10-Day Morocco Itinerary: Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech

Ten days is the ideal length for a first trip to Morocco that goes beyond a single city. Starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech, you cross the Middle Atlas, sleep in the desert, follow the road of the kasbahs and discover the two great imperial cities, without ever doubling back. Here is the itinerary we recommend, day by day, with options for seven and fourteen days. To discover Fes in detail, see things to do in Fes.

Why start in Fes

Starting in Fes has several advantages. The city has direct flights from Europe and is easy to reach from Casablanca for travellers coming from the United States and Canada. It offers an immediate immersion in Morocco at its most authentic, best appreciated while you are fresh at the start of the trip. And it is the natural starting point for the road to the Merzouga desert, which then leads to Marrakech from the south. If you are torn between the two cities, read our comparison Fes or Marrakech.

The 10-day itinerary at a glance

• Days 1 to 3: Fes, with a day trip to Volubilis and Meknes.
• Day 4: across the Middle Atlas to the Merzouga desert.
• Day 5: the Erg Chebbi dunes, then the Todra gorge and the Dades valley.
• Day 6: the road of the kasbahs to Ait Ben Haddou.
• Day 7: over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.
• Days 8 to 10: Marrakech, with a day trip to Essaouira or the Atlas.

Days 1 to 3: Fes

Day 1: arrive in Fes, transfer to your riad in the medina, mint tea in the courtyard and sunset on the terrace. Our guide to getting from the airport to the medina explains how the arrival works.

Day 2: the Fes el-Bali medina with a licensed guide in the morning: Bab Bou Jeloud, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, Al-Quaraouiyine, Seffarine square and the tanneries. In the afternoon, the souks, a hammam or a cooking class, then sunset at the Marinid tombs.

Day 3: a day trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes, or a morning in Fes el-Jdid and a free afternoon in the medina. Everything is detailed in our three-day Fes itinerary and our day trips from Fes.

Days 4 to 7: from the Middle Atlas to the desert and the road of the kasbahs

Day 4: an early start south. Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest and its monkeys, Midelt, the Ziz gorges, then arrival in Merzouga in the late afternoon. A camel ride at sunset and a night at a desert camp.

Day 5: sunrise over the dunes, breakfast, then the drive to Tinghir and the sheer walls of the Todra gorge. Night in the Dades valley.

Day 6: the valley of roses and the road of the kasbahs to Ouarzazate, then Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed earthen ksar, where you can stay overnight to enjoy the site in peace.

Day 7: across the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with its grandiose landscapes, arriving in Marrakech in the afternoon.

Our article Fes to the Merzouga desert details this crossing, the camps and what to pack.

Days 8 to 10: Marrakech

Day 8: the Marrakech medina, Jemaa el-Fna square, the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace and the souks.

Day 9: a day trip to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, or into the valleys of the High Atlas.

Day 10: the Majorelle Garden in the morning, last-minute shopping and your flight home from Marrakech.

A 7-day version

With a week, keep the essentials: two nights in Fes, the crossing to the desert with one night in Merzouga and one in the Dades, then two nights in Marrakech. The pace is brisker, but the route still flows.

A 14-day version

With two weeks, start in the north: fly into Tangier, spend two nights in Chefchaouen, the blue town, then three nights in Fes, before following the route above to Marrakech. You can also add two nights in Essaouira to end the trip by the ocean.

Getting around

• With a private driver for the Fes–desert–Marrakech crossing: the most comfortable and most popular option, with stops wherever you like.
• By rental car: roads are good but distances are long; plan to leave the car outside the medinas.
• By train and bus: perfect between the northern cities (Tangier, Rabat, Meknes, Fes) and from Fes to Marrakech, less suited to the desert.

Our advice on journeys is in how to get to Fes.

Flights: fly into Fes, out of Marrakech

To avoid doubling back, book an open-jaw ticket: into Fes and home from Marrakech. From Europe, many direct flights serve both cities. From North America, fly to Casablanca, continue to Fes by train or domestic flight, and fly home from Marrakech via Casablanca or a European hub.

When to go

Spring and autumn are perfect for this route, with mild temperatures in the cities and the desert alike. Winter is possible, with cold nights in the desert and sometimes snow on the Atlas passes. Summer is very hot in the south. See the best time to visit Fes.

Your Fes stop at La Petite Maison

For the first three nights of your trip, La Petite Maison is an ideal base: a small riad a five-minute walk from Rcif square, in the heart of the medina, with transfers from the airport or the station. We help you plan your visits in Fes, book licensed guides and advise you on the rest of your route. Read our guide on where to stay in Fes, browse our rooms and write to us to book the start of your trip. For a honeymoon, see our ideas for a romantic getaway in Fes as well.