Short answer: with 7 days, base yourself in Marrakech for three nights with a day in the High Atlas, then take a three-day loop over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and a night in the Sahara dunes at Merzouga. With 10 days, cross the country instead: Casablanca and Rabat by train, three nights in Fez with Meknes and Volubilis, the desert, and Marrakech at the end. With 14 days, start in Tangier, add the blue town of Chefchaouen, and finish with two nights by the sea in Essaouira. Trains link the northern and imperial cities; for the mountains, the desert and the coast you need a bus, a driver or a tour.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Morocco travel guide into day-by-day plans, with travel times between stops and the best area to sleep each night. To pick your month, see the best time to visit Morocco, and for the places themselves, our top 10 places to visit in Morocco. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops (nights) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech and the Sahara | 7 | Marrakech 3, Dades Valley 1, Merzouga desert camp 1, Marrakech 1 | First trip, one airport, medina plus dunes |
| Imperial cities to the desert | 10 | Rabat 1, Fez 3, Merzouga 1, Dades Valley 1, Aït Ben Haddou 1, Marrakech 2 | History, train travel, the classic crossing |
| North to south, with the coast | 14 | Tangier 1, Chefchaouen 2, Fez 3, Merzouga 1, Dades 1, Aït Ben Haddou 1, Marrakech 2, Essaouira 2 | Seeing it all: Rif, medinas, desert, Atlantic |
Fly “open-jaw” if you can: into Casablanca, Tangier or Fez and out of Marrakech, so you never have to go back the way you came. Marrakech Menara, Casablanca Mohammed V, Fes–Saïss and Tangier all have direct flights from Europe, and Casablanca has flights from North America. From Spain, fast ferries cross from Tarifa to Tangier in about an hour. Visas, money and monument tickets are covered in our Morocco guide.
Travel times between the main stops
ONCF, the national railway, runs the Al Boraq high-speed train between Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca, and conventional Al Atlas trains from there to Marrakech, Meknes and Fez. There is no railway to the desert, the Atlas valleys, Chefchaouen or Essaouira: Supratours (ONCF’s coach company) and CTM run long-distance buses, and most visitors take a private driver or a tour for the desert. A high-speed line from Kenitra to Marrakech is under construction, and some trains run on adjusted timetables during the works, so check times in the ONCF app when you book. Al Boraq times come from the Moroccan National Tourist Office; the rest are approximate.
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangier – Rabat | Al Boraq high-speed train | about 1 h 20 | Moroccan National Tourist Office |
| Tangier – Casablanca | Al Boraq high-speed train | about 2 h 10 | Moroccan National Tourist Office |
| Casablanca – Marrakech | Al Atlas train | about 2 h 40 (approximate; works on the line) | Approximate |
| Rabat – Fez | Al Atlas train | about 2 h 30–3 h (approximate) | Approximate |
| Fez – Meknes | Al Atlas train | under 1 h | Approximate |
| Fez – Marrakech | Al Atlas train, via Casablanca | about 7 h (approximate) | Approximate |
| Tarifa (Spain) – Tangier | Fast ferry | about 1 h | Approximate |
| Tangier – Chefchaouen | CTM bus or transfer | about 2 h 30–3 h | Approximate |
| Chefchaouen – Fez | CTM bus or transfer | about 4 h | Approximate |
| Fez – Merzouga | Driver, tour or bus, via the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley | about 8 h (about 470 km) | Approximate |
| Merzouga – Todra Gorge | Road | about 3 h | Approximate |
| Dades Valley – Ouarzazate | Road | about 2 h | Approximate |
| Ouarzazate – Marrakech | Road over the Tizi n’Tichka | about 4 h | Approximate |
| Merzouga – Marrakech | Road, in one go | about 9–10 h (about 560 km) | Approximate |
| Marrakech – Essaouira | Supratours or CTM bus | about 3 h | Approximate |
The desert legs are long, which is why the plans below split them with a night in the Dades Valley or at Aït Ben Haddou. Mountain passes such as the Tizi n’Tichka can close for hours in winter snow; drive in daylight and check conditions.
7 days: Marrakech, the High Atlas and the Sahara
One airport, one medina and the dunes. The three-day desert loop is the classic tour from Marrakech; you can book it as a small-group or private tour, or drive yourself.
- Day 1, Marrakech: Arrive at Menara airport, a short taxi ride from the medina; ask your riad to send a porter, as many lanes are closed to cars. Evening on Jemaa el-Fna, the great square, when the food stalls open. Sleep: a riad in the medina.
- Day 2, the medina: The Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the restored Ben Youssef Madrasa, the souks, then the Jardin Majorelle (timed tickets online). Sleep: same.
- Day 3, the High Atlas: A day trip to Imlil, about 65 km (40 miles) south, for a walk among Amazigh villages below Toubkal, or to the Ourika Valley. Sleep: same.
- Day 4, over the Atlas: Early start over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen ksar, then through Ouarzazate to the Dades Valley. Sleep: Dades Valley.
- Day 5, to the dunes: A walk in the Todra Gorge, between walls about 300 m (1,000 ft) high, then on to Merzouga and a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. Sleep: a desert camp.
- Day 6, back to Marrakech: Sunrise from a dune, then the long drive back (about 9–10 hours). Sleep: Marrakech.
- Day 7, home: A hammam or a last walk through the souks before your flight.
Swap it: if nine hours in a car is too much, our Morocco guide suggests a gentler week: four nights in Marrakech and three in Essaouira, about 3 hours away by bus, with a sunset camel ride in the stony Agafay desert near Marrakech instead of the Sahara. More on each stop is in our Marrakech, Ouarzazate and Merzouga guides.
10 days: the imperial cities to the desert
The classic crossing, north to south: trains between the cities, then a driver or a tour from Fez across the Middle Atlas to the Sahara, ending in Marrakech. Fly into Casablanca and home from Marrakech.
- Day 1, Casablanca and Rabat: Land at Casablanca, take an official guided tour of the Hassan II Mosque by the ocean (check tour times; shoulders and knees covered), then the train to Rabat (under an hour). Sleep: Rabat (1 night).
- Day 2, Rabat to Fez: The Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in the morning, then the train to Fez (about 2 hours 30 to 3 hours). Sleep: a riad in Fez (3 nights).
- Day 3, the Fez medina: With a licensed guide: the Blue Gate, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Qarawiyyin, the Chouara tannery from a terrace, and craft quarters along Talaa Kebira.
- Day 4, Meknes and Volubilis: Train to Meknes (under an hour) for Bab Mansour and Moulay Ismail’s city, then the Roman ruins of Volubilis, best early or late in the day. Back to Fez.
- Day 5, to the Sahara: A long drive south (about 8 hours) through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, Ifrane and the Ziz Valley palm groves, arriving in Merzouga for a camel ride at sunset. Sleep: a desert camp (1 night).
- Day 6, Todra and Dades: Sunrise on the dunes, then west to the Todra Gorge (about 3 hours) and the Dades Valley. Sleep: Dades Valley (1 night).
- Day 7, the kasbah road: The Valley of the Roses and Ouarzazate (about 2 hours) to Aït Ben Haddou in the afternoon light. Sleep: Aït Ben Haddou (1 night).
- Day 8, to Marrakech: Over the Tizi n’Tichka (about 4 hours from Ouarzazate), arriving for the evening on Jemaa el-Fna. Sleep: a riad in the medina (2 nights).
- Day 9, Marrakech: Palaces, souks, the Jardin Majorelle and a hammam.
- Day 10, home: Fly from Menara airport.
Swap it: our top 10 post suggests skipping Rabat and flying straight into Fez, which gives you an extra night in Marrakech or a second night in the dunes. Details for each stop: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez and Meknes.
14 days: Tangier and Chefchaouen to the Sahara and Essaouira
Our Morocco guide’s two-week trip: the 10-day crossing with the north and the Atlantic added. Start in Tangier (by air, or by ferry from Tarifa in Spain) and fly home from Marrakech.
- Day 1, Tangier: The kasbah, the medina, the American Legation museum and mint tea at Café Hafa above the strait. Sleep: Tangier (1 night).
- Day 2, to Chefchaouen: Bus or transfer into the Rif mountains (about 2 hours 30 to 3 hours). Sunset from the Spanish Mosque above town. Sleep: a riad in the upper medina (2 nights).
- Day 3, Chefchaouen: Blue lanes in the early morning, the kasbah on the main square, or a hike to the waterfalls and God’s Bridge at Akchour, about an hour away.
- Day 4, to Fez: Bus or transfer (about 4 hours). Sleep: a riad in Fez (3 nights).
- Days 5–6, Fez, Meknes and Volubilis: The medina with a guide on one day, Meknes and Volubilis on the other.
- Day 7, to the Sahara: Fez to Merzouga (about 8 hours). Sleep: a desert camp (1 night).
- Day 8, Todra and Dades: Sleep: Dades Valley (1 night).
- Day 9, Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou: Film studios or the Taourirt kasbah in Ouarzazate, then the ksar. Sleep: Aït Ben Haddou (1 night).
- Day 10, to Marrakech: Over the Tizi n’Tichka. Sleep: a riad in the medina (2 nights).
- Day 11, Marrakech: Palaces, souks and gardens.
- Day 12, to Essaouira: Bus to the coast (about 3 hours). Walk the sea walls of the Skala at sunset. Sleep: a riad in the medina (2 nights).
- Day 13, Essaouira: The blue fishing boats of the harbor, grilled fish for lunch, the beach, or a windsurf or kitesurf lesson.
- Day 14, home: Bus back to Marrakech for your flight (about 3 hours), or fly from Essaouira-Mogador airport if there is a route home.
More on the northern and coastal stops is in our Tangier, Chefchaouen and Essaouira guides. Prefer warm sea to wind? Swap Essaouira for Agadir, with its long sheltered beach and winter sun.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | A riad in the medina near Jemaa el-Fna, Mouassine or Riad Zitoun | Walk to the souks and palaces; porters meet taxis |
| Fez | A riad near the Blue Gate (Bab Bou Jeloud) | Easiest for taxis and the two main streets downhill |
| Rabat | Near the medina or the Rabat Ville station | Walk to the kasbah and the train |
| Tangier | The kasbah or the medina, or the modern center | Views over the strait; close to the port |
| Chefchaouen | A riad in the upper medina | Quiet blue lanes and terraces; expect steps |
| Merzouga | A desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, or a hotel at the dune edge | Sunset and sunrise on the dunes |
| Dades Valley | A kasbah guesthouse in the gorge | Breaks the long desert drive |
| Aït Ben Haddou | Guesthouses facing the ksar | The ksar at sunset and sunrise without day-trip crowds |
| Essaouira | A medina riad near the Skala or the port | Car-free, flat, sea views |
Hotels and riads usually add a local tourist tax per person per night, which varies with the city and the category, so check whether it is included when you book. Desert camp standards vary a lot; read recent reviews.
Alternatives by interest
Hikers
Replace the Atlas day trip with three nights in Imlil: climbing Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak at 4,167 m (13,671 ft), usually takes two days with a guide and a night in a mountain refuge. Add a day walking in the Todra and Dades gorges on the desert loop, and the Akchour trails from Chefchaouen. Lower trails are best from April to June and in September and October; the high summits in summer. See our hiking guide.
Beach and surf lovers
Pair Marrakech with the Atlantic: three nights in the city and four in Essaouira for windsurfing and kitesurfing (the trade-wind season runs from about April to October), or in Agadir, where the main surf season is October to April and January averages 21 °C (70 °F). Our Morocco guide also suggests a full week in Agadir or Essaouira with a trip to Marrakech, about 3 hours away. The beaches are at their best from June to September, when inland cities are very hot.
Food and culture lovers
Give Fez and Marrakech four nights each and take a cooking class in a riad in both. Time your trip for the festivals in May and June: the rose festival in the Dades Valley, Gnaoua in Essaouira and Mawazine in Rabat. During Ramadan (expected to begin around February 8 or 9, 2027), sights stay open with shorter hours and the evenings are lively.
Families
Avoid the longest drives: stay in Marrakech, take day trips to the Atlas and the Agafay desert, and spend the second half of the week in Essaouira or Agadir. If the children want real dunes, break the trip to Merzouga with two nights on the way, and choose a desert camp with private bathrooms.
Tips for planning your route
- Pick the season. March to May and September to November suit every route. From June to September the desert reaches about 40 °C (104 °F) in the afternoon and Marrakech averages 38 °C (100 °F) in July; the coast stays mild. In winter, nights are cold in the desert and snow can close Atlas passes. See our best time to visit Morocco guide.
- Book trains in the ONCF app. Early tickets are cheaper, and timetables change during the high-speed works, so check the date you travel.
- Book monument tickets online. The Ministry of Culture sells timed tickets for its historic monuments online, and the Jardin Majorelle sells timed tickets on its own site.
- Carry cash for the south. Cards work in cities, but ATMs are scarce in the desert and mountain villages.
- Driving. Roads are generally good and motorways link the main cities. Carry an International Driving Permit (1968 version) with your license, expect police checkpoints, and avoid driving after dark outside towns.
- Hire a licensed guide in Fez. The medina has about 9,000 lanes; half a day with a guide helps you find your bearings.
Morocco itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Yes for Marrakech, the High Atlas and a three-day desert loop, or for Marrakech and Essaouira. To add Fez, Chefchaouen and the coast without rushing, plan 10 to 14 days.
Should I start in Marrakech or Fez?
For a week, start and end in Marrakech. For a longer trip, start in the north (Tangier, Casablanca or Fez) and end in Marrakech, so the desert falls on the way between the two and you never backtrack.
Can I travel around Morocco by train?
Between the main cities, yes: Al Boraq links Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca, and Al Atlas trains continue to Marrakech, Meknes and Fez. There is no railway to the desert, the Atlas, Chefchaouen, Essaouira or Agadir; use Supratours or CTM buses, a driver or a tour.
Is there a high-speed train to Marrakech?
Not yet. Take Al Boraq to Casablanca and change to an Al Atlas train (about 2 hours 40 minutes to Marrakech). The Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed line is under construction and is planned to open before the 2030 World Cup.
How many nights should I spend in the Sahara?
One night in a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes is enough for the sunset camel ride and sunrise; two lets you explore Khamlia, Rissani and the oasis around Merzouga without rushing. Break the long drive with a night in the Dades Valley or at Aït Ben Haddou.
Do I need a car in Morocco?
Not for the cities, where trains and taxis are easier. A car, a private driver or a tour makes the desert and the Atlas much simpler; many travelers book a driver from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga.
Is Chefchaouen worth adding?
Yes if you have two weeks or are coming from Tangier or Spain. It has no train, so it costs a travel day each way; two nights let you see the blue lanes early in the morning, before the day visitors arrive.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Al Boraq stops and times come from ONCF and the Moroccan National Tourist Office; the Kenitra–Marrakech line from ONCF and the Moroccan government portal; online monument tickets from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication; UNESCO sites from the UNESCO World Heritage Center; seasons from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology via the WMO 1991–2020 normals in our best-time guide. Al Atlas train times, bus, ferry and road times come from our destination guides and travel guides and are approximate, as ONCF’s and the bus companies’ timetable pages could not be read. Times, fees and rules change, so check before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)