13 Days in Morocco - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Grand Morocco Tour

As you discover Morocco's most famous sights and hidden gems, you'll balance your days with self-guided exploration and expert insight. Take in a sunrise across the expanse of the Sahara desert, hike to Cascades d'Akchour in the Rif Mountains, and lose yourself in the souks of Morocco's vibrant cities of Fes and Marrakesh in this classic tour that loops from Casablanca. 

Your trip begins with two modern cities, Casablanca and Rabat, before you head to the azure charm of Chefchaouen for two nights, including a guided tour of the Blue City and a hike to the Cascades d'Akchour in the nearby Rif Mountains. You'll visit a trio of imperial cities, ending in Fes, where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the UNESCO-protected medina and can unwind with a traditional spa experience at a local hammam. As you drive toward Merzouga on Day 7, you'll discover villages, orchard-filled oases, market towns, and the Ziz Gorge. Then trek by camel across ocher dunes for a night camping in the Sahara. 

Learn about desert life, history, and culture in depth over your next few days in the region; see iconic filming sites from Hollywood movies, journey along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, and check out Morocco's most famous kasbah: Aït Benhaddou. Then it's back to city life with a guided tour of Marrakesh and its treasures and two evenings to appreciate the city's incredible cuisine and the spectacle of Jemaa el-Fna square. Returning to Casablanca, you'll enjoy one last guided tour, heading to the airport the following morning for your next adventure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Morocco North to South Adventure

Replacing Casablanca and Boumalne Dades on this 13-day adventure, cover Morocco's highlights from Tangier at the Strait of Gibraltar to Essaouria on the Atlantic. You'll spend more time in Erg Chebbi with two nights under the starry desert sky and enjoy cultural experiences with the locals: lunching with a family in Marrakesh, sipping tea with Bedouin, and meeting with the community of the Skoura oasis.

From Tangier, you'll venture south, watching the geography change as you arrive at pretty Chefchaouen, with time to explore Plaza Uta el-Hammam and Quartier Al-Andalus. The following day you'll reach your first imperial city, Rabat. Touring at your own pace, begin at the Royal Palace and end at the grand door of Kasbah des Oudaïas. Day 3 leads you to Fes, stopping at the well-preserved Roman ruins in Volubilis and the second imperial city, Meknes. You'll have two nights to jump into the medieval medina and take in the mosques, madrassas, and souks, lunch with a local family and learn the tradition of mehndi.

Transferring through the Col du Zad pass in the Atlas mountains, you'll snake your way to the desert, stopping in Midelt and Erfoud before hopping aboard a camel to set out to your luxury camp from Merzouga. The next day you'll tour the dunes via 4WD and drink tea in Khamleya. Refresh in the cool waters of Todra Gorge before arriving in the palm grove of Skoura for a guided walk to nearby villages to meet the community. Then it's off to Marrakesh with a visit to iconic Aït Benhaddou Kasbah first. After two nights of exploring Marrakesh, you'll hit the coast to kitesurf, ride horseback, and stroll Mulay El-Hassan in Essaouira. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Discover Morocco: Imperial Cities to the Atlas Mountains & the Coast

Rather than heading east to the desert, this trip plan takes you west through Morocco's heartland and the Atlas mountains to the Atlantic coast at a relaxed pace—the majority of your time spent in Fes and Marrakesh. Culinary excursions, a cooking class, a spa experience at a hammam, and opportunities to connect with the Berber community set this unique itinerary apart. 

A clockwise loop to and from Casablanca, you'll spend your first and last night here, setting off on Day 2 to Rabat and stopping to check out Salé and its historic madrassa en route. The following day, you'll hit Meknes, Volubilis, and Moulay Idriss, Morocco's oldest town, before setting your eyes upon Fes. Thanks to an expert guide, you'll tour the buzzing medina and get to know local artisans with some visits to local workshops. Fes also serves as your home base for two unique day trips. One to blue-hued Chefchaouen and another to the Berber village of Ahinajen, where you'll lunch with a local family and can connect to the area's farmers.

You'll then travel southwest, through the Atlas mountains and Berber villages, to Marrakesh for three nights. Explore on your own or with a guide, taking advantage of the city's epicurean heritage with a food tour. On Day 10, hike to a waterfall in lush Setti Fatma in the Ourika Valley. Returning to the coast on Day 11, you'll discover Essaouira's laid-back charm before spending your final day in Morocco traveling along the Atlantic, through old Portuguese port towns like El Jadida and Oud Er-Rbia, and back to Casablanca. Cap your trip off with a guided tour, a dinner in the city, and perhaps a visit to a replica of Rick's Cafe. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Ultimate Morocco: Imperial Cities, Mountains, Deserts & Coast

Combining a classic circuit of Morocco with a handful of less touristic destinations like El Jadida and Tétouan, this comprehensive 13-day itinerary is ideal for those who want to spend equal parts in imperial cities and historic kasbahs with desert adventure. See the 17th-century Portuguese Fortress of Mazagan in El Jadida, discover Tétouan's ancient medina in Morocco's north, and spend two atmospheric nights in Aït Benhaddou.

From Casablanca, you'll immediately transfer south to El Jadida to explore the UNESCO-listed Fortress of Mazagan, one of the country's best-preserved coastal fortresses and eerily captivating Portuguese Cistern. The next day, you'll stop in Rabat, Morocco's capital and your first imperial city, and stay the night in Tétouan, one of the country's smallest old cities, to tour its medina and experience the closest point where Europe meets North Africa. Day 3 sees you exploring Chefchaouen, Volubilis, and Meknes before arriving at Fes for two nights. Take in a sunset from the Marinid Tombs and check out Chouara Tannery.

Climb an elevation of 7,146 feet (2,178 m) over the Col du Zad Pass on Day Day 5, past the cedar forests of the High Atlas, to eventually reach your luxury camp outside of Merzouga. You'll ride camels, sandboard dunes, and take in epic desert sunsets before carrying on to your lodgings in 11th-century Aït Benhaddou. Stop in Taddert to visit an olive oil cooperative on your way to colorful Marrakesh, where you'll have two nights to take in the sights, tastes, and smells as you cover its palaces, souks, and gardens. Then on Day 11, you'll venture through argan trees and possibly goats to Essaouira along the Atlantic. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Mysteries of Southern Morocco: A Journey From City to Desert

For a unique adventure, consider this southern Morocco experience that leads you from Marrakesh to the Atlantic coast, with stops in Agadir, Taroudant, Erg Chigaga, and Zagora before following a more traditional route back to Marrakesh. 

After two nights in Marrakesh, visiting the Bahia Palace and Koutoubia Mosque and stopping in to check out the souks and fondouks, you'll head west to Essaouira to discover its sights like the Portuguese Castelo Real of Mogador. Following a coastal road south on Day 5, you'll stretch the legs in Imsouane and Taghazout, two surf towns en route to Agadir. Take a respite from the heat at the Agadir Birds Valley and see protected Nile crocodiles in Crocodile Park. Then you're off to Taroudant, where you'll enjoy views from its fortified ramparts of the surrounding countryside before a guided donkey ride around the kasbah of nearby Tiout.

After a morning of touring, refresh yourself with a dip and lounge at Paradise Valley, a bona fide oasis, see flamingoes in Souss Massa National Park, and head into Erg Chigaga, Morocco's wildest desert, for a glamping experience. You'll cover the vast salt flats of Lake Iriqui, accompany Berber guides through the Wild Regs, and ride camels as the sun sets. Pick up green pottery in Tamegroute, stroll amid the Draa River's palm groves, and learn about Morocco's film industry in Ouarzazate. Finally, on Day 12, you'll spend a little time at Aït Benhaddou and leave the desert scene behind to return to Marrakesh. Learn more

More Great 13-Day Morocco Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Morocco? Check out these other 13-day Morocco itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.