Ten days is the ideal length for a first trip to Morocco. It is enough to see the imperial cities, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the Sahara and the kasbahs of the south without rushing – and to spend two nights in the key places. This is the route we recommend most often, with driving times and tips for each day. It follows our private Morocco 10-Day Tour, which you can adapt as you wish.
At a glance. Start: Casablanca · End: Marrakech · Nights: Casablanca 1, Chefchaouen 1, Fes 2, Merzouga 1, desert camp 1, Dades 1, Marrakech 2 · Longest drive: Fes to Merzouga (about 7.5 hours with stops) · Best months: March–May and September–November.
Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca
Your driver-guide meets you at the airport. Depending on your flight, visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and open to non-Muslims on guided tours, then walk the Corniche before dinner. Overnight in Casablanca.
Day 2: Rabat and the road to Chefchaouen (about 5 hours)
Drive to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital, to see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas. Continue north into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen in time for sunset. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3: Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes (about 4.5 hours)
After a morning walk through the blue medina, drive to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and their mosaics, then to Meknes and the monumental Bab Mansour gate. Arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and settle into your riad. Read our Chefchaouen travel guide. Overnight in Fes.
Day 4: Fes with a private guide
Spend the day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed local guide: the Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the gates of Al Quaraouiyine, the copper-beaters of Seffarine Square and the Royal Palace doors. See the best things to do in Fes. Overnight in Fes.
Day 5: Fes to the Sahara via Ifrane and the Middle Atlas (about 7.5 hours)
The longest day, broken by beautiful stops: Ifrane, the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas where Barbary macaques live, and the Ziz Valley with its palm groves. Arrive in Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, in time to watch the sunset over the sand. Overnight in Merzouga.
Day 6: A day in the Sahara
Explore the desert by 4×4: a nomad family’s tent, the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia and the dunes around the lake of Merzouga when it holds water. In the late afternoon, ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes to your private luxury camp for dinner and a night under the stars. See how to plan a Sahara desert trip and the best luxury desert camps. Overnight in a luxury desert camp.
Day 7: Rissani, Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley (about 5 hours)
Visit the market town of Rissani, then drive west along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Tinghir and the dramatic Todra Gorges, where cliffs rise around 300 metres above the river. Continue to the Dades Valley. Overnight in the Dades Valley.
Day 8: Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas to Marrakech (about 6.5 hours)
Pass the rose fields of Kelaat M’Gouna and the palm groves of Skoura, visit Ouarzazate and the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 9: Marrakech
Explore Marrakech with a private guide: the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the souks and the Jardin Majorelle. In the evening, take a rooftop table above Jemaa el-Fna. More ideas in the best things to do in Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 10: Departure
Enjoy a last breakfast in your riad before your private transfer to Marrakech airport – or extend your stay with a day trip from Marrakech.
How to adapt this itinerary
- More time? Add a second night in Chefchaouen and a day in the Atlas villages – that is our 12-day tour – or Essaouira on the coast with our 14-day tour.
- Less time? Our 9-day tour skips Chefchaouen, and our 7-day tour focuses on Marrakech and the Sahara.
- Prefer cities to driving? Choose our Imperial Cities tour.
- Travelling in summer? Spend one night in the desert and add the coast – see the best time to visit Morocco.
What a private 10-day tour costs
Our private 10-day tour starts from $3,990 per person for the Luxury package with 1–3 travellers, including all accommodation, your private vehicle and driver-guide, local guides, entrance tickets and the meals listed. Premium and VIP All-Inclusive packages are also available, and groups of four or more save 20–30%. Read our guide to luxury travel in Morocco for more on costs.
Travel this route privately
Book the Morocco 10-Day Tour as it is or change anything you like: the start city, the hotels, the pace or the activities. Send us your dates – we reply the same day, often within an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough for Morocco?
Yes. Ten days lets you see the highlights – Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, the kasbah road and Marrakech – at a comfortable pace, with two nights in the key places.
Should I start in Casablanca or Marrakech?
This route starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech, which avoids backtracking. It can also be done in reverse, or starting from Fes or Tangier.
How much driving is there?
Most days have 4–5 hours of driving with plenty of stops; the day from Fes to the Sahara is about 7.5 hours. Two nights in Fes, the desert and Marrakech give you rest days in between.
Can I do this itinerary with children?
Yes. Families love the camels, the camp and the souks. We adjust the pace and choose family-friendly riads and camps.
Continue reading: 15 best things to do in Morocco and the best places to visit in Morocco.
