A 5-Day Road Trip Through the Rif Mountains
A complete 5-day Northern Moroccan loop combining the blue medina of Chefchaouen, full-day waterfall hiking in Akchour, the UNESCO-listed old town of Tetouan, Mediterranean beaches in Martil, sunset tea at Café Hafa in Tangier, and coastal ramparts in Asilah. This itinerary balances mountain trekking, historic medinas, and coastal drives with seamless transit between stops.
If you only have five days in the north and want to see the region properly rather than rush it, this is the loop our own guides would take. It mirrors our Rehla Al Shamal tour closely, and works equally well as a self-drive if you'd rather go independently.
Day 1 — Land in Chefchaouen
However you arrive, aim to reach Chefchaouen by early afternoon so you have daylight for your first walk through the medina. Start at Place Outa el Hammam, then let yourself get lost in the blue lanes above it — this town rewards wandering more than any checklist. End the day at the Spanish Mosque for sunset; the fifteen-minute climb above town is worth every step.
Day 2 — Akchour waterfalls
A full day in Talassemtane National Park. The hike to the Grande Cascade takes around two hours each way through riverside forest, with several spots to swim in emerald pools along the way. Continue further if you're comfortable on uneven terrain to reach God's Bridge, a natural rock arch spanning the gorge — genuinely one of the best short hikes in Morocco.
Day 3 — Down to the coast
Drive north-west through the Rif toward Tetouan and the Mediterranean. Stop in Tetouan's UNESCO-listed medina for the morning — it's the most intact old town in the country and far less visited than Fez or Marrakech's. In the afternoon, continue to the beaches of Martil or M'diq for a swim and a grilled-fish lunch by the water.
Day 4 — Tangier
An hour's drive brings you to Tangier. Spend the morning in the Kasbah and Petit Socco, then head to Café Hafa in the early evening — a terrace of tea tables cut into the cliff above the Strait of Gibraltar, where you can watch Spain across the water as the light drops.
Day 5 — Asilah and departure
On your way south, stop in Asilah for a couple of hours. Its whitewashed ramparts and mural-covered medina make for the most photogenic final morning of the trip, and it's an easy stop en route back to Tangier or Rabat for onward travel.
Doing it with us
Our Rehla Al Shamal tour runs this exact loop with a licensed guide, private or shared transport, and accommodation already arranged — see the tour page for upcoming departure dates and package options.
Sources & References
Curated Moroccan Journeys