Quick answer: ten days is enough for Morocco’s classic loop without rushing:
- 2 days in Marrakech
- 3 days crossing the High Atlas to the Sahara at Merzouga
- 2 nights in Fes
- either Chefchaouen or a return south to the coast at Essaouira
The desert section has no railway, so the practical options are a private driver or a multi-day tour. The city-to-city legs between Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Fes can be done by train. Below are two versions: A (end in the north) and B (back to Marrakech and the coast).
The route at a glance
| Days | Version A: finish in the north | Version B: loop back to Marrakech and the coast |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 3 | High Atlas → Aït Benhaddou / Ouarzazate | High Atlas → Aït Benhaddou / Ouarzazate |
| 4 | Dades/Todra gorges → Merzouga | Dades/Todra gorges → Merzouga |
| 5 | Erg Chebbi dunes | Erg Chebbi dunes |
| 6 | Merzouga → Middle Atlas → Fes | Merzouga → Middle Atlas → Fes |
| 7 | Fes | Fes |
| 8 | Fes → Chefchaouen | Fes → Marrakech (train or road) |
| 9 | Chefchaouen | Marrakech → Essaouira |
| 10 | Depart (via Fes or Tangier) | Essaouira → Marrakech, depart |
Days 1–2: Marrakech
The Medina of Marrakech has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Two days gives you time for the souks, palaces and gardens, plus an evening at Jemaa el-Fna.
Short on time? Swap a Marrakech day for an easy mountain day in the Ourika Valley.
Day 3: Over the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou
Leave Marrakech on National Route 9 over the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,205 m) to the Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, a fortified earthen village on the old caravan route (UNESCO, 1987). Ouarzazate, nicknamed the “Door of the Desert”, is close by and home to Atlas Studios.
Days 4–5: The gorges and the Sahara at Merzouga
Continue east through the Dades and Todra gorges to Merzouga, on the edge of Erg Chebbi. Its dunes rise to 150 m and stretch about 28 km north to south. Spend a night (ideally two) at a licensed camp: the authorities closed unlicensed camps around Merzouga in 2019.
Day 6: Merzouga to Fes
A long driving day north, crossing the Middle Atlas and its cedar forests, to Fes.
Day 7: Fes
The Medina of Fez was the first Moroccan site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1981. Give it a full day. The Medina’s lanes are mostly on foot, and a licensed guide makes it much easier to find your way.
Days 8–10, Version A: Chefchaouen and the north
Fes → Chefchaouen is about 200 km (~4 h) by road (per our routes). Chefchaouen isn’t on the railway, so go by road. Spend a night there, then fly home from Fes or continue north to Tangier.
Alternative for day 8: Meknes (UNESCO 1996) and the Roman ruins of Volubilis (UNESCO 1997) both make an easy trip from Fes.
Days 8–10, Version B: back to Marrakech and Essaouira
Fes and Marrakech are both on the railway (the line runs via Rabat and Casablanca), or it’s about 530 km (~6 h) by road with a driver (per our routes). Then head to Essaouira, about 190 km (~2 h 30) from Marrakech. Its UNESCO-listed medina (2001) is a relaxed place for your last night.
How to travel each leg
| Leg | Railway? | Realistic options |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech → Aït Benhaddou → Merzouga | No | Private driver, or a multi-day tour |
| Merzouga → Fes | No | Private driver, or a multi-day tour |
| Fes → Chefchaouen | No | Road (private transfer, coach, grand taxi) |
| Fes → Marrakech | Yes | Train, or a private transfer |
| Marrakech → Essaouira | No | Coach, or a private transfer |
Doing the desert section with a driver: our Marrakech to Fes desert tour (4 days) crosses the High and Middle Atlas, stops at the Erg Chebbi dunes and in Meknes, and ends with a full day in Fes. Our 3-day version, via kasbahs, gorges and a night in the Sahara, is faster. Both run one way from Marrakech to Fes, which fits either version of this itinerary.
Is 10 days enough for Morocco?
Ten days covers Marrakech, the Atlas, the Sahara and Fes comfortably, plus either the north or the coast, but not both. For Tangier, the Atlantic coast and the south together, allow two weeks. With one week, choose between the desert loop and a Marrakech-plus-coast trip; see our realistic 7-day Morocco itinerary.
FAQ
Is 10 days in Morocco enough?
Yes, for Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes and one extra region (Chefchaouen or the coast). Trying to add more usually means spending most days in the car.
Should I start in Marrakech or Casablanca?
Marrakech puts you closest to the Atlas and the desert. Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport is Royal Air Maroc’s main hub, and Casablanca is on the railway to Marrakech.
Can I do this itinerary by public transport?
Partly. Trains cover Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Fes, and coaches reach the coast. The Atlas-to-Sahara section has no railway, so a driver or a tour is the practical choice for days 3–6.
Do I need a private driver for the whole 10 days?
Not necessarily. One practical approach is a driver for the desert section (days 3–6) and the train or a transfer for the city-to-city legs.
Can I do it the other way round?
Starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech works just as well as a route.
Want this route with your own driver? See our tours from Marrakech or send your dates on WhatsApp for a tailored 10-day plan.