Dreaming of exploring historical medinas and historic kasbahs? Crossing the rusty dunes of the Sahara Desert and climbing the arid peaks of the Atlas Mountains? Sitting beneath the swaying fronds on a palm oasis or strolling by the blue metropolis of Chefchaouen whereas listening to the decision to prayer? While many individuals planning a visit to Morocco will solely keep a number of days in Marrakech, or mix a go to with a visit to Spain or Portugal, this nation in North Africa has a lot to supply that it’s value visiting by itself and planning an entire Morocco journey itinerary.
Morocco is shortly turning into a scorching journey vacation spot not only for younger vacationers, however many households are selecting to go to Morocco with children. Yet determining the right Morocco journey itinerary could be a problem. We spent a lot time researching and plotting out our itinerary with the assistance of EPIC Travel.
If you need to make it simpler to plan your journey to Morocco, I’d extremely suggest hiring EPIC Travel to plan and e-book your Morocco itinerary. Tell them We3Travel referred you and you’ll obtain a free VIP welcome present on arrival. EPIC excels at planning distinctive itineraries and experiences utilizing in-country journey planners with shut connections to native guides, drivers, and lodging.
However, in the event you would somewhat plan it by yourself, preserve studying for 3 choices on your Morocco itinerary relying on how a lot time you must spend in Morocco. I’ll cowl how lengthy to spend in Morocco, attending to Morocco, and 7-day, 10-day, and 14-day Morocco itineraries.
Also, be sure you learn my Morocco journey suggestions and ideas on what to put on in Morocco!
How Much Time SHould You Spend in Morocco?
Two weeks is de facto the best period of time to go to Morocco. However, you may undoubtedly get an excellent really feel for the nation with only one week or, even higher, no less than 10 days. Depending on how a lot time you may spend in-country, you have got some powerful decisions to make about what you retain in and what you must miss of your Morocco journey itinerary.
For instance, in the event you dream of using camels within the Sahara desert and staying in a single day in a desert camp, it’s arduous to suit that right into a one-week Morocco itinerary except you solely need to do Marrakech and the desert.
It is no less than an eight-hour drive from Fes to Merzouga on the fringe of the Sahara, and even farther from Marrakech. If you solely have 7 days in Morocco, you may nonetheless have a camel desert expertise, it’s simply going to be the rocky desert, not these attractive dunes of the Sahara.
Similarly, you actually can’t match within the attractive Blue City of Chefchaouen all the way in which within the north in the event you solely have a ten day Morocco itinerary. At least not except you might be prepared to surrender a visit to the desert! We even had a little bit of hassle squeezing it into our 12 day journey to Morocco.
But that’s okay, I’m going to stroll you thru what a 7, 10, or 2-week itinerary might appear like!
Getting to Morocco
Most guests coming from the United States will fly into Casablanca, though you might be able to fly into Marrakech in the event you join by Europe. U.S. cities with direct flights to Morocco embody New York, Washington D.C., and Miami. In Europe, some cities with direct flights to Morocco embody Paris, London, Lisbon, and Madrid. Most main airways supply direct flights to Morocco, together with Air France, British Airways, and Royal Air Maroc. There are additionally a number of finances airways that supply flights to Morocco, together with Ryanair and Easyjet.
If you might be unable to discover a direct flight to Morocco out of your metropolis, you could want to attach by a European metropolis. Many main airports in Europe, reminiscent of Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport supply connecting flights to Morocco. You can verify with airways reminiscent of KLM, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines, which all supply connecting flights to Morocco. You will usually discover flight offers on Tap Airlines by Lisbon to Marrakech.
Pro tip: once you arrive in Casablanca or Marrakech, it may be a bit overwhelming with lengthy traces. To save time and get to your vacation spot quicker, you may pay for a Fast Track arrival service that can meet you on the gate and produce you thru a VIP line to the luggage declare space and help along with your baggage reclamation.
Getting Around Morocco
I’ve an entire submit concerning the professionals and cons of driving in Morocco, however the backside line is that whereas it’s totally potential to drive your self safely round Morocco, it’s also rather more nice to have a driver if the finances permits. (Find out how a lot a visit to Morocco prices.)
If you determine to self-drive, simply beware that there are pace traps arrange outdoors of just about each city. Many roads are slender and winding, with many vans to cope with. Another nice advantage of hiring a driver is that they are going to know the very best locations to cease and eat, use the lavatory, or sights to go to alongside the way in which.
Our driver Hassan (organized by EPIC Travel) was such a gem. He stuffed us in on a lot native historical past and customs throughout our lengthy drives, giving us a deeper appreciation of Morocco throughout our go to.
Where to remain in Morocco
I’ll supply up particular resort and lodging suggestions as I’m going by every vacation spot on the Morocco journey itinerary, however I encourage anybody visiting Morocco to hunt out genuine riads and boutique lodges. We did have one wonderful keep on the Four Seasons in Marrakech, however I beloved a few of our different stays much more.
A riad is a conventional Moroccan home or mansion with an inside backyard or courtyard. Originally constructed as personal houses within the medinas, they had been designed to be a retreat from the bustling streets outdoors. Today, many riads have been transformed into small lodges. Staying in a riad could be a fantastic method to immerse your self in Moroccan tradition and get a style of what it’s wish to stay in a conventional Moroccan residence.
Riads are sometimes small and household run, embellished in a conventional fashion, with intricate tile work, colourful textiles, and hand-carved wooden or plaster particulars. Many riads even have rooftop terraces, which supply views of the encircling metropolis and are a terrific place to chill out and unwind after a day of sightseeing. At a riad you might be additionally at all times welcomed with a conventional glass of Moroccan mint tea, a practice you’ll come to like.
Morocco Travel Itinerary Option 1: 7 Days in Morocco
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If you solely have one week in Morocco, I might suggest that you just fly into Marrakech. If you discover a higher deal or a direct flight flying into Casablanca, simply remember the fact that most guests don’t spend rather more than a day in Casablanca to see the Hassan II Mosque, and that it’s roughly three hours from Marrakech.
With 7 days in Morocco, you should have time to go to two locations. I might suggest both Marrakech and Fes or Marrakech and Merzouga within the Moroccan Sahara.
- Days 1-4: Marrakech
- Days 5-7 Fes or Merzouga Desert
Marrakech (Days 1-4)
Plan to spend three nights in Marrakech (4 if you wish to do a day journey). You could select to remain in a conventional Moroccan riad, or at one of many resorts just like the Four Seasons Marrakech or the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, outdoors of metropolis heart. Some good riad choices embody:
- Riad Kaiss in Marrakech – most appeal (that is the place we stayed for 2 nights after which we break up our time between the riad and the Four Seasons for 2 nights)
- Villa des Orangers — for a splurge riad
- Riad Kniza — extra fairly priced
Day 1 – Marrakech Souk
Spend your first full day soaking within the metropolis with a half-day tour of Marrakech souk. This will then go away you loads of time to wander by the medina and store after the tour. You will be capable of see locations the place they hand-dye textiles, do metallic working, and different handicrafts. Just remember the fact that many shopkeepers don’t need you to {photograph} the merchandise with out permission or financial compensation. (Also, it’s offensive within the Islamic tradition to {photograph} individuals’s faces.)
While exploring the souk, you could need to cease into one of many pharmacies for natural treatments and merchandise like rose water, argan oil, or Moroccan tea. A go to to one of many spice distributors can be a visible delight, simply watch out when buying gadgets like saffron as there are various fakes within the medina too. It helps to ask an area the place to buy.
In the night, be sure you take a stroll by Jemaa-el-Fna Square. It might be fairly the spectacle, with snake charmers, meals distributors, and all kinds of products on show. Just preserve an in depth eye in your valuables and in the event you cease to take an image of the snake charmers, you’re going to need to tip them. You will quickly study that tipping is predicted in Morocco, even when somebody offers you instructions or helps you in any means.
Near the sq., you may stroll by the Kutubiyya or Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret, which is the biggest mosque in Marrakesh. Nearby, you may rent a carriage for a experience by the medina (simply verify and see if the horse appears to be like properly cared for as many don’t.) You can also need to take a stroll by the attractive Mamounia Hotel, which is ready on a Twelfth-century property.
Day 2 – Marrakech Food
On your second full day, I might recommend that you just dig deeper into the delicacies with a cooking class & market go to or meals tour with Marrakech Food Tours. We took a cooking class with Souk Cuisine, which was superior. It began with a go to to the market the place our information gave us every a purchasing listing and cash and helped us buy what we would want to organize a meal. We then went to an area’s residence to organize the meal, with their assist, together with strolling our bread to the native bakery oven. Then we loved an genuine Moroccan meal ready with our personal palms.
In the afternoon, take a while to chill out at your riad or resort. There are many nice eating places in Marrakech in the event you really feel like exploring different cuisines as the remainder of your time in Morocco you will notice the identical dishes on the menu, together with kefta, couscous, tagine, pastille, and briouats.
Day 3 – Marrakech Museums & Palaces
On your third day in Marrakech, there’s nonetheless a lot to see however two sights you shouldn’t miss embody the Dar El Bacha Museum and the Bahia Palace. Located close to the doorway of the medina, the Dar El Bacha was as soon as the house of Thami El Glaoui, the pacha of Marrakech.
The structure of the museum is the primary attraction, though there are attention-grabbing artifacts inside that symbolize the varied cultures of Morocco together with Berber, Arabic, and Jewish. The museum has unimaginable picket carvings, stunning tilework, and a stunning courtyard with aromatic orange timber.
Bahia Palace is a phenomenal mid to late Nineteenth-century palace that was first constructed by Si Musa, grand vizier of Alaouite sultan Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman, in 1859 after which continued and expanded by his son Si Ba Ahmed ibn Musa, grand vizier of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz between 1894 and 1900.
There are stunning mosaics, carvings, and tilework that present a superb backdrop for photographs. We selected to have household photographs right here by Flytographer (save $25 off your first reserving with my referral hyperlink or utilizing code CODE57715.)
If you have got extra time, you could need to go to a few of the main sights reminiscent of:
- Les Jardins Majorelle botanical gardens and YSL Museum
- Museum of Marrakech
- Dar Si Said
- Saadian Tombs
Day 4 – Day Trip
If you have got a fourth day in Marrakech, I might suggest selecting an tour that pursuits you outdoors of the town. These are primarily full-day excursions, though some may very well be half-day. Some choices embody:
- Day journey to Essaouira — Essaouira is a picturesque seaside city. The principal sq. was utilized in Orson Welles’ Othello. The bay is widespread with kite and wind surfers, and you’ll head right down to the water to see the fishing boats after which stroll alongside La Skala, one of many port bastions. We deliberate to do that however sadly we bought sick and didn’t really feel as much as it and we needed to cancel.
- High Atlas Mountains / Berber Villages — head into the High Atlas Mountains and go to a number of genuine Berber villages, together with a cease for lunch at an area’s residence. You may even embody a camel experience.
- Ouarzazate and Ait Ben haddou — take a full day journey throughout the Atlas Mountains to see the traditional kasbah of Ait Ben haddou (you could acknowledge this from Gladiator or Game of Thrones) and the “Hollywood in the Desert” of Ouarzazate. If you select to go to the desert as a substitute of Fes, you’ll then proceed on to the desert from right here.
- Rock Desert and Camel Ride — take a half-day tour into the close by rocky desert and climb on board a camel for a experience by a palm grove. This tour will usually cease for conventional mint tea in an area village.
- Other choices embody quad biking, horseback using, and excursions of Marrakech through bike sidecar.
Fes (Days 5-7)
In the curiosity of time, from Marrakech, I might suggest taking a brief one-hour flight to Fes. Another choice can be to take a practice however that takes 6.5 hours (though it’s a good finances choice.) The outdated city of Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and options the very best medina in Morocco. It is called the mental and religious coronary heart of Morocco, whereas Marrakech is extra touristy.
If you don’t need to see Fes, you might strive to slot in a visit to the desert as a substitute. Day 4 would take you to Ouarzazate/Skoura. Then day 5 would carry you to the desert. On days six and 7 you would want to reverse the journey. It is lots of driving to suit into only a week so Fes would actually be the higher alternative!
If you proceed to Fes, that is the place I might undoubtedly suggest staying in a conventional riad within the medina, even in the event you opted for a resort or a riad outdoors of the medina in Marrakech. Some nice choices embody:
- Riad Fes — Relais & Chateaux luxurious riad (that is the place we stayed)
- Karawan Riad — attractive property, better of the very best
- Dar Roumana — extra finances pleasant however fairly conventional and good
Upon arrival, I might head out on a Fes meals tour (except you took one in Marrakech, then possibly strive a cooking class with Riad Fes.) If you aren’t a lot of a foodie, then I might recommend taking a medina tour or visiting the tanneries to see this essential a part of the native tradition and economic system. Fes is certainly a terrific spot to do a few of your memento purchasing! We ended up shopping for pottery, leather-based items, and metallic merchandise in Fes.
Or, in the event you simply need to chill out, check out one of many conventional hammams for a soak, scrub, and therapeutic massage.
Day 6 – Fes Tour
Your second day in Fes is when it is best to actually dig into exploring this wonderful metropolis. I might suggest hiring a information to get the complete historical past and background, however you might actually discover many of those locations by yourself. Some of the highlights embody:
- Ancient Medina – a lot extra genuine than Marrakech, it’s simple to get misplaced on this labyrinth but additionally enjoyable to find the totally different sections, reminiscent of fancy clothes, metallic working, spices and meals, and so on. Just remember the fact that a few of the extra generic memento sorts of retailers close to the Blue Gate promote items which might be made in Asia, not Morocco. Look for retailers the place you may see the artisans at work and be ready to discount! It is a sport that Moroccans take pleasure in.
- Royal Palace (Fes Palais Royal Dar El Makhzen) with its golden gates – you can not go inside however it’s enjoyable to take photographs in entrance of the attractive golden doorways
- Old Jewish Quarter (or Mellah) – positioned close to the Royal Palace you may stroll by a gate into the quarter, go to the synagogue and Jewish cemetery, and go to the retailers (this can be a huge jewellery district.)
- Pottery quarter – you may go to a cooperative to see every step of the pottery making course of. This is a superb spot to by genuine souvenirs.
- Nearby fortresses of Borj Sud and Borj Nord – these forts had been in-built 1582 and supply nice views over Fes.
You can see all of those websites in sooner or later however you have to a automobile to get to many of those spots so hiring a information is the easiest way to go.
Day 7 – Return
On your final day in Morocco, that you must get again to your metropolis of departure. You might both fly again to Marrakech, or you might rent a driver to take you to Casablanca through Meknes and Rabat.
Morocco Itinerary Option 2: 10 Days in Morocco
With three additional days to play with, you should have time so as to add get out to the Sahara desert in the event you don’t thoughts spending lots of time in a automobile. Start your journey out in Marrakech, as I’ve outlined above, however in your fourth full day (not counting your arrival day), both lease a automobile or rent a driver on your three-day journey into and out of the desert.
- Days 1-4: Marrakech
- Day 5: Eit Ben Haddou / Skoura
- Day 6: Merzouga, Sahara Desert
- Days 7-10: Fes
Day 4 – Drive to Eit Ben Haddou & Skoura
I can’t stress sufficient how lengthy the drive is from Marrakech out to Merzouga within the Sahara Desert. You will need to cease in a single day to interrupt up the journey. Even then, the driving can really feel a bit countless and it may be sluggish going, particularly in the event you get behind a truck.
Once you allow Marrakech, you’ll journey throughout the plains that encompass Marrakech and over the Tichka Pass of the High Atlas Mountains. Be certain to cease for some wonderful views of this winding street. The first cease will both be the traditional kasbah of Telouet, or head straight to Ait Ben Haddou.
Ait Ben Haddou is the very best preserved kasbah in Morocco. The village is an Eleventh-century assortment of kasbahs which might be nonetheless inhabited by a handful of households. It will look acquainted as a result of it has been used because the backdrop to many films and TV reveals.
There aren’t actually any indicators or markers inside the city, so to get probably the most out of the expertise, I might suggest hiring an area information. If you have got a driver, they will in all probability assist prepare this. Expect to pay round 200 Dirhams (about $20) for a brief tour (see my Morocco journey finances to study extra about what a visit to Morocco prices.)
From Ait Ben Haddou, you’ll undergo Ouarzazate. Today this ex-French overseas legion outpost is a bit touristy and the middle of the film trade. You can cease and go to the movie studio however I’m undecided whether it is value it.
At the top of the day, you’ll arrive in Skoura, a palm oasis, the place you may spend the evening. If you might be searching for luxurious, Dar Ahlam is the place to remain. However, we stayed on the L’Ma Lodge, which options a big backyard of palms and fruit timber with a pool and welcoming rest areas. We beloved this probably the most of all of our lodging on the journey. It was such a calming place to sit back out. (See my full assessment of L’Ma Lodge.)
Your subsequent day is spent driving from Skoura to Merzouga on the fringe of the Sahara desert. You will move by the Dades Valley and Kelaa M’Gouna (which sits on the head of the “Rose Valley”) and Todra Gorge. If you have got time, cease at one of many girls’s rose cooperatives to buy rose oil, rose water, and different locally-made merchandise.
Stop for lunch close to the Todra Gorge and you’ll take a simple hike by the higher a part of the gorge. Todra Gorge is a sandstone ravine with 300-meter cliffs on both aspect of a really slender passage.
From there, you’ll proceed on to reach in Merzouga earlier than sundown. If you select, you may prepare for a sundown camel trek into the desert to get to your desert camp.
There are fairly a number of desert camps on this space, so it isn’t like you might be alone within the Sahara. The one we stayed at was Jaimas Madu, which had luxuriously-appointed tents with personal lavatory amenities (a should for us!) We had been shocked by how good our tent was and the meals was scrumptious. It was such a particular expertise.
In the morning we spent a while attempting to sandboard on the dunes earlier than leaving camp. After this once-in-a-lifetime expertise, the following day is devoted to the lengthy drive over to Fes. You will move by the Middle Atlas Mountains.
Be certain to cease earlier than you get to the Swiss-inspired college city of Ifrane to feed the macaques. You can’t miss them as you might be driving by and there are distributors promoting peanuts.
Once you arrive in Fes, you may choose up from the one-week Morocco itinerary above to finish your journey.
Morocco Travel Itinerary Option 3: 2 Weeks in Morocco
If you have got two weeks to spend in Morocco — fortunate you! When we visited we spent 12 nights in Morocco and it could have been very nice to have these two additional nights to provide the journey a extra leisurely tempo. As it was, we compressed our journey day right into a horribly lengthy day to slot in every part that we needed.
With two weeks, you may take a distinct strategy than the 7 day or 10 day Morocco itineraries outlined above. I might recommend utilizing the next schedule:
Day 1 – Arrival
For your two-week Morocco itinerary, I might attempt to fly into Casablanca and out of Marrakech, or into/out of Casablanca (except you might be connecting by Europe, then it could be splendid to start out in Tangier in the event you might.)
Upon arrival in Casablanca, you might both spend your first evening there (go to the Hassan II Mosque and Rick’s Cafe) or head as much as Rabat, Morocco’s capital metropolis.
In Rabat, you may hit a number of of the town’s highlights: Hassan Tower, Kasbah des Oudaias, Chellah, and the Medina earlier than the four-five hour drive to Chefchaouen.
Day 2 – Chefchaouen
Most of this present day will probably be spent touring to Chefchaouen as sadly, there isn’t any simple method to get there. Many individuals have requested me, “is Chefchaouen worth it?” And in case you have lower than two weeks in Morocco, then it’s undoubtedly not value all of the journey to get there. However, in the event you do have two weeks or extra, I completely beloved this little gem. Maybe it was as a result of we had been there in March and never “high season” for all of the Instagrammers, however I discovered it charming and genuine, so long as you may ignore these posing for footage (which wasn’t a ridiculous quantity.)
Chefchaouen is called the Blue City and tourism is booming after many have fallen in love with its blue-washed partitions and secret alleyways after seeing it on Instagram (confession – I’m responsible!) It is arguably the prettiest metropolis in Morocco, nestled between two peaks of the Rif Mountains.
Accommodations are considerably scarce in Chefchaouen and never the identical stage of luxurious that you’ll find in different cities. We stayed two nights on the Lina Ryad, and likewise thought-about the Riad Cherifa.
Day 3 – ChefChaouen Exploration
You can have slightly over a day to discover the winding alleyways and markets of Chefchaouen. Discover the outdated Jewish quarter, and go to the Ras El Ma spring, the place native girls wash their garments.
If you feel adventurous, you may take a hike to the outdated Spanish Mosque/fort on a hill outdoors the medina. From right here you may see stunning views of the valley and if you’re fortunate, catch a phenomenal sundown.
We employed a information, which helped us to not get misplaced, however truthfully I don’t assume you want a information to discover as the town is pretty compact and you’ll normally discover your means again to the place you got here from.
Day 4 – Drive to Fes
From Chefchaouen it’s a 4 hour drive to Fes, the place you’ll choose up from the 10-day itinerary above, however in reverse order.
Day 5-6 – Fes
You will spend three nights in Fes earlier than heading into the desert. You could take into account taking a day journey to Meknes from Fes to see the partly excavated Berber-Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Day 7-8 – Merzouga
Since you have got time time, I might suggest spending two nights within the desert so that you’ve got extra time to do actions like sand boarding and dune busting, in addition to the sundown camel experience.
Day 9-10 – Skoura
Then, in your means out of the desert, you may spend two nights in Skoura to interrupt up the driving.
Days 11-14 – Marrakech
You will then proceed on to Marrakech through Eit Ben Haddou. You will spend three to 4 nights in Marrakech and might both fly out of Marrakech, or prepare a three-hour switch again to Casablanca on the finish of your journey.