the stop regardless of the story behind it.

Noon:
Cap Spartel is a short drive from the cave, the headland where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea, identifiable by its lighthouse and sweeping coastal views – a natural lunch and photo stop before the drive turns inland.

Afternoon:
Up into the Rif Mountains, on the way to Chefchaouen, arriving in time for a leisurely stroll around the blue-painted medina in the afternoon. As the light softens, the walk up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint above town is the way the day is meant to close – a hillside lookout with a clear view down over Chefchaouen’s rooftops, timed for sunset.

Day 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

Morning:
The drive leaves the mountains, heading south from Chefchaouen to the agricultural plains around Meknes. It’s a multi-hour drive, taking you from the terraced hillsides of the Rif to open farmland.

12 p.m.
Volubilis: The highlight of the day is Volubilis, the best preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, in what was once a regional administrative center of the Roman Empire, standing columns, triumphal arches and detailed floor mosaics can still be seen. It takes about an hour and a half to an hour to walk through the site at a comfortable pace.

Afternoon:
A short drive from Volubilis leads you to Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, and a much quieter alternative to Fes or Marrakech. The city is built around the monumental Bab Mansour gate and a formal royal quarter, extensive and built under Sultan Moulay Ismail. The route continues onto Fes after time in Meknes for the overnight, arriving in the evening.

Day 4: Fes Full day

Morning:
Explore Fes el-Bali, the old walled medina, on foot with a local guide. It is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and hard to navigate without local knowledge. The morning is usually spent in the area of Al-Qarawiyyin, one of the world’s oldest universities in continuous operation, and nearby historic madrasas famed for their carved stucco and cedar woodwork.

Noon:
Midday move towards the Chouara tanneries, best viewed from surrounding terraces where the dyeing pits and traditional leather-processing methods – largely unchanged for centuries – can be seen from above.

Afternoon:
Afternoon is dedicated to visiting the specialised souks of the medina, each quarter specialising in its own craft: metalwork, ceramics, textiles, leather goods. Fes is perhaps the strongest city in Morocco for traditional crafts and so the afternoon is a natural time to shop before resting up for the drive to the coast the following day.

Day 5: Fes → Rabat → Casablanca

Morning:
Depart Fes and drive west towards the Atlantic coast to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco and a much more peaceful city than Fes or Marrakech. We spend the morning in the Kasbah des Oudayas, a fortified blue and white quarter overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, with its narrow lanes and walled garden within.

Noon:
The group walks from the kasbah to the Hassan Tower and neighbouring Mausoleum of Mohammed V, an unfinished 12th-century minaret and mausoleum of Morocco’s former king, both located in the same open plaza and among Rabat’s most important historical sites.

Afternoon:
Continue driving south to Casablanca, the country’s largest city and economic hub. Arrive in time to visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the world’s largest mosques and one of the few in Morocco that is open to non-Muslim visitors, famous for its oceanfront setting and minaret that rises over 200 meters. Overnight at Casablanca.

Day 6: Casablanca → Marrakech

Morning:
Depending on yesterday’s visit, the morning could be spent with more time at the Hassan II Mosque, or a walk through the center of Casablanca before departure, to get a little taste of the city’s mix of colonial-era architecture and modern development.

Noon:
The drive heads inland toward Marrakech, a multi-hour stretch that pulls away from the Atlantic coast and through the agricultural plains of central Morocco—a different landscape than that of the coastal cities visited during the previous two days.

Afternoon:
Arrive in Marrakech, usually late afternoon. Time to check in at your hotel and have a first walk around the medina before dinner, in preparation for the full day of sightseeing tomorrow.

Day 7: Full Day In Marrakech

Morning:
Start with Bahia Palace, a 19th-century residence with carved cedar ceilings, painted woodwork and a series of courtyards and gardens, then Saadian Tombs, a royal necropolis sealed for centuries before being rediscovered in the early 20th century.

Noon:
The Majorelle Garden is a cactus botanical garden with cobalt-blue structures created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored later under designer Yves Saint Laurent — a quieter, greener contrast to the density of the medina.

Afternoon:
The afternoon and evening move into the medina itself, through souks selling leather, spices, textiles and metalwork, ending at Jemaa el-Fnaa, the city’s main square, which changes after dark as food stalls, musicians and storytellers set up for the evening.

Day 8: Departure Transfer to the airport

Morning:
Depending on the flight time, the final morning may allow for one more stroll through the medina, or a stop at a café, before checking out.

12h00:
Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport is organised by Bahma Tours according to the departure time of the traveller.

Afternoon:
Those with later flights have time for last-minute shopping or a final meal in the medina before heading to the airport to close out the eight-day route.

What’s Included & Excluded

What’s Included

  • Pickup from the airport and transfer to the airport
  • Private transport in a [ air-conditioned 4x4 / minivan]
  • Professional English speaking driver
  • Fuel, road charges
  • 7 nights accommodation as per the itinerary above
  • Licensed local guide for Fes and Marrakech Medina
  • Breakfast daily

Not Included

  • Lunches and drinks
  • Optional activities (quad biking, 4x4 excursions)
  • Tips (optional but appreciated)
  • Individual expenses

Useful information

  • This route is more flexible across seasons than an itinerary that includes the Sahara or the High Atlas, as it remains in cities rather than crossing them. Even summer heat is somewhat tempered by the coastal stretch through Rabat and Casablanca.
  • Best Time to Go: Season Comparison Season Temperature Pattern Best For Watch Out For Spring (Mar–May) Mild in all cities on this routeWalking days are comfortable in all cities Occasional rain in the north
  • Physical difficulty: Easy to intermediate. The tour is primarily vehicle-based with walking tours in the medinas.
  • Please mention any dietary needs when you book or just tell your driver on day one.

Booking

Ready for an unforgettable trip?  Book now and pay later with ease! If you don’t hear from us soon, please feel free to contact us on WhatsApp at @@   we’re always here to help make your dream trip a reality.

 
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sahara desert included in this 8-day tour?


No – this route follows the string of Morocco’s imperial cities and Atlantic coast corridor (Chefchaouen, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech), not into the desert. For the Sahara, take a look at Bahma Tours’ 6-day or 10-day routes instead.

 The driving days are generally shorter and more even than a desert-inclusive itinerary, as this route follows the coast and connecting highways, rather than crossing the Middle and High Atlas mountains.

Yes this is a private tour, not a fixed-departure group tour and additional nights or changes to the itinerary can be arranged with Bahma Tours.

Rabat and Casablanca are right on the coastal route between Fes and Marrakech, so adding them in brings Morocco’s political capital and largest city into the mix without much of a detour.

One of the very few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, the Hassan II Mosque is usually open for guided tours of the interior (not during prayer times) but check closer to your visit.

Yes. The pace is moderate, most sites are short walks rather than technical hikes and the route includes a representative mix of cities, desert and mountains making it a solid option for both families and first-time visitors.

One full day is enough to see the highlights of Fes el Bali, including the tanneries, madrasas and artisan workshops, though history or shopping lovers might wish they had another half-day.

Layers, in particular – a warm layer for desert nights, something light for the heat of the day, and closed shoes for the walk in the oasis and the uneven paths of Ait Benhaddou. A headlamp and camera complete the basics.

Light layers for the day, warm layer for cold desert nights, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat…

Yes – just say so when booking or tell your driver/guide on the first day.

Your booking is secured with a small deposit, the balance will be paid in cash at pickup (euros, US dollars or dirhams) Full PayPal payment available with a 5% fee.

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