The route at a glance
| Days | Place | Nights | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tangier | 1 | Flight or ferry from Spain |
| 2–3 | Chefchaouen | 2 | Bus or transfer, about 2.5–3 h |
| 4–6 | Fez (with Meknes and Volubilis) | 3 | Bus or transfer, about 4–5 h |
| 7 | Middle Atlas → Merzouga | 1 (desert camp) | Driver or car, about 7–8 h |
| 8 | Merzouga | 1 | — |
| 9 | Todra and Dades gorges | 1 | About 4–5 h |
| 10 | Skoura → Aït Benhaddou | 1 | About 3 h |
| 11–12 | Marrakech | 2 | About 4 h over the Tizi n'Tichka |
| 13–14 | Essaouira, then departure | 2 | Bus, about 3 h |
Day by day
Day 1 — Tangier
Arrive by air or by the one-hour fast ferry from Tarifa. Walk through the Grand Socco and the medina up to the Kasbah Museum, visit the American Legation, and end the day with mint tea at Café Hafa overlooking the Strait. Tangier guide.
Days 2–3 — Chefchaouen
Travel into the Rif Mountains. Spend the first afternoon in the blue medina and at the Spanish Mosque viewpoint. On day 3, hike to the Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge in the Talassemtane National Park. Chefchaouen guide.
Days 4–6 — Fez, Meknes and Volubilis
- Day 4: travel to Fez, sunset at the Marinid Tombs.
- Day 5: guided day in Fes el-Bali — madrasas, the Qarawiyyin, fondouks, the tanneries and artisans' squares.
- Day 6: day trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the holy town of Moulay Idriss and the imperial city of Meknes.
Day 7 — Through the Middle Atlas to the Sahara
A long but beautiful drive: Ifrane, the cedar forest of Azrou with its macaques, the Ziz gorges and the palm groves of the Tafilalet. Arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and ride a camel to your desert camp.
Day 8 — A full day in the desert
Having two nights in Merzouga is a luxury most itineraries skip. Visit the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the market and ksour of Rissani, try sandboarding, and spend a second evening under the stars — on a moonless night the Milky Way is extraordinary. Merzouga guide.
Day 9 — Todra and Dades gorges
Drive west to the Todra gorges for a walk between towering cliffs, then continue to the Dades valley. Overnight in a guesthouse facing the canyon.
Day 10 — Skoura and Aït Benhaddou
Follow the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs" through Kalaat M'Gouna and the Skoura palm grove, visit Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, and arrive at Aït Benhaddou for sunset. Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou guide.
Days 11–12 — Marrakech
Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech. Spend two days in the medina, palaces and gardens. If you want a mountain day, swap one Marrakech day for Imlil or the Ourika valley. Marrakech guide.
Days 13–14 — Essaouira
End the trip by the sea in Essaouira: the ramparts, the fishing port, grilled fish, the beach, perhaps a kitesurf lesson. Return to Marrakech airport (about 3 hours), or fly from Essaouira if schedules allow. Essaouira guide.
Transport plan
- Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fez: CTM buses or private transfers.
- Fez → Merzouga → Marrakech (days 7–11): this is the section where a car or private driver makes the biggest difference. A one-way, five-day driver hire from Fez to Marrakech is a common arrangement.
- Marrakech → Essaouira: Supratours or CTM bus, or a transfer.
Alternatives
Add a hiking stay. Replace Essaouira with two nights in Imlil or Aït Bouguemez for walking in the High Atlas.
Include Rabat and Casablanca. Start in Tangier, take the Al Boraq train to Rabat (one night), then continue to Fez by train, shortening Chefchaouen to one night.
Reverse direction. The route works equally well from south to north, ending with a ferry to Spain.
Best time for this itinerary
March to May and late September to November are ideal: comfortable in the cities, mild in the desert, green in the north. In winter the itinerary is still possible, but the Middle Atlas and the Tizi n'Tichka can see snow, and desert nights are cold. In July and August, the desert and Fez are very hot — consider a shorter, coast-and-mountains version instead.
Practical tips
- Use an open-jaw flight: into Tangier, out of Marrakech.
- Keep your bags light: there are many hotel changes and some riads require walking with luggage.
- Withdraw cash in Fez before heading to the desert and again in Ouarzazate or Marrakech.
- Leave room for spontaneity — some of the best moments come from an unplanned tea in a village.
Related: 10-day itinerary, transport guide, money and tipping and weather by month.
This guide was last reviewed in October 2026. Entry rules, opening hours, transport timetables and prices change; check official sources shortly before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.