Travel Q&A
Morocco in 14 days, the deep traveler's itinerary
Short answer Two weeks is enough to actually see Morocco instead of speed-touring it. You can cover every region, imperial cities, Sahara, Atlas trekking, Atlantic coast, with proper rest days built in.
Two weeks is enough to actually see Morocco instead of speed-touring it. You can cover every region, imperial cities, Sahara, Atlas trekking, Atlantic coast, with proper rest days built in.
If you have 7 days, see our 7-day itinerary. If you have 10 days, see our 10-day itinerary.
The route
| Days | Where |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Marrakech |
| 4–6 | Sahara loop |
| 7–8 | Atlas Mountains trekking (Imlil) |
| 9 | Train Marrakech → Fes |
| 10–11 | Fes |
| 12 | Bus Fes → Chefchaouen |
| 13 | Chefchaouen |
| 14 | Tangier → fly home |
Day-by-day
Days 1–3: Marrakech
- Day 1: Arrive, ease in, Jemaa el-Fnaa at sunset, rooftop dinner.
- Day 2: Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, souks. Hammam late afternoon.
- Day 3: Jardin Majorelle + YSL Museum in the morning, lazy lunch at La Famille, half-day Atlas excursion (just to Asni/Ourika valley) or a proper day in Gueliz for the modern Marrakech experience.
Days 4–6: Sahara desert (3 days / 2 nights)
Standard tour, booked through your riad. ~2500–4000 MAD per person shared.
- Day 4: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka pass → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate
- Day 5: Ouarzazate → Dadès Gorge → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → camel sunset → desert camp
- Day 6: Sunrise dunes → drive back to Marrakech (long day, 9 hours)
Days 7–8: Atlas Mountains trekking from Imlil
This is the gem that a 14-day itinerary lets you add. Skip if you don’t like hiking; otherwise, do not miss.
- Day 7: Grand taxi from Marrakech to Imlil (1.5 hours, 150 MAD shared seat). Check into a Berber guesthouse (Kasbah du Toubkal is iconic; Dar Adrar is cheaper). Afternoon: easy walk to Aroumd village or Sidi Chamharouch shrine.
- Day 8: Day trek with a guide (250–400 MAD/day), either climbing partway up Mt Toubkal (the highest peak in North Africa, full summit needs 2 days), or a Berber-village loop walk. Evening: back in Imlil, tea by the fire.
- Evening Day 8: grand taxi back to Marrakech for the night.
If you have summit ambitions, swap days 7–8 for a 2-day Mt Toubkal climb (need to start day 7 by 6 AM, sleep at the refuge, summit at dawn day 8). Best in late spring or early autumn.
Day 9: Marrakech → Fes (travel day)
- Morning: last Marrakech things, lunch.
- ONCF train Marrakech → Fes, departs ~3 PM, arrives 10 PM. 7 hours, 240 MAD 2nd class.
- Or CTM bus if no train seats, similar time, similar price.
- Check into your Fes riad. Dinner.
Days 10–11: Fes
- Day 10: Hire a guide for the medina (300–500 MAD for the morning). Chouara tanneries, Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, the souks (henna, copper, spice).
- Day 11: Volubilis Roman ruins + Meknès day trip (1.5 hours each way). Back to Fes for evening.
Day 12: Fes → Chefchaouen
- CTM bus Fes → Chefchaouen, 4 hours, 80 MAD. Leaves early, 8 AM or so.
- Arrive lunchtime. Wander the blue medina.
- Sunset at Spanish Mosque viewpoint.
Day 13: Chefchaouen
- Early sunrise walk in the blue medina, empty streets, golden light. Best photos of the trip.
- Akchour day hike (45 min drive to trailhead, 3-hour hike to waterfalls and “God’s Bridge” rock arch). Spring is best.
- Evening: dinner in town, early to bed.
Day 14: Chefchaouen → Tangier → fly out
- CTM bus Chefchaouen → Tangier, 2.5 hours, 50 MAD.
- Few hours in Tangier, Café Hafa for mint tea, kasbah, lunch.
- Fly out from Tangier TNG.
Variations
Add Essaouira instead of Chefchaouen
If you’d rather have ocean than mountains:
- Days 12–13: Marrakech → Essaouira (after Fes? No, fly back to Marrakech via Casablanca, take Day 13 in Essaouira, fly out from Marrakech Day 14).
- This route requires backtracking. Better to do Essaouira before Fes, i.e. Marrakech → Sahara → Essaouira → train back to Marrakech → train to Fes → Chefchaouen → Tangier.
Add the surf coast (Taghazout)
If you surf:
- Cut Atlas trekking to 1 day instead of 2.
- Add Days 7–8 in Taghazout (35 min north of Agadir). Bus from Marrakech is 4 hours.
- Continue to Fes from Marrakech on Day 9.
Add Dakhla (kitesurf / desert south)
If you’re a serious kitesurfer or want the empty far south:
- Replace Chefchaouen with Dakhla (Days 12–14).
- 2-hour Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca.
- A different Morocco, lagoon, kites, empty roads, fish.
What this itinerary covers
- ✅ Marrakech (the medina, the souks, Jardin Majorelle)
- ✅ Sahara desert (camel + camp + sunrise dunes)
- ✅ High Atlas Mountains (Berber villages, trekking)
- ✅ Fes (the cultural capital, intact medieval medina)
- ✅ Roman ruins (Volubilis)
- ✅ Chefchaouen (the blue town)
- ✅ Tangier (a quick taste before flying)
- ❌ Coast (Essaouira/Taghazout), swap variation
- ❌ Casablanca (skipable, mostly an airport hub)
- ❌ Western Sahara south, needs its own trip
Budget for 14 days, two travelers
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Flights (Europe RT, multi-city) | €300–600/person |
| Riads (13 nights, mid-range mix) | 13000–22000 MAD |
| Atlas guesthouse (1 night) | 800–1500 MAD |
| Sahara tour (3 days, shared) | 5000–8000 MAD |
| Atlas guide + trek | 500–1000 MAD |
| Trains, buses, taxis | 1500–2500 MAD |
| Food and drink | 6000–9000 MAD |
| Activities, entries, hammam | 2500–4500 MAD |
| Total without flights | ~29000–48000 MAD (€2700–4500) |
Per person all-in: €2200–3200.
Common mistakes on 14-day Morocco trips
- Adding a 5th region to “use the days.” Two weeks in 4 regions is plenty; 5 means another travel day. Build in rest, not more cities.
- Not booking the Sahara tour in advance. It’s the one part of the trip you don’t want to scramble for.
- Skipping the Atlas Mountains trek. Atlas is the experiential highlight for many people. Don’t skip it for one more day in Marrakech.
- Not allowing a recovery day after the Sahara. Three days of car/camel will hit you. Plan a lazy day after.
Should you rent a car?
For a 14-day Marrakech-anchored trip: no. Trains and buses are easier, the Sahara tour includes a driver, and city driving is hostile.
For a trip ending in the coast or the south: maybe. Rental from Marrakech, drop in Agadir or Casablanca. ~400 MAD/day. Easier if there’s two of you and you want flexibility on day trips.
What about doing Morocco in two trips?
A real option. Trip 1: Marrakech + Sahara (7 days). Trip 2: Fes + Chefchaouen + the north (7 days). Both trips are doable in a week each without exhaustion. Many seasoned Morocco travelers do this rather than one 14-day push.