Think in regions, not in cities
Morocco is bigger than it looks on a map, and the roads cross real mountains. Marrakech to the dunes of Merzouga is about 560 km (the road, stage by stage); Fez to Marrakech by road is a full day. So the best way to plan is to pick one or two regions and explore them properly, rather than trying to tick off every city.
The four regions most trips are built from:
- Marrakech and the south: the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, and the Sahara.
- Fez and the north: Fez, Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Tangier.
- The Atlantic coast: Essaouira, Oualidia, El Jadida, Asilah and Rabat.
- The Middle Atlas: cedar forests, Ifrane, Azrou and the Barbary macaques.
4 days: one city and one adventure
Four days is enough for one base and one trip out of it. From Marrakech, that could be the waterfalls of Ouzoud and the Atlas valleys. From Tangier or Fez, it means the blue town of Chefchaouen. What four days is not enough for is the Merzouga desert from Marrakech: the drive alone takes two of your days.
4 days · from MarrakechAtlas Valleys and Ouzoud FallsSee the route
4 days · from TangierTangier, Chefchaouen and TetouanSee the route
4 days · from FezFez, Volubilis and ChefchaouenSee the route5 to 6 days: add the desert or the ocean
With five or six days you can add a real change of landscape. From Marrakech, the closest desert is Zagora, about 360 km away (see Merzouga or Zagora), with nights at a camp in the dunes. Or swap the desert for the Atlantic and spend a few slow days in Essaouira. From Fez, six days is enough for Merzouga and the big dunes of Erg Chebbi.
5 days · from MarrakechZagora Desert and the Draa ValleySee the route
5 days · from MarrakechEssaouira and the Atlantic CoastSee the route
6 days · from FezFez to the Sahara, Two Desert NightsSee the route7 days: the classic first trip
A week is where Morocco opens up. The southern loop from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas, follows the kasbah road through the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, spends two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes and comes back a different way through the Draa Valley. Driving days are three to five hours with stops, never ten.
If the north appeals more, a week from Fez takes in Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Tangier and the Atlantic at Asilah. From Casablanca, a week of imperial cities covers Rabat, Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis (opens in a new tab), Fez and the cedar forests, with the Ouzoud waterfalls on the way back.
7 days · from MarrakechSahara Loop via MerzougaSee the route
7 days · from FezNorthern Morocco, Mountains to OceanSee the route
7 days · from CasablancaImperial Cities and Ouzoud FallsSee the route10 to 14 days: two regions, at an easy pace
With ten days or more you can join two regions. Popular combinations are the imperial cities followed by the desert (arriving in Fez, leaving from Marrakech), or the desert loop followed by a few days on the coast in Essaouira. Two weeks lets you add the north as well, or simply slow everything down. If you can choose your dates, our month-by-month guide shows when each region is at its best.
There is no ready-made tour for every combination, and there doesn't need to be. Tell us your dates and what you love, and we will join the routes into one trip.
Four mistakes that cost you days
- Doing the Sahara from Marrakech in two days. It is possible only to Zagora, and most of it is spent driving.
- Fez and Marrakech as day trips from each other. They are a full day apart. Treat them as two bases.
- Too many one-night stops. Two nights in a place gives you a whole day without packing.
- Forgetting arrival and departure days. If your flight lands at night, that day is gone. Count the full days on the ground.
Questions
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Yes, for one or two regions. A week covers Marrakech and the Sahara, or Fez and the north, at a comfortable pace. It is not enough to see the whole country without long days in the car.
Is 5 days enough for Morocco?
Five days is enough for one city and one trip out of it, such as Marrakech and the Zagora desert, or Marrakech and Essaouira. The Merzouga dunes need a little longer from Marrakech.
How many days do you need for the Sahara desert?
From Marrakech, two days is the minimum for Zagora and three for Merzouga. Our desert trips run five to seven days so the drive is broken into short stages.
Should I fly into Marrakech or Fez?
Fly into Marrakech for the south and the desert, and into Fez or Tangier for the north. For a longer trip, arriving in one and leaving from the other saves a full day of driving back.
