Spain, Portugal and Morocco: 10 Itineraries of 10 to 21 Days

Yes, day trips from Tarifa to Tangier exist, but one day only shows you Tangier. To see Chefchaouen, Fes and the Sahara you need at least 5 days in Morocco – that is why every itinerary on this page gives Morocco 6 to 11 days.

There are three ports on the European side. From Tarifa to Tangier (Tanger Ville port, in town) the crossing takes about 1 hour. From Algeciras to Tanger Med it is about 1 hour 30, and Tanger Med is about 45 minutes outside Tangier. From Gibraltar there are only a few crossings a week to Tanger Med. Times change with the season and the weather – check the ferry company before you travel.

Tarifa is the easiest for foot passengers: frequent ferries, and you arrive in the centre of Tangier. Algeciras has the most crossings (and car ferries) but arrives at Tanger Med, outside the city. Gibraltar is handy if you are already there, but it has only a few sailings a week. Tell us which one you take and our driver meets you at the right port.

At the Strait of Gibraltar only about 14 km (9 miles) of sea separate the two countries. On a clear day you can see the Moroccan mountains from Tarifa, and the fast ferry to Tangier takes about 1 hour.

Morocco is very close to Spain: about 14 km across the Strait of Gibraltar, with ferries every day. Portugal is further away – there is no ferry from Portugal to Morocco, but a direct flight from Lisbon or Faro to Marrakech takes about 1 h 30 to 1 h 45.

Spain. The southern tip of Spain (Tarifa) is about 14 km from Morocco, while the south coast of Portugal (the Algarve) is roughly 250 km away by sea. That is why most Spain, Portugal and Morocco trips visit Portugal first, then the south of Spain, then cross to Morocco.

Tangier. It faces Tarifa across the Strait of Gibraltar, and the ferry arrives at Tanger Ville port, in the city centre. Ceuta, on the Moroccan coast, is a Spanish city, so for Morocco itself Tangier is the closest city and the usual place to start.

Spend 2 days in Lisbon, 2 to 3 days in Seville and the south of Spain, then take the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier and travel 9 days in Morocco: Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara at Merzouga, the Dades Valley, Aït Benhaddou and Marrakech. See the 14-day Spain, Portugal and Morocco itinerary above for the day by day.

Yes. You can do every itinerary the other way round – start in Marrakech and finish with the ferry from Tangier to Tarifa or Algeciras – or simply fly from Marrakech to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville or Lisbon.

Take the ferry if you are already in the south of Spain (Seville, Granada, Málaga): you start in Tangier and travel down through Chefchaouen and Fes. Fly if you are in Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon: there are direct flights to Marrakech of about 1 h 30 to 2 hours, and you can then spend 7 to 10 days in Morocco from Marrakech.

Ten days is the minimum for Spain and Morocco (about 3 days in Spain and 7 in Morocco). For all three countries plan 14 days or more: 2 days in Lisbon, 2 to 3 in the south of Spain and 9 in Morocco. With 21 days you can see Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Seville plus 11 days in Morocco.

Yes – millions of visitors cross every year. As in any country, use common sense in busy places. With a private driver and local guides you never have to find your way alone, and our team is on WhatsApp during the whole trip.

Citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days – only a passport valid for the length of your stay. Rules can change, so always check with your government before you travel.

Yes. We arrange the Spain and Portugal part through our trusted suppliers there – hotels, transfers, trains and tickets – and run the Morocco part with our own team: driver, guides, riads, desert camps and activities. You get one plan and one contact for the whole trip.

Yes. Your Morocco trip can start at the port in Tangier, at Tangier airport or at Marrakech airport – tell us your ferry or flight and our driver will be waiting.

Most Spanish rental companies do not allow their cars on the ferry to Morocco. It is easier to cross as a foot passenger and continue in Morocco with a private driver.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) are the best months for both countries. July and August are very hot in Seville and in the Sahara; in winter the desert nights are cold but the days are sunny and pleasant.

Spain and Portugal use the euro; Morocco uses the dirham, which you get from ATMs or exchange offices once you arrive. All three countries use the same European plugs (types C and F, 220 V).

Usually Morocco is 1 hour behind Spain in summer and on the same time in winter, and it changes during Ramadan. Check the local time on your phone the day you cross.

Day to day, yes: food, transport and many hotels cost less in Morocco. A private trip with a driver and guides is a bigger part of the budget, but it includes things you would pay separately in Spain.