In short. This 10-day Morocco itinerary adds Chefchaouen and the north to the classic 7-day loop. You see Marrakech, the desert dunes near Merzouga, Fes, the blue town of Chefchaouen and the coast. The plan keeps 2 nights in the main cities, so no day feels rushed. It suits first-time travellers who have 10 days and want the full picture.
Days 1-2: Marrakech
Spend two full days in Marrakech. Day one covers Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. Walk the souks in the late afternoon, when the light is soft. Eat in the square at night, where the food stalls serve tagine, grilled meat and fresh juice. Lunch costs about 8 to 20 euros per person.
Day two covers the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Jardin Majorelle and the museums. Take a taxi to the garden, because it is a 20 minute walk from the medina in the heat. In the evening, take a roof terrace for tea and watch the square fill up. Sleep in a riad in the medina if you want to walk everywhere.
Days 3-4: the road to the desert
Day three leaves Marrakech early and crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260 m. Stop at Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site, and walk to the top of the old village. Lunch is in Ouarzazate or the Dades Valley. Sleep in a hotel in the Dades Valley. The road takes 7 to 8 hours with stops.
Day four drives to the Todra Gorges, where cliffs rise up to about 300 m. Walk for 30 minutes, then drive through Erfoud to Merzouga. The camel ride to the camp leaves about 1 hour before sunset and takes about 1 hour. Dinner, music and tea follow at the camp. Bring a warm layer, because the night is cold in winter.
Day 5: desert to Fes
Wake early for the sunrise, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. The drive to Fes takes 7 to 8 hours through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and the Middle Atlas. Stop for lunch in Midelt and for photos in the cedar forest. You reach Fes in the evening. Check in and eat near your hotel. Do not plan a night walk in the medina on this day.
The drive on day five is long, but it is the only long drive in the second half of the trip. The road is paved and the views change often, from palm groves to mountains to forest. Keep water and snacks in the car. If you travel with children, bring a book or a game for the road.
Days 6-7: Fes, slow and full
Spend two days in Fes. Day six covers Fes el Bali with a local guide: Bab Bou Jeloud, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the tanneries and the old streets. The medina has no signs, so a guide saves you hours. Take a mint sprig at the tanneries. Eat in the medina and rest in the afternoon, because the walk is long.
Day seven is slower. Visit the Mellah, the Royal Palace gates, and the view from the Merenid Tombs at sunset. Or take a half-day trip to Volubilis, the Roman ruins about 1 hour from Fes. The ruins are open and quiet, and the mosaics are still clear. Return to Fes for dinner. Two days in Fes lets you see the city without rushing.
Day 8: Fes to Chefchaouen
Drive from Fes to Chefchaouen in about 4 hours. The road climbs into the Rif Mountains and the view opens up. Chefchaouen is a small town with blue streets, and it feels calm after Fes. Check in to a small hotel in the old town. Spend the afternoon walking the blue streets and the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam.
Climb to the Spanish Mosque at sunset for the view over the town. The walk takes about 30 minutes uphill. Eat in the square: the food is simple, with tagine, salads and fresh bread. Chefchaouen is small, so one afternoon and one morning are enough to see it well.
Day 9: Chefchaouen morning, then the coast
Spend the morning in Chefchaouen. Walk the streets early, before the day visitors arrive. The light is best in the morning, and the shops open slowly. Buy a small gift, such as a woven blanket or a bag, and pay in cash. Leave Chefchaouen at noon and drive to the coast. The drive to Tangier takes about 2 hours, and the drive to Essaouira takes much longer, so pick by your flight.
If you fly from Tangier, stay the night there and walk the medina and the port. If you fly from Marrakech, drive back to Marrakech and stay the last night there. Do not drive from Chefchaouen to Essaouira in one day if you can avoid it. The drive is over 8 hours and it wastes a day.
Day 10: last day and fly home
Use the last day for the city you fly from. In Tangier, walk the medina, the Kasbah and the cafe terraces with a sea view. In Marrakech, revisit a garden or a souk you liked. Keep the day calm. Pack in the morning, check your flight time, and leave for the airport 2 hours before a local flight and 3 hours before a flight home.
Ten days is a full trip, so do not add a last day trip. End with a slow morning and a good lunch. If you want the coast, swap day nine for Essaouira and fly from Marrakech. The plan is easy to change, but the rule stays the same: 2 nights in the main cities, 1 night on the road, and no back-to-back long drives.
What to book, and in what order
Book in this order: the desert tour first, then the hotels, then the flights. The desert tour fills first in high season, because the camps are small and the cars are few. Ask the operator to state each night, each drive time and what is in the price. The tour should state the hotel in the Dades Valley, the camp night, the camel ride, dinner at the camp and the breakfasts. Lunch, drinks and tips are often extra, so take cash in dirhams for those. A shared 3-day tour often starts from around 120 euros per person, and a private tour for two often starts from around 240 euros per person. Prices change by season, so ask for a clear quote.
Then book the hotels in Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen. Pick a riad in the medina in Marrakech and Fes, and a small hotel in the old town in Chefchaouen. Ask each place to meet you on arrival, because the lanes are hard to find at night. Book a hotel with a pool if you travel in summer. Then book the flights to fit the plan. Land in Marrakech and fly home from Tangier if you can, because that saves a long drive back. If you fly in and out of Marrakech, take a tour that starts and ends there.
