Morocco road trip: Tangier to Dakhla via Sahara, 2926 km
The full route through Morocco with a length of 2926.2 km covers the cities of the northern coast (Tangier, Tetouan, Chefchaouen), imperial capitals (Fez, Meknes), the Sahara Desert with an overnight stay in Merzouga, the Todra Gorge, the film studios of Ouarzazate, Marrakech, the coastal cities of Essaouira and Imsouain, as well as Western Sahara and Dakhla with their unique beaches.
- Distance
- 2926.2 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- How to get there, visas, money
- End
- Aït Benhaddou – Ancient Kasbah
- Stops
- 16
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- How to get there, visas, money
- Tangier is a city next to Spain — A port city on the Strait of Gibraltar where European and African cultures meet with colonial architecture and beaches.
- Tetouan - White City — A medina with white-stone buildings in the Rif Mountains, which has retained Spanish influence and the traditional Berber way of life.
- Chefchaouen - the blue city — A mountain town with walls painted bright blue, creating a unique atmosphere in the heart of the Rif Mountains.
- Fes - dyehouses and TV series Clone — The ancient capital of Morocco with a labyrinth of medina, famous tanneries and the Al-Karaouine Mosque of the XI century.
- Meknes - the city of palaces — An imperial city with majestic palaces, powerful walls and the Bab Mansour Gate, built in the XVII century.
- Et-taous ⵟⴰⵡⵙ الطاوس, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب — A village on the edge of the Sahara Desert, from where night camel expeditions to the golden dunes of Erg Shebi begin.
- Tinghir and Todra Gorge - huge rocks — A canyon with steep cliffs up to 160 meters high, through which a river with crystal clear water flows.
- Ouarzazate ورزازات, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب
- Marrakech ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵯⵛ مراكش, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب — The Red City at the foot of the Atlas with the Jemaa el-Fna souk, palaces, gardens and a center of craft traditions.
- Essaouira الصويرة, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب
- Imsouane ⵉⵎⵙⵡⴰⵏ إمسوان, Maroc ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ المغرب — A coastal village with a lagoon, famous for surfing, youth parties and a relaxed beach lifestyle.
- Akhchour – Canyons & Waterfalls — Mountain village 30 km from Chefchaouen featuring pristine canyons and waterfall cascades.
- Fes – Colourful Imperial City
- Ouarzazate – Hollywood of Africa — City known for film studios (Atlas Studio) and desert film production backdrop.
- Aït Benhaddou – Ancient Kasbah — UNESCO heritage ancient walled village used extensively in film productions.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- You can get to Morocco by ferry from Spain (about an hour, ~40 euros) or by plane. Low-cost airlines fly to several cities in the country.
- Tip
- Citizens of the EU, USA and Russia do not need a visa. Citizens of Belarus and Ukraine need a visa, but it is possible to apply for an e-visa online if you have a Schengen visa.
- Save money
- Change the currency in the city, not at the airport. The national currency is the Moroccan dirham.
- Transport
- Taxis are best booked through apps like Idri. When ordering by the road, immediately negotiate the price, otherwise it can be many times more expensive.
- Save money
- Renting a car for 2 weeks costs approximately 200 euros, plus a surcharge of ~65 euros for a return in another part of the country.
- Food
- In Tangier, in establishments at the top near the fortress walls, you can drink signature mint tea with a view of the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of Spain.
- Tip
- In Chefchaouen, some places ask for a fee for photos. It is recommended to walk around the city without chasing popular locations and catch beautiful shots on your own.
- Tip
- Visit Alhout Square in Chefchaouen - known for its ancient fountain and often serves as a location for filming films and TV series.
- Tip
- Climb up to the Spanish Mosque in Chefchaouen on a hill for a panoramic view of the city.
- Tip
- Near Tangier there are beautiful beaches along the strait, some like from the cover of booklets.