northern
Nador to Merzouga Expedition
An off-road 4x4 trip from Nador to Merzouga, from the Mediterranean coast down to the Sahara dunes.
Rif Mountains Off-Road Tour
Three days off-road in the Rif Mountains, on remote trails past Berber villages and wide mountain views.
Tour Overview
The Rif Mountains Off-Road Tour spends three days in one of Morocco's most beautiful and least visited mountain ranges. The Rif runs along the country's northern coast, with steep landscapes, thick forest and traditional Berber villages that see few tourists. We leave the main roads and follow remote mountain trails. Expect big views from many of the bends.
Tour Highlights
- Remote Rif Mountain trails
- Traditional Berber villages
- Dense cedar and pine forests
- High mountain viewpoints
- A visit to Chefchaouen
- Two nights accommodation
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Tangier to Chefchaouen
Your driver-guide picks you up in Tangier in the morning. The road heads south-east along the edge of the Rif, and the city soon gives way to green hills, cork oaks and small farms. A stop in Tetouan lets you walk through its white-washed medina, quieter than those further south and heavily shaped by the Andalusian families who settled here centuries ago.
From Tetouan the road climbs into the mountains, and in the early afternoon you reach Chefchaouen, tucked beneath two peaks. After checking into your riad, you have time to explore the blue streets, the kasbah on the main square and the small shops selling woven blankets and goat cheese. Before sunset, many guests walk up to the small Spanish mosque on the hill above town for the view over the rooftops and the valley.
Day 2: Deep Rif
Today you leave the paved roads behind. The 4x4 follows dirt tracks into the Talassemtane National Park and the high Rif, through forests of cedar, pine and the rare Moroccan fir, past villages where houses are still built from stone and the fields are worked by hand. The driving is slow and scenic, with frequent stops for photos and short walks.
Depending on the season and the state of the tracks, your guide may take you toward the Akchour valley, where a river runs through limestone gorges and waterfalls, or to the natural rock arch known locally as God's Bridge. Lunch is taken in a simple village setting or as a picnic by the river. In the late afternoon you return to Chefchaouen, tired and dusty, for a relaxed evening in town.
Day 3: Return
After a slow breakfast, there is time for a final walk through Chefchaouen while the streets are still quiet. The light in the early morning is soft, and it is the best moment to photograph the blue lanes without the crowds.
You then start the drive back toward Tangier. If conditions allow, your guide can take a longer route down to the Mediterranean coast near Oued Laou, where the mountains meet the sea, before following the coast road north. Otherwise you return through the hills by the way you came, with a stop for lunch on the road. You arrive in Tangier in the afternoon, where your guide drops you at your hotel, the port or wherever suits your onward plans.
What's Included
- 4x4 vehicle with driver/guide
- Two nights accommodation
- All meals
- Fuel and insurance
What's Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Equipment Information & Vehicle Details
This three-day tour stays in the Rif Mountains the whole time, so our 4x4s run reinforced suspension for the remote trails. In the wetter season, tyre chains are available on request. Two nights in mountain towns are included. Some Berber villages on the route are a long way from help, so every vehicle carries a full toolkit and a spare tyre. Learn more about our fleet.
Safety Information
The trails here are narrower and less used than our desert routes. Our drivers have specific experience in this terrain and take the switchbacks and unpaved sections slowly and carefully. Fog and rain do happen in the Rif. Guides keep a close watch on conditions and will change the day's route if visibility or the road surface calls for it. Read our full safety standards.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
They are moderate. Our experienced drivers handle the harder sections.
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the best times.
Book This Tour
To check dates or ask a question about Rif Mountains Off-Road Tour, send us a message on WhatsApp, call us or use the booking form on this page. We reply within 24 hours to confirm your booking.
Related Tours
You might also be interested in these adventures.
northern
northern
Tangier to Sahara Expedition
Off-road from Tangier to the Sahara, from the Strait of Gibraltar down to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
northern
Chefchaouen to Desert Adventure
Off-road from the Blue City of Chefchaouen down to the Sahara, crossing mountains and gorges to reach the dunes in four days.