Ten days is, for many travellers, the ideal length for a first Morocco trip. It is long enough to include the blue town of Chefchaouen, the medina of Fes, a proper stay in the Sahara and the energy of Marrakech, with a little more breathing space than a one-week loop.
The itinerary below is a one-way route from Casablanca to Marrakech. Driving times are approximate and do not include stops unless stated.
The route at a glance
- Day 1: Arrive Casablanca – Rabat
- Day 2: Rabat – Chefchaouen
- Day 3: Chefchaouen – free day
- Day 4: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
- Day 5: Fes – guided medina day
- Day 6: Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga
- Day 7: Merzouga – full day in the desert
- Day 8: Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
- Day 9: Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
- Day 10: Marrakech and departure (or add a night)
Day 1 – Casablanca and Rabat
Drive: Casablanca to Rabat about 1–1.5 hours
After landing in Casablanca, visit the Hassan II Mosque – one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours (check times, as they vary). Then continue to Rabat, the calm, green capital. Late afternoon is lovely at the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth.
Day 2 – Rabat to Chefchaouen
Drive: roughly 4–4.5 hours
Visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in the morning, then drive north into the Rif Mountains. Arrive in Chefchaouen by late afternoon and wander the blue-washed lanes as the day cools. See our Chefchaouen guide.
Day 3 – A slow day in Chefchaouen
This is your first rest day, and it is worth it. Options:
- Walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the town
- Explore the medina at your own pace
- A short hike in the surrounding hills, or a trip towards Akchour's river and falls (weather and season permitting)
Day 4 – Volubilis, Meknes and on to Fes
Drive: about 4–5 hours in total, plus visits
Head south to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with mosaics still in place. Continue around 45 minutes to Meknes, an imperial city known for the Bab Mansour gate and its granaries. From there, Fes is about an hour away.
Day 5 – Fes
Spend the day with a local guide in Fes el-Bali: the madrasas, the tanneries seen from above, the craft quarters, and food stalls selling everything from snail soup to sweet pastries. The medina can be overwhelming; a guide helps you see far more and get lost far less. Find more in our Fes destination guide.
Day 6 – Fes to Merzouga
Drive: around 7–8 hours via Ifrane and Midelt
This is the longest day of the trip, but the scenery changes constantly: cedar forests and the tidy town of Ifrane, the high plateau around Midelt, then the Ziz Valley and its palm groves dropping towards the desert.
Arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon, ride a camel into Erg Chebbi for sunset and spend the night at a desert camp. Camel rides are not recommended for people with back problems or during pregnancy; arriving by 4x4 is usually possible instead. Our Fes to Merzouga tour guide goes into more detail.
Day 7 – A full day in the Sahara
Having a whole day here is what makes a 10-day trip feel unhurried. Watch sunrise from the dunes, then choose what suits you:
- A 4x4 desert excursion around the dunes and villages
- A visit to Khamlia village for Gnawa music
- A trip to the Rissani market (busiest on its main market days – check the day)
- Sandboarding, quad biking in designated areas, or simply resting in the shade
Spend a second night at camp or at a hotel near the dunes. On clear, moonless nights the stargazing can be superb, though this depends on the moon phase and weather.
Day 8 – Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
Drive: around 3 hours to Tinghir, then about 1 hour to Dades
Head west through small desert towns. At Todra Gorge, walk into the narrow canyon between towering rock walls. Continue to the Dades Valley, where the road twists up between rock formations and old kasbahs. Overnight in a valley guesthouse.
Day 9 – Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech
Drive: around 2 hours to Ouarzazate, 30 minutes to Ait Ben Haddou, then 3.5–4 hours to Marrakech
Pass through Skoura and Ouarzazate, then explore Ait Ben Haddou, the earthen ksar on a hillside above the river. In the afternoon cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (about 2,260 m) and descend to Marrakech by evening. It is a full day but a beautiful one.
Day 10 – Marrakech and departure
If your flight is in the evening, you may have a morning for the souks or Jardin Majorelle. Ideally, add an extra night here – Marrakech deserves at least one full day. See our Marrakech guide.
Variations
Marrakech in and out
Start in Marrakech, go over the Atlas to the valleys and Merzouga, then north to Fes and Chefchaouen, and either fly home from Fes or Tangier or take the train back. This loop changes the order but keeps most highlights.
Swap Chefchaouen for the coast
If the blue town is less of a priority, replace Days 2–3 with an extra day in Marrakech and a trip to Essaouira (about 3 hours each way – better as an overnight than a rushed day).
Add the Atlas
Spend a night in Imlil (about 1.5 hours from Marrakech) for village walks in the High Atlas.
Practical notes
- Pacing: Day 6 and Day 9 are long. Day 3 and Day 7 balance them.
- Season: spring and autumn are most comfortable. Our best time to visit the Sahara guide covers each season.
- Accommodation: riads in the cities, guesthouses in Chefchaouen and the valleys, and a desert camp chosen to suit your budget.
- Private tour: this route works best with a private driver, which lets you adjust stops and timings.
Make it yours
Our 10-day Morocco grand tour follows a similar route and can be reshaped around your flights. For more ideas, compare it with the 7-day itinerary or the 14-day itinerary. When you are ready, message us on WhatsApp via the contact page or use build your tour.
