Most travelers will find that six to eight days are perfect for a well-paced Morocco trip with stops in Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou, and Todra Gorge. With more time, you can enjoy extra activities at each stop or a few days in another region like Chefchaouen or Rabat. Keep reading for more inspiring Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou, and Todra Gorge itineraries.

How many days do you need in Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou & Todra Gorge?

  • Most travelers spend 6-8 days in Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou, and Todra Gorge combined
  • With 9 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
  • The most common extensions are Chefchaouen and Rabat

How Many Days to Spend in Marrakesh

Recommended Itineraries for Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou & Todra Gorge

Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days

Boumalne Dades and the Dades Valley, Morocco
Boumalne Dades and the Dadès Valley, Morocco
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Fes Imperial City - Medieval Medina Fes
Day 2 Drive to Erfoud - Sunset Camel Ride Merzouga
Day 3 Desert Adventures Around Merzouga, Rissani Market & Todra Gorge Todra Gorge
Day 4 Todra Gorge to Aït Benhaddou, via Dades Valley & Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou
Day 5 Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech - Tizi n'Tichka Pass Over the High Atlas Marrakesh
Day 6 Arrive in Marrakesh - Explore the Red City Marrakesh


This fast-paced six-day trip highlights the best of Morocco, including Fes, the desert, and Marrakesh. Start in medieval Fes and work your way south. Traverse the Middle Atlas mountain range into the Sahara Desert, crossing back through the High Atlas mountains and finishing in bustling Marrakesh. Read more

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Extended Itineraries

11-Day Itinerary Including Chefchaouen & Rabat

A view over Fes' Chouara Tannery
A view over Fes' Chouara Tannery
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Casablanca - Rabat City Rabat
Day 2 Transfer to Chefchaouen ("The Blue City") Chefchaouen
Day 3 Transfer to Fes - Detour to Volubilis and Meknes Fes
Days 4-5 Fes Imperial City - Medieval Medina Fes
Day 6 Drive to Erfoud - Sunset Camel Ride Merzouga
Day 7 Desert Adventures Around Merzouga, Rissani Market & Todra Gorge Todra Gorge
Day 8 Todra Gorge to Aït Benhaddou, via Dades Valley & Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou
Day 9 Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech - Tizi n'Tichka Pass Over the High Atlas Marrakesh
Day 10 Arrive in Marrakesh - Explore the Red City Marrakesh
Day 11 Return to Casablanca, Depart  


Discover imperial cities and desert landscapes on this 11-day circuit starting in Casablanca. Experience culture and history in historic Rabat, Meknes, Fes, and Marrakesh as you navigate their ancient medinas. You'll ride a camel over shifting sands in the Sahara, explore mud-brick cities, and cross the high rocky peaks of the Atlas mountains. Read more

2-Week Itinerary Including Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Essaouira & Rabat

Ride camels through the Saharan sand dunes
Ride camels through the Saharan sand dunes
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival in Casablanca - Rabat City Rabat
Day 2 Transfer to Chefchaouen ("The Blue City") Chefchaouen
Day 3 Transfer to Fes - Detour to Volubilis and Meknes Fes
Days 4-5 Fes Imperial City - Medieval Medina Fes
Day 6 Drive to Erfoud - Sunset Camel Ride Merzouga
Day 7 Desert Adventures Around Merzouga, Rissani Market & Todra Gorge Todra Gorge
Day 8 Todra Gorge to Aït Benhaddou, via Dades Valley & Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou
Day 9 Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech - Tizi n'Tichka Pass Over the High Atlas Marrakesh
Days 10-11 Arrive in Marrakesh - Explore the Red City Marrakesh
Day 12 Marrakech to Essaouira Essaouira
Day 13 Essaouira to Casablanca via the coast Casablanca
Day 14 Depart Casablanca  


Experience Morocco's cities and desert wonders on this two-week grand tour. Start in the north, where you'll visit Casablanca and the capital Rabat, then marvel at Chefchaouen's iconic blue-tinged architecture. Continue to the country's cultural capital, Fes, before following ancient caravan routes into the Sahara Desert, where you'll camp among shifting dunes and explore oasis towns. Finish on the coast, winding through Marrakesh's souks and relaxing in the seaside town of Essaouira. Read more

How to travel between Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou & Todra Gorge

How to get from Merzouga to Todra Gorge
Traveling from the small Moroccan town of Merzouga in the Sahara Desert to the Torda Gorge in the Atlas mountains is a common travel route for those looking to go slightly off the beaten path of Morocco's major cities to see its natural wonders. The only way to go is a very scenic 3-hour journey by car—typically via taxi or private driver. Read more

How to get from Fes to Marrakesh
A few options exist for travelers making the 330-mile (532 km) journey from the northeastern Moroccan city of Fes to Marrakesh. Which option travelers take will depend entirely on whether their priority is efficiency or if they would prefer to see points of interest along the way. A direct flight between the two cities takes less than two hours while going by road with a private driver can take up to eight—but plane travel means you won't have the chance to stop at the many points of interest that dot the overland route. Learn more below. Read more

How to get from Todra Gorge to Aït Benhaddou
Travelers looking to travel the 122 miles (197 km) from the Todra Gorge, one of Morocco's natural wonders, to medieval Aït Benhaddou should plan on taking a private transfer for the three-hour journey. As this route includes a portion of the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, travelers will have the option to make many enchanting stops along the way. Read more

How to get from Fes to Merzouga
Those traveling 288 miles (463 km) from Fes to the small Saharan town of Merzouga have two good options available. You can save several hours by combining a flight with a shorter private transfer, or you can take a private transfer straight to Merzouga. Read more

Map

Map of Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou & Todra Gorge: Best Itinerary Ideas
Map of Marrakesh, Fes, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou & Todra Gorge: Best Itinerary Ideas