Ten days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Morocco: enough to pair the imperial cities with a real Sahara desert adventure and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, without rushing. Here’s a practical, road-tested route — plus a coastal alternative, transport tips and what it costs.
The classic loop: Marrakech (3 nights) → Aït Benhaddou & the Dades/Todra gorges → the Sahara at Merzouga (desert camp) → Fes (2 nights) → Chefchaouen, flying out of Fes or Tangier. Prefer the beach? Swap Chefchaouen for Essaouira. A private driver makes it easiest; go in spring or autumn.
The 10-day route, day by day
- Days 1–3 — Marrakech: the medina and souks, Bahia Palace and gardens, plus a day trip to the Atlas foothills or the Ourika Valley.
- Day 4 — Marrakech → Aït Benhaddou → Dades: over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to the UNESCO ksar and Ouarzazate, then the Dades Valley for the night.
- Day 5 — Dades → Todra Gorge → Merzouga: the towering gorge and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, then a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp.
- Day 6 — Merzouga → Fes: the long, scenic drive north via the cedar forests near Ifrane.
- Days 7–8 — Fes: the medieval medina, the tanneries and the craft workshops — Morocco’s spiritual heart.
- Day 9 — Fes → Chefchaouen: the famous blue city in the Rif, perfect for an afternoon and evening.
- Day 10 — Chefchaouen → Tangier: explore en route and fly home, or carry on to the coast.
Prefer the coast? A 10-day alternative
Swap the northern leg for the Atlantic: after the Sahara and Fes, head to breezy Essaouira for two relaxed days of ramparts, seafood and sea air before flying home from Marrakech. Great if you’d rather end on the beach than in the mountains.
Getting around
A private driver is the most popular way to do this route — relaxed and flexible over the long desert legs. Self-driving is cheaper and easy on Morocco’s good roads if you’re confident. For a no-car version, trains link Marrakech, Fes and Tangier comfortably, with an organised tour for the Sahara stretch. See getting around Morocco for the full breakdown.
Where to stay & costs
Mix riads in the medinas (Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen) with a desert camp in the Sahara. A comfortable mid-range trip runs roughly 800–1,500 MAD (80–150 USD) per person per day including a good riad, meals, transport and entries — less if you self-drive and stay simple, more for private guides and luxury camps. Time it for spring or autumn; see the best time to visit Morocco.
