4 Days Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech

At the gateway to the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier looks out at the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Europe all at once. Its medina and kasbah keep the memory of its days as an international city, and on the outskirts await Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules.

Tucked away in the Rif mountains, the “blue pearl” was founded in 1471 and is famous for the blue-washed walls of its medina. Stroll its peaceful alleys, head up to Outa el-Hammam square and the kasbah, and watch the town from the Spanish Mosque at sunset.

Founded at the end of the 8th century, Fes is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities, and its medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. Wander its alleys to the Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania and Attarine madrasas and the Al Qarawiyyin mosque-university, founded in 859.

At about 1,650 metres in the Middle Atlas, Ifrane surprises with its pitched roofs, gardens and alpine feel, which is why it is called Morocco's “little Switzerland”. Its stone lion is the must-have photo, and in winter snow covers the town.

Near Azrou and Ifrane lies one of the largest Atlas cedar forests, with trees several centuries old. Barbary macaques, a protected species, live freely among them and can often be seen near the road.

Set at about 1,500 metres between the Middle and High Atlas, Midelt is known as the apple town for its orchards. It is a natural stop on the route between Fes and the desert, with views of the snow-capped Jbel Ayachi and a quiet mountain atmosphere.

The Erg Chebbi dunes, next to the village of Merzouga, rise to around 150 metres and change colour with the light of day. It is the perfect place for a sunset camel ride, a night in a tented camp under a sky full of stars and a sunrise over the Sahara.

Next to the ruins of ancient Sijilmasa, a great caravan city of the Sahara, Rissani is the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty that rules Morocco today. Its lively souk, especially on market days, is one of the most authentic in the south.

Near Tinghir, the Todra River has carved a spectacular canyon whose rock walls reach about 300 metres high and, at the narrowest point, leave just a few metres between them. It is a perfect place to walk along the river and one of the best-known climbing spots in the country.

The Dades Valley, known for its kasbahs, narrows into gorges of reddish rock with curious formations such as the “monkey fingers”. The road that climbs the canyon, with its famous hairpin bends, is one of the most photographed in Morocco.

Known as the “gateway to the desert”, Ouarzazate is the great crossroads of southern Morocco. Its film studios, such as Atlas Studios, have hosted Hollywood productions, and the Taourirt Kasbah, once a residence of the Glaoui family, is one of the most beautiful in the region.

This fortified mud-brick ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, was a stop on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Its houses stacked up the hillside have been the setting for films and series such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

Around Kelaat M'Gouna, the Valley of Roses fills every spring with Damask roses, used to make rose water and rose oil. The famous Rose Festival is held in May, and rose products can be bought from its cooperatives all year round.

Skoura is a palm-grove oasis dotted with mud-brick kasbahs, a few kilometres from Ouarzazate. Its jewel is the 17th-century Kasbah Amridil, one of the best preserved in Morocco and so iconic that it appeared on the old 50-dirham banknote.

At 2,260 metres, this pass is one of the highest road crossings in North Africa and links Marrakech with Ouarzazate across the High Atlas. The road winds between peaks, Berber mud-brick villages and terraced fields, with spectacular viewpoints at every bend.

The “Red City” was founded by the Almoravids in the 11th century and its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its heart is Jemaa el-Fna square, alive with storytellers, musicians and food stalls at dusk. Don't miss the Koutoubia minaret, the souks, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Garden.