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How Many Days Do You Need in Morocco? 7, 10 and 14 Day Plans
By Hassan Bouaouina, licensed guide and founder of Uniquely Morocco, guiding since 2004.
Quick answer
Seven to ten days is enough for a first trip, and ten to fourteen days lets you include Fez, Marrakech and the Sahara without rushing. Distances are long, so fewer places with more nights each is usually better.
Seven days
Fez, the Middle Atlas and a short desert trip. Our desert tours link Fez and Marrakech with a night in the dunes. See also Fez to Merzouga in 2 or 3 days.
Ten days
The classic imperial loop: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fez and Marrakech. See our Imperial Cities tour.
Twelve to fourteen days
Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara, the Atlas and Marrakech, with a day on the coast. See Majestic Morocco and the full list of tours and itineraries.
Driving times that shape every plan
| Route | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Casablanca to Fez by train | 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Fez to Chefchaouen | 4 hours |
| Fez to Meknes and Volubilis | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Fez to Merzouga | 8 hours with stops |
| Merzouga to the Dades Valley | 5 hours |
| Dades Valley to Ait Ben Haddou | 3 hours |
| Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech | 4 hours over the Tizi n Tichka pass |
| Marrakech to Essaouira | 3 hours |
| Tangier to Casablanca by Al Boraq train | About 2 hours 10 minutes |
A sample 10 day route
- Days 1 and 2: Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque, then Rabat.
- Day 3: Meknes and Volubilis to Fez.
- Days 4 and 5: Fez, with a day for Sefrou and Bhalil or a workshop.
- Day 6: Ifrane and the cedar forest to Merzouga, night in the dunes.
- Day 7: The Todra Gorge to the Dades Valley.
- Day 8: Skoura and Ait Ben Haddou.
- Days 9 and 10: Marrakech, then departure.
A sample 14 day route
- Days 1 to 3: Tangier or Casablanca, Rabat and Chefchaouen.
- Days 4 and 5: Volubilis and Fez.
- Day 6: Sefrou, Bhalil and the Middle Atlas.
- Days 7 and 8: Two nights in the Sahara.
- Days 9 and 10: The gorges, Skoura and Ait Ben Haddou.
- Days 11 to 13: Marrakech and the High Atlas.
- Day 14: Essaouira or departure.
How we choose
- Spend at least two nights in Fez, see how many days in Fez.
- Give the Sahara three days and two nights from Fez.
- Do not try to see Chefchaouen as a rushed day trip, see Fez to Chefchaouen.
We adjust every plan to your dates and pace.
Questions
Quick questions
Is one week enough for Morocco?
Yes for Fez, the Middle Atlas and a short desert trip, or for the imperial cities.
Can I do Fez, Marrakech and the Sahara in 7 days?
It is possible but tiring. Ten days is more comfortable.
Where should I start?
Fez or Casablanca are both good. We often start in Fez.
How long is the drive from Fez to the Sahara?
About 8 hours to Merzouga, with stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley.
Is 14 days too long for Morocco?
No. Two weeks lets you see the north, the imperial cities, the Sahara and Marrakech at a comfortable pace.
Keep reading
- Fez or Marrakech: Which City Fits Your Trip?
- Fez to Merzouga: 2 or 3 Days, the Route, and Merzouga or Zagora
- How Many Days in Fez? What to Do Beyond the Medina
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