Quick answer: 10-day Morocco itinerary. Best months: March-May and September-October. Avoid July-August Marrakech heat (45°C+) and December-February cold desert nights.. Total cost: US$1500-2400 mid-range / US$5000+ luxury per person. Includes riads, Sahara tour, all transport..
Ten days lets you cover Morocco’s classic four — Marrakech, Fes (the spiritual capital), the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara dunes at Merzouga. This itinerary uses ONCF trains between cities and a guided 3-day Sahara excursion. Built across 2 personal Morocco trips.
Day-by-day breakdown
Day 1
Arrive Casablanca or Marrakech. Train to Marrakech if needed. Settle in medina riad. Evening Jamaa el-Fnaa orientation.
Day 2
Marrakech essentials: Bahia Palace + Saadian Tombs + Koutoubia Minaret. Afternoon: Jardin Majorelle + Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Evening: rooftop dinner overlooking Jamaa el-Fnaa.
Day 3
Souk shopping morning (haggle hard, start at 1/3 asking price). Afternoon: hammam at Les Bains de Marrakech. Sunset at Le Jardin Secret.
Day 4
Drive Marrakech → Aït Benhaddou (3h, Game of Thrones filming location) via High Atlas Pass. Continue to Dadès Valley.
Day 5
Drive Dadès → Merzouga (5h through Todra Gorge). Camel trek to Sahara desert camp for sunset + traditional Berber dinner + stargazing.
Day 6
Sahara sunrise camel back. Drive back to Tinghir/Ouarzazate (5h). Or fly out from Errachidia.
Day 7
Train Marrakech → Fes (7h, but worth it for scenery). Or fly (1h). Settle in Fes medina riad.
Day 8
Fes medina deep dive: 9,000-alley medina with required guide. Tanneries at Chouara (covered terrace viewpoint). Lunch in a restored riad.
Day 9
Fes day trip to Meknes + Volubilis Roman ruins (1h drive each direction). Or stay in Fes for cooking class + spice market.
Day 10
Train Fes → Casablanca for international flight. Or fly direct from Fes International.
What to book ahead
- Sahara desert tour: Book 1-2 weeks ahead. Standard 3-day tour ~$100-150. Luxury Sahara camp (Erg Chebbi Luxury): $300+.
- Riad accommodations: Book 2-3 months ahead for peak season. Riad Yasmine, Riad El Fenn in Marrakech; Riad Idrissy in Fes.
- Marrakech-Fes train: ONCF first class US$25-30 advance. Book 1 week ahead online.
- Fes medina guide: Required (medina is unnavigable alone). Book reliable guide via riad. Standard rate ~$50/day.
A local insider tip
Skip the Marrakech-only loops popular with first-timers. Combine Marrakech + Fes + Sahara via the southern desert circuit. The Atlas Mountain drive through Tizi n’Tichka pass + Aït Benhaddou + Todra Gorge gives you 80% of Morocco’s beauty in 3 days. Marrakech alone is overwhelming and not representative of the rest of the country.
Best time for this trip
March-May and September-October. Avoid July-August Marrakech heat (45°C+) and December-February cold desert nights.
Why you cannot take a train to the Sahara
The routing mistake that derails Morocco plans is assuming the rail network reaches the desert. It does not. ONCF trains stop at the cities, and there is no train to Merzouga or the Erg Chebbi dunes. From Marrakech the drive is roughly 560 km and around nine hours over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which is exactly why a multi-day private or shared 4×4 tour, not a day trip, is the only sensible way to do it.
A few facts that change the plan:
- Zagora’s dunes sit about 350 km (six hours) from Marrakech and tempt time-pressed travelers, but they are low and underwhelming next to Erg Chebbi, so do not trade the long drive away cheaply.
- From Fes, Supratours runs an overnight bus to Merzouga (about eight hours, roughly 160 to 200 dirham), a useful link if you end the desert leg heading north.
- Al Boraq, the high-speed line, still does not reach Marrakech; the Casablanca-Marrakech leg is a conventional ONCF train of about three hours, with the high-speed extension to Marrakech not due until 2029.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Morocco?
Yes for the classic Marrakech + Fes + Sahara + Atlas circuit. 14 days adds the Atlantic Coast (Essaouira, Casablanca, Tangier).
How much does 10 days in Morocco cost?
Backpacker: US$700-1100. Mid-range: US$1500-2400. Luxury: US$5000+. Excellent value.
Best time for Morocco?
March-May (peak weather) and September-October. Avoid summer heat and winter cold desert nights.
Is Morocco safe for women travelers?
Yes for the touristed routes with sensible precautions. Solo female travelers report harassment in souks; group/couple travel is easier.
Do I need a guide for Marrakech medina?
No (well-signposted). YES for Fes medina (9,000 alleys, easy to get lost).
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.