Marrakech Itinerary 14 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be greeted by your driver and taken to your riad in the medina, just a short drive away. After checking in, take some time to rest after your flight.

If you arrive early, you might wander through the nearby souks, enjoy a mint tea on the rooftop terrace, or simply relax in the riad’s courtyard. Dinner tonight is flexible — you can dine at the riad or head to a local restaurant in the medina to try your first Moroccan meal. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 2: Guided Tour of Marrakech

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a full-day tour of Marrakech’s historic and cultural sites. Begin at the Bahia Palace, known for its intricate tilework and peaceful gardens, then visit the Saadian Tombs, a royal burial site dating back to the 16th century.

Continue to the Koutoubia Mosque, the city’s most famous landmark, before walking to Jemaa el-Fna square. Here, you’ll find juice vendors, spice stalls, and street performers creating a lively atmosphere. Lunch will be at a traditional restaurant in the medina.

In the afternoon, visit the Majorelle Gardens and, if you wish, the nearby Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Return to your riad in the evening with free time to relax or explore more at your own pace. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 3: Marrakech → High Atlas Mountains → Ait Ben Haddou → Dades Valley (270 km / 5.5 hrs)

After breakfast, depart Marrakech for the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters. Along the way, you’ll stop for photos at panoramic viewpoints and in small Berber villages.

By midday, arrive at Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar made of traditional earthen buildings. Take a guided walk through the village before having lunch at a nearby restaurant. Continue to Ouarzazate, with a short stop to see the Taourirt Kasbah, then travel through the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight at a hotel overlooking the valley’s dramatic rock formations.

Day 4: Dades Valley → Todra Gorges → Merzouga (270 km / 4.5 hrs)

After breakfast at your hotel, start the day by driving through the upper part of the Dades Gorge, where the winding road offers great views of the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations. You’ll have time to stop at viewpoints for photos before continuing to the oasis town of Tinghir.

Here, take a gentle walk through the lush palm groves before arriving at the Todra Gorges, a striking canyon with vertical cliffs rising up on both sides. You’ll have time to walk along the river and enjoy the cool shade. Lunch will be at a small restaurant near the gorge.

In the afternoon, continue toward Merzouga, arriving at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. From here, you’ll ride camels into the desert, timed so you can watch the sunset over the sand. At your Sahara camp, you’ll be welcomed with mint tea before enjoying dinner. Spend the night in a private tent with an en-suite bathroom, surrounded by the stillness of the desert.

Day 5: Explore the Merzouga Desert (Local touring)

Wake early to see the sunrise over the dunes, followed by breakfast at the camp. Today, a 4×4 will take you around the desert to places not accessible by camel. Visit Khamlia village to hear traditional Gnaoua music, then follow desert tracks to see seasonal lakes (if present) and fossil-rich areas.

Stop at a nomadic family’s tent for tea, learning about their way of life, then continue to a small oasis. Lunch will be in a family-run restaurant in a nearby village.

In the late afternoon, return to your camp or hotel in Merzouga. You can relax, take a short walk into the dunes, or try optional activities such as quad biking or sandboarding before dinner. Overnight in Merzouga.

Day 6: Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Fes (470 km / 7 hrs)

After breakfast, depart Merzouga and drive north through the Ziz Valley, stopping at viewpoints to take in the palm-filled valley below. Continue to Midelt, a small town in the Middle Atlas Mountains, where you’ll have lunch at a local restaurant.

The road then climbs through cedar forests, with a stop near Azrou to look for Barbary macaques. Pass through Ifrane, a clean, well-planned town with a distinctive European look, before reaching Fes in the late afternoon. Check into your riad in the medina. Dinner tonight is at your leisure, you might choose a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

Day 7: Guided Tour of Fes

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a full-day exploration of Fes el-Bali, the oldest part of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Al Quaraouiyine University, one of the oldest in the world, the Bou Inania Madrasa, and the Nejjarine Fountain.

You’ll also stop at the Chouara Tanneries, where leather is dyed in traditional stone vats, and wander through souks filled with fabrics, ceramics, and spices. Lunch will be in a Medina restaurant.

In the afternoon, explore the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and head to a viewpoint overlooking the city from an old fortress. Return to your riad in the evening.

Day 8: Fes → Meknes → Volubilis → Chefchaouen (270 km / 5 hrs)

Leave Fes after breakfast and drive to Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities. See the impressive Bab Mansour gate and explore the historic medina.

Continue to Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco. Walk among ancient columns, mosaics, and arches as your guide explains the site’s history. Lunch will be at a restaurant near the ruins.

In the afternoon, drive through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, arriving with time for a gentle walk through the blue-painted streets. Overnight in a riad in the medina.

Day 9: Chefchaouen → Tetouan → Tangier (250 km / 4.5 hrs)

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in Chefchaouen to take photos and shop for handicrafts.

Continue to Tetouan, known for its Andalusian-style architecture and medina. Lunch will be at a local restaurant before you drive on to Tangier. Once there, you can visit the kasbah, walk along the Corniche, or relax at your hotel. Overnight in Tangier.

Day 10: Tangier → Asilah → Rabat → Casablanca (340 km / 5.5 hrs)

Depart Tangier after breakfast and make your first stop in Asilah, a quiet coastal town with whitewashed walls decorated with colorful murals. Continue to Rabat, Morocco’s capital, to see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Oudaya Kasbah.

Lunch will be in Rabat before traveling to Casablanca. Check into your hotel for the night. Dinner at leisure.

Day 11: Casablanca → Essaouira (370 km / 5 hrs)

In the morning, visit the Hassan II Mosque, which sits right on the Atlantic Ocean. Then drive south along the coast to Essaouira, stopping at an argan oil cooperative along the way.

Once in Essaouira, explore the fishing port, walk the ramparts, and browse artisan shops. Lunch will be fresh seafood in the medina. Overnight in a riad in the old town.

Day 12: Essaouira → Marrakech (190 km / 2.5 hrs)

Spend the morning enjoying Essaouira’s relaxed pace. You might walk on the beach, visit art galleries, or shop for local crafts. Have lunch in town before the drive back to Marrakech. The rest of the afternoon is free — you could relax at your riad or book an optional hammam. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 13: Day Trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls (320 km / 5 hrs round trip)

After breakfast, take a day trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, one of Morocco’s tallest cascades. You can follow walking paths to different viewpoints and take a small boat ride near the base of the falls. Lunch will be at a café with views of the water. Return to Marrakech in the late afternoon for your final night.

Day 14: Departure from Marrakech

Depending on your flight time, you might have a few hours for last-minute shopping or a café visit before your driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport, marking the end of your Marrakech itinerary 14 days.