Morocco 10-Day Itinerary — The Grand Tour of Morocco
Ten days to see all of Morocco in one unbroken line — the Atlantic capital, the blue city, medieval Fes, the Sahara, the kasbah valleys and the Red City — without ever driving the same road twice.
Introduction
This 10-day Morocco grand tour is our most complete first-visit itinerary — a single, one-way line from Casablanca to Marrakech taking in Rabat, blue Chefchaouen, imperial Fes, the Erg Chebbi Sahara, the great gorges, Aït Ben Haddou and the Red City. Below is the full day-by-day plan, transparent pricing, inclusions and practical advice.
Overview
Ten days is the length that finally lets you see the whole of Morocco. This grand tour runs one way from Casablanca to Marrakech, threading together everything the shorter trips have to leave out: the Atlantic capital of Rabat, the blue-washed Rif town of Chefchaouen, the medieval medina of Fes, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the great gorges and kasbah valleys, and finally the Red City itself. Because it never doubles back, every one of the ten days opens onto new country.
We run it privately with your own Berber driver-guide, hand-picked riads and our own luxury desert camp — a framework we tailor entirely around your dates, pace and interests.
Why choose this tour
Why this is the definitive grand tour:
- The whole country, in order. Coast, Rif, imperial cities, Sahara and kasbah valleys — one logical line, no repeated roads.
- Two desert nights. A luxury camp plus a full desert morning among the nomads.
- Guided in the medinas. Local guides in both Fes and Marrakech, not a rushed drive-past.
- Private and owner-run. Our own camp and camels; your own guide and pace.
Highlights
- The Hassan II Mosque and the capital, Rabat
- Blue-washed Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains
- Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknes
- A full guided day in the medieval medina of Fes
- A sunset camel trek and two nights at Erg Chebbi
- A 4x4 desert morning among nomads and fossils
- The Todra and Dades gorges and UNESCO Aït Ben Haddou
- A guided day in Marrakech, the Red City
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1: Casablanca → Rabat
Arrival. We meet you in Casablanca and visit the oceanfront Hassan II Mosque before driving up the coast to Rabat, the relaxed capital — the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Chellah.
Evening & accommodation. A hotel or riad in Rabat. Travel time: ~1.5 h + sightseeing · distance: ~90 km. Overnight in Rabat.
Day 2Day 2: Rabat → Chefchaouen, the blue city
Morning & afternoon. North into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen, Morocco's famous blue-washed town, arriving with time to wander its cobalt lanes.
Evening & accommodation. A medina hotel. Travel time: ~4 h · distance: ~250 km. Insider tip: climb to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the blue rooftops. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3Day 3: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
Morning. A last look at Chefchaouen, then south to the Roman city of Volubilis with its intact mosaics, and the holy town of Moulay Idriss.
Afternoon. Imperial Meknes and its Bab Mansour gate, then on to Fes. Travel time: ~4.5 h with stops · distance: ~300 km. Overnight in Fes.
Day 4Day 4: Fes — a guided day in the medieval medina
Full day. A local guide leads you through Fes el-Bali — the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque-university, the Bou Inania madrasa, the chouara tanneries and the endless craft souks — with free time in the afternoon.
Accommodation. Second night in a Fes riad. Insider tip: the tanneries are best in the cool morning light. Breakfast included.
Day 5Day 5: Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Merzouga (camel trek & camp)
Morning. Into the Middle Atlas — Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest with its macaques — then over the plateau to Midelt for lunch.
Evening — camel trek & camp. Down the palm-lined Ziz Valley to Merzouga and a sunset camel trek to our luxury camp. Travel time: ~7 h + 1 h camel · distance: ~470 km. Dinner & breakfast at camp.
Day 6Day 6: Sahara sunrise → a desert day → Merzouga
Morning. Sunrise over the dunes, then a 4x4 desert morning — nomads, the Khamlia Gnawa village and fossil fields.
Afternoon. Relax by the pool or sandboard the dunes before a second desert night. Insider tip: this rest day is when the Sahara really sinks in. Breakfast & dinner included.
Day 7Day 7: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
Morning. West through Rissani's Berber market to the towering Todra Gorge for a walk beneath its cliffs.
Afternoon & accommodation. Into the Dades Valley and a kasbah hotel. Travel time: ~5 h with stops · distance: ~300 km. Dinner & breakfast included.
Day 8Day 8: Dades → Roses Valley → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Morning. The Roses Valley and Skoura oasis to Ouarzazate and the UNESCO ksar of Aït Ben Haddou.
Afternoon. Over the Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech. Travel time: ~7 h with stops · distance: ~430 km. Breakfast included.
Day 9Day 9: Marrakech — a guided city day
Full day. The Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Majorelle Garden and the souks, with free time to shop or relax. Accommodation: a Marrakech riad. Breakfast included.
Tour route map
Accommodation
Nine nights: Rabat, Chefchaouen, two nights in a Fes riad, two at Erg Chebbi (our luxury camp + a desert hotel), a Dades kasbah hotel and two nights in a Marrakech riad. Honeymoon and family tents available at the camp.
Transport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an English-speaking Berber driver-guide for all ten days. Roads are paved throughout; the only off-tarmac travel is the camel ride into camp (swappable for 4x4). The one-way routing keeps daily drives varied, with the Fes-to-Merzouga leg the longest.
Pick-up & meeting point
We collect you in Casablanca (hotel or Mohammed V Airport) on Day 1 and finish at Marrakech airport on Day 10, confirmed by WhatsApp the night before. We can reverse the route or start in Marrakech if your flights suit that better — just ask.
Included & not included
- ✓Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel & Berber driver-guide
- ✓Casablanca pick-up & Marrakech drop-off
- ✓9 nights: Rabat, Chefchaouen, 2× Fes, 2× Erg Chebbi (camp + hotel), Dades, 2× Marrakech
- ✓Sunset & sunrise camel trek + a 4x4 desert morning
- ✓Local guided tours of the Fes medina and Marrakech
- ✓Daily breakfast + half board in the desert
- ✓Bottled water throughout
- ✗Lunches & most city dinners
- ✗Monument, mosque & garden entrance fees
- ✗Tips (guide, camp, city guides)
- ✗Travel insurance & flights
Pricing
Per person for the private tour; the price falls as your group grows. Shared departures on request.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €1720 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €1380 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €1150 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable across the whole route — mild in the cities and cool at night in the desert. Winter brings snow to the Atlas passes and cold desert nights; summer is hot in Fes and the south, so we start early. See our Morocco weather guide.
What to pack
Layers for warm days and cold desert nights, a warm jacket, a scarf, comfortable walking shoes for the medinas and gorges, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a swimsuit, a head-torch and a power bank. Modest dress helps at religious sites. Full list: Morocco packing list.
Travel tips
Insider tips: use the included local guides in Fes and Marrakech — the medinas are labyrinths; carry small dirham notes for tips and market purchases; and keep your Day 10 flight from Marrakech to the afternoon or later. Want the coast as well? See the 12-day and 14-day itineraries; shorter on time, the 7-day route covers the essentials.
How booking works
Tell us your dates, group size and starting city by the enquiry form or WhatsApp and you hear back personally, usually within a few hours, with a clear all-in price. A small deposit holds your dates and you pay the balance on arrival, so you never prepay in full. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, and we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the night before.
Booking direct with our Berber family
Hotel Les Roches is our own — we were born at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes and have run it since 2004. You deal with the same family that owns the hotel, runs the desert camp and leads the camels, so there is no agency markup, nothing is subcontracted, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
What a night at our camp is like
After the sunset camel trek you reach our private camp as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. The tents are proper rooms — a real bed with warm blankets and an en-suite hot shower — and dinner is a home-cooked tagine under the stars, followed by Berber drums around the fire. With no light for a hundred kilometres the Milky Way is astonishing, and you wake early to climb a dune for sunrise.
What our guests say
★★★★★
We travelled all over Morocco and liked Auberge Les Roches especially. They arranged an awesome overnight camel tour, and the camp was deluxe with its own shower, hot water and toilet. The best people.
Ilya · Google · 2023
★★★★★
The hotel backs onto the desert, which was stunning, and the room was spacious and clean. The hosts even packed us breakfast for our early bus. The nicest vegetable tajine we had so far.
Beck Fa'amausili · Google · 2024
★★★★★
Perhaps the greatest hotel in the area — literally in the desert, with a beautiful pool. The staff is dedicated to making your stay just what you expected. I will definitely return.
Rhonda Vasquez · Google · 2025
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Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough to see all of Morocco?
Why start in Casablanca and end in Marrakech?
It's a one-way route with no repeated roads, and it uses Morocco's two main airports well — fly into Casablanca, out of Marrakech. We can reverse it or adapt to your flights.
How many nights are in the desert?
Two — a luxury-camp night after the camel trek and a second night in Merzouga, with a 4x4 desert morning in between.
Can we customise this grand tour?
Completely — add the coast, more desert time, or extra city nights, upgrade your riads, or change the start city. It's a private tour built around you.
Is it too much driving?
It's a big country, so there are some long days, but they're broken up with sightseeing and the one-way routing keeps every drive fresh. See the transport section below.
What's the best time to go?
Spring and autumn are ideal for both the cities and the desert; see the best-time section and our Sahara guide.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech, and how long is the drive?
It's about 560 km and 8–9 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which is why the journey is spread over 2–3 days with stops at Aït Ben Haddou, the gorges and the Ziz Valley rather than driven in one go.
How comfortable is the desert camp?
Very — our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi has en-suite tents with real beds, hot showers, private bathrooms, rugs and plenty of blankets for the cool desert night, plus a Berber dinner under the stars.
Are your tours private or shared?
Every tour is private by default — your own vehicle, driver-guide and flexible pace. Shared group departures are offered only on the Marrakech–Merzouga–Marrakech and Marrakech–Merzouga–Fes routes.
Is the tour suitable for families and older travellers?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the camel ride is optional (we can drive you to camp by 4x4 instead), and we adapt for children and any mobility needs — just tell us when you book.
Have a question before you book?
Message the team directly — we usually reply within a couple of hours.
⚡ Spring & autumn dates fill fast — book ahead. · ✓ Free cancellation up to 48h before arrival.