Morocco Itinerary: The Best Routes for 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 Days
The best Morocco itinerary depends on one thing more than any other: how many days you have. The country’s highlights are far apart. Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes is a full day on the road, and the drive from the dunes to Fes is another. Below are the routes we plan most often for our own guests, from a three-day desert trip to a two-week loop, with the driving each one involves.
Morocco Itinerary at a Glance
| Days | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, Merzouga, Marrakech | The Sahara on a short break |
| 5 | Marrakech, Dades, Merzouga, Midelt, Fes | Desert plus a second imperial city |
| 7 | Marrakech, Dades, Merzouga, Draa Valley, Marrakech | A first trip focused on the south |
| 10 | Marrakech, Sahara, Fes, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca | The classic grand tour |
| 14 | The 10-day loop plus Essaouira and the Ourika Valley | Seeing almost everything at an easy pace |
3-Day Morocco Itinerary
Three days is the shortest trip that reaches the big dunes.
- Day 1: Marrakech over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, night in the Dades Valley.
- Day 2: Todra Gorge in the morning, then on to Merzouga and a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset and a night in a desert camp.
- Day 3: Sunrise over the dunes and the long drive back to Marrakech.
This is our 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. It is a lot of driving, so add a day if you can.
5-Day Morocco Itinerary
Five days lets you see the desert without driving back the same road. You start in Marrakech, cross the Atlas, spend a night in the Dades Valley and a night in the dunes, then continue north through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes. See the full day-by-day plan in our 5-day Morocco itinerary.
7-Day Morocco Itinerary
One week is the minimum we recommend for a first trip. The most relaxed version spends two days in Marrakech, then four days in the south: the Atlas, the gorges, two nights around the desert and a return through the Draa Valley. Read the full 7-day Morocco itinerary.
10-Day Morocco Itinerary
Ten days is the sweet spot for most of our guests: Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes, Volubilis, the blue city of Chefchaouen and the Atlantic coast at Rabat and Casablanca, with guided visits in each city. The full plan is in our 10-day Morocco itinerary.
14-Day Morocco Itinerary
Two weeks adds the places most short trips skip: a full day in Chefchaouen, the seaside town of Essaouira and a day in the Ourika Valley in the High Atlas. Our 14 Days Tour from Marrakech follows this route day by day.
Tips for Planning Your Morocco Itinerary
- Don’t try to see everything. Choose fewer places and give each one time.
- Plan at least one night in the Sahara. It is the highlight of most trips, and a day trip cannot reach the big dunes.
- Start and end in different cities when you can, for example arriving in Marrakech and flying home from Fes or Casablanca, so you never drive the same road twice.
- Allow for long driving days in the south. Four to six hours on the road is normal between the Atlas and the desert.
- Spring and autumn are the best seasons for routes that combine cities and desert.
Not sure how long to stay? Read how many days you need in Morocco.
Turn Your Itinerary into a Private Tour
Every route above can be booked as one of our private Morocco tours, with your own vehicle and guide, riads we have tested and a night in the Sahara. Tell us how many days you have and we will send a day-by-day plan and price within 24 hours. Send us your dates.
