Plan a Good 7, 10, or 14-Day Morocco Itinerary For Households

Dreaming of exploring historical medinas and historic kasbahs? Crossing the rusty dunes of the Sahara Desert and climbing the arid peaks of the Atlas Mountains? Sitting underneath the swaying fronds on a palm oasis or strolling via the blue metropolis of Chefchaouen whereas listening to the decision to prayer? Whereas many individuals planning a visit to Morocco will solely keep a couple of days in Marrakech, or mix a go to with a visit to Spain or Portugal, this nation in North Africa has a lot to supply that it’s value visiting by itself and planning a 7 day Morocco itinerary.

Morocco is shortly changing into a sizzling journey vacation spot not only for younger vacationers, however many households are selecting to go to Morocco with children. But determining the proper Morocco journey itinerary generally is a problem, particularly as a result of there are such a lot of stunning locations in Morocco.

Preserve studying for 3 choices on your Morocco itinerary relying on how a lot time it’s important to spend in Morocco.

• 7-Day Morocco itinerary (4 days in Marrakech, 3 days in Fes)
• 10-Day Morocco itinerary (3-4 days in Marrakech, 1 evening in Skoura/Ourzazate, 2 nights Merzouga/desert, 3 nights Fes)
• 14-Day Morocco itinerary (Day 1 Casablanca / Rabat, Day 2 Rabat to Chefchaouen, Day 3 Chefchaouen, Day 4-7 Fes, Day 7-8 Sahara Desert camp, Day 8-10 Skoura, Day 10-14 Marrakech)

How A lot Time SHould You Spend in Morocco?

Two weeks is admittedly the best period of time to go to Morocco. Nevertheless, you possibly can undoubtedly get an excellent really feel for the nation with only one week or, even higher, at the least 10 days. Relying on how a lot time you possibly can spend in-country, you might have some robust decisions to make about what you retain in and what it’s important to miss of your Morocco journey itinerary.

For instance, should you dream of driving camels within the Sahara desert and staying in a single day in a desert camp, it’s arduous to suit that right into a one-week Morocco itinerary as a result of it’s at the least an eight-hour drive from Fes to Merzouga on the fringe of the Sahara, and even farther from Marrakech.

Equally, you actually can’t match within the beautiful Blue Metropolis of Chefchaouen should you solely have a ten day Morocco itinerary. Not less than not until you’re keen to surrender a visit to the desert!

However that’s okay, I’m going to stroll you thru what a 7, 10, or 2-week Morocco itinerary may appear like!

Do you want assist planning your journey? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the time or assets to wade via tons of knowledge and query your selections, I assist purchasers plan a customized itinerary, tailor-made to your pursuits and journey model. Be taught extra about my journey planning companies.

Choice 1: 7 Day Morocco Itinerary

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Should you solely have one week in Morocco, I’d suggest that you just fly into Marrakech. Should you discover a higher deal or a direct flight flying into Casablanca, simply understand that most guests don’t spend way more than a day in Casablanca to see the Hassan II Mosque, and that it’s roughly three hours from Marrakech.

With 7 days in Morocco, you should have time to go to two locations. I’d suggest both Marrakech and Fes or Marrakech and Merzouga within the Moroccan Sahara.

• Days 1-4: Marrakech
• Days 5-7 Fes

Plan to spend three nights in Marrakech (4 if you wish to do a day journey). Chances are you’ll select to remain in a standard Moroccan riad, or at one of many resorts just like the 4 Seasons Marrakech or the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, outdoors of metropolis middle. Some good riad choices embrace:

• Riad Kaiss in Marrakech – most attraction (that is the place we stayed for 2 nights after which we cut up our time between the riad and the 4 Seasons for 2 nights)
• Villa des Orangers — for a splurge riad
• Riad Kniza — extra fairly priced

Day 1 – Marrakech Souk

Spend your first full day soaking within the metropolis with a half-day tour of Marrakech souk. This will depart you loads of time to wander via the medina and store after the tour. It is possible for you to to see locations the place they hand-dye textiles, do metallic working, and different handicrafts. Simply understand that many shopkeepers don’t need you to {photograph} the merchandise with out permission or financial compensation. (Additionally, it’s offensive within the Islamic tradition to {photograph} individuals’s faces.)

Whereas exploring the souk, chances are you’ll wish to cease into one of many pharmacies for natural cures and merchandise like rose water, argan oil, or Moroccan tea. A go to to one of many spice distributors can also be a visible delight, simply watch out when buying gadgets like saffron as there are numerous fakes within the medina too. It helps to ask an area the place to buy.

Within the night, make sure you take a stroll via Jemaa-el-Fna Sq.. It may be fairly the spectacle, with snake charmers, meals distributors, and all types of products on show. Simply preserve an in depth eye in your valuables and should you cease to take an image of the snake charmers, you will need to tip them. You’ll quickly study that tipping is anticipated in Morocco, even when somebody offers you instructions or helps you in any manner.

Close to the sq., you possibly can stroll by the Kutubiyya or Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret, which is the biggest mosque in Marrakesh.

Day 2 – Marrakech Meals

In your second full day, I’d counsel that you just dig deeper into the delicacies with a cooking class & market go to or meals tour with Marrakech Meals Excursions. We took a cooking class with Souk Delicacies, which was superior.

It began with a go to to the market the place our information gave us every a purchasing listing and cash and helped us buy what we would wish to arrange a meal. We then went to an area’s residence to arrange the meal, with their assist, together with strolling our bread to the native bakery oven. Then we loved an genuine Moroccan meal ready with our personal palms.

Within the afternoon, take a while to calm down at your riad or resort. There are lots of nice eating places in Marrakech should you really feel like exploring different cuisines as the remainder of your time in Morocco you will note the identical dishes on the menu, together with kefta, couscous, tagine, pastille, and briouats.

Day 3 – Marrakech Museums & Palaces

In your third day in Marrakech, there may be nonetheless a lot to see however two points of interest you shouldn’t miss embrace the Dar El Bacha Museum and the Bahia Palace. Situated close to the doorway of the medina, the Dar El Bacha was as soon as the house of Thami El Glaoui, the pacha of Marrakech.

The structure of the museum is the primary attraction, though there are attention-grabbing artifacts inside that symbolize the varied cultures of Morocco together with Berber, Arabic, and Jewish. The museum has unimaginable picket carvings, stunning tilework, and a stunning courtyard with aromatic orange timber.

Bahia Palace is a phenomenal mid to late Nineteenth-century palace that was first constructed by Si Musa, grand vizier of Alaouite sultan Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman, in 1859 after which continued and expanded by his son Si Ba Ahmed ibn Musa, grand vizier of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz between 1894 and 1900.

There are stunning mosaics, carvings, and tilework that present a superb backdrop for images. We selected to have household images right here by Flytographer.

In case you have extra time, chances are you’ll wish to go to a few of the main points of interest comparable to:

• Les Jardins Majorelle botanical gardens and YSL Museum
• Museum of Marrakech
• Dar Si Stated
• Saadian Tombs

Day 4 – Day Journey

In case you have a fourth day in Marrakech, I’d suggest selecting an tour that pursuits you outdoors of town. These are primarily full-day excursions, though some might be half-day.

Some day journey choices embrace:

• Day journey to Essaouira — Essaouira is a picturesque seaside city. The primary sq. was utilized in Orson Welles’ Othello. The bay is well-liked with kite and wind surfers, and you may head right down to the water to see the fishing boats after which stroll alongside La Skala, one of many port bastions.
• Excessive Atlas Mountains / Berber Villages — head into the Excessive Atlas Mountains and go to a couple of genuine Berber villages, together with a cease for lunch at an area’s residence. You possibly can even embrace a camel experience.
• Ouarzazate and Ait Ben haddou — take a full day journey throughout the Atlas Mountains to see the traditional kasbah of Ait Ben haddou (chances are you’ll acknowledge this from Gladiator or Sport of Thrones) and the “Hollywood within the Desert” of Ouarzazate.
• Rock Desert and Camel Trip — take a half-day tour into the close by rocky desert and climb on board a camel for a experience via a palm grove. This tour will usually cease for conventional mint tea in an area village.
• Different choices embrace quad biking, horseback driving, and excursions of Marrakech through motorcycle sidecar.

Day 5 – Journey to Fes

Within the curiosity of time, from Marrakech, I’d suggest taking a brief one-hour flight to Fes. An alternative choice could be to take a prepare however that takes 6.5 hours (though it’s a good price range choice.) The outdated city of Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Website and options the most effective medina in Morocco. It is called the mental and non secular coronary heart of Morocco, whereas Marrakech is extra touristy.

Should you proceed to Fes, that is the place I’d undoubtedly suggest staying in a standard riad within the medina, even should you opted for a resort or a riad outdoors of the medina in Marrakech. Some nice choices embrace:

• Riad Fes — Relais & Chateaux luxurious riad (that is the place we stayed)
• Karawan Riad — beautiful property, better of the most effective
• Dar Roumana — extra price range pleasant however fairly conventional and good

Upon arrival, I’d head out on a Fes meals tour (until you took one in Marrakech, then perhaps strive a cooking class with Riad Fes.) Should you aren’t a lot of a foodie, then I’d counsel taking a medina tour or visiting the tanneries to see this essential a part of the native tradition and financial system. Fes is unquestionably a fantastic spot to do a few of your memento purchasing! We ended up shopping for pottery, leather-based items, and metallic merchandise in Fes.

Or, should you simply wish to calm down, check out one of many conventional hammams for a soak, scrub, and therapeutic massage.

Day 6 – Fes Tour

Your second day in Fes is when you must actually dig into exploring this wonderful metropolis. I’d suggest hiring a information to get the complete historical past and background, however you may definitely discover many of those locations by yourself. A number of the highlights embrace:

• Historical Medina – a lot extra genuine than Marrakech, it’s simple to get misplaced on this labyrinth but additionally enjoyable to find the completely different sections, comparable to fancy clothes, metallic working, spices and meals, and so on. Simply understand that a few of the extra generic memento kinds of retailers close to the Blue Gate promote items which are made in Asia, not Morocco. Search for retailers the place you possibly can see the artisans at work and be ready to cut price! It’s a sport that Moroccans get pleasure from.
• Royal Palace (Fes Palais Royal Dar El Makhzen) with its golden gates – you can not go inside however it’s enjoyable to take images in entrance of the attractive golden doorways
• Previous Jewish Quarter (or Mellah) – positioned close to the Royal Palace you possibly can stroll via a gate into the quarter, go to the synagogue and Jewish cemetery, and go to the retailers (this can be a large jewellery district.)
• Pottery quarter – you possibly can go to a cooperative to see every step of the pottery making course of. It is a good spot to by genuine souvenirs.
• Close by fortresses of Borj Sud and Borj Nord – these forts have been inbuilt 1582 and supply nice views over Fes.

You possibly can see all of those websites in someday however you will have a automotive to get to many of those spots so hiring a information is one of the best ways to go.

Day 7 – Return

In your final day in Morocco, it is advisable to get again to your metropolis of departure. You can both fly again to Marrakech, or you may rent a driver to take you to Casablanca through Meknes and Rabat.

Choice 2: 10 Day Morocco Itinerary

With three further days to play with, you should have time to get to the Sahara desert should you don’t thoughts spending a variety of time in a automotive. Begin your journey out in Marrakech, as I’ve outlined above, however in your fourth full day (not counting your arrival day), both lease a automotive or rent a driver on your three-day journey into and out of the desert.

• Days 1-4: Marrakech (as outlined above)
• Day 5: Eit Ben Haddou / Skoura
• Day 6-7: Merzouga, Sahara Desert
• Days 8-10: Fes

Day 5 – Drive to Eit Ben Haddou & Skoura

I can’t stress sufficient how lengthy the drive is from Marrakech out to Merzouga within the Sahara Desert. You’ll want to cease in a single day to interrupt up the journey. Even then, the driving can really feel a bit infinite and it may be gradual going, particularly should you get behind a truck.

As soon as you allow Marrakech, you’ll journey throughout the plains that encompass Marrakech and over the Tichka Cross of the Excessive Atlas Mountains. Make sure you cease for some wonderful views of this winding highway. The primary cease will both be the historical kasbah of Telouet, or head straight to Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou is the most effective preserved kasbah in Morocco. The village is an Eleventh-century assortment of kasbahs which are nonetheless inhabited by a handful of households. It is going to look acquainted as a result of it has been used because the backdrop to many motion pictures and TV exhibits.

There aren’t actually any indicators or markers throughout the city, so to get essentially the most out of the expertise, I’d suggest hiring an area information. In case you have a driver, they’ll most likely assist organize this. Anticipate to pay round 200 Dirhams (about $20) for a brief tour (see my Morocco journey price range to study extra about what a visit to Morocco prices.)

From Ait Ben Haddou, you’ll undergo Ouarzazate. Immediately this ex-French overseas legion outpost is a bit touristy and the middle of the film business. You possibly can cease and go to the movie studio however I’m undecided whether it is value it.

On the finish of the day, you’ll arrive in Skoura, a palm oasis, the place you possibly can spend the evening. If you’re on the lookout for luxurious, Dar Ahlam is the place to remain. Nevertheless, we stayed on the L’Ma Lodge, which options a big backyard of palms and fruit timber with a pool and welcoming rest areas. We cherished this essentially the most of all of our lodging on the journey. It was such a soothing place to sit back out.

Day 5 – Drive to Merzouga

Your subsequent day is spent driving from Skoura to Merzouga on the fringe of the Sahara desert. You’ll cross via the Dades Valley and Kelaa M’Gouna (which sits on the head of the “Rose Valley”) and Todra Gorge. In case you have time, cease at one of many ladies’s rose cooperatives to buy rose oil, rose water, and different locally-made merchandise.

Cease for lunch close to the Todra Gorge and you may take a straightforward hike via the higher a part of the gorge. Todra Gorge is a sandstone ravine with 300-meter cliffs on both aspect of a really slender passage.

From there, you’ll proceed on to reach in Merzouga earlier than sundown. Should you select, you possibly can organize for a sundown camel trek into the desert to get to your desert camp.

There are fairly a couple of desert camps on this space, so it isn’t like you’re alone within the Sahara. The one we stayed at was Jaimas Madu, which had luxuriously-appointed tents with personal toilet services (a should for us!) We have been shocked by how good our tent was and the meals was scrumptious. It was such a particular expertise.

Day 6 – Sahara Desert

Spend the day having fun with camp and the actions out there within the desert together with sand boarding, four-wheel drives, and evening time star gazing.

Day 7 – Drive to Fes

Today is devoted to the lengthy drive over to Fes. You’ll cross via the Center Atlas Mountains. Make sure you cease earlier than you get to the Swiss-inspired college city of Ifrane to feed the macaques. You possibly can’t miss them as you’re driving by and there are distributors promoting peanuts.

When you arrive in Fes, you possibly can choose up from the one-week Morocco itinerary above to finish your journey.

Choice 3: 14 Day Morocco Itinerary

In case you have two weeks to spend in Morocco — fortunate you! With two weeks, you possibly can take a special method than the 7 day or 10 day Morocco itineraries outlined above. I’d counsel utilizing the next schedule:

Day 1 – Arrival

On your two-week Morocco itinerary, I’d attempt to fly into Casablanca and out of Marrakech, or into/out of Casablanca (until you’re connecting via Europe, then it will be splendid to begin in Tangier should you may.)

Upon arrival in Casablanca, you may both spend your first evening there (go to the Hassan II Mosque and Rick’s Cafe) or head as much as Rabat, Morocco’s capital metropolis.

In Rabat, you possibly can hit a couple of of town’s highlights: Hassan Tower, Kasbah des Oudaias, Chellah, and the Medina earlier than the four-five hour drive to Chefchaouen.

Day 2 – Chefchaouen

Most of today might be spent touring to Chefchaouen as sadly, there isn’t any simple strategy to get there. Many individuals have requested me, “is Chefchaouen value it?” And you probably have lower than two weeks in Morocco, then it’s undoubtedly not value all of the journey to get there. Nevertheless, should you do have two weeks or extra, I completely cherished this little gem.

Possibly it was as a result of we have been there in March and never “excessive season” for all of the Instagrammers, however I discovered it charming and genuine, so long as you possibly can ignore these posing for photos (which wasn’t a ridiculous quantity.)

Chefchaouen is called the Blue Metropolis and tourism is booming after many have fallen in love with its blue-washed partitions and secret alleyways after seeing it on Instagram (confession – I’m responsible!) It’s arguably the prettiest metropolis in Morocco, nestled between two peaks of the Rif Mountains.

Lodging are considerably scarce in Chefchaouen and never the identical stage of luxurious that you could find in different cities. We stayed two nights on the Lina Ryad, and in addition thought of the Riad Cherifa.

Day 3 – ChefChaouen Exploration

You’ll have somewhat over a day to discover the winding alleyways and markets of Chefchaouen. Uncover the outdated Jewish quarter, and go to the Ras El Ma spring, the place native ladies wash their garments.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you possibly can take a hike to the outdated Spanish Mosque/fort on a hill outdoors the medina. From right here you possibly can see stunning views of the valley and if you’re fortunate, catch a phenomenal sundown.

We employed a information, which helped us to not get misplaced, however actually I don’t suppose you want a information to discover as town is pretty compact and you may normally discover your manner again to the place you got here from.

Day 4 – Drive to Fes

From Chefchaouen it’s a 4 hour drive to Fes, the place you’ll choose up from the 7-day itinerary above, however in reverse order.

Day 5-6 – Fes

You’ll spend three nights in Fes earlier than heading into the desert. Chances are you’ll take into account taking a day journey to Meknes from Fes to see the partly excavated Berber-Roman ruins of Volubilis. Check with the Fes part underneath the 7-day itinerary above.

Day 7-8 – Merzouga

Since you might have time, I’d suggest spending two nights within the desert so that you’ve got extra time to do actions like sand boarding and dune busting, in addition to the sundown camel experience. See particulars within the 10-day itinerary above.

Day 9-10 – Skoura

Then, in your manner out of the desert, you possibly can spend two nights in Skoura to interrupt up the driving. See particulars within the 10-day itinerary above.

Days 11-14 – Marrakech

You’ll then proceed on to Marrakech through Eit Ben Haddou. You’ll spend three to 4 nights in Marrakech and might both fly out of Marrakech, or organize a three-hour switch again to Casablanca on the finish of your journey. See particulars within the 7-day itinerary above.

Attending to Morocco

Most guests coming from america will fly into Casablanca, though you might be able to fly into Marrakech should you join via Europe. U.S. cities with direct flights to Morocco embrace New York, Washington D.C., and Miami. In Europe, some cities with direct flights to Morocco embrace Paris, London, Lisbon, and Madrid. Most main airways supply direct flights to Morocco, together with Air France, British Airways, and Royal Air Maroc. There are additionally a number of price range airways that provide flights to Morocco, together with Ryanair and Easyjet.

Getting Round Morocco

I’ve a complete publish concerning the execs and cons of driving in Morocco, however the backside line is that whereas it’s completely attainable to drive your self safely round Morocco, it is usually way more nice to have a driver if the price range permits.

Should you resolve to self-drive, simply beware that there are pace traps arrange outdoors of just about each city. Many roads are slender and winding, with many vans to cope with. One other nice advantage of hiring a driver is that they may know the most effective locations to cease and eat, use the toilet, or sights to go to alongside the best way.

Our driver Hassan was such a gem. He crammed us in on a lot native historical past and customs throughout our lengthy drives, giving us a deeper appreciation of Morocco throughout our go to.

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