(5.0)
10 Days
English
From Marrakech
A 10 days Morocco tour from Marrakech gives you the whole country in one smooth loop: mountains, desert, imperial cities and the ocean. Ten days is the sweet spot. It is long enough to sleep under Saharan stars and get lost in the medina of Fes, yet short enough to fit into a single holiday.
The route is simple to follow. First, you cross the High Atlas to the kasbahs of the south and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Next, you head north through cedar forests to Fes, Meknes and the blue town of Chefchaouen. Then, instead of rushing back, you follow the Atlantic coast through Rabat, Casablanca and El Jadida to the breezy port of Essaouira. Finally, you return to Marrakech for a guided tour of the Red City before you fly home.
Because this is a private tour, nothing is fixed in stone. Your driver-guide sets the pace with you, and you can add nights, swap hotels or skip a stop. If you are shorter on time, our 9 days Morocco tour from Marrakech covers the same highlights without the coast.
Your driver-guide welcomes you at Marrakech Menara Airport and drives you to your riad in the medina. After a mint tea and a short rest, the evening is yours.
As night falls, head to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the beating heart of the Medina of Marrakesh. Grill smoke rises from the food stalls, while musicians, henna artists and storytellers draw crowds. It is a lively, unforgettable first night in Morocco.
Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
Early in the morning, you leave the city behind and climb into the High Atlas. The road winds up to the Tizi n’Tichka pass at about 2,260 metres, with views over terraced fields and Berber villages.
After the pass, you descend to the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou. This fortified village of earthen houses is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a favourite film set. Take your time to cross the river and climb to the granary at the top for the view.
Later, you drive past Ouarzazate and along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. Palm groves, ruined kasbahs and the Rose Valley lead you to your hotel in the Dades Valley.
Driving time: about 6 to 7 hours with stops. Overnight: hotel in the Dades Valley.
This morning, you visit the Todra Gorge. Here, sheer rock walls close in around a narrow path, and you can walk between them for a few hundred metres.
In the afternoon, the mountains give way to the flat stony desert of the Tafilalet. Before reaching the dunes, you stop in the village of Khamlia to hear Gnawa musicians, whose rhythms trace back to West Africa.
Then comes the moment many travellers wait for. You mount your camel and ride into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun sets. At camp, dinner is served under the stars, often followed by drums around the fire. Read more about the area on VisitMorocco’s Merzouga page.
Driving time: about 5 to 6 hours with stops. Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi.
Set your alarm for sunrise. Watching the dunes turn from grey to orange is one of the highlights of the whole trip. Afterwards, you ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a hot shower.
Today is a long drive, but the scenery changes constantly. First, you follow the palm-filled Ziz Valley. Next, you climb through Midelt into the cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the roadside. Finally, you pass through Ifrane, a neat Alpine-style town, before arriving in Fes in the evening.
Driving time: about 7 to 8 hours with stops. Overnight: riad in Fes.
Fes el-Bali is a living medieval city of narrow lanes, donkeys and workshops. To make the most of it, you spend the day with a licensed local guide.
Together, you visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, peek into the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, one of the oldest centres of learning in the world, and watch leather being dyed at the Chouara Tannery. In between, you meet brass workers, weavers and potters.
In the late afternoon, enjoy the panorama from the Merinid Tombs as the call to prayer echoes across the Medina of Fez. For more on what you will see, visit our Fes guided city tour page.
Overnight: riad in Fes.
After breakfast, you drive to the Historic City of Meknes. Its grand Bab Mansour gate and royal stables recall the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail.
A short drive later, you reach the Archaeological Site of Volubilis. Walking among Roman columns, a triumphal arch and colourful floor mosaics, it is easy to imagine life here almost 2,000 years ago.
In the afternoon, you climb into the Rif Mountains and arrive in Chefchaouen. Its blue-washed lanes glow in the evening light, so take a first stroll before dinner. If you only want this part of the trip, see our Fes to Chefchaouen day trip.
Driving time: about 5 hours. Overnight: riad in Chefchaouen.
Enjoy a quiet morning in Chefchaouen before the day-trippers arrive. Wander up to the Kasbah, browse the craft shops and take photos of the famous blue doorways.
Around midday, you drive south to Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Here you visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the whitewashed Kasbah of the Udayas, all part of the UNESCO site Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City. Then you continue along the coast to Casablanca for the night.
Driving time: about 5 to 6 hours. Overnight: hotel in Casablanca.
Start with the Hassan II Mosque, which stands on a platform above the Atlantic Ocean. Its minaret is one of the tallest in the world, and guided tours inside are available at set times.
Next, you follow the coast south to El Jadida, the old Portuguese City of Mazagan. Its underground cistern, with light falling through a single opening in the roof, is a photographer’s dream. Later, you stop in the lagoon town of Oualidia, famous for its fresh oysters and seafood lunch.
By late afternoon, you reach Essaouira, a whitewashed port town cooled by the trade winds.
Driving time: about 5 to 6 hours. Overnight: riad in Essaouira.
Spend the morning exploring the Medina of Essaouira. Walk the Skala ramparts lined with old bronze cannons, then watch the blue fishing boats unload their catch at the port. You can learn more on VisitMorocco’s Essaouira page.
After lunch, you drive inland through the argan forest. Along the way, you visit a women’s cooperative that produces argan oil by hand, and you may even spot goats climbing the trees. You arrive back in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Driving time: about 3 hours. Overnight: riad in Marrakech.
On your last day, a local guide takes you through the highlights of Marrakech. You visit the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia Mosque from outside, then lose yourself in the souks.
Depending on your flight time, you can also relax in the Jardin Majorelle. Finally, your driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport, and your 10-day journey through Morocco comes to an end.
Yes. Ten days lets you see the main highlights, including Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes, Chefchaouen and the Atlantic coast, without spending every day in the car. With two weeks, you could add the High Atlas or the deep south.
Yes. Only you and your travel companions share the vehicle and driver-guide. As a result, you can change the pace, choose your hotels and stop wherever you like.
On average, you drive 4 to 6 hours on travel days. Days 2, 3 and 4 are the longest, while the days in Fes and Marrakech involve almost no driving.
Yes. We can run the loop in reverse, starting with Essaouira and ending in the Sahara. Just tell us when you book.
Absolutely. Many travellers add a night in Marrakech for one of our day trips from Marrakech, such as the Ourika Valley or the Ouzoud Waterfalls.
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Mhamid, Marrakech, Morocco – 40000, Morocco
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Journeys Morocco offers authentic travel experiences across the kingdom, from the lively souks of Marrakech to the golden dunes on our unforgettable Sahara Desert tours.
Every trip is part of our carefully designed Morocco tours, crafted to immerse you in culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes.
