northern
Nador to Merzouga Expedition
An off-road 4x4 trip from Nador to Merzouga, from the Mediterranean coast down to the Sahara dunes.
Tangier to Sahara Expedition
Off-road from Tangier to the Sahara, from the Strait of Gibraltar down to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Tour Overview
The Tangier to Sahara Expedition runs the length of Morocco, from the Mediterranean port of Tangier to the Sahara dunes at Merzouga. Over 5 days you pass through some of the most varied landscapes in North Africa. You start in the blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen, then drive through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and the deep gorges of the Ziz Valley. The last stop is the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Tour Highlights
- Cross Morocco from north to south
- Visit Chefchaouen (Blue City)
- Cedar forests of the Middle Atlas
- Ziz Valley gorges
- Erg Chebbi dunes
- Four nights accommodation
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Tangier to Chefchaouen
Your guide meets you in Tangier, at your hotel or the port, and you leave the city heading south into the Rif mountains. The road passes farmland, cork oak woods and hill villages, and the drive takes around three hours with stops along the way.
You arrive in Chefchaouen in the afternoon, a small town set against the mountains and known for its blue-washed streets. There is time to wander the medina, climb to the Spanish mosque on the hillside for the view at sunset and sit in the main square near the old kasbah. You spend the night at your hotel in Chefchaouen, where the evenings are cool and calm.
Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes
After a morning walk through the quiet blue lanes before the day visitors arrive, you leave the Rif and drive south through rolling farmland and olive groves toward Fes. The journey takes around four hours, with a break for lunch on the way.
In Fes you have the afternoon to begin exploring the old medina, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. A local guide can lead you through its maze of lanes, past the leather tanneries, the Qarawiyyin and the artisans' workshops. In the evening you rest at your hotel, ready for the long drive south. Your guide will suggest an early breakfast to make the most of the day.
Day 3: Fes to Merzouga
An early start takes you into the Middle Atlas. You pass through Ifrane, a tidy mountain town with Alpine-style roofs, then the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road. The route continues over high plateaus to Midelt for lunch, with the High Atlas rising to the south.
In the afternoon you follow the Ziz Valley down through its gorge and long palm groves, passing Errachidia and Erfoud. As the sun lowers, the dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon. You reach Merzouga in the evening and settle into your hotel after a long, varied day on the road. It is a full day of driving, around eight hours with stops, but the scenery changes constantly.
Day 4: Sahara Exploration
After a slow breakfast, you head out in a 4x4 to explore the area around Erg Chebbi. The day includes viewpoints over the dunes, a visit to a nomad family for mint tea, fossil beds on the stony plain and Khamlia, the village known for its Gnawa music. Lunch is taken in the shade, with time to rest through the heat.
In the late afternoon you move to a desert camp in the dunes. You watch the sunset from a high crest as the sand turns from gold to deep orange, then return to camp for dinner and an evening around the fire under a sky full of stars. Pack a small bag for the night, as your main luggage can stay at your hotel.
Day 5: Sunrise & Departure
Wake before dawn and climb a dune near camp to see the sunrise over the Sahara. After crossing the country from the Mediterranean, watching the light spread slowly across the dunes is a fine way to close the trip. Bring a warm layer, as the early morning can be cold.
Breakfast is served at camp, then you return to Merzouga to shower and collect your luggage. From here you continue your journey, toward the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and Marrakech, back north to Fes, or to Errachidia for onward transport. Your guide is happy to help with the arrangements and can suggest good places to stop along the way.
What's Included
- 4x4 vehicle with driver/guide
- Four nights accommodation
- All meals
- Fuel and insurance
- All activities
What's Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Flights to Tangier
Equipment Information & Vehicle Details
In five days this trip goes from the coast to the Sahara, by way of Chefchaouen, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley, before Erg Chebbi. Our 4x4s carry the tools and spares for that mix of mountain and desert terrain. The four nights combine riad and hotel stays in Chefchaouen and Fes with a night at a desert camp near Merzouga. Learn more about our fleet.
Safety Information
The driving days between destinations are long, so our drivers stop regularly and never push on when tired. Seatbelts stay on for every leg. In the Rif and Middle Atlas the roads are narrow, and we take those mountain sections at a measured pace. When the route reaches the open desert track to Merzouga, the pace changes to suit. Read our full safety standards.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tangier is easy to reach from Spain by ferry, and we can arrange your pickup.
Yes, we spend an afternoon in Chefchaouen on Day 1.
Book This Tour
To check dates or ask a question about Tangier to Sahara Expedition, 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.
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