The best 10 days in Morocco road trip itinerary
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Morocco’s beautiful and culturally rich country is situated along the northern borders of Africa. Also known as the land of light, it boasts diverse landscapes, bustling marketplaces, ancient cities, and warm hospitality.
Altogether, this beautiful country is an ideal destination for tourists looking for thrill and adventure along with a blend of authentic Mediterranean culture and traditions.
I made a road trip around this amazing country in 2018 and 2022 and combined all the amazing experiences in this 10 days in Morocco itinerary which is designed to ensure that you explore the incredible highlights and indulge in its authentic colors and flavors.
However, if you have more time you can adapt this itinerary for your length of stay and visit another major city like Casablanca or add a few days extra at the beach in Agadir or Essaouira when you have 2 weeks or more.
How to get to Morocco
Travelers from Europe can get to the African continent with the ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier. Taking the ferry is a good option if you decide to make a road trip with your own transport.
However, there are numerous international airports in the country, the most famous being the airport of Marrakech-Menara, which has been pronounced one of the most beautiful airports in the world. So you can easily book an airline ticket from anywhere in the world.
Tickets are pretty cheap from most destinations in Europe starting from €20. I ended up buying flights from Eindhoven to Fes for €49 (including luggage) with Ryanair.
How to get around
There are various ways of traveling within the country. From trains and buses to private rental cars, travelers have a variety of transport options to choose from.
I recommend renting a car as this itinerary is based on my road trip in Morocco. I booked a car with Avis (through DiscoverCars) for €260 for 8 days and I was very happy with it as I picked the car up in Fes city and dropped it back at Marrakech Airport without any problems.
At first, I was a bit sketchy about it and but the service is excellent.
However, if you have more time or you are on a budget, you can also travel around by bus or train. A network of trains connects the major cities and tickets can be booked ahead at the Moroccan National Railways website (www.ONCF.ma).
In case buses or trains are no option, you can also rely on taxis. It’s more expensive than buses and trains but still cheap compared to European prices.
Best time to visit Morocco
The best time to travel around the country is from September to May. The temperature gets very high during the days from June to August making it uncomfortable to travel.
However, I went in August with temperatures of 43 degrees and I planned my days that I visited the highlights in the early mornings and before the sunset. And I noticed that prices are cheaper in July and August than in May or September.
Although, the nights are cool even in the summer with temperatures going down to 28 degrees and most accommodations have A/C.
Where to stay in Morocco
You’ll find a wide range of accommodation options from luxury hotels to camps and budget-friendly hostels. In every major city as Casablanca, Fes, or Marrakesh, you’ll find luxury hotels and beautiful riads.
Riads are my favorite places to stay as they are very affordable and have been restored to finery with courtyard gardens and pools amidst them to offer a relaxing environment. You can find very nice riads between €10 and €50 per night
Another amazing experience is staying in the Sahara Desert Luxury Camp in Merzouga. Sleeping in a Berber camp, surrounded by sand dunes, and enjoying the stars above the Moroccan desert is one of the most unique things that I did during this trip.
READ ALSO: 5 reasons to stay at the best riad in Fez, Riad Anata
Map of Morocco
The map below will help you to visualize this road trip itinerary. As mentioned before, you can easily add a few days extra to spend at the beaches of Agadir or in other major cities in this amazing country.
My itinerary overview
WHERE DID I START: Fes
WHERE I ENDED: Marrakech
HOW LONG DID I TRAVELLED: 10 days
WHEN DID I GO: August
BEST TIME TO VISIT: September – May
10 days in Morocco road trip itinerary
2 days in Fes
Where to stay in Fes: Riad Anata
My road trip started in Fes as it was the easiest and cheapest city to fly on from the Netherlands. The best thing about the city is that it shows real authenticity and cultural history, which makes it an exciting and interesting place for visitors.
An interesting fact about this inspiring city is that it is the largest car-free area in the world. You will not find a single car in this authentic yet urban medina and transport are mostly through carriages and motorbikes.
Grab a taxi from the airport (costs about MAD 120) and start exploring the hidden gems in the medina of Fes. The major highlights and places you have to visit in the city are the Henna Souks, the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the Chouara Tannery, and the Medersa Bou Inania.
I recommend spending 2-3 nights in Fes to experience the busy Medina at a slow pace and indulge in spectacular views, especially during sunset.
READ ALSO: 14 awesome Things to do in Fes, Morocco
1 Night in Chefchaouen
Travel distance: 195 km – 3h45 min. – Take the N4 road to Chefchaouen as this one is in better condition and has beautiful scenic views
Where to stay in Chefchaouen: Dar Hannan
I picked up the car in Fez Downtown in the early morning as the next destination of this amazing road trip is the famous mountain city of Chefchaouen located almost 4 hours’ drive from Fez.
Situated against the backdrop of the majestic Rif Mountains, this picturesque medina features alleys and houses whitewashed with powder-blue accents. Also referred to as the blue city, Chefchaouen emanates a charismatic artistic blue aura which makes it one of the most photographed spots in the country.
Places you have to visit in Chefchaouen are Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the sunset at the Spanish Mosque but also wandering through the small alleys of the city is a must.
Around the Plaza Uta El-Hammam are many souvenir shops and amazing restaurants but there are also souvenir stalls and juice shops around the Ras El Ma waterfall, where the local people hang out during warm days.
Depending on the time you’ll arrive in Chefchaouen, I recommend staying 2 nights so you have enough time to explore the highlights at a slow pace and not in a rush.
TIP: try to get to Chefchaouen in the early morning and park in front of Hotel Parador
1 Night in Midelt
Travel distance: 400 km – 6h 45min.
Where to stay in Midelt: Riad Villa Midelt
The drive from Chefchaouen to the Sahara Desert in Merzouga is almost 11 hours, so we decided to stay in Midelt for one night and enjoy a refreshing pool as it was 40 degrees.
Midelt is not a really interesting place but along the way, you will see beautiful landscapes and scenery. Just keep in mind to drive according to speed signs as there are police controls in every town.
TIP: Stop at the Carrefour in Meknes or the Marjane Supermarket in Fez to buy snacks and lunch for the long drive.
2 Nights in Merzouga – Sahara Desert
Travel distance: 260 km – 4h 10min.
Where to stay in the Sahara Desert: Sahara Desert Luxury Camp
Merzouga is a village in the Sahara desert, which is also known as the gateway to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, an iconic landmark feature of Morocco. The best time to visit the Moroccan Desert is during spring and autumn as it is the most comfortable time of the year for camping in the desert.
We stayed 2 nights at Sahara Desert Luxury Camp to enjoy the full camping experience in the Morrocan Desert. However, if you stay one night you will also have a very nice experience.
The staff of our camp did everything to make our stay comfortable and at noon, when it was too hot to stay at the camp, they brought us to a Kasbah in Merzouga to enjoy a refreshing pool.
There are many desert camps to choose from but Sahara Desert Luxury Camp is an excellent choice as it is affordable and the service is awesome!
1 Night in Ouarzazate
Travel distance: 370 km – 5h 20min.
Where to stay in Ouarzazate: Dar Chamaa
Ouarzazate popularly known as the door to the Sahara desert is next on our list of places to visit in Morocco. This beautiful town is located at an altitude of 1160 meters between the atlas mountain ranges.
It is a popular tourist destination due to its attractive landscape and highlight like the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ait-Ben-Haddou where you can walk around and explore the old Ksar.
Guided tours will give you insights into these locations. We recommend visiting the film studios as they are famous for the production of movies like The Mummy, Gladiator and even some scenes of Game of Thrones!
TIP: Stop along the way from Merzouga to Ouarzazate at the famous ‘ZigZag Road‘
TIP: Walk up through the small alleys in Ouarzazate until you find the door with WC on it, it is a small ‘cafe’ where you can drink tea, enjoy the stunning views and visit the owner’s carpet shop
3 days in Marrakech
Travel distance: 190 km – 3h 40min.
Where to stay in Marrakech: Riad Selouane
The last stop in our Moroccan adventure is the heart of the country, Marrakech. Located at a distance of 200 km from Ouarzazate, this colorful city dazzles with immersive aromas and exotic colors.
We dropped the car off at the airport when we arrived as most of the highlights are inside the Medina and a car is not necessary. This saved us also some money on the car rental.
A 3-night stay is recommended to experience its iconic places like the Bahia Palace, Djemaa El Fna Square, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the medina of Marrakech. However, there are much more things to do in Marrakech so I decided to write another article about all the amazing places.
This 10-day road trip itinerary was an amazing experience and so diverse with stunning landscapes, colorful markets, and vibrant cities.
Let me know your favorite places and tips in the comments or don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about this itinerary.
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Use my favorite travel apps to plan your road trip
To plan my adventures, I use these FREE websites and apps as they provide the best information, the best deals, and they are user-friendly.
- Skyscanner – Flight deals
- Booking.com – Hotels and accommodation
- TourRadar – Group trips
- TripAdvisor – Reviews and activities
- HostelWorld – Hostels
- GetYourGuide – Activities and excursions
- RentalCars – Car rental
- Omio – Transport
- iVisa – Travel documents
- InsuredNomads – Travel Insurance
PICTURES AND EDITING
All the pictures on this page are made and owned by me. If you are interested in some pictures to use for your magazine, website, blog, or any other purpose, just send me an email and we’ll figure it out.
Do you like the edits? My Presets will be online soon so you can edit your pictures in just one click!
The camera gear I used for this trip
I never go out without my camera and many people ask me which gear I use. So to make it quite easy, I listed all the gear I used for this trip below.
Most of the time, I travel with the Sony A7III and the Sony 24-105mm/f4 as my primary lens but depending on the location, I change to another setup. However, I love the Tamron 17-28 to shoot in the big cities.