100% customisable travel idea
Northern Morocco revealed In praise of beauty and insider advice for accommodation
Morocco - Tangier - Chefchaouen - Larache
A land of art and histories
Your distinctive accommodation venues
They are the very soul of this journey, embodying the spirit of hospitality and aesthetic appeal for which the region has become famous; each having that something special that makes the biggest difference. In Tangier, you find refuge in a small guesthouse that pays tribute to the lavish Art Deco villas of the 1930s, then in vogue in Morocco. Next, you’ll settle into one of the most unusual hotel settings in Chefchaouen. Overlooking the old medina, its vintage charm is an ode to travel with a capital T and to memories that will come flooding back. Your final sanctuary, on the wild coast of Larache, is one of those special places people whisper about. A project conceived with meticulous attention to detail, with the utmost respect for the lands and its people. Everything is beauty and serenity at this contemporary eco-retreat, where time seems to stand still. Facing the immensity of the Atlantic, cut off from the world, the suites and villas flow into private gardens and infinity pools. And when the call of the ocean is felt, the beach bar becomes a bar for sipping a drink with your feet in the sand…Your trip
During the day, your rental car gives you the freedom to roam wherever you wish, at your own pace. At night, your carefully selected accommodation venue takes over, allowing you to experience a journey within a journey, with each stopover having its own story to tell. To help you appreciate its uniqueness and beauty even more, we have taken the liberty of adding to your itinerary some encounters and walks, all of which are in private. You’ll first discover Tangier from an arty perspective, guided by a local who leads you through the medina, the Kasbah and the gardens, sharing a few anecdotes about their city along the way. You then explore the medina of Chefchaouen with a guide who helps you unlock the secrets of the “Blue City”. A final hike with a cultural touch is planned in the surroundings of Larache, through cultivated fields and dried-up wadis, all the way to the village of Mezgalef. And, if along the way you wish to adjust your itinerary or encounter something unexpected, our on-site Concierge can be contacted at all times. The unexpected is exactly what it lives for!
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer before checking in for three nights at a guesthouse - a celebration of the Art Deco villas that were in vogue in 1930s Morocco. It is intimate and offers only a few rooms. Each object here has been found in the four corners of the world and carefully placed to tell a story. In the garden, you’ll find a hundred-year-old palm tree, orange trees, an abundance of greenery, and, in the middle, a jade-green tiled pool that cools even the hottest days. On the roof, a charming flower-filled rooftop is the perfect retreat for breakfast or to enjoy a drink away from the bustle of Tangier.
Tangier is an extension of Europe with Saharan echoes. It is a combination of Mediterranean and Atlantic. From Cape Spartel, the northernmost tip of Africa, Spain is only 12 km (7 miles) away. The city enchants, just as it once captivated so many artists - Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote or Jack Kerouac. In the kasbah, high on the hill, children play and women wash clothes at the fountain. From a terrace, you can take in the sweeping view: the medina stretches all the way to the sea.
Scheduled - The Kasbah in the footsteps of a local. With Abdou, a photographer and environmental activist who has been based in Tangier since 1999, the city reveals itself in a unique light. Deeply attached to his adopted city, he captures the local wildlife and plants in his reports and founded the Donkey Museum as a tribute to this iconic animal. In his company, you’ll wander from the American Legation to the narrow streets of the medina, passing through the souk, the Dar Niaba Museum and the Mendoubia Garden - home to the oldest tree in the city. Between these visits, you can take a break under the fig tree of a traditional restaurant to enjoy some Moroccan pastries and sip mint tea. A chance to talk about life in Tangier.
Already planned - A table reserved for lunch in the garden of Villa Mabrouka, former residence of Yves Saint Laurent.
To do - In the late afternoon, have tea at the café des Fils du Détroit and enjoy an Arab-Andalusian music concert.
Pick up your rental car and head to Chefchaouen.
Sights along the way - Tétouan, the most Andalusian of Moroccan cities, reveals its charms through Hispano-Moorish architecture and a medina of whitewashed houses, which is rightly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Chefchaouen, overlooked by the peaks of the Rif, is one of the most iconic images of Morocco. In the city of blue houses, winding alleyways lead to Uta el-Hammam Square, which brings together many cafés and the grand mosque. Just outside the city, Talassemtane National Park preserves wild landscapes - vast playgrounds for hikers.
You’ll spend one night in the heart of the Rif mountains. The hotel is an ode to travel and discovery. All nine rooms draw inspiration from cultures around the world, telling the story of a city through a visual narrative crafted from materials, colours and objects: Chefchaouen, Kensington, Istanbul, Nairobi, Jaipur, Monaco, Shanghai, Hanoi and Adelaide are in the spotlight. There are as many destinations as there are atmospheres, each with a distinct character. From the terraces and the pool, the view stretches over the city and the surrounding mountains.
Scheduled - Visit of the Chefchaouen medina . Built in the 16th century on the mountainside, the city - long closed to non-Muslims - now reveals its treasures and the intimacy of its small medina to those who venture there. Your guide for the day will lead you through narrow lanes lined with charming white and blue houses, all the way to the lively main square of Out El Hammam, sharing secrets and anecdotes about the city and its history along the way.
You’ll drive to Larache and settle in for two nights on the wild coast. Your room sits at the crossroads of contemporary and traditional: clean lines and Moroccan furnishings set the scene. Outside, a terrace with a private pool lets you relax out of sight. When the ocean beckons, the beach bar becomes a haven for sipping a glass of wine or a cocktail, feet in the sand. In the evening, the restaurant serves Moroccan and Italian specialities. Each dish, carefully prepared, celebrates local produce: fruit and vegetables from the estate, freshly caught fish from the Atlantic and quality meat from Larache farmers just a few kilometres away.
Larache is a small port city, located about 100 km (62 miles) south of Tangier, and was at one time much larger. The present-day city thrives near the remains of the ancient Phoenician port, Lixus, which would later become Roman, some of whose ruins lie upstream on the banks of the Loukkos River. The central square, inspired by Arab-Andalusian architecture, is the vibrant heart of the city and the gateway to the medina and the souk.
Already planned - Hiking. A hillside path winds its way from your hotel to the village of Mezgalef. Guided by Imad, a native of the village, the walk follows the route of the springs overlooking the cultivated fields where herds of goats and sheep graze under the watchful eyes of shepherds. In Mezgalef, Imad will open the doors to his home, giving you the chance to enjoy a steaming cup of tea and pancakes drizzled with honey. The walk continues along the shepherds’ path, skirting dried-up wadis and leading to a deserted beach where the Atlantic rolls in with its foamy waves.
Drive to Tangier airport, return your vehicle and hop on your direct flight home.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
And with a few more days at hand: Casablanca
Fascinating, “Casa” is well worth spending a day or even two there, either before or after your road trip in northern Morocco. Generous, it readily offers visitors its remarkable Art Deco heritage and locations of striking modernity. Not to be missed during a stroll through the city: the majestic Hassan II Mosque, the second largest mosque in the world and one of the few places of worship in Morocco open to visitors who are not Muslim. The monument, whose construction required more than 30,000 craftsmen and workers, houses a madrasa, a library and vast conference halls, all embellished with carved wood, stucco adorned with frescoes and arabesques.
Why visit Morocco with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to Morocco
- Globally unique concierge service
- Wi-Fi: 1 GB/day included
- Gourmet Voyageurs
- Adjust your trip while travelling
- 24-hour assistance
- CO2 absorption
