A month in Morocco: A Month in Morocco: From Tangier to the Atlantic South
30 days · North to south, slow pace

A Month in Morocco: From Tangier to the Atlantic South

For travellers coming from Spain or flying into Tangier, a month in Morocco becomes one long journey: from the Mediterranean to the Sahara and down to the surf coast, with three or more nights in most places.

See the day-by-day route
30 days / 29 nightsStarts in TangierEnds in AgadirPrivate tour
Tangier→Asilah→Chefchaouen→Akchour→Al Hoceima→Fes→Volubilis→Meknes→Fes→Ifrane→Midelt→Merzouga→Todra Gorge→Dades Valley→Skoura→Aït Benhaddou→Telouet→Marrakech→Imlil→Essaouira→Taghazout→Agadir

About this A month in Morocco

A month in Morocco lets you travel the whole country from north to south without rushing. You start in Tangier, where the ferry from Spain arrives, and finish on the surf coast near Agadir.

First, you visit Asilah, spend three nights in Chefchaouen and hike above the cliffs of Al Hoceima. Then you visit Fes, Meknes and Roman Volubilis. After that, you cross the cedar forests and spend two nights in a camp in the dunes of Merzouga. Next, you walk the Todra and Dades gorges and take the old road by Telouet to Marrakech. Finally, a trek day in the High Atlas leads to Essaouira and Taghazout. As a result, a month in Morocco feels like a journey, not a race.

Highlights of this A month in Morocco

  • Tangier & Asilah
  • Chefchaouen & Akchour
  • Al Hoceima coastal hike
  • Fes, Meknes & Volubilis
  • Two nights in a desert camp
  • Todra & Dades gorges
  • Telouet kasbah
  • High Atlas trek day
  • Essaouira by the sea
  • Surf in Taghazout

A month in Morocco: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Tangier

    We meet you at the port or the airport. Walk the kasbah and drive out to Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.

    On the road: about 30 min to Cap SpartelStay: Riad in Tangier
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Asilah to Chefchaouen

    A morning in the white seaside town of Asilah and its murals, then into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen.

    On the road: about 3.5 h with AsilahStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    The blue city

    Wander the blue medina at your own pace and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.

    Stay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Akchour waterfalls hike

    River paths, waterfalls and God’s Bridge in the Talassemtane park.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Across the Rif to Al Hoceima

    A mountain road through the Rif to the bay of Al Hoceima on the Mediterranean.

    On the road: about 3.5 hStay: Hotel in Al Hoceima
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Al Hoceima National Park

    Hike the coastal path above the cliffs and coves of the national park, with a swim or a kayak in summer.

    Stay: Hotel in Al Hoceima
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    Beach & rest day

    A free day by the sea – the calmest corner of the trip before the cities.

    Stay: Hotel in Al Hoceima
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    South to Fes

    Drive down from the Rif to Fes and take an evening walk to the viewpoint over the medina.

    On the road: about 4.5–5 hStay: Riad in Fes
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    The Fes medina

    A guided day in the medina: madrasas, souks, the tanneries and the craftsmen at work.

    Stay: Riad in Fes
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    Volubilis & Meknes

    A day trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the imperial city of Meknes, back to Fes for dinner.

    On the road: about 1 h each wayStay: Riad in Fes
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Ifrane & the cedar forest

    Cross the Middle Atlas by Ifrane and the cedars of Azrou, with a forest walk, and stop for the night in Midelt.

    On the road: about 4 h with stopsStay: Guesthouse in Midelt
  12. 12day
    Day 12

    To the dunes of Merzouga

    Follow the Ziz Valley and its palm groves to Merzouga, with a free afternoon at the edge of the dunes.

    On the road: about 4.5–5 h with stopsStay: Riad in Merzouga
  13. 13day
    Day 13

    Camel trek to the camp

    Ride camels deep into Erg Chebbi in the late afternoon and sleep in a desert camp.

    Stay: Desert camp
  14. 14day
    Day 14

    A whole day in the Sahara

    Sunrise, buggy and sandboarding, a nomad family and Gnawa music in Khamlia, and a second night under the stars.

    Stay: Desert camp
  15. 15day
    Day 15

    Rest day at Merzouga

    Back to the riad for a slow day by the pool, with an optional visit to the Rissani market.

    Stay: Riad in Merzouga
  16. 16day
    Day 16

    Todra Gorge

    Drive west to the Todra Gorge for an afternoon walk through the canyon.

    On the road: about 3.5–4 hStay: Guesthouse in Todra Gorge
  17. 17day
    Day 17

    Dades Valley hike

    A short drive to the Dades Valley and a hike among its red rock formations.

    On the road: about 1 hStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  18. 18day
    Day 18

    Skoura & Aït Benhaddou

    Pass the palm grove of Skoura and Ouarzazate to the ksar of Aït Benhaddou for sunset.

    On the road: about 3 h with stopsStay: Riad in Aït Benhaddou
  19. 19day
    Day 19

    Telouet to Marrakech

    Take the old caravan track by the Telouet kasbah and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.

    On the road: about 4.5 h with TelouetStay: Riad in Marrakech
  20. 20day
    Day 20

    Marrakech

    A guided day: the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia, the souks and the night show of Jemaa el-Fna.

    Stay: Riad in Marrakech
  21. 21day
    Day 21

    Slow day in Marrakech

    A cooking class, the Majorelle Garden and a hammam – no driving today.

    Stay: Riad in Marrakech
  22. 22day
    Day 22

    To Imlil

    Drive to the High Atlas and take a warm-up walk to the village of Aroumd.

    On the road: about 1.5 hStay: Guesthouse in Imlil
  23. 23day
    Day 23

    High Atlas trek day

    A full day on mule paths over a pass between valleys, with lunch in a Berber home.

    Stay: Guesthouse in Imlil
  24. 24day
    Day 24

    From the mountains to the sea

    Drive west across the plains to Essaouira, with a stop at a women’s argan cooperative.

    On the road: about 3.5–4 hStay: Riad in Essaouira
  25. 25day
    Day 25

    Essaouira on the water

    A kitesurf or surf lesson, or a horse ride on the beach of Sidi Kaouki.

    Stay: Riad in Essaouira
  26. 26day
    Day 26

    Rest day in Essaouira

    A free day for the port, the galleries and the long beach.

    Stay: Riad in Essaouira
  27. 27day
    Day 27

    Coast road to Taghazout

    Drive south along the coast, past the fishing village of Imsouane, to Taghazout.

    On the road: about 3 hStay: Surf house in Taghazout
  28. 28day
    Day 28

    Surf lesson

    A morning lesson on a beginners’ beach, with board and wetsuit, and sunset in the village.

    Stay: Surf house in Taghazout
  29. 29day
    Day 29

    Paradise Valley

    Walk in the palm canyon of Paradise Valley and swim in its natural pools.

    On the road: about 30 min each wayStay: Surf house in Taghazout
  30. 30day
    Day 30

    Agadir & departure

    A last visit to the big souk of Agadir before your flight home.

    On the road: about 45 min

What’s included in this A month in Morocco

Included

  • 29 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
  • Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Pick-up in Tangier and drop-off in Agadir (hotel, riad, airport or port)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Mountain guide and mule for the luggage
  • Local guide for the guided visits
  • Surf lessons with board and wetsuit

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums
  • Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for drivers and guides

Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.

Where you stay

  1. Night 1Riad in Tangier
  2. Night 2Riad in Chefchaouen
  3. Night 3Riad in Chefchaouen
  4. Night 4Riad in Chefchaouen
  5. Night 5Hotel in Al Hoceima
  6. Night 6Hotel in Al Hoceima
  7. Night 7Hotel in Al Hoceima
  8. Night 8Riad in Fes
  9. Night 9Riad in Fes
  10. Night 10Riad in Fes
  11. Night 11Guesthouse in Midelt
  12. Night 12Riad in Merzouga
  13. Night 13Desert camp
  14. Night 14Desert camp
  15. Night 15Riad in Merzouga
  16. Night 16Guesthouse in Todra Gorge
  17. Night 17Riad in Dades Valley
  18. Night 18Riad in Aït Benhaddou
  19. Night 19Riad in Marrakech
  20. Night 20Riad in Marrakech
  21. Night 21Riad in Marrakech
  22. Night 22Guesthouse in Imlil
  23. Night 23Guesthouse in Imlil
  24. Night 24Riad in Essaouira
  25. Night 25Riad in Essaouira
  26. Night 26Riad in Essaouira
  27. Night 27Surf house in Taghazout
  28. Night 28Surf house in Taghazout
  29. Night 29Surf house in Taghazout

Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.

Best time for this trip

April to June and September to October are best: the Rif is green, the Mediterranean is warm enough to swim at Al Hoceima and the desert is not yet too hot.

  • JanPossible
  • FebPossible
  • MarGood
  • AprBest
  • MayBest
  • JunGood
  • JulPossible
  • AugPossible
  • SepBest
  • OctBest
  • NovGood
  • DecPossible

What to bring for this trip

  • Passport (checked at the port)
  • Walking shoes for Akchour and the Atlas
  • Swimsuit for the Mediterranean and the Atlantic
  • Warm layer for two desert nights
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
  • Light rain jacket for the Rif
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees
  • Small overnight bag for the camp
  • Sun hat and sun cream
  • Refillable water bottle

Booking & payment

How to book
Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
Payment
A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
Cancellation
Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
Weather & changes
If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.

A Month in Morocco: your questions

How do I start a month in Morocco from Spain?

Take the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier or from Algeciras to Tanger Med. We meet you at the port, and the trip ends at Agadir airport, where you can fly home.

Is a month in Morocco too long?

Not at this pace. You stay three nights or more in most places, rest on the coast at Al Hoceima and Essaouira, and still see the Sahara, Fes and the High Atlas.

How many nights in the Sahara during a month in Morocco on this route?

Two nights in a desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and two nights in a riad in Merzouga.

Can I spend a month in Morocco on a private tour?

Yes – this is a private trip with your own driver and local guides, on your dates. We can also end it in Marrakech instead of Agadir.

When is the best time for a month in Morocco from north to south?

April to June and September to October. The Rif is green, the Mediterranean is warm enough to swim, and the desert is not too hot.

Local team in MoroccoYour trip is planned and run by our own team on the ground.
Private, on your datesOnly you and your travel companions, starting when you want.
Every day can changeAdd a night, an activity or a slower pace – the plan adapts to you.
Answers on WhatsAppAsk us anything before you book: +212 600 643 098.

What our travellers say

●●●●●

A holistic experience

Booking a trip with Moroccan active adventures gave us the most memorable new years celebration of our lived. Our guide Mouhssin was especially talented at turning down deserted mountain/desert roads and finding beautiful riads…
A
Quick request

Request this 30-day trip

Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.

  • No payment to send a request
  • Private tour on your dates
  • Or write to us: +212 600 643 098
Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 14 – A whole day in the Sahara

Quad biking Marrakech style means leaving the city noise behind in minutes: dusty palm grove tracks, Berber villages and the rocky hills of the Agafay desert, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Our guides ride in front, set the pace to the slowest rider and stop for photos and mint tea. You do not need any experience – we show you the controls and do a short practice loop before we leave.

Where
Marrakech palm grove (Palmeraie), Agafay desert, Merzouga dunes
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Beginner friendly, no experience needed
Minimum age
Drivers usually 16+; younger children ride as buggy passengers
  • Desert right next to the city
  • Quad or buggy, your choice
  • Real landscapes, not a track
Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 13 – Camel trek to the camp

Camel trekking Morocco’s Sahara is the slow, quiet way into the desert: a line of camels led by a guide on foot, swaying over the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga as the light turns soft. Most of our guests ride at sunset to a camp in the dunes and come back at sunrise. It is calm, not sporty – anyone who can sit on a saddle for an hour can do it.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), Agafay desert, Marrakech palm grove
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Easy, no experience needed for camels
Minimum age
Children ride with an adult; ask us for small kids
  • The classic Sahara moment
  • Local camel men
  • Slow travel
Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 13 – Camel trek to the camp

Sahara desert camping in Morocco is about one evening you will not forget: arriving at a camp hidden between the dunes of Erg Chebbi, climbing a ridge for sunset, eating tagine by the fire while drums play, then lying on a rug under more stars than you thought possible. Our camps near Merzouga range from simple nomad-style tents to comfortable tents with real beds and private bathrooms.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes), Agafay desert near Marrakech
Duration
1 to 3 nights
Level
Easy, for all ages
Camp types
Nomad-style, standard and luxury tents
  • Real dunes
  • A sky full of stars
  • Choose your comfort
Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 1 – Tangier

Hiking Morocco’s High Atlas is a walk through a lived-in landscape: terraced fields, walnut trees, flat-roofed Berber villages built from the same red earth as the mountains, and mule paths that people still use every day. Our local mountain guides grew up around these valleys. They choose the route, set a steady pace and arrange lunch or a night in a village house.

Where
High Atlas (Imlil, Ourika, Toubkal), Dades & Todra gorges, Merzouga dunes
Duration
Day hikes to 5-day treks
Level
Easy valley walks to challenging summit treks
Minimum age
Valley walks for families; Toubkal for fit teens and adults
  • Real mountains near Marrakech
  • Toubkal, the big one
  • Village life on the trail
Surf & kitesurf experience
Water adventure

Surf & kitesurf experience

On this trip: Day 25 – Essaouira on the water

Surfing Morocco means long right-hand point breaks, sandy beach breaks for learning and warm sun when Europe is cold. The coast north of Agadir – Taghazout, Tamraght and the fishing village of Imsouane – is the heart of it, with Essaouira and its windy beaches further north. We organise lessons and surf guiding with licensed local surf schools and instructors, from your first wave to your first point break.

Where
Taghazout, Tamraght, Imsouane, Essaouira
Duration
Half-day lesson to a week-long surf camp
Level
Complete beginners to experienced surfers
Minimum age
Children who swim well, in lessons suited to them
  • World-class point breaks
  • A great place to learn
  • Surf in winter sun
Kite surfing lift-off
Air adventure

Kite surfing lift-off

On this trip: Day 25 – Essaouira on the water

Kitesurfing Morocco means steady Atlantic wind, long beaches and two very different playgrounds. In the far south, the Dakhla lagoon offers wide, flat, shallow water that is ideal for learning and for freestyle. Further north, Essaouira is known for its strong trade winds in spring and summer, with choppy water in the bay and powerful waves on nearby beaches for experienced riders.

Where
Dakhla lagoon, Essaouira and other Atlantic spots
Duration
Single lessons to a full kite week
Level
Beginner courses to independent riders
Minimum age
Set by the school – children need enough weight to control a kite
  • Reliable wind
  • Flat water for learning
  • Waves for advanced riders
Hot air balloon ride
Air adventure

Hot air balloon ride

Optional extra: Sunrise flight before or after your trip

A hot air balloon Marrakech flight is the quietest way to see Morocco wake up. You leave the city in the dark, watch the burners light up the envelope, and lift off just as the sun climbs over the Atlas Mountains. Below you, red-earth villages, olive groves and dry riverbeds turn gold, and on clear winter mornings the snow on the High Atlas shines on the horizon.

Where
Countryside outside Marrakech (launch site set by the pilot each morning)
Duration
About 1 hour in the air, 4-5 hours door to door
Start time
Very early pick-up, before sunrise
Level
No experience needed
  • Sunrise over the Atlas
  • Silent, slow flying
  • Rural Morocco from above
Authentic culinary experiences
Moroccan experience

Authentic culinary experiences

Optional extra: Cooking class or food walk in the medina

A Morocco food tour is the quickest way into the country’s heart. With one of our local guides you taste fresh msemen pancakes at breakfast, follow the smell of cumin through the spice souk, try harira and grilled meat at the stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, and learn why a tagine needs time. We take you where locals actually eat, not where the menus are in five languages.

Where
Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
3-hour food walk to full-day class
Level
Easy – come hungry
Diets
Vegetarian options on request
  • Street food you would not find alone
  • Markets as a lesson
  • Cooking with real cooks
4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

Optional extra: 4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad families

A 4x4 tour Morocco style takes you where normal cars cannot go: around the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, across the black stone plains near Merzouga, up rough mountain tracks in the Atlas and down into dry riverbeds where nomads still water their flocks. You sit back with an experienced local driver who knows the pistes, the weather and the best places to stop.

Where
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, High Atlas tracks, Dades & Todra gorges, Agafay
Duration
Half day to multi-day private tours
Level
Easy – you are a passenger, no driving needed
Group
Private vehicle for your family or group
  • Reach the hidden places
  • Drivers who know the pistes
  • Private and flexible
Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

Optional extra: Mountain biking on Atlas trails

Mountain biking Morocco’s High Atlas means riding mule paths between Berber villages, rolling down terraced valleys and stopping for tea where the trail meets a walnut grove. Our guides know the tracks around Marrakech, the Ourika and Imlil valleys and the Agafay hills, and pick routes that fit your level – from easy dirt roads to longer climbs and technical descents.

Where
Agafay desert, Ourika and Imlil valleys (High Atlas), Dades and Todra gorges
Duration
Half day to multi-day tours
Level
Easy to challenging – routes chosen for you
Bikes
Mountain bikes and e-bikes, helmet included
  • Mountains near the city
  • Village trails, not empty parks
  • Huge variety
Windsurfing adventure
Water adventure

Windsurfing adventure

Optional extra: Windsurfing session

Windsurfing Morocco starts with one word: wind. Essaouira is nicknamed the Wind City of Africa, because the trade winds blow along this coast for much of the year, strongest in spring and summer. The wide bay is a good classroom, Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north is a famous wave spot, and far to the south the Dakhla lagoon offers flat water on the edge of the Sahara. We organise lessons and rentals with licensed local windsurf centres and instructors.

Where
Essaouira bay, Moulay Bouzerktoun, Sidi Kaouki, Dakhla lagoon
Duration
2-hour lesson to a week-long windsurf camp
Level
Beginners (lessons) to advanced wave sailors
Minimum age
Children who swim well, with kids’ rigs where available
  • Reliable wind
  • Spots for every level
  • Wave sailing at Moulay
Jet ski adventure on the coast
Water adventure

Jet ski adventure on the coast

Optional extra: Jet ski on the bay of Agadir

A jet ski Agadir session is the quickest way to feel the Atlantic up close: open throttle across the wide bay, the kasbah hill behind you and the long beach shrinking in the mirror. We organise rides with licensed local operators, always with a briefing and a guide on the water, so first-timers can enjoy it as much as people who have ridden before. Availability depends on the season, the sea state and the operator.

Where
Agadir bay, Taghazout coast, Lalla Takerkoust lake (Marrakech)
Duration
20 minutes to 1 hour on the water
Level
Beginners welcome, guided ride
Minimum age
Driver age set by the operator; children can ride as passengers
  • A big, open bay
  • Coast and mountains in one view
  • A lake option near Marrakech
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