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10 day Morocco itinerary from Marrakech
10-Day Morocco Tour – Overview
A 10 day Morocco itinerary from Marrakech is ideal for travelers who want a complete experience of the country without rushing. You will travel through:
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🏜️ The Sahara Desert (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi)
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🏔️ High Atlas Mountains, including Berber villages and scenic passes
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🏯 Historic kasbahs like Aït Ben Haddou
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🏙️ Imperial cities: Marrakech, Fes, Meknes
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🌊 Optional coastal towns like Essaouira for a relaxing seaside experience
This itinerary gives a balanced mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation, making it perfect for first-time visitors or those who want a deep dive into Morocco’s landscapes and history.
📍 Route Highlights
🏔️ Atlas Mountains
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Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass
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Visit Berber villages and scenic viewpoints
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Stop for photos and traditional tea
🏯 Kasbahs & Film Locations
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Aït Ben Haddou – historic fortified village and famous film location
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Ouarzazate – film studios and desert gateway
🌄 Valleys & Gorges
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Dades Valley – dramatic rock formations and palm groves
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Todra Gorge – walk along the canyon and admire towering cliffs
10 day Morocco itinerary from Marrakech
Departure: Marrakech
Return: Marrakech
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Itineraries
Day 1
Airport – Marrakech
Arrival in Marrakech. Pickup at the airport at your flight’s scheduled arrival time and transfer to your riad. Free day to get acquainted with the
area. Accommodation in a riad with breakfast.
Day 2
Marrakech, City Tour
Breakfast at your riad and a guided cultural tour of Marrakech to
discover its fascinating history through the famous Koutoubia Mosque (12th century), the
Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs (16th century), and lunch at a
traditional restaurant in the Medina. Free afternoon to enjoy the souks and the famous
Jemaa El Fna Square, with its outdoor activities: jugglers, musicians, fakirs,
snake charmers, street performers… that will awaken all your
senses with the myriad sounds, aromas, flavors, and colors that
characterize the square. Overnight stay at a riad/hotel.
Day 3
Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades
At 8:00 a.m., we’ll depart from Marrakech and head toward Ouarzazate, to the ksar of Ait
Ben Haddou, crossing the Atlas Mountains (we’ll make short stops
along the way to take in the beautiful scenery and authentic Berber
villages). The first stop will be a visit to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a
16th-century fortress listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,
and the setting for many major films (Gladiator,
Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven…). We will then continue to
Ouarzazate, where we will have lunch and visit the Kasbah of Taourirt. Afterward,
we’ll head to the Dades Valley and the Valley of Roses, with a stop to see
locally made cosmetics, passing through the fascinating palm grove of Skoura,
where numerous ancient kasbahs stand out among the palm trees. Overnight
at a hotel in the Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast.
Day 4
Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast, we’ll enjoy one of the best views of the Dades Valley.
We’ll do so from one of the most strategic vantage points the mountains
have to offer. From there, we’ll be able to see the many kasbahs in the area
and how picturesque each one is. After making several stops along the
way, we’ll arrive at the Todra Gorges. Located near the city of
Tinghir, they mark the entrance to the desert. Surrounded by a valley full of palm trees and
adobe villages, this is where the mountains most prized by
climbing enthusiasts are found. These Todra and Dades gorges are the most
well-known and also the most impressive in Morocco. After a
hike in the Todra Gorges and lunch in Tinjdad or Touroug,
we head out into the desert to reach the impressive dunes of Merzouga,
where we’ll set off on a camel caravan for a journey of about an hour
to reach our nomadic tents, situated in the middle
a sea of dunes (Erg Chebbi), where we’ll have the chance to witness one of the
most breathtaking sunsets you’ve ever seen. Dinner and overnight stay in
nomadic tents in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of
stars.
Day 5
Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
Once we’re ready, we’ll head north through the Tafilalet Palm Grove,
where, over the course of 20 km, we’ll see countless palm trees, making it one
of the largest palm groves in the world. As we pass through it, we’ll reach the Ziz Valley,
named after the river that flows down from the High Atlas and feeds the
palm grove. Here we’ll make a mandatory stop to view the valley
from above and see the village of Aoufous. We’ll stop in Medilt for
lunch, then continue to the cedar forests of Azrou,
where we can see and take photos with the monkeys that live there. Next,
we’ll pass through Ifrane and continue on to Fez. We’ll arrive at your riad.
Accommodation with breakfast.
Day 6
Fez, City Tour
After breakfast, we’ll begin our guided tour of the medina, one of the
largest walled cities in the world. Founded in 790 AD,
it feels like a blend of the Middle Ages and the present day. We’ll explore the
narrow streets filled with shops selling fresh fruit, piles of spices,
Berber rugs, and many other examples of Moroccan art.
We’ll visit the Royal Palace, the potters, and the tanners, and then the
oldest university in the world, predating even Oxford and the Sorbonne.
Afterward, we’ll have lunch at a traditional restaurant in the heart of the
medina. Following lunch, we’ll finish our tour of the medina and return to
your riad. Accommodation with breakfast.
Day 7
Fez – Meknes – Volubilis – Chefchaouen
After breakfast at the hotel/riad, we head to Meknes, the tanner’s town
of Fes, Morocco, chosen by Sultan Moulay Ismail as his imperial capital
in the late 17th century, where we’ll enter the city through the grand
monumental gate “Bab Mansour” to visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. The
mausoleum is one of the most impressive buildings in the city.
We will have lunch and continue on to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, notable
for its mosaics and temples. Then we will head to Chaouen via
Ouazzane. We will arrive at your riad. Accommodation with breakfast.
Day 8
Chefchaouen – Rabat
After breakfast, we will visit Chefchaouen. This city is one of the most
unique in Morocco. It welcomed Muslim refugees fleeing
Granada in 1492 and after the expulsion from Spain in 1648, which is why it bears
many similarities to Andalusian towns, with white and blue houses, a medina
perched on the mountainside, and Andalusian courtyards. Chefchaouen is
peaceful; we continue on to the kingdom’s capital, Rabat. We will arrive in
Riyadh. Accommodation with breakfast.
Day 9
Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakesh
After breakfast at the Riad hotel, we set out to explore the
city, including the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower, the Kasbah
of the Oudayas, and Challah. We will then head to Casablanca, one of the
largest cities in Africa, where an elegant mix of Art Deco and Neo-Moorish
buildings line the wide avenues.
We’ll have lunch and then visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque,
one of the largest mosques in the world. Its handcrafted beauty
is breathtaking. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Marrakech for the night at the hotel/riad.
Day 10
Marrakech - Airport.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport
to conclude our services. Have a safe trip.
✅ What’s INCLUDED
🚐 Transport & Guide
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Air-conditioned 4x4 or minibus for the entire tour
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Professional English-speaking driver/guide
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Fuel, tolls, and road expenses
🐪 Desert Activities
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Camel trek
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Sunset and sunrise
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Sandboarding (often included)
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Desert campfire with traditional music
🍽️ Meals
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Daily breakfast
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Dinner in hotels and desert camp
🏯 Sightseeing & Entry (Some Included)
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Visits to Atlas Mountains scenic points
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Aït Ben Haddou (transport included, sometimes local guide extra)
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Todra Gorge
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Guided medina tour in Marrakech and Fes
❌ What’s NOT INCLUDED
🍴 Meals
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Lunches (roadside restaurants €12–€15 per meal)
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Drinks: water, soft drinks, alcohol
🎟️ Entrance Fees
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Extra monuments, kasbahs, or guided visits not listed in the itinerary
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Local guides at some UNESCO sites
💵 Tips
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Driver/guide tips (optional but customary)
🏍️ Optional Activities
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Quad biking, extra 4x4 excursions in desert
Usually included in the Sahara (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi)
Not mandatory — you can choose a 4x4 transfer instead
Merzouga
Famous dunes of Erg Chebbi
Usually 1–2 nights in a desert camp
Option to upgrade to luxury tents with private bathrooms
Standard Camp: shared bathroom, simple tent
Luxury Camp: private bathroom, comfortable bed
Breakfast and dinner included
Lunch not included (roadside restaurants €12–€15 per meal)
Vegetarian options available
Standard desert camps → shared or limited
Luxury camps → private shower
Aït Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate
Todra Gorge
Dades & Draa Valleys
Fes & Meknes
Chefchaouen
Yes — perfect if you want:
Full Morocco experience: desert, mountains, imperial cities, and optionally the coast
Relaxed pace with less rushing
Mix of adventure, culture, and scenic sightseeing