Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days, the Grand Loop
Ten days is the sweet spot for Morocco: you get the full desert circuit plus the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, without the forced march of a one-week trip. This route strings together the country's greatest hits - here it is day by day, with honest driving times.
The Route, Day by Day
| Day | Program |
|---|---|
| Day 1 - 2 | Marrakesh: Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, Bahia Palace, Majorelle - and your first tagine done right |
| Day 3 | Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Ait-Ben-Haddou, then Ouarzazate and the Roses valley to the Dades gorges (6 - 7 h with stops) |
| Day 4 | Dades and Todra gorges in the morning, desert road to Merzouga - camel trek and night in an Erg Chebbi camp (4 - 5 h) |
| Day 5 | Dune sunrise, then north through the Ziz palm valley and Midelt to Ifrane's cedar forests and Fes (7 - 8 h - the long day) |
| Day 6 - 7 | Fes: the medieval medina of Fes el-Bali, tanneries, medersas - plus a half-day trip to Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis |
| Day 8 - 9 | Chefchaouen (4 h from Fes): the blue city - photos at golden hour, the Spanish mosque viewpoint, slow mountain air |
| Day 10 | Morning in Chefchaouen, then out via Tangier (2 h) or back to Fes for your flight |
Variants
Swap Chefchaouen for the coast
Prefer ocean to mountains? After Fes, train down to Marrakesh and finish with two nights in Essaouira - ramparts, fresh sardines and windsurf air.
No desert, all culture
Skip the long drives entirely: Casablanca - Rabat - Fes (3 days) - Chefchaouen (2 days) - back to Fes, train to Marrakesh (3 days) with a day trip to the coast. Everything by train and one bus leg.
Only have a week?
Use our 7-day Morocco itinerary - same skeleton, minus Chefchaouen.
Practical Tips
- Transport: self-drive gives freedom (see renting a car in Morocco); otherwise a 3-day desert tour Marrakesh-to-Fes plus trains and CTM buses covers this route without a wheel in your hands.
- Best months: March - May and September - November. The desert in midsummer is brutal - check the best time to visit.
- Pack for four climates: heat, mountain evenings, desert nights - our guides on what to wear and what to pack have you covered.
- Stay connected: grab a local SIM at the airport and download offline maps for the desert legs.
- Cash: small notes for tips, village cafes and the souk bargaining you will not resist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough for Morocco?
It is the ideal first-trip length: the full desert loop, two major medinas and Chefchaouen at a human pace. Two weeks would add the coast; a week forces choices.
How many days in the Sahara should I plan?
Two days and one night in a camp is the classic and enough for the magic; a second night (or the quieter M'Hamid dunes) suits travelers who want silence over spectacle.
Marrakesh or Fes first?
Either direction works. Starting in Marrakesh puts the hardest driving early; starting in Fes saves Marrakesh's energy for the end. Open-jaw flights make both easy.
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