Morocco in 10 Epic Days: Itinerary, Tips, Must See
Now Exploring: Morocco!
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Morocco blew me away. The culture is incredibly unique, I didn’t have a lot of reference so everything felt exotic and new. We learned so much, travel like this really is mind expanding. Moroccan people have an infectious pride and revere the indigenous people in the Berber tribes from which many of them came. The food is luxurious in its complexity, depth of flavor and cooking methods. The people are outgoing, warm and playful. The terrain has it all from snowy mountain peaks to hot desert oasis scapes. Walking through the sooks of the medina felt like a psychedelic trip as we weaved past shops filled with treasures, spices, leather and food. Our eyes feasted as much as our mouths. You can find world class restaurants and ancient underground eateries. The sound of the 5x daily mosque prayers became a lullaby. It’s pretty easy to get around the country, they are no strangers to tourists and tourism, and wifi is readily available. This country would delight any one with an open mind, patient confidence and a deep sense of adventure.
-Our fav spots/Things To Do: Stay in a riad, Marrakech, Chefchauouen, the Sand Dunes of The Sahara Desert, Todra Gorge/Dades Gorge, the ceramic artisan collective in Fes (Art D’Agile), have a hammam/spa experience, party with The Kech Experience at Casino Marrakech, take a Moroccan cooking class, do a medina food tasting tour. Eat all the tagines and don’t forget a pastilla! Sip a lot of mint tea.
-Haggling: Be prepared to bargain, it’s the Moroccan way! You should land around 20-30% under the initial price offered. Haggling is not done in commercial stores. You WILL be solicited to buy things, especially in the major tourist areas, it’s ok to ignore the solicitations if you’re not interested.
Mosaic tile fountain at Bahia Palace
-Air BnB Experiences: We loved to check out the food tours, cooking classes, nature excursions and more available on the Experiences section of the Air BnB app. Having a guide to move you through the winding medina was sooooo nice. But DO leave time to get lost (without an agenda) to really get the feel of the beautiful maze chaos.
-Language: Arabic is the first language, there’s a Berber/Moroccan language locals use and then French. English and Spanish are spoken at most foreign/tourist facing spaces but it’s not a given.
Hello/Goodbye: Salaam
Thank You: Shukran
Excuse Me: Ishmalee
-The environment: The summers are beyond sweltering, avoid! October is perfect and it can get cold in the Moroccan winter so check the weather. We struggled with the air quality, especially in Marrakech where motor scooters and vehicles are allowed to zoom past walkers in the narrow medina streets (stay to the side and keep your head on a swivel, you eventually get used to it). Take your vitamin C and keep your schedule loose so you have time to come back to your riad for a shower and a rest. Tap water is not meant to be drunk by tourists. It may help to start a course of probiotics before your trip and bring Tums and activated charcoal for possible stomach issues. Heads up, Morocco is overrun with a huge population of chill street cats! Cats are considered clean in the Islamic faith and dogs are not so they are nurtured. The cats are beloved, people take care of them and feed them.
-Currency: Moroccan Dirham is taken everywhere but often you can use Euros and Dollars as well. Cards we’re taken in some places but Cash is King. Exchange your money before going through security at the airport as it’s a closed currency and therefore difficult to exchange outside of Morocco. Currency Converter
HOT TIP: Keep small increments of dirham handy (5, 10, 20) because tips are expected for everything (giving directions, helping take a photo, unsolicited advice, bathroom/toilet paper, nothing lol).
-Reservations: The only thing we ended up needing reservations for (besides registration in advance for our tours) was Jardin Majorelle, they were booked out for two days in advance
Lanterns in the Medina
-Surrounding Travels: We flew into Morocco after several days exploring Spain. Portugal is also another close European option to extend your travels for the price of a reasonable plane ticket.
-What we missed in Morocco: We decided to skip Casablanca after hearing it was a more industrial city and less tourist facing but there are certainly gems to see there. We kept hearing about the beautiful beach towns of Agadir, Rabat and especially Essaouira so checking those out may be great if you want to get some beach time in. We wish we could have entered more of the beautiful restaurants and cafes in the Medina (and above the medina where all the magical rooftops lie!) but felt our food tours and cooking classes provided us with a more cultural experience.
Our 10 (11ish) Day Trip Itinerary Through Morocco
Day 1- Arrival Into Tangier
Tangier isn’t necessarily somewhere I’d recommend for sightseeing but it’s the closest airport and large city to Chefchaouen, the stunning “Blue City” that we just had to see. Our plane from Spain landed here so we made the most of our short time in Tangier. It’s feels more European Mediterranean than any of the other Moroccan locations we visited and has moments of charm here and there.
We loved our stay at Hotel Hôtel El Toro. It’s across from a striking old bullfighting ring and included this wondrous buffet, easily the best breakfast we had our whole trip (besides our Moroccan cooking class). We had them arrange and ride from the airport, a ride to the train station the next day and our driver to Chefchaouen making it super easy to get acclimated to getting around Morocco.
Day trip to the Blue City of Chefchaouen (8 hrs RT)
I was cynical that this influencer darling would be be overrated but I was wrong! Yes there are touristy parts but once you get into the medina there are some quietly alluring parts where the walls are the richest hues of indigo blue and the tile work makes you pause. As we drove up to the city it didn’t look blue at all, we thought we’d been hoodwinked by social media but weave into the narrow corridors and it’s all there. Have your small dirham bills ready because some of the most beautiful facades are guarded (kindly) by people who will be expecting a small tip for photos and help taking your photos.
-We booked our driver through our hotel. It cost $120 Euros and included a RT drive and no limit on how long we stayed. Our driver took us to the train station before dropping us off so we could get our tickets and stopped along the road trip so we could take photos and use the restroom. We thought the value was reasonable.
2.25 hour drive to Chefchaouen from Tangier
3.5 hours in Chefchaouen (For a leisurely dinner and lots of photos we found this was plenty of time but pro photographers/shoppers may want more time)
2.25 hour drive back to Tangier
Chefchaouen
Day 2- Explore Tangier, Train to Fes
We did a double decker bus tour around Tangier with City Tour Tanger to get to know it a little better in our short time. There were two loops but we only had time for one.
Morocco By Train
A great way to see the Moroccan countryside is using the country's admirably well equipped train system. You have two train options within the national ONCF Morocco Train Company. No matter which option you pick, pay the small amount extra for first class! Buying a ticket online is notoriously impossible and when we went to buy tickets in person the computer system in the station was down. The ticket machine kiosks are also known to be impossible but after four attempts we were able to buy our tickets from Tangier to Fes aboard the Al Atlas train.
Al Atlas: Slower, more scenic route that goes through more farmland and small towns. We chose this option so we could see more. The trains are older but still pretty fast. (4 hours and 35 min from Tangier to Fes)
Al Boraq: Higher speed with newer trains and a sleep lounge for first class travelers. The route is more industrial and less scenic. (3 hours and 35 minutes from Tangier to Fes)
The Moroccan Countryside. The green glowing lights are mosques.
Arrive in Fes
Our Fes Air BnB was a traditional riad in a quiet part of the medina Dar Fes Medina
We had dinner at our riad but there are many great places to dine in Fes. In most lodgings in Morocco, breakfast is included.
Day 3- Explore Fes
Fes is the oldest city in Morocco and the most ancient Arabic city outside of Saudi Arabia. The Medina feels like you’re stepping back in time and the tile and mosaic work here is among the best examples we saw our whole trip. This is a great city to orient yourself on Moroccan artistry and antiquity. It’s more conservative and resolutely Moroccan than Marrakech. We found it a bit sleepy and tough to get around but I consider it an absolute must if you want to get the fullest understanding of Morocco.
Mosque and University of al-Qarawiyyin
Must Do in Fes:
-Stay in a riad, a traditional Moroccan house turned bed and breakfast (most include breakfast)
-Get a Guided Tour
There is a TON to see in the twisted medina passageways of Fes. Set aside at least a whole day because you’ll be walking your butt off. There are many historical sights to see but also random gorgeous facades and mosaic laden fountains to run into and admire. It’s an ancient city with untold wonder behind all the elaborate carved wooden doors. A tour guide makes things way easier and can whisk you around to the main attractions while providing insider knowledge and cuing you into unknown parts of the culture and lore. WiFi is unreliable in Fes so sometimes Google Maps can lead you astray. And remember, if you accept help from a Moroccan person expect to pay a fee!
Top: Art d’Argile Bottom: The Fes Tanneries.
BEWARE: Fes tour guides (especially ones booked through your riad vs. Air BnB experiences etc.) often take you to souvenir/craft/artisan shops where they may get commission and you may have to sit through a hard sell. Harness the power of a firm NO If you’re not interested. You can always return to the shop later or shop around and do your homework. We booked our tour guide through our riad and it was $50 Euros for 3.5 hours. We paid an extra $10 Euros for a trip to Art D’Agile to see where artisans create beautiful mosaics, ceramic art and more (worth it!). We did have to sit through a number of sales pitches and demos but some were informative and overall we were very relieved to have a guide.
-Art D’Argile: Go see where the exquisite tile work is made with a tour of the art collective about 10 minutes outside the city. I couldn’t believe the dedication, artistry and beauty! Very affordable souvenirs from the source. As a ceramic and tile fanatic this was my favorite party of Fes. After seeing this I looked at every mosaic different.
-The Fes Tanneries: They don’t smell nearly as bad as people said they would! They offer you a mint sprig to cover up the smell. Very interesting history but I found a better range of leather souvenirs elsewhere.
Merzouga Desert- Sahara Morocco
Day 4-7: Desert Tour (4 Day, 3 Night)
Depart Fes in the AM (We thought a day was sufficient in Fes but two would have meant we could have explored the other the medina and new city which we didn't get to)
-EPIC Desert Journey:
The Sahara Desert is a do not miss experience if you have the time to explore. The soft golden sand under the blue sky as far as the eye can see, well it does something to you. It’s also pretty cool to be able to brag about riding a camel through the desert!
We loved our tour with Morocco Fabulous Travel. We did the 4 Day/3 Night Private Tour from Fes to Marrakech. This included our transportation and lodging for 3 nights. Breakfasts and dinners were included, the lunches we had on the road we’re not. Our tour guide was super sweet and this journey ABSOLUTELY BLEW US AWAY! It was the perfect itinerary. You can also book shorter tours, do it as a group or private and take off/end up at different locations in Morocco. Most tour groups do the same route and activities.
Desert Day 1 Desert Journey Begins: Fes, Irfane (a sweet mountain town), Middle Atlas Mountains (Barbary monkey forest!), the luscious Ziz Valley and finally Merzouga where the desert adventures will begin.
Desert Day 2 A Day in the Sahara Desert: The golden sand dunes call! Start your day with a sunrise and then race out to the Black Sahara to spend time with a Berber family. Search for fossils, explore old caves and a mine and enjoy some Berber pizza! At sunset you’ll ride a camel over the golden sand dunes to your desert luxury camp. The night ends with a Gnawa music performance and a chance to gaze at a breathtaking sky full of stars.
Desert Day 3 Todra Gorge and Dades Gorge: We were not expecting to love these two stunning rock wonders and the spectacular natural wonders in between. Our Dades Gorge lodging was super unique.
Desert Day 4 Ouarzate/Ait Ben Haddou/High Atlas Mountains/Marrakech: Visit the famous UNESCO kasbah where so many things were filmed and take in the views from the High Atlas Mountains before cruising into exciting Marrakech.
There is so much to behold in the Sahara and Atlas Mountains!
Day 8- Explore Marrakech
Marrakech is much more cosmopolitan and worldly. There is more color, chaos and flash. The dining options were numerous and there were many more attractions to explore. We loved staying at Riad Lamalika. It’s a more modern style riad further from the center of the medina. I loved the location because it was only a 15 minute walk to the center of the medina which meant it was more quiet right outside our door but gave us an excuse to meander through the medina on a different route every time.
Riad Lamalika Patio
Rooftop Dinner Out in Marrakech: The rooftops are where it’s at! Behind all those elaborate doors are some of the most beautiful spaces and if you head a few floors up you get views, fresher air and a whole world beyond the medina streets.
Marrakech Pub Crawl: We LOVED this Air BnB experience! We got to go to a lively local dive bar and then headed to Casino Marrakech (the oldest casino in Africa) for the BEST live band I’ve ever had the pleasure of dancing to, The Kech Experience! There is also a legendary nightclub there called Teatro but make sure and catch the band first.
Day 9- Explore Marrakech
Explore Marrakech-Google Maps worked much better in Marrakech so we were able to do a self guided tour to some of the hits like:
Bahia Palace: under construction but still a beautful place to see Islamic architecture and Moroccan tile work.
Madrasa Ben Youseff
Madrasa Ben Youseff: A 14th century Islamic university, packed with people but some Iconic architecture and photo opps here.
Jemaa al-Fnaa Square: The main square in the medina. It’s WILD and chaotic and so interesting. You can find pay-to-play bands, snake charmers, lots of street food, henna artists, souvenirs, pick pockets, and more. Hot Tip: Check out an upstairs rooftop cafe in the square for a more peaceful vantage point.
Jardin Marjorelle: A garden renovated by Yves St. Laurent, you do need reservations for this. If you’re looking for garden vibes it’s much easier to get into Le Jardin Secret.
Medina Food Tour: We adored this tour! Wish we would have done it first to orient ourselves honestly. We tried stuff we would have never tried and some classics. We got some exclusive eats and definitely the insider knowledge took this experience to another level.
The food in Morocco is one of a kind, be bold, try new things!
Day 10- Moroccan Cooking Class
Moroccan Cooking Class: This was one of our favorite things to do! The best food, hands down, of our entire Morocco journey was in this class! It was incredible to hang with a Moroccan family and see how they shop in the markets and live. It did take the whole day and we weren’t hungry again till very late at night! This is a great time to buy your spices etc.
Day 11- Hammam/Spa and Departure
Hammam Experience: You can’t leave Morocco without the legendary spa experience called a hammam. Public hammams are inexpensive and a cultural experience to be had but you have to bring your own scrubs, towels, tools, and products. Etc. We opted for a private hammam by appointment and got the full experience including that magical black soap, the dead skin pulverizing scrub with the kessa glove, soaps/oils/rinses and a massage. It also came with lots of mint water and tea. We did ours right before our flight to wash the medina and soot off of us before our long trip home.
We enjoyed our couples spa experience at Heritage Spa 08
Depart For Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK): We loved Qatar Airways, they showered us with snacks and food, the flight was only ⅔ full and the leg room was great. The lines at the Marrakech Airport took SOOOO long, leave yourself tons of time.
Day 12: Arrive Back in the USA
Arrive back in the US. Bask in the glow of your trip and hang up your lanterns, roll out your rugs, cook with your spices and slather on the argan oil. THANK YOU MOROCCO!! You don’t ows us nothin’:)
Jemaa al-Fnaa Square
Spain/Morocco Transportation Costs
Booked January-June 2025 for September/October 2025
$3322, For 1 person, 10 locations in 25 days
9/25/25 Flight Seattle to Barcelona (Turkish Airlines): $573
9/30/25 Train Barcelona to Madrid (Ave): $64
10/1/25 Flight from Madrid to San Sebastian (Iberia): $123
10/03/25 Bus from San Sebastian to Bilbao (Alsa): $13
10/04/25 Flight from Bilbao to Ibiza (Iberia): $160
10/04-10/09 Rental Car Ibiza (Europacar): $650
10/09/25 Flight Ibiza to Tangier (Iberia): $302
10/09/25 Private Car from Tangier to Chefcaouen: $80
10/10/25 Train from Tangier to Fes (ONCF): $36
10/12/25 Fez to Marrakech-Private Tour Car: $585
(½ of the total cost of the 4 day, 3 Night incl. transportation, meals and lodging)
10/18/25 Flight Marrakech to Seattle (Qatar Airways): $736
Tickets Excursions:
$7 City Tour Tanger Double Decker Bus
$60 Chefchaouen Round Trip Driver (From Tanger) plus wait time
$70 Fes Tour Guide and trip to artisan collective plus ride home
Spain/Morocco Lodging Costs:
$3547.76 (23 nights, $154 /night average (3 free nights w/friends)
Spain per night average: $197
Morocco per night average: $153
9/26-930: $884.50 Barcelona Hostel Hera (4 Nights, Alaska Card)
9/30-10/2: $378.83 Madrid (Malasaña neighborhood) Air BnB (2 Nights)
10/2-10/4:$0 3 nights Stayed with friends
10/4-10/9: $907.90 Ibiza Air BnB (5 nights)
10/9-10/10: $120.11 Tangier Hotel El Toro (1 Night)
10/10-10/12: $150.72 Fes Air BnB (2 nights)
10/12-10/15: $585 Morocco Fabulous Travel Tour
(½ of the total cost of the 4 day, 3 Night incl. transportation, meals and lodging)
10/15-10/18: $520.70 Marrakesh Air BnB (3 Nights)
Lodging and Hotel Only: $6870 for 25 days across Spain and Morocco ($275/day)
