+212 600 643 098 moroccoactiveadventures@gmail.com
12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary: 12-Day Spain and Morocco Itinerary from Madrid to Marrakech
Home › Spain, Portugal and Morocco
12 days · Spain + Morocco

12-Day Spain and Morocco Itinerary from Madrid to Marrakech

Madrid and Andalusia by fast train, then Morocco from Tangier to Marrakech with two nights in the Sahara.

See the day-by-day route
12 days / 11 nightsStarts in MadridEnds in MarrakechPrivate tour

About this 12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary

This 12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary starts in Madrid, the easiest arrival city from the USA, and travels south by fast train to Seville before crossing to Tangier. In Morocco you have eight days: Chefchaouen and the Akchour waterfalls, Volubilis and two days in Fes, the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas, two nights at Merzouga in the Sahara, the gorges of the south and Aït Benhaddou.

The pace is steady, with two nights in the places that deserve it. We book your Madrid and Seville hotels and the train through our suppliers in Spain, and our own team takes over at the port in Tangier.

Background reading: Chefchaouen on Wikipedia

Highlights of this 12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary

  • Madrid, Seville: hotels, trains and transfers arranged through our trusted suppliers
  • The ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa to Tangier
  • Meeting at Tangier port
  • Two nights in Chefchaouen
  • Akchour waterfalls & God’s Bridge
  • Roman Volubilis
  • Guided Fes medina

12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Arrival in Madrid

    Arrive in Madrid and settle into your hotel. Evening walk from the Puerta del Sol to the Plaza Mayor and tapas in La Latina.

    Stay: Hotel in Madrid
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Madrid: the Prado & Retiro Park

    Morning at the Prado museum, afternoon in Retiro Park, and the Royal Palace area at sunset.

    Stay: Hotel in Madrid
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Fast train to Seville

    High-speed train to Seville. Afternoon in the Santa Cruz quarter and at the Plaza de España.

    On the road: Madrid → Seville: about 2 h 30 by trainStay: Hotel in Seville
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Córdoba & Seville

    Morning train to Córdoba to see the Mezquita, then back to Seville for the cathedral and the Real Alcázar.

    On the road: Seville ⇄ Córdoba: about 45 min by train each wayStay: Hotel in Seville
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Tangier to Chefchaouen

    Transfer from Seville to Tarifa (about 2 h 30) and fast ferry to Tangier (about 1 hour). We meet you at the port or the airport of Tangier and drive into the Rif mountains to blue Chefchaouen.

    On the road: about 2.5–3 hStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Akchour waterfalls hike

    A day in Talassemtane National Park, walking along the river to the waterfalls and the rock arch of God’s Bridge.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Chefchaouen
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    Volubilis & Fes

    The Roman ruins of Volubilis on the way south, then an evening view over the Fes medina from the Merenid tombs.

    On the road: about 4.5–5 h with the Volubilis visitStay: Riad in Fes
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    Fes with a local guide

    Madrasas, old caravan inns, the tanneries and the craftsmen of the oldest medina in Morocco.

    Stay: Riad in Fes
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    Cedar forest & the road south

    Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou, lunch in Midelt and the Ziz Valley to the edge of the dunes.

    On the road: about 8 h with stopsStay: Riad in Merzouga
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    Desert day & camel ride

    A 4x4 tour around Erg Chebbi, a nomad family and Gnawa music in Khamlia, then a sunset camel ride to the desert camp.

    On the road: about 2 h by 4x4Stay: Desert camp
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Sunrise, quad & the gorges

    Sunrise on the dunes and a quad ride, then a walk in the Todra Gorge and on to the Dades Valley.

    On the road: about 5–6 h with stopsStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  12. 12day
    Day 12

    Aït Benhaddou & the High Atlas

    The road of the kasbahs to Aït Benhaddou, then the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech in the late afternoon.

    On the road: about 7–8 h with stops

What’s included in this 12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary

Included

  • Spain: hotels, transfers and train or flight tickets, arranged through our trusted suppliers
  • 11 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 Madrid and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad, airport or port)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • 4x4 excursion in the desert
  • Local guide for the guided visits

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 1Hotel in Madrid
  2. Night 2Hotel in Madrid
  3. Night 3Hotel in Seville
  4. Night 4Hotel in Seville
  5. Night 5Riad in Chefchaouen
  6. Night 6Riad in Chefchaouen
  7. Night 7Riad in Fes
  8. Night 8Riad in Fes
  9. Night 9Riad in Merzouga
  10. Night 10Desert camp
  11. Night 11Riad in Dades Valley

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

Spring (April to May) and autumn (late September to October) are the best months for Spain, Portugal and Morocco together: warm days in the cities and comfortable nights in the desert. July and August are very hot in Seville and the Sahara; in winter the cities are quiet and the desert nights are cold.

  • JanPossible
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayGood
  • JunPossible
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepGood
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecPossible

What to bring for this trip

  • Passport (checked at the port)
  • Walking shoes with grip for Akchour
  • Swimsuit for the river pools
  • Light rain jacket for the Rif
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for Fes
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
  • Warm layer for the desert night
  • Small overnight bag for the camp
  • Snacks for the long drives
  • 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.

12-Day Spain and Morocco Itinerary from Madrid to Marrakech: your questions

Why start in Madrid?

Madrid has the most direct flights from North America, and the fast train reaches Seville in about 2 h 30. Ending in Marrakech means you never travel back the same way.

How many nights are in the Sahara?

Two nights at Merzouga: one in a riad at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes and one in a desert camp, with a camel ride at sunset. The day in between is free for the dunes, without packing your bags.

Can we stay a night in Córdoba?

Yes: Córdoba is on the train line between Madrid and Seville. Stay one night there instead of the day trip and the trip becomes 13 days.

Where do we fly home from?

From Marrakech. Marrakech airport has direct flights to Madrid and many European cities, where you connect to your flight home.

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

5.0 ●●●●●
Moroccan Active Adventures on Tripadvisor
●●●●●

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
Read all reviews on Tripadvisor

Activities on this trip

Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.

Quad & buggy ridesQuad & buggy ridesDay 11 – Sunrise, quad & the gorgesDetails →Camel & horseback treksCamel & horseback treksDay 10 – Desert day & camel rideDetails →Desert camping & stargazingDesert camping & stargazingDay 10 – Desert day & camel rideDetails →Hiking & trekking adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresDay 1 – Arrival in MadridDetails →4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 & off-road safarisDay 10 – Desert day & camel rideDetails →Wellness and relaxationWellness and relaxationDay 3 – Fast train to SevilleDetails →

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 12-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.

Hot air balloon rideOptional · extraHot air balloon rideSunrise flight before or after your tripSee the activity →Authentic culinary experiencesOptional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →Cycling & mountain bikingOptional · extraCycling & mountain bikingCycling in the oasisSee the activity →Cultural explorationOptional · extraCultural explorationExtra guided visit with a local guideSee the activity →Faith & spiritual journeysOptional · extraFaith & spiritual journeysSpiritual and heritage visitSee the activity →Atlas zipline adventureOptional · extraAtlas zipline adventureZipline in the Atlas foothillsSee the activity →
Quick request

Request this 12-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

More Spain, Portugal and Morocco itineraries

12 days in Morocco: 12-Day Spain and Morocco HoneymoonSpain and Morocco Honeymoon: 12 Days of Riads, Dunes and Alhambra SunsetsPrivate tour · Seville to Marrakech · Spain + MoroccoRomantic Seville and Granada, then the ferry to Morocco, luxury riads in Fes and Marrakech and a luxury camp in the Sahara. 12 days in Morocco: 14-Day Spain, Portugal and Morocco Itinerary: the Classic TripSpain, Portugal and Morocco Itinerary: 14 Days on the Classic RoutePrivate tour · Lisbon to Marrakech · Spain & Portugal + MoroccoLisbon, Seville and the ferry to Morocco – the classic three-country trip in two weeks. 12 days in Morocco: 14 Days in Spain and Morocco: One Week EachSpain and Morocco 2 Week Itinerary: Madrid, Andalusia and the SaharaPrivate tour · Madrid to Marrakech · Spain + MoroccoMadrid, Seville and Granada, then a flight to Marrakech for eight days in Morocco.

See all 10 Spain, Portugal and Morocco itineraries and the map

Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 11 – Sunrise, quad & the gorges

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
See the full activity page
 Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 10 – Desert day & camel ride

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
See the full activity page
 Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 10 – Desert day & camel ride

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
See the full activity page
 Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 1 – Arrival in Madrid

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
See the full activity page
 4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

On this trip: Day 10 – Desert day & camel ride

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
See the full activity page
 Wellness and relaxation
Moroccan experience

Wellness and relaxation

On this trip: Day 3 – Fast train to Seville

A Morocco wellness retreat with us is built around your rhythm, not a fixed timetable. Start with a traditional hammam in Marrakech, rest in a riad courtyard with only the fountain for company, stretch on a yoga mat facing the Atlantic, and end with a night in the Merzouga desert where the silence is almost total. We plan the logistics so you can simply let go.

Where
Marrakech, Agafay, Atlas valleys, Essaouira, Taghazout, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day hammam to 7+ day retreat
Level
Easy – all fitness levels
Group
Solo, couples, friends or private groups
  • The hammam ritual
  • Riads made for rest
  • Yoga with a view
See the full activity page
 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
See the full activity page
 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
See the full activity page
 Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

Optional extra: Cycling in the oasis

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
See the full activity page
 Cultural exploration
Moroccan experience

Cultural exploration

Optional extra: Extra guided visit with a local guide

Our Morocco cultural tours are built around people, not just monuments. You walk the medinas of Fes and Marrakech with a guide who grew up there, drink mint tea in a Berber village in the Atlas, watch craftsmen cut zellige tiles or dye leather, and share a meal with a family. The aim is simple: to understand how Moroccans live today, and where those traditions come from.

Where
Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day city walk to 10+ day tours
Level
Easy – mostly walking
Group
Private or small group
  • Living medinas
  • Amazigh heritage
  • Crafts you can watch being made
See the full activity page
 Faith & spiritual journeys
Moroccan experience

Faith & spiritual journeys

Optional extra: Spiritual and heritage visit

A Morocco spiritual tour follows the faiths that shaped this country over centuries. Muslim scholars studied in the medersas of Fes, Sufi brotherhoods still gather in their zawiyas to chant and pray, and Jewish families lived in the mellahs of Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira for generations. Our local guides tell these stories with knowledge and respect, whatever your own beliefs.

Where
Fes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira, Meknes, Merzouga
Duration
1 day to 10+ days
Level
Easy – walking and visits
Group
Private, family or faith groups
  • Islamic heritage you can enter
  • Sufi music and zawiyas
  • Jewish heritage of Morocco
See the full activity page
 Atlas zipline adventure
Air adventure

Atlas zipline adventure

Optional extra: Zipline in the Atlas foothills

A zipline Marrakech day takes you out of the hot, busy city and into the cool air of the Atlas foothills, where adventure parks stretch long cables across valleys and over trees. You clip in, step off the platform and fly above the red earth, olive terraces and small Berber villages, with the High Atlas peaks behind you. It is one of the easiest ways to feel the mountains without a long trek.

Where
Adventure parks in the Atlas foothills, about an hour from Marrakech
Duration
Half day or full day with transfers
Level
Beginner friendly – no climbing skills needed
Minimum age
Set by each park, often with a minimum height for children
  • Escape the city heat
  • Atlas views from the air
  • More than one ride
See the full activity page
WhatsAppPlan my trip