10-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech

This is a shorter driving day, which leaves time to stop along the way. The road east runs through Skoura, known for its palm grove and old kasbahs, and Kelaat M'Gouna, the center of the Valley of the Roses. This stretch is often called the road of a thousand kasbahs, and mud-brick kasbahs appear regularly along it.

Boumalne Dades marks the start of the Dades Valley. If time allows, you can drive into the valley, where the road follows the river between eroded red cliffs and small farming villages.

Driving: about 2 to 2.5 hours without stops.

Overnight: Boumalne Dades.

Today you move from mountains to desert. The first stop is Todra Gorge near Tinghir, where the road runs between tall limestone walls. Past Tinghir the villages thin out and the land opens into flat, stony ground, with palm oases here and there. The road passes through Erfoud before reaching Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi, the best-known dune field in Morocco.

This is a long day, so how much of the afternoon is left in Merzouga depends on how long you stop along the way. Where you stay and any desert activities, such as a camel ride, are [CONFIRM WITH TOUR OPERATOR].

Driving: about 4 to 5 hours, not counting the stop at Todra Gorge.

Overnight: Merzouga area (night one of two).

There is no long drive today, and that is the point. The day belongs to the desert: the dunes in early light, a slow middle of the day, and the colors at sunset. In summer the middle of the day is very hot, so early morning and late afternoon are the best times to be out on the sand.

If you want to see more of the area, the village of Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music, and the market town of Rissani are both close by. [CONFIRM WITH TOUR OPERATOR: which activities, if any, are included on this day.]

Driving: none, apart from any short local transfers.

Overnight: Merzouga area (night two of two).

The full drive from Merzouga to Fes is too much for one day if you want any time to look around, so today covers the first part. You leave the dunes and drive through Erfoud and Errachidia, then follow the Ziz Valley, a long strip of palm groves running through dry hills. The road then climbs to the high plateau around Midelt, between the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas. The air is cooler there and the land is open and bare.

You reach Midelt with time to rest before the next morning's drive.

Driving: about 4 hours without stops.

Overnight: Midelt [CONFIRM WITH TOUR OPERATOR].

The road crosses the Middle Atlas and reaches Azrou, where the cedar forest begins. Barbary macaques are often seen near the road in this area. Ifrane, a hill town with steep-roofed, European-style houses, is a natural place for a break. From there the road descends to Fes. Depending on how long you stop, you arrive in the afternoon or early evening, with the rest of the day for settling in.

Driving: about 3.5 hours without stops.

Overnight: Fes.

This is the extra day in Fes, with no driving. Fes el-Bali, the old medina, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a dense network of narrow lanes that can feel confusing at first. A full day lets you cover its main areas at a steady pace. Typical stops include the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara tanneries, the area around the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university, and the Blue Gate at the medina entrance. Fes el-Jdid, the newer royal quarter with its palace gates, and the old Jewish quarter, the Mellah, are also worth time.

Wear comfortable shoes. The lanes are mostly closed to cars, and some are steep. Many visitors use a local guide in the medina. Whether a guide and entrance fees are included is [CONFIRM WITH TOUR OPERATOR].

Driving: none.

Overnight: Fes.

The day starts in Fes and ends in Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains. The road leaves the plains around Fes and winds into greener, hillier country. Chefchaouen's old town is known for its blue-painted walls, and it feels smaller and slower than Fes. Walk the lanes, sit in the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and look at the kasbah. Near sunset, the walk up to the Spanish Mosque on the hillside gives a view over the town.

Driving: about 4 hours without stops.

Overnight: Chefchaouen.

Leave Chefchaouen in the morning and drive to Rabat, Morocco's capital, on the Atlantic coast. Rabat feels different from the other cities on this route, with wide streets, sea air and a more relaxed pace. You should arrive with the afternoon still ahead, enough for the main sights: the Kasbah of the Udayas, a walled quarter above the river mouth; the unfinished Hassan Tower; and the neighboring Mausoleum of Mohammed V.

Driving: about 3.5 hours without stops.

Overnight: Rabat.

The last day is a drive south from Rabat to Marrakech, mostly by motorway. You reach Marrakech in the afternoon, and the tour ends there. If you have a flight or onward travel that evening, check the drop-off time and place when you book [CONFIRM WITH TOUR OPERATOR].

Driving: about 3.5 to 4 hours.

End of tour: Marrakech.