Short answer: seven days is enough for the imperial cities and Chefchaouen, ten days lets you add a night in the Sahara, and fourteen days covers the whole country at a relaxed pace, from the Rif Mountains to the Atlantic coast. Below are the three routes we use most often for private tours, with day-by-day stops and real driving times.
Morocco looks small on a map, but distances add up quickly. Fes to Merzouga, for example, is a full day on the road. A good itinerary is built around those long legs, not around a checklist of famous names.
How many days do you need in Morocco?
| Trip length | What you can see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 days | Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes | Stopovers, long weekends |
| 7 days | Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Marrakech | A first trip without the desert |
| 8–10 days | Imperial cities + a night in the Merzouga dunes | The classic first trip |
| 14 days | North, imperial cities, Sahara, gorges, Marrakech, Essaouira | Seeing everything without rushing |
7-day Morocco itinerary: imperial cities and Chefchaouen
- Day 1 – Casablanca: arrival, the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche.
- Day 2 – Rabat and Chefchaouen: the Kasbah of the Udayas in the morning, then the Rif Mountains.
- Day 3 – Chefchaouen to Fes: an early walk in the blue lanes before the crowds, then about 4 hours to Fes.
- Day 4 – Fes: a guided day in Fes el-Bali, one of the largest car-free medinas in the world.
- Day 5 – Fes to Marrakech: a long drive through the Middle Atlas.
- Day 6 – Marrakech: the Bahia Palace, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna at dusk.
- Day 7 – Back to Casablanca: about 3 hours to the airport.
This is the route of our 7-day imperial cities tour. If you would rather swap Chefchaouen for the desert, choose the 8-day Sahara desert tour, which goes from Fes to Merzouga and back through the Dades Valley.
10-day Morocco itinerary: cities and the Sahara
- Day 1 – Casablanca
- Day 2 – Rabat and Chefchaouen
- Day 3 – Chefchaouen to Fes, with a stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis if you leave early
- Day 4 – Fes, guided medina visit
- Day 5 – Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane and Midelt, camel ride at sunset and a night in a desert camp
- Day 6 – Merzouga to the Dades Valley via Rissani and the Todra Gorge
- Day 7 – Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Day 8 – Marrakech, guided visit
- Day 9 – Marrakech, free day: a hammam, the Majorelle Garden or a balloon flight
- Day 10 – Marrakech to Casablanca
Our 11-day loop from Casablanca follows almost the same route with an extra night in Rabat, and the 8-day Sahara tour via Chefchaouen is the faster version of it.
14-day Morocco itinerary: the grand loop
Two weeks lets you add the Atlantic coast and spend two nights in most places. A typical route: Casablanca (1 night), Chefchaouen (2), Fes (2), Erfoud (1), Merzouga (1), Dades Valley (1), Marrakech (2), Essaouira (2), Casablanca (1). The 14-day Sahara desert tour follows this loop day by day, and the 16-day version adds two free days.
Driving times between the main stops
| Route | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Casablanca – Rabat | 1 hour |
| Casablanca – Chefchaouen | 4.5 to 5 hours |
| Chefchaouen – Fes | 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Fes – Merzouga | 7 to 8 hours with stops |
| Merzouga – Dades Valley | 5 to 6 hours via the Todra Gorge |
| Dades Valley – Marrakech | 6 to 7 hours via Ouarzazate |
| Fes – Marrakech | 6 to 8 hours |
| Marrakech – Essaouira | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Marrakech – Casablanca | 2.5 to 3 hours |
Tips for planning your route
- Choose your airports wisely. Casablanca (CMN) has the most long-haul flights; Marrakech (RAK), Fes (FEZ) and Tangier (TNG) are well served from Europe. Flying into one city and out of another saves a day of driving.
- Use the train between Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca. The Al Boraq high-speed line links Tangier and Casablanca in a little over two hours; timetables are on the ONCF website.
- Do not rush the desert. Merzouga is far from everything. Plan at least two nights between Fes and Marrakech.
- Give Fes and Marrakech two nights each if you can. The medinas are tiring, and the second day is often the best one.
- Check religious holidays. During Ramadan, opening hours change and some restaurants close during the day. Read our guide to the best time to visit Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Morocco itinerary for a first trip?
For most first-time visitors, 8 to 10 days works best: Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes, a night in the Merzouga dunes, the Dades Valley and Marrakech. It combines the medinas, the mountains and the Sahara without long days back to back.
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Yes for the imperial cities and Chefchaouen. If you want the Sahara in one week, skip Chefchaouen and go from Fes to Merzouga and on to Marrakech.
Should I start in Casablanca or Marrakech?
Casablanca has more long-haul flights and is closer to Rabat, Chefchaouen and Fes. Marrakech is better if you only want the south and the desert. Many travellers fly into one and out of the other.
Can I see Morocco without a car?
Partly. Trains link Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech, but Chefchaouen, the Sahara and the gorges need a car or a tour. A private driver lets you stop where you want.
Want this itinerary adapted to your dates? All our Morocco tours are private and flexible. Send us your dates and we will suggest a route.