Morocco in 10 days, the complete first-timer itinerary

10 days is the sweet spot for Morocco. You can cover Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes, and either Chefchaouen or the coast without feeling rushed.

If you only have 7 days, see our 7-day itinerary. If you have 14 days, see our 14-day itinerary.

Two strong 10-day routes

Route A: Imperial cities + Sahara (most complete)

• Days 1–2: Marrakech
• Days 3–5: Sahara loop (Ouarzazate → Merzouga → back)
• Day 6: Train Marrakech → Fes
• Days 7–8: Fes (medina + day trip to Volubilis/Meknès)
• Day 9: Bus Fes → Chefchaouen
• Day 10: Chefchaouen morning, fly out (from Tangier TNG or back to Fes)

Route B: Marrakech + Sahara + coast (relaxed)

• Days 1–3: Marrakech (with Atlas Mountains day trip)
• Days 4–6: Sahara loop
• Days 7–9: Essaouira (3 hours by bus from Marrakech)
• Day 10: Marrakech, last shopping, fly out

Pick Route A if you want maximum cultural depth and don’t mind logistics. Pick Route B if you want a calmer trip with downtime on the coast.

The day-by-day below is for Route A (most popular).

Day-by-day

Days 1–2: Marrakech

See 7-day itinerary days 1–2. Standard Marrakech intro: Jemaa el-Fnaa, souks, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef, hammam.

Days 3–5: Sahara desert loop

3-day, 2-night Sahara tour from Marrakech. ~2500–4000 MAD per person shared.

• Day 3: Marrakech → Atlas pass → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate (overnight)
• Day 4: Ouarzazate → Dadès Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → camel sunset → desert camp
• Day 5: Sunrise on dunes → drive back via Tinghir → overnight Skoura/Ouarzazate
• Evening Day 5: back in Marrakech

Tip: Book a tour that drops you in Fes instead of Marrakech. Same price, different ending. Saves you Day 6’s train.

Day 6: Travel day (Marrakech → Fes)

• ONCF train Marrakech → Fes, 7 hours, 240 MAD 2nd class / 380 MAD 1st class.
• Book on oncf.ma a day or two ahead.
• Or: if your Sahara tour drops in Fes, skip this travel day entirely.
• Evening in Fes: short walk in the medina, dinner at a riad.

Days 7–8: Fes

Day 7, Fes medina with a guide. This is the city to hire one (300–500 MAD for half a day). Without a guide, you will get lost.

• Chouara Tannery (early morning, before the smell builds)
• Al-Attarine Madrasa, Bou Inania Madrasa
• Souks (henna, spices, copper, carpenters)
• Lunch at Café Clock or Nur

Day 8, Volubilis + Meknès day trip. Roman ruins + a small imperial city, 1.5 hours away. Half day. Back to Fes by afternoon for more medina.

Or alternatively: lazy second Fes day. Both work.

Day 9: Fes → Chefchaouen

• CTM bus Fes → Chefchaouen, 4 hours, ~80 MAD.
• Arrive lunchtime. Drop bags at your riad inside the blue medina.
• Afternoon: wander the blue alleys. Walk up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint for sunset.
• Evening: dinner at Casa Aladdin or Restaurant Tissemlal.

Day 10: Chefchaouen → fly out

• Sunrise walk in the blue medina (6–8 AM, before day-trippers arrive). Do this even if you’re tired.
• Breakfast on a rooftop.
• Bus to Tangier (TNG), 2h30, 50 MAD CTM. Fly from there.
• Or: bus back to Fes (FEZ) if your flight’s from there, 4h, plan accordingly.

Route B: Marrakech + Sahara + Essaouira

Days 1–3: Marrakech

Days 1–2 as above. Day 3 add a half-day Atlas Mountains trip (Imlil, mule + Berber lunch). You’ll be back by 6 PM.

Days 4–6: Sahara loop

Same as Route A, days 3–5.

Day 7: Marrakech → Essaouira

• CTM bus, 3 hours, 90 MAD. Easy.
• Or shared grand taxi, faster but cramped.
• Afternoon: walk the medina, ramparts at sunset, fresh fish at the port.

Days 8–9: Essaouira

• Day 8: windsurfing or kitesurfing lessons, walk the souk, sunset on the ramparts.
• Day 9: day trip to Sidi Kaouki beach or argan oil cooperative on the road back to Marrakech.

Day 10: Essaouira → Marrakech → fly out

• Bus or grand taxi back to Marrakech, 3 hours.
• Final shopping in the souks now that you’ve seen the country and know what’s worth it.
• Petit taxi to RAK airport, fly home.

Budget for 10 days, two travelers (Route A)

Item	Cost
Flights (Europe round trip)	€250–500/person
Riads (9 nights mid-range)	9000–18000 MAD
Sahara tour (3 days shared)	5000–8000 MAD
Trains + buses (Marrakech → Fes → Chef → Tangier)	800–1200 MAD
Food and drink (10 days)	4000–6000 MAD
Activities, entries, hammam	1500–3000 MAD
Taxis	800–1500 MAD
Total without flights	~21000–38000 MAD (€1900–3500)

Per person all-in: €1800–2800.

Common mistakes on 10-day Morocco trips

• Trying to fit in Marrakech + Fes + Chefchaouen + Sahara + Essaouira. Just don’t. That’s 10 travel days, not 10 days in Morocco. Skip Essaouira or skip Chefchaouen on a 10-day trip, both is a 14-day itinerary.
• Going Sahara → Fes by direct desert-to-Fes route. Saves a day but the road is rough. The Marrakech-out / Fes-end loop is smoother.
• Booking individual cities, not the Sahara as a tour. The Sahara loop is genuinely best done as a guided tour, DIY car rental adds stress and not much value.
• Underestimating travel time. Morocco is bigger than it looks. Trains and buses are slow.

What this itinerary misses

• The High Atlas trekking (would need 2–3 dedicated days)
• The Western Sahara south (Dakhla, Tan-Tan, Tarfaya, 14+ day territory)
• Tangier beyond a quick visit, worth 2 days if you’re flying out from there

A 14-day trip can add 2 of these. See our 14-day guide.