For a first visit to Morocco, ten days is the ideal length: enough for the imperial cities, the Sahara and Marrakech without feeling rushed. If you have a week, focus on Marrakech, the desert and Fes. Here is what fits into each trip length.
Which length is right for you?
| Length | What you can see | Pace | Example route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Atlas, Aït Benhaddou, one night in the Sahara | Long driving days | Marrakech to Merzouga |
| 5 days | The above, plus deep desert and the Draa Valley | Relaxed | Desert and kasbahs |
| 7 days | Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes | Steady | Desert and imperial cities |
| 8 days | Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara, Marrakech | Steady | Imperial cities and desert |
| 10 days | Everything above, with more time in each place | Comfortable | From Casablanca or from Tangier |
| 15 days | The whole country, including Tangier and Essaouira | Unhurried | Grand Morocco |
3 days: a taste of the Sahara
Three days is the shortest practical trip from Marrakech to the dunes of Merzouga. The first day crosses the High Atlas and visits Aït Benhaddou on the way to the Dades Valley. The second follows the Todra Gorge to the dunes, for a sunset camel ride and a night in camp. The third day is a long drive back. It works, but expect plenty of time in the car.
5 days: the desert without the rush
Five days turns the same trip into a holiday. You gain extra time in the Sahara to meet nomad families and hear Gnawa music, and you return through the palm groves of the Draa Valley instead of driving straight back.
7 days: Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes
A week lets you link Morocco's two great cities through the desert. Spend your arrival day in Marrakech, cross the Atlas to Merzouga, then continue north through the Ziz Valley and cedar forests to Fes for a guided day in the medina. Returning to Marrakech via Volubilis and Meknes takes one very long day, so if you can fly home from Fes, that saves time.
10 days: the classic first visit
Ten days is our usual recommendation. Starting in Casablanca, you can travel through Rabat, the Blue City of Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Fes, cross to the Sahara, and finish with time in Marrakech. Arriving by ferry from Spain? The same route works beautifully from Tangier.
15 days: all of Morocco
Two weeks covers Tangier and the north, the imperial cities, the Sahara, Marrakech and a relaxed end on the Atlantic coast at Essaouira. There is time for full days at leisure, which makes a big difference on a long trip.
Tips for planning your route
- Fly open-jaw if you can. Arriving in one city and leaving from another, such as Casablanca and Marrakech, avoids backtracking.
- Do not rush the desert. One night is enough to experience it, but two make the long drive feel much more worthwhile.
- Give Fes and Marrakech at least one full day each. Their medinas are the heart of a Morocco trip, and a local guide helps enormously.
- Check the season. Our month-by-month guide shows when each region is at its best.
