Tangier, Chefchaouen & Tetouan Heritage Explorer

Your driver meets you at Tangier airport, the ferry port or your hotel. Tangier sits on the northern tip of Africa at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, and its long history as a crossroads shows in the Spanish, French and British traces around the city.

With your local guide, explore the Kasbah, the walled quarter on the hill above the medina, then follow the winding lanes down through the old town. From the Kasbah terraces you can look across the Strait to Spain, about 14 kilometres away at its narrowest point, on clear days. Wear comfortable shoes, as the medina streets are steep and stepped in places.

Later, the American Legation Museum, the first property the United States owned abroad, a rooftop drink at sunset or a hammam can be added. Overnight in Tangier.

Leave Tangier and drive south into the Rif Mountains, a journey of about 2.5 to 3 hours with scenic stops. As you go, the coastal plains give way to steep green hills, pine and oak woods, and small farms on the slopes.

Chefchaouen sits below two peaks, and its name is often linked to their horn-like shape. Your local guide leads you through the blue-painted medina, up and down its stairways and into small squares, explaining how the town grew from a 15th-century fortress. Stop in Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square beside the red-walled kasbah, and enjoy the mountain viewpoints above the rooftops.

Mornings and early evenings are quieter for photographs. A sunset hike to the Spanish Mosque, a photography session or a cooking class with a local family can be added. Overnight in Chefchaouen, where evenings are cooler, so bring a light layer.

A short morning drive of about 1.5 to 2 hours takes you down through the Rif foothills to Tetouan, set between the mountains and the Mediterranean. After the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, the white city offers a different style.

Tetouan's medina was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees from Granada at the end of the 15th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your local guide, walk its whitewashed streets and enter the artisan quarters, where embroidery, leather and zellige tile-making carry on, often in family workshops. The influence of Andalusia shows in the carved doorways, fountains and courtyards. Tetouan sees far fewer visitors than Fez or Marrakech, so the medina feels like a working town rather than a showpiece.

Take a little cash for small purchases from the craftsmen. The Ethnographic Museum can be added. Overnight in Tetouan.

Your final day follows the Mediterranean coast back to Tangier, a drive of about 1.5 hours past beaches and small resorts. Then continue west of the city to Cap Spartel, the headland at the northwestern tip of Africa, with the Atlantic on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. The lighthouse viewpoint looks out over the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Just down the coast, visit the Caves of Hercules, linked in legend to the hero resting there. Their sea opening is shaped like a map of Africa, best seen from inside looking out towards the ocean.

Your driver then drops you at the airport, the ferry port or your hotel. If you are catching a ferry or flight, let your driver know the departure time early so the morning can be paced well. Keep a few dirhams for small purchases on the way.