7-10 days is enough time to explore Morocco and imperial cities at a moderate speed. In 2 weeks, you’ll be able to spend time hiking within the atlas of mountains or exploring the coast. In but per week, the most effective time to concentrate: explore Casablanca, Chefchaouen and Fez within the north, or explore Berber traditions in Marrakech and also the Sahara
Planning Your Morocco Itinerary
So do you have three days in Morocco? Since the country is relatively small, you don’t have to stay in one place or choose between urban and outdoor activities – unless you want to. If you are eager to visit more than one place, you can: you can see several imperial cities, or Marrakech and the desert, or Fes and the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Add a few more days and you can visit northern cities, including the postcard-perfect “Blue City” of Chefchaouen, or you can camp overnight in the Sahara desert. In ten to fourteen days, you can visit many of Morocco’s main sights, or choose one or two of your favourites and stay longer to enjoy the peaceful mountains, otherworldly dunes and enchanting medieval wheat Fun in Dina.
More time is always better. But even if you only have a few days, you can have a great time in Morocco. Here are some suggested strategies and itineraries, ranging from three days to two weeks.
Morocco in 3-4 Days
If you’re just spending a long weekend in Morocco, you don’t have to be limited to one place. Fez and Casablanca are easily connected by train: the journey takes about four hours. You can start in Casablanca, where you won’t miss a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, the tallest minaret in the world. Find the ultimate guide tips to the city here.
Then take the train to Fes, where you may want to concentrate your time. Fes el-Bali is an ancient city wall, a labyrinth of more than 9,000 alleys. Hike, shop at the souks, and set aside some time to admire the colourful paint buckets at the world-famous Tanneries Chouara. Learn more about Fes in this guide.
Alternatively, use Fes as a base for a short excursion. You can go to Meknes, where the ancient medina sees fewer tourists than you would encounter in busy Fez, and nearby Volubilis, where the well-preserved Roman ruins are Maghreb buildings interesting comparison.
If you’d rather spend your time near Marrakech, there’s enough here for three days in the city: the lively Jemaa el Fna Square, the stately Bahia Palace, and the Majorelle Gardens for art lovers. The botanical gardens and villas created by French artist Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé are a dream sanctuary outside the medina.
From Marrakech, you can also take a side trip to the nearby Sahara Desert. Hiking, camel rides, visiting traditional Berber villages? It’s all within a short drive with tour guide of the city
See more 4-day Morocco trip ideas
Morocco Tours in 5-7 Days
A few more days in Morocco means you can cover more land in the country. Or you can stay longer in a particularly charming destination like Fes, a city that ends up being a favorite of many travelers. Decide whether you’d rather focus on imperial cities, deserts, or mountains — or some combination of these — so you don’t spend too much time in traffic.
One option is to focus on northern cities, a suggestion popular with photographers, painters and travelers interested in history. Tourists have plenty of time to hang out in picturesque destinations like Chefchaouen, Morocco’s famous “blue city”. This particular itinerary includes stops in Fes, Tangier and Casablanca, but can be shortened or changed to suit your number of days and where your flight arrives or departs.
Or, base yourself in Marrakech and embark on a desert adventure. Combine four days in the Sahara desert with one or two days in Marrakech. You will go on a desert tour of the giant wind-shaped dunes in Erg Chebbi and enjoy a camel ride in Merzouga.
Morocco Tours in 10 Days
As far as the ideal time to spend in Morocco, ten days might just be the best option. That’s plenty of time, you’re not in a rush, and it’s easy to modify one of the week-long itineraries to have a few extra days in places you like and want to stay in the meantime.
In ten days you can experience all of Morocco’s unique ecosystems. This route combines adventure and relaxation – you’ll start in the imperial city of Marrakech, explore the Sahara Desert and surrounding desert towns, hike up the High Atlas Mountains, and relax along the coast. The tour is also rich in culture: highlights include traditional music by a campfire, evenings with local Berber families, and fresh seafood from the charming Atlantic coast of Essaouira.
Alternatively, take a grand tour of the Royal Moroccan city. Start with this week-long itinerary and give yourself some flexibility: if you fall in love with a particular city, you can always stay an extra night or two to really enjoy it.
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Morocco Tours in 14 Days
Two weeks is a long time in a country as compact as Morocco, and a grand Morocco tour of its offerings is out of the question. Explore the royal cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Casablanca. Spend a few days in the desert exploring ancient castles, caravan routes and Saharan dunes. Climb the Atlas Mountains and even spend a few days hiking between small villages and overnights with local families. Relax in Essaouira to end your tour before continuing along the coast back to Casablanca.
Travelers can also compress their sightseeing time into less time, using the extra time for additional adventures. For example, the towering Mount Toubkal — the highest peak in North Africa — is only an hour and a half from Marrakech, but most travelers can only see it from their car windows. Spend 2-3 more days and you can hike to the summit – read about the logistics of hiking here.
Another idea is to pick from these recommended routes, which last every five days but cover different parts of the country. Spend half your time hiking and relaxing on the outskirts of Marrakech and half exploring the northern city. Then schedule an extra day to travel between each origin and destination.
See more 2-week Morocco trip ideas