Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days Complete Guide

Ten days is enough to see Morocco's main highlights in one continuous line: Casablanca and Rabat, the blue town of Chefchaouen, Fes, two nights at the Sahara dunes of Merzouga, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech. Fly into Casablanca and out of Marrakech so you never repeat a road.

The 10-day route at a glance

This itinerary runs north to south. It can be reversed, or adapted to start in Tangier or Marrakech. Distances and drive times are approximate and exclude stops.

Days 1 to 3: the Atlantic coast and the north

Day 1, Casablanca. Most long-haul flights land here. The one essential sight is the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the Atlantic, with a minaret about 200 m tall. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter, on guided visits at set times.

Day 2, Rabat and Chefchaouen. An hour north, the capital deserves a stop for the Hassan Tower, the royal mausoleum and the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth. Then the road turns inland and climbs into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, arriving in time for an evening walk through its blue-washed lanes.

Day 3, Chefchaouen to Fes. Spend the morning in Chefchaouen while the streets are quiet. Walk up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint, about 20 to 30 minutes on foot, for the view over the town. In the afternoon, drive south with a stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis and their floor mosaics, and a short visit to Meknes and its monumental gate.

Day 4: a full day in Fes

Fes el-Bali is the largest car-free medina in the world, with thousands of lanes, and it is easy to get lost. A licensed local guide for the day is money well spent.

A typical visit covers the Bab Boujloud gate, a restored medieval religious school with carved cedar and tilework, the exterior of the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, the brass and dyers' quarters, and the Chouara tannery viewed from a leather shop terrace. Finish at a hilltop viewpoint outside the walls at sunset.

Wear closed shoes and step aside when you hear "balak", the warning shouted by men leading loaded mules.

Days 5 and 6: across the Atlas to the Sahara

Day 5 is the longest drive of the trip. The road climbs through Ifrane, a mountain town with pitched roofs, and the cedar forest near Azrou where Barbary macaques live. After lunch in Midelt it crosses the eastern High Atlas and follows the Ziz Valley, a long ribbon of palm trees between red cliffs, before reaching the dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga around sunset.

Day 6 is why two nights matter. With a free day you can visit the village of Khamlia to hear Gnawa music, see nomad families and old mines by 4x4, or simply rest. In the late afternoon you ride a camel into the dunes for sunset and sleep in a desert camp. The sand dunes here rise to about 150 m.

Many shorter itineraries give the desert only one night, arriving late and leaving at dawn. Two nights is the single biggest advantage of having ten days. For more detail, read our guide to what to expect on a Sahara desert tour.

Days 7 and 8: gorges, kasbahs and the High Atlas

Day 7. After sunrise in the dunes, drive west to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, where limestone walls up to 300 m high close in to a narrow passage you can walk through. Continue to the Dades Valley, known for its eroded red rock formations and a famous set of hairpin bends.

Day 8. Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the rose-growing valley of Kelaat M'Gouna and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate. Thirty kilometres further is Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified earthen village and UNESCO World Heritage site. Allow up to two hours to climb to the top. The day ends over the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m and down into Marrakech.

Days 9 and 10: Marrakech and a final day trip

Day 9. See the Koutoubia minaret from outside, then the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks north of Jemaa el-Fna. The Majorelle Garden is best early, before the queues. Return to the main square at dusk, when the food stalls and musicians set up.

Day 10. If your flight is late or the next morning, choose one outing. Essaouira, a walled fishing port on the Atlantic, is about three hours each way. The Ourika Valley or Imlil in the High Atlas are closer, at around an hour to an hour and a half. Our day trips from Marrakech page lists the options.

How to travel this route and when to go

Trains cover Casablanca, Rabat and Fes, but nothing between Fes, the desert and Marrakech. Doing days 5 to 8 by public bus would add at least two days. Most travellers therefore use a private vehicle with a driver for the whole loop or at least for the southern half.

Our 10-day tour from Casablanca to Marrakech follows this plan closely. If your flights arrive and leave from the same city, the 10-day grand tour from Marrakech runs the circuit as a loop.

The best months are March to May and late September to November. In summer the desert often exceeds 40°C (104°F), and in winter desert nights fall close to freezing and snow is possible on the passes.

With less time, see our 7-day Morocco itinerary, which drops Chefchaouen and one desert night.

Frequently asked questions

Is 10 days enough for Morocco?

Yes. Ten days covers the imperial cities, Chefchaouen, the Sahara and the High Atlas at a reasonable pace, with two nights in the key places.

Should I start in Casablanca or Marrakech?

Start wherever your flight is best. Arriving in Casablanca and leaving from Marrakech avoids backtracking and ends the trip in the liveliest city.

How much driving is there on this itinerary?

Roughly 1,700 km in total. Five days involve five or more hours on the road, and four days have little or none.

Can this itinerary be done with children?

Yes, with a private vehicle so you can stop often. Families often split the Fes to Merzouga drive with a night in Midelt.

Want this route adjusted to your dates and pace? Request a free custom quote from Discover Morocco Tour and we will reply within 24 hours.