Morocco 10-Day Travel Itinerary
Medinas, Sahara Sunrises & the Blue City
March to May & September to November for ideal weather
$45-380 per day depending on riad and experience level
Jemaa el-Fnaa, Sahara Dunes, Fes Medina, Chefchaouen
Your 10-Day Morocco Adventure
Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport, transfer to riad in the Medina
Marrakech
Explore the souks — leather, spices, lanterns, carpets
Marrakech Medina
Jemaa el-Fnaa square at sunset — food stalls, snake charmers, music
Marrakech
💡 Pro Tip:
Stay in a traditional riad — they're beautiful and affordable ($30-80/night). The Medina is a maze — download Maps.me offline maps.
Bahia Palace & Saadian Tombs — stunning Moorish architecture
Marrakech
Jardin Majorelle (Yves Saint Laurent's gardens) & YSL Museum
Marrakech
Rooftop dinner overlooking the Medina, hammam spa experience
Marrakech
💡 Pro Tip:
Book hammam in advance — Heritage Spa and Les Bains de Marrakech are excellent. Bahia Palace opens at 9 AM — arrive early.
Drive to Atlas Mountains (1.5 hours), visit Berber villages
Atlas Mountains
Hike to Ouzoud Waterfalls or Imlil Valley (gateway to Mt. Toubkal)
Atlas Mountains
Traditional Berber tagine lunch, return to Marrakech
Marrakech
💡 Pro Tip:
Day tours to Ouzoud Waterfalls cost $25-40 including transport. The Berber villages feel like stepping back in time.
Depart Marrakech, cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka Pass
Atlas Mountains
Aït Benhaddou — UNESCO ksar, filming location for Game of Thrones & Gladiator
Aït Benhaddou
Continue to Ouarzazate or Todra Gorge area, overnight
Ouarzazate
💡 Pro Tip:
The Tizi n'Tichka pass is spectacular but winding — take motion sickness tablets if needed. Aït Benhaddou is magical at sunset.
Todra Gorge — 300m-high canyon walls, short hike in the gorge
Todra Gorge
Drive through the Draa Valley to Merzouga, gateway to the Sahara
Merzouga
Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, Berber camp under the stars
Sahara Desert
💡 Pro Tip:
The desert camp experience ($50-100/night) is a highlight of Morocco. Bring warm layers — the Sahara is freezing at night!
Sunrise from the top of the Erg Chebbi dunes — absolutely magical
Sahara Desert
Camel trek back to Merzouga, shower and breakfast
Merzouga
Long drive through the Middle Atlas to Fes (7-8 hours with stops)
Fes
💡 Pro Tip:
The drive to Fes is long — break it up with stops at Ifrane (the 'Switzerland of Morocco') and Azrou (Barbary macaque monkeys in cedar forests).
Fes el-Bali medina with a guide — world's largest car-free urban area
Fes
Chouara Tannery (leather dyeing pits) viewed from above, Madrasa Bou Inania
Fes
Dinner in a traditional riad, explore the lamp-lit medina at night
Fes
💡 Pro Tip:
HIRE A GUIDE for Fes medina ($15-25) — you WILL get lost without one. The medina has 9,400 alleyways. Accept the sprig of mint at the tannery — you'll need it for the smell!
Drive to Chefchaouen (4 hours) through the Rif Mountains
Chefchaouen
Explore the blue-washed streets, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, Spanish Mosque viewpoint
Chefchaouen
Return to Fes or stay overnight in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
💡 Pro Tip:
Best photos are early morning (7-9 AM) when the blue walls glow in the light. The entire town is blue because of a local tradition meant to repel mosquitoes.
Flight or drive to Essaouira (coastal town, 6 hours or 1-hour flight via Casablanca)
Essaouira
Essaouira Medina — Portuguese ramparts, art galleries, fish market
Essaouira
Fresh seafood dinner at the port stalls, sunset on the beach with camels
Essaouira
💡 Pro Tip:
Essaouira is incredibly windy — great for kitesurfing but bring layers. The fish stalls at the port serve the freshest seafood for $5-8.
Beach walk, camel ride on the sand, visit the argan oil cooperatives
Essaouira
Last-minute shopping — argan oil, thuya wood crafts, silver jewelry
Essaouira
Transfer to Marrakech Airport (2.5 hours) or Essaouira Airport
Departure
💡 Pro Tip:
Buy argan oil directly from cooperatives (women's cooperatives in Essaouira) — much cheaper and authentic than Marrakech souks.
Morocco Weather Guide
✓ Pros:
Perfect weather 20-28°C, wildflowers blooming, comfortable for Sahara
✗ Cons:
Easter crowds in popular cities
✓ Pros:
Great weather, fewer tourists, harvest season, good hotel rates
✗ Cons:
Some rain in the north starting November
✓ Pros:
Beach season on the coast, long daylight, festivals
✗ Cons:
Extreme heat in Marrakech/Sahara (40°C+), exhausting for sightseeing
Morocco Travel Budget Estimates
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $180-350 | $450-900 | $1800+ |
| Transport (bus/driver) | $80-150 | $200-400 | $600+ |
| Meals & Drinks | $90-180 | $200-400 | $600+ |
| Activities & Desert Camp | $100-200 | $250-500 | $800+ |
| TOTAL (per person) | $450-880 | $1100-2200 | $3800+ |
Getting Around Morocco
CTM and Supratours buses are reliable, air-conditioned, and cover all major routes
Grand taxis (shared Mercedes sedans) connect smaller towns — negotiate before boarding
Hiring a private driver for the Sahara loop (3-4 days) costs $250-400 total
Internal flights exist (Royal Air Maroc) but buses are often more practical
Train system connects Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, and Marrakech — modern and reliable
Petit taxis (within cities) should use the meter — insist or negotiate a price upfront
Avoid These Morocco Mistakes
Not bargaining in the souks (start at 30-40% of the asking price, meet in the middle)
Skipping the Sahara desert camp (it's the highlight of Morocco — don't cut it)
Drinking tap water (bottled water everywhere — also avoid ice in drinks)
Being rude to persistent shop owners (a firm 'la shukran' — no thank you — works)
Not having small change ready (exact change for taxis, small tips, water)
Wearing revealing clothing in rural areas and medinas (cover shoulders and knees)