From Marrakech to Fes: The Best 10-Day Morocco Itinerary

From the bustling cities to the vast deserts, Morocco is a country rich with culture, history, and stunning landscapes. With so much to see, do and explore it can be overwhelming trying to figure everything out. Where to go? Where to Stay? What to do? And that’s where this 10-day Morocco itinerary comes in. 

I’m sharing the exact route I took during my 10 days in Morocco as well as all the nitty gritty details you may be looking for when it comes to planning your Morocco adventure.

My itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors who are looking to get the most out of their time in Morocco. I’m a traveler, not a vacationer, so I’m all about squeezing in all that I can. That being said, this 10-day Morocco itinerary allows you to visit in Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and journey through desert.

If this sounds like your ideal Morocco adventure, let’s jump in…

How to Spend 10 Days in Morocco Itinerary

Morocco Quick Facts

Language(s):The main languages spoken in Morocco are Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish, and English. 

Currency: The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, but Euros are also widely accepted. The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency so you’ll only be able to get it in Morocco.

Credit Cards, Cash, and ATMS: Bigger shops and restaurants typically accept credit cards, but you’ll need cash for markets and street food vendors. As for ATMs, you can find them littered around major cities but they do shut down from time to time so don’t wait until you’re completely out of money to get more. 

Plug Type(s): Morocco uses both Type C, aka the europlug, and Type E, similar to type with an additional hole for the socket’s grounding pin. Both plug types operate on 220V with a 50Hz frequency. This multi-plug adapter will keep you travel ready whichever county you visit. 

Safety: I never felt unsafe while in Morocco. However, the streets do tend to empty out at night especially in the medinas which can be a little unsettling. One of our tour guides said, “It’s safe, but it’s better if you’re not out too late.” Be aware of your surroundings and exercise typical safety precautions and you’ll be good. 

Morocco Entry Requirements for US Citizens

US citizens can visit Morocco without a tourist visa if their trip is under 90 days. There’s also no required vaccinations to enter Morocco. Passports must have one page available for entry stamp and be valid for at least six months.

For more information regarding visas and entry requirements, visit CIBTvisas.

Best Time to Visit Morocco

The best time to visit Morocco is either in the spring (March to May) or the fall (September to November) when the weather is pleasant and perfect for exploring the country’s diverse landscapes. 

Winter in Morocco (December to February)

Looking for an alternative ski destination? Believe it or not, it snows in Morocco and the Atlas Mountains are a growing ski destination. Oukaïmeden is the largest and most developed ski resort in the High Atlas Mountains with slopes suitable for all levels. Mischliffen is a smaller operation located in the Middle Atlas Mountains that’s well suited for day trips. 

Spring in Morocco (March to May)

Spring is one of the best times to visit Morocco. The days are warm and the nights are cool especially in destinations like Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen. It’s also a great time for a desert tour through the Sahara Desert or hiking the Atlas Mountains. 

Summer in Morocco (June to August)

Summer in Morocco is hot, as in temperatures in Marrakech and Fes can reach over 100°F (38°C) hot. To beat the heat, head to the coast or the mountains.

Fall in Morocco (September to November)

Fall is another great season to visit Morocco. The weather is comfortable with fewer crowds than in spring. If you’re looking for some places to check out outside of Marrakech and Fes,  Essaouira, Rabat, and Meknes are a few other great destination options this time of year. 

10 Days in Morocco Itinerary Overview

• Marrakech – A vibrant city full of beautiful architecture, delicious food, and lush gardens. 
• Desert Tour – An escape from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, the featured desert tour takes you through the Atlas Mountains into the Sahara and on to Fes.
• Fes – Known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and UNESCO World Heritage medina, Fes is a destination for those looking to take a deeper dive into Moroccan culture and history. 
• Chefchaouen – Commonly known as  “The Blue City” for its beautiful streets painted different hues of blue, Chefchaouen is a good day trip option from Fes.

Morocco Itinerary Days 1-3: Marrakech

Kick off your Morocco adventure in Marrakech. Do some shopping in the souks, enjoy a meal at one of the city’s many rooftop restaurants, and wind down with a traditional hammam experience.

Where to Stay in Marrakech

The best areas to stay in Marrakech are Gueliz, the Medina, Hivernage, and Palmeraie. I recommend staying in a riad in the medina as you’ll be in the heart of the city and able to get around to most sites on foot. I stayed at Riad NaaNaa and Riad NayaNour, both of which were clean and hospitable. However, if you’re looking for a more contemporary environment Gueliz may be for you. Hivernage and Palmeraie are the areas for those looking for a luxurious hotel or resort experience. 

Marrakech Highlights:

• Marrakech’s medina (historic city center) is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its winding streets filled with colorful souks (traditional markets). You can easily spend our exploring this area and popping into different shops for goods. I recommend taking a Medina Tour your first day in Marrakech to get your bearings and learn more about the city.
• Visiting a hammam/spa for a traditional Moroccan hammam experience is a must do while in Morocco. It’s a bathing ritual that cleanses, detoxifies, and leaves the skin feeling like new. We did a 3 hour treatment at Les Bains de Marrakech and it was 10/10. 
• We went to the Musee du Parfum and made our own perfumes. This was a cool experience and made for a great souvenir to bring home!
• There are lots of cute, trendy restaurants in Marrakech. We loved the atmosphere at DarDar Rooftop and the celery risotto from El Finn. 

Check out my 4 days in Marrakech itinerary for more details and suggestions. 

Morocco Itinerary Days  4-6: Desert Tour

Leaving Marrakech behind, it’s time to hit the road and see what Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and desert have to offer. You can choose to do a private tour for a customizable experience or if you’re looking to save some money, this group tour is highly rated. 

Desert Tour Accommodations 

Our accommodations were booked for us by our tour operator Morocco Exotic Adventures. We stayed at Panorama Dades Hotel in Dades Valley and Ideal Desert Camp in the Sahara.

Desert Tour Highlights:

• Riding camels through the desert is a bucket list experience! 
• Dancing around a fire while our desert camp hosts played and sung traditional Berber and Moroccan music was fun. Even if you’re not a dancer, get up and join!

I did an in-depth review of my 3-day desert tour with Morocco Exotic Adventures that goes into precise detail of what we did day to day if you want to know what to expect. 

Morocco Itinerary Days 6-9: Fes and Chefchaouen 

After 3 days in the desert, it’s time to explore the ancient charm of Fes and take in the stunning blue hues of Chefchaouen!

Where to Stay in Fes

Like in Marrakech you can stay in the historic medina, or more modern areas like Fes el-Jdid and Ville Nouvelle. Just know, the medina is known for its maze-like streets which can be difficult to navigate. We stayed at Riad Rcif Alif Suite and SPA and they were kind enough to escort us around and to and from the medina. The service here was incredible and I can not recommend staying at this riad while in Fes enough. 

Fes Highlights:

• Chefchaouen is about 3.5 hours away from Fes, but it’s one of those places we really wanted to see and we knew being in Fes was probably the closest we’d ever be to it again. That being said, we booked this affordable day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen.
• Riad Rcif Alif Suite and SPA hooked us up with a local university student studying tourism to show us around Fes. He took us to this really cool pottery studio (Art DE poterie ACH) that we probably would have missed all together if we weren’t with him. We learned how the pieces go from clay to tile to a piece of mosaic and then browsed through their warehouse filled with stunning pottery pieces. 
• If you can handle the smell, checking our the tanneries in Fes is a unique experience. Many of the leather shops in the medina have terraces where you can look out at the vats of different dies and treatments. I visited in February when the weather was relatively cool so the smell wasn’t that bad, however, I’ve heard its quite pungent when the weather is warm.
• Al Quaraouiyine University is considered to be the oldest university in the world. It was founded by Fatima al-Fihiri in 857-59 and was originally intended to be a mosque. However, through the years, the establishment became known as a leading educational and spiritual center. You can only visit the university if you’re muslim, but you can get peaks of the grounds through open gates.

Morocco Itinerary Day 10: Back to Marrakech

Finish off your 10 days in Morocco with one last day in Marrakech before heading home. Unwind at a hammam after your long journeys and have a final dinner somewhere with great food and entertainment like Comptoir Darna.

How to get to Marrakech from Fes

By Train

One way to get from Marrakech to Fes is by taking the train. The ride is 6.5 hours and does have stops along the way. As an American who doesn’t get to travel by train much, I loved this option. Trains typically depart starting at 5:00 AM with the last train departing a little after 5:30 PM.  

There’s limited storage available for larger suitcases but you could buy out a cabin to give yourself more privacy and space. On board there are bathrooms and a snack and beverage trolley that come through if you’re feeling peckish. 

Book Your Fes to Marrakech Train

By Plane 

If you don’t want to take the train, you can fly between Fes and Marrakech. However, this may not be as convenient as you think. Depending on the day, flights between the two cities can be limited. As of writing this post, there’s no flights between the two cities on Thursdays, so this is something to keep in mind. 

Check Fes to Marrakech Flights

Getting to Morocco 

There are seven major airports in Morocco:

• Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca
• Menara Airport (RAK) in Marrakech
• Al Massira Airport (AGA) in Agadir
• Ibn Battouta (TNG) in Tangier
• Saïss Airport (FEZ) in Fes
• Rabat-Sale (RBA) in Rabat
• Ouarzazate International Airport (OZZ)

Mohammed V is the largest international airport in Morocco with 27 airlines in operation. It also services flights to and from 87 destinations around the world. This itinerary starts and ends in Marrakech arriving and departing from Menara Airport, the second busiest airport in Morocco. 

Getting Around Morocco

By Organized Tour

If you don’t want to plan how to get from point a to point b, an organized tour may be in your best interest. I personally took a private 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes with Morocco Exotic Adventures, but there are also several tour options covering other destinations. 

By Plane 

For covering long distances in a short amount of time, flying is an option. Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is the primary domestic carrier and flies to over 15 destinations within Morocco. If you’re short on time, or just rather have more time exploring your destination, flying may be the best way for you to get around Morocco. Also, Ryanair just launched some domestic routes as well offering affordable flights between cities.

By Bus

CTM (Compagnie de Transport au Maroc) is the most well-established and reliable bus company in Morocco. Their buses are equipped with AC and the majority offer WiFi on board and a snack and drink service. Buses are an economical way to get around the country and are generally comfortable. 

Book Your Bus Tickets in Advance

By Train

ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer) is the biggest train operator in Morocco and services most major cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Tangier, and Rabat. Morocco’s one and only high speed train, Al Boraq, connects Casablanca with Tangier in just over 2 hours. Other trains take longer, but are still a good way to get around Morocco.

Book Your Train Tickets in Advance!

Travel Insurance for Morocco

I was someone who traveled without travel insurance all the time, but when I visited Costa Rica in 2021 they required you to have a policy with Covid coverage. Seeing how affordable the policies were at travelinsurance.com, I realized there was no reason not to have coverage.

Plus, after my travel partner got really sick in Colombia, we had to take a trip to the doctor and book last minute flights home. Thanks to our insurance policy all the costs associated with getting her home and her doctor bills were reimbursed. All that to say, definitely get travel insurance for your 10 day trip to Morocco. It’s one of those things that’s better to pay for and not need, than need and not have. 

Morocco Itinerary – Trip Budget

Morocco can be pretty budget friendly, but can also be a luxury getaway. For a budget traveler staying in hostels or basic accommodations, mainly eating street food, taking local buses and visiting mostly free sites you can expect to spend about $30-$45 per day. A mid-range traveler can expect to spend about $75-$110 per day and a luxury traveler could spend anywhere from $160-$500+ dollars a day. Keep in mind traveling during peak tourist season (spring and fall) can lead to higher costs. 

Things to Buy in Morocco 

If you’re looking for some unique souvenirs or gifts to take home, here are some ideas of what to buy in Morocco:

• Spices: Morocco has great spices at affordable prices. Check out the spice markets in cities like Fes and Marrakech for saffron, cinnamon and ras el hanout, a special Moroccan spice blend. 
• Argan Oil: Argan oil is big in Morocco. You can find it in markets and specialty shops in a variety of fragrances and forms.
• Leather Goods: Fes is known for their leather tanneries which means you can find some of the best pricing for leather goods. There’s a couple of shops where you can get custom leather jackets made in a variety of cuts and colors. Just make sure to bargain the price before purchasing.
• Pottery and Ceramics: With all the mosaics in Moroccan architecture, it should be no surprise that pottery and ceramics are a great souvenir to take home with you. See if you can find a shop dedicated to pottery to avoid the cheap tchotchkes you’ll see in some of the souk stalls. 
• Lamps and Lanterns: You’ve probably seen the pictures of people standing in shop doorways surrounded by hundreds of lanterns. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and would make a great conversation piece in your home if you decide to get one. 
• Moroccan Mint Tea: Most accommodations greet you with mint tea. Take some home to remember your time in Morocco. 
• Moroccan Rugs: These can be pricey ($600+)  depending on quality but if you’re buying a larger rug, the price often includes the shipping fee. Like most things in Morocco, the price is negotiable so barter with the shopkeep. Also, if you take this Medina Shopping Tour the guide will take you to shops based on your budget and can help you negotiate.  

FAQS

Is 10 days enough for Morocco?

In my opinion, 10 days is a good amount of time to spend in Morocco for a first time visit. With 10 days you can explore a few different cities and tick off those quintessential Morocco activities. 

What Should You Not Miss in Morocco? 

For me, I’d say make sure to make time in your Morocco itinerary to ride camels in the Sahara. It’s maybe not the most comfortable, but it’s such a unique and cool “I’ve done that” experience. 

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