Morocco Itinerary 10 Days

Today there is no long drive, so this day of the 10 days Morocco itinerary is relaxed. You spend the full day in Fes with a local guide, who walks with you through the old medina, Fes el-Bali. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free old towns in the world, with thousands of small lanes.

You visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, with its carved wood, tiles and fine stucco, and you see the outside of the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university, one of the oldest in the world. Then you go up to a terrace to look at the Chouara Tannery, where leather is still made in stone pits by hand, as it was hundreds of years ago.

You stop in craft workshops to see potters, weavers and metal workers at work. You can have lunch (not included) in the medina and taste local bread and fresh mint tea. In the afternoon, you can visit the Royal Palace gates and the old Jewish quarter, or enjoy a view of the whole city from Borj Nord.

The evening is free. Dinner is not included in Fes, so you can choose your own restaurant. Wear comfortable shoes, because there are many steps and stones in the medina today.

Driving distance: No long drive today

Overnight in: Hotel or riad in Fes (breakfast included, dinner not included)

Today is the longest drive of the Morocco itinerary 10 days, but it is also one of the most beautiful. After breakfast in Fes, you drive south into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop is Ifrane, a clean mountain town with Swiss-style houses, red roofs and wide green parks. It is called the Little Switzerland of Morocco.

Then you drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains and the cedar forest near Azrou, one of the largest cedar forests in North Africa. Here you can walk a little, breathe the fresh air and meet the wild Barbary monkeys, which come close to the road. Please do not touch them, and keep your bags closed.

After lunch (not included), the road goes through Midelt and over the Tizi n’Talghemt pass into the Ziz Valley, a long river of palm trees between red cliffs. The colours change from green to orange as you come closer to the desert, and the landscape becomes wide and quiet.

In the late afternoon, you arrive in Merzouga at the edge of Erg Chebbi, the biggest dunes in Morocco. You ride a camel at sunset over the golden sand to your desert camp. After a tasty dinner, there is music around the fire and a sky full of stars. You sleep in the camp.

Driving distance: Approximately 455 km

Driving time: Approximately 8 hr (with stops)

Overnight in: Desert camp in Merzouga (breakfast and dinner included)

Wake up early in the camp for the sunrise over the dunes, one of the best moments of the Morocco itinerary 10 days. The sand turns from pink to gold and the desert is quiet. After breakfast, you go to the hotel in Merzouga to take a shower and rest. You sleep here tonight, so you do not need to pack your bag again.

Then you start a full day of immersive exploration of the Merzouga desert with a 4×4 vehicle and your driver. You drive on tracks across the stony desert, visit a nomad family and learn how they live, drink tea in their tent and see how they use water, animals and the land. Many guests say this meeting is the most human part of the whole trip.

You can also stop in Khamlia, a village known for Gnawa music and drums, and see the old fossil workshops and the black rocks of the area. In the afternoon, you can try sandboarding on the high dunes. It is easy and fun, and your driver helps you with the board. You can also add quad bikes or a buggy on request (extra cost).

After a free sunset, you go back to the hotel for dinner. The day is slow and does not need a long drive, so you can take photos, drink more tea and enjoy the quiet of the Sahara. Take sunglasses, a scarf and water for the sun.

Driving distance: Short desert tracks by 4×4

Overnight in: Hotel in Merzouga (breakfast and dinner included)

After breakfast, you say goodbye to Merzouga and drive to Rissani, an old market town on the edge of the desert. It was an important stop for the caravans from the south, and it still has a lively souk with donkeys, spices and dates. Here you can walk around and feel the real daily life of the south of Morocco.

Then the road goes west through a wide landscape of palm groves, small villages and old kasbahs to Tinghir, a green oasis at the foot of the High Atlas. In the afternoon, you visit the Todra Gorge, with walls up to 300 metres high on both sides of a small river. You can walk inside the canyon, take photos and cool your feet in the water.

Later, you continue to the Dades Gorge, known for its red rocks and strange shapes, like the Monkey Fingers. You check in at your hotel, enjoy the view and have dinner there. The evening is quiet, and the stars are bright above the valley, which makes it a nice end to day 7 of the 10 days Morocco tour.

If you like walking, your driver can show you a short path near the hotel to see the valley at sunset. The nights in the gorge are cool, so bring a warm layer.

Driving distance: Approximately 330 km

Driving time: Approximately 6.5 hr (with stops)

Overnight in: Hotel in the Dades Gorge (breakfast and dinner included)

After breakfast, you leave the Dades Gorge and drive on the famous Road of a Thousand Kasbahs towards Ouarzazate. The road passes villages, palm groves and old mud houses, with the High Atlas Mountains on one side. Ouarzazate is called the door of the desert and the Hollywood of Morocco, because many films were made here.

The main stop of the day is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best known ksar in southern Morocco. You cross the river and walk up the old lanes to the top for a wide view. Famous films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones were shot here. You can stop for lunch (not included) near the village.

In the afternoon, you cross the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which is about 2,260 metres high, with views of deep valleys and Berber villages. The road has many curves, so your driver goes slowly and stops for photos at the best viewpoints.

You arrive in Marrakech in the evening and check in at your hotel or riad. Dinner is not included in Marrakech, so you can go to Jemaa el-Fna and choose your own food. Rest well, because tomorrow you visit the city.

Driving distance: Approximately 360 km

Driving time: Approximately 7 hr (with stops)

Overnight in: Hotel or riad in Marrakech (breakfast included, dinner not included)

Today you have a full day in Marrakech with a local guide. After breakfast, you meet your guide and start a walking tour of the red city. Marrakech is the most lively place of the Morocco itinerary 10 days, with colours, sounds and smells all around you, and a guide helps you understand what you see.

You can visit the Koutoubia Mosque and its famous minaret, the Bahia Palace with its painted ceilings and quiet gardens, and the Saadian Tombs. Then you walk into the souks, the covered markets of the medina, where artisans sell leather, lamps, carpets, spices and clothes. Your guide can help you find good shops and show you how to bargain in a friendly way.

You also see the Jemaa el-Fna square, the heart of Marrakech. During the day it has juice sellers and snake charmers, and at night it fills with food stalls and music. You can have lunch (not included) in a nice restaurant or a café on a terrace with a view of the square.

In the afternoon, you have free time for last shopping, a hammam or a mint tea. Dinner is not included in Marrakech, so you can enjoy a last evening in the city and choose your favourite restaurant.

Driving distance: Short city transfers

Overnight in: Hotel or riad in Marrakech (breakfast included, dinner not included)

This is the last day of your Morocco itinerary 10 days. After a slow breakfast, you check out of your hotel or riad and your driver takes you to Marrakech airport for your flight, or to the place you choose in the city if you stay longer in Morocco.

If you prefer to finish in Casablanca, we can arrange an optional departure transfer from Marrakech to Casablanca by private vehicle. The drive takes about three hours and a half, and it is a good choice if your flight leaves from Casablanca airport. Please tell us your plan before the tour so we can organise it.

Please send us your flight time early, so we can plan the morning with enough time before you fly. If your flight is in the evening, you can leave your bags at the hotel and enjoy a last walk in the medina or a last mint tea on a terrace.

Thank you for travelling with Morocco Discover Excursions. We hope this 10 days tour from Casablanca gives you memories that stay with you for a long time, and that you come back to discover more of Morocco.

Driving distance: Airport transfer, or approximately 240 km for the optional transfer to Casablanca

Overnight in: End of the tour (breakfast included)