How many days do you need in Morocco? It depends on how much driving you accept and what you want to see: imperial cities, the Sahara, the Atlas mountains or the Atlantic coast. Here are four itineraries we build every week for our guests, with realistic distances.
3 days: Marrakech and the Sahara
- Day 1: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Gorges (overnight).
- Day 2: Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga, camel trek and night in a desert camp.
- Day 3: Sunrise in the dunes → Rissani → Ouarzazate → Marrakech (or continue to Fes).
Best for short trips. See the 3-day desert tour or the Marrakech–Fes version.
5 days: desert + Atlas + Marrakech
- Days 1–3: the desert loop above.
- Day 4: Ourika Valley or Imlil in the High Atlas, lunch with a Berber family.
- Day 5: Marrakech: medina, Bahia Palace, souks and a hammam.
See our 5-day adventure from Marrakech.
7 days: the classic loop
- Day 1: Arrive Marrakech, medina and Jemaa el-Fna.
- Day 2: Marrakech → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Dades.
- Day 3: Todra Gorge → Merzouga, camel trek, desert camp.
- Day 4: Sunrise → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Fes.
- Day 5: Guided day in the Fes medina (see our Fes guide).
- Day 6: Fes → Meknes and Volubilis → back to Fes or on to Chefchaouen.
- Day 7: Return to Marrakech or Casablanca for your flight.
Similar to our 7-day tour from Marrakech.
10 days: the grand tour
- Days 1–2: Casablanca or Marrakech arrival, Rabat.
- Day 3: Chefchaouen, the blue city.
- Day 4: Volubilis, Meknes → Fes.
- Day 5: Fes medina.
- Days 6–7: Middle Atlas → Merzouga, desert camp, sunrise.
- Day 8: Todra and Dades gorges → Ouarzazate.
- Day 9: Ait Benhaddou → Marrakech.
- Day 10: Marrakech sightseeing, or a day trip to Essaouira.
See our 10-day grand tour or the Casablanca version.
How much driving is realistic?
Plan a maximum of 5–6 hours of driving per day if you want to enjoy the stops. Marrakech–Merzouga is 9–10 hours, which is why it is always split into two days. See how to get from Marrakech to Merzouga.
Which season?
Spring and autumn suit every itinerary. In summer, add coastal stops (Essaouira) and start desert activities early. In winter, bring warm clothes for the Atlas and desert nights — see Morocco in winter.
Tell us your dates and interests and we will build the itinerary for free: +212 606-957514.