10-Day Morocco Itinerary: Marrakech, Sahara & the Coast

On By saar.decosterIn Morocco

Morocco is one of those countries where you can go from colourful cities and busy souks to desert landscapes, blue mountain towns and laid-back surf villages within the same trip.

If you’re visiting Morocco for the first time, it can be difficult to figure out how many places you can realistically fit into your itinerary. Distances can be bigger than they look on a map, and you don’t want to spend your entire trip sitting in a bus.

So, how many days do you need in Morocco?

Around 10 days is a good amount of time for a first trip, especially if you want to combine Marrakech, the Sahara Desert and Morocco’s Atlantic coast.

This is the route I’d recommend based on my own trip, with Chefchaouen as an optional two-day extension if you have more time.

If you’re still deciding where to go and what to expect, my Morocco Travel Guide brings together my practical tips, destination guides and things to know before your trip.

My 10-Day Morocco Itinerary at a Glance

DayDestinationRecommended time
Days 1–2Marrakech2 days
Days 3–5Sahara Desert → Fes3 days
Days 6–7Essaouira1–2 days
Days 8–9Taghazout2 days
Day 10Agadir1 day
OptionalChefchaouen+2 days

This itinerary gives you a pretty nice mix of cities, desert, culture, beaches, surfing and a more relaxed coastal atmosphere.

And if you have more than 10 days, I would add Chefchaouen rather than trying to squeeze it into the main route.

Days 1–2: Marrakech

Start your Morocco trip in Marrakech.

Two days is a good amount of time for a first visit. You’ll have enough time to explore the medina, walk through the colourful streets, see the main sights and experience the atmosphere without having to stay for too long.

Marrakech is busy, colourful and chaotic in the best possible Moroccan way. It’s also a good starting point because there are plenty of tours and excursions leaving from the city.

If you want more ideas for your time in the city, my Marrakech Travel Guide covers the best things to do, where to stay and practical tips.

Day 1 in Marrakech

If it’s your first time in Marrakech, I’d recommend booking a walking tour for your first day. The medina can be quite overwhelming at first with all the tiny streets, souks and people, so having a local guide makes it much easier to get your bearings.

I’d book one through GetYourGuide, where you can find different tours through the medina and souks. They can also take you to the main sights and explain what you’re seeing, which is useful because many of Marrakech’s attractions require an entrance fee anyway.

See Marrakech walking tours on GetYourGuide →

After the tour, explore the medina and souks at your own pace and head to Jemaa el-Fnaa later in the day when it gets much livelier. You can also visit some of the city’s famous palaces or gardens if you still have time.

Medersa Ben Youssef in Marrakech, Morocco

Day 2 in Marrakech: Add an Agafay Desert Experience

If you don’t have time for the full Sahara Desert trip later in your itinerary, or if you simply don’t want to spend three days travelling towards the Sahara, there is another option.

You can do an Agafay Desert day trip from Marrakech instead.

I did a tour that included quad biking, camel riding, dinner and a light/fire show, and honestly, I loved the experience. The quad biking was SO much fun, and the whole evening had such a fun atmosphere.

Friends riding a quad bike through the desert near Marrakech, Morocco

The current GetYourGuide options include tours with Marrakech pickup, quad biking, dinner, live entertainment and a fire show.

See Agafay Desert quad biking & dinner tours on GetYourGuide

The exact tour I did was around €20 when I visited, although prices can obviously change depending on the date and tour.

A note about the camel ride

I also did the camel riding included in the tour, but personally, it wasn’t really my thing.

The camels I saw had ropes attached around their mouths, and seeing the animals handled like that didn’t feel great to me. I know camel rides are a very common tourist activity in Morocco, but it’s something I personally wouldn’t choose to do again.

The rest of the experience, though, was genuinely really fun.

So if you don’t feel comfortable with the camel ride, you can skip it and focus on the quad biking, sunset, dinner and show instead.

If you don’t want to do the Sahara Desert trip at all, this is a nice way to still get a desert-style experience without committing several days to it.

Days 3–5: Sahara Desert & Fes

If you have the time, I would definitely choose the proper Sahara Desert trip over only doing Agafay.

The difference is that the Sahara isn’t just an activity you tick off in an afternoon. The journey itself becomes part of the experience.

I recommend taking a 3-day desert tour from Marrakech that ends in Fes.

This works really well for a longer Morocco itinerary because you’re not travelling all the way back to Marrakech afterwards. Instead, you cross the country and finish in Fes.

There are several 3-day Marrakech-to-Merzouga tours that include the Atlas Mountains, desert stops, a night in the Sahara and onward travel to Fes.

See 3-day Marrakech to Sahara & Fes tours on GetYourGuide

If you’re comparing different ways of getting around Morocco, I’ve also written a guide on how to get around Morocco, including buses, rental cars, taxis and private transfers.

Why spend three days on the Sahara trip?

The Sahara is quite far from Marrakech, so trying to turn it into a very quick day trip would completely defeat the point.

Over three days, you can slowly make your way through Morocco, see changing landscapes, stop at different places along the route and eventually reach the dunes.

The classic tours generally include a night in a desert camp and a camel ride around sunset or sunrise.

I would plan to spend the evening after your tour in Fes rather than immediately continuing somewhere else.

After three days on the road, you’ll probably appreciate having a proper evening to eat, walk around and relax.

Sahara or Agafay?

If you’re trying to decide between the two:

Choose the Sahara Desert if:
You have enough time, want the full desert experience and don’t mind spending several days travelling.

Choose Agafay if:
You have a shorter trip, don’t want to spend three days travelling, or mainly want the desert atmosphere, quad biking, sunset, dinner and entertainment.

Both can be fun, but they’re very different experiences.

Optional: Add 2 Days in Chefchaouen

If you have two extra days, I’d consider adding Chefchaouen.

This is the famous Blue Pearl of Morocco, and honestly, it looks exactly like you’d imagine from the photos: blue streets, blue buildings and little corners everywhere that make you want to stop for a picture.

The downside?

It’s quite far out of the way.

That’s why I wouldn’t try to squeeze Chefchaouen into the main 10-day itinerary. If you have the extra time, however, it can be a really nice addition.

Since you’ll already be in Fes after the Sahara tour, you can travel from Fes to Chefchaouen and spend two days there.

There are GetYourGuide transfer options from Fes to Chefchaouen, including a one-way transfer with stops along the way.

See Fes to Chefchaouen transfers on GetYourGuide

I generally like using GetYourGuide for activities and transfers because you can see the details and reviews before booking, although I’d still check the exact inclusions, cancellation policy and recent reviews for whichever option you choose.

How long do you need in Chefchaouen?

Two days is perfect for me.

The centre is very walkable, so you don’t need to spend your time organising transport between attractions.

Just walk.

Get lost in the blue streets, stop for Moroccan food, find pretty viewpoints and enjoy the much slower atmosphere compared with Marrakech.

It’s one of those places where the experience is more about wandering around and taking it all in than having a massive list of things to do.

Days 6–7: Essaouira

After the desert and inland Morocco, I would head towards the coast.

Essaouira deserves at least one day, but if you have the time, I’d happily stay for two.

The atmosphere here is completely different from Marrakech. It’s coastal, breezy and much more relaxed, with white-and-blue buildings, fishing boats and the Atlantic right beside the medina.

What to do in Essaouira

One of the first things I’d do is head to the port in the morning.

Watching the fishing boats and seeing the fishermen bringing in their catch is one of the more authentic experiences you can have in the city.

Then spend time wandering through the medina, walking along the coast and enjoying the slower pace.

And if you like horses, horse riding along the beach is such a fun activity here.

GetYourGuide currently has several Essaouira horse-riding options, including rides along beaches, dunes and the surrounding countryside.

See horseback riding in Essaouira on GetYourGuide

Some tours are suitable for beginners, while others offer longer rides for more experienced riders, so check the exact activity before booking.

One or two days in Essaouira?

I’d say:

1 day: enough to see the city and get a feel for it.

2 days: better if you want to slow down, do a horse ride or another activity and actually enjoy the coast instead of rushing through.

Days 8–9: Taghazout

Then continue south to Taghazout.

And I absolutely loved this place.

Taghazout has a completely different vibe again. It’s a small surf town with a relaxed atmosphere, ocean views, cafés and people coming mainly to surf, chill and enjoy the coast.

I would spend two days here.

And if you’ve never surfed before?

Please try it here.

You don’t need to be an experienced surfer. One of the fun things about Taghazout is that there are surf spots and lessons for different levels.

Even if you wipe out approximately 47 times in one session, it’s still part of the experience.

Taghazout is also one of those places where I think your itinerary should leave some room for doing absolutely nothing. Grab food, sit by the ocean, walk around town and watch people surf.

It’s less about ticking off attractions and more about enjoying the vibe.

I wrote a full Taghazout Travel Guide with more on surfing, where to stay, food, transport and the laid-back atmosphere that made me love this little town.

Day 10: Agadir

Finish your 10-day Morocco itinerary in Agadir.

I honestly didn’t expect to like Agadir as much as I did.

It’s huge compared with Taghazout, and it has a much more authentic, everyday-city feeling to it.

There isn’t necessarily an endless list of must-see attractions, which is why one day is enough for me if you’re following this itinerary.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay longer.

If you want to have a proper beach day, relax by the ocean or simply slow down before leaving Morocco, two days in Agadir would also work really well.

For me, the appeal was less about having dozens of tourist attractions and more about experiencing a different side of Morocco.

After the medina of Marrakech, the Sahara, Chefchaouen or Essaouira and the surf-town atmosphere of Taghazout, Agadir gives you another perspective on the country.

If you want to spend more time on the coast, my Agadir Travel Guide covers the best things to do, where to stay and what I thought of the city.

How Many Days Do You Need in Morocco?

For this particular route, I’d say 10 days is a good starting point.

You can see a lot without trying to cram every famous Moroccan destination into one trip:

2 days Marrakech → 3-day Sahara tour ending in Fes → 1–2 days Essaouira → 2 days Taghazout → 1 day Agadir.

If you have another two days, add Chefchaouen after Fes.

That would turn the trip into around 12 days, but I wouldn’t feel like you need to add it just for the sake of seeing another famous destination.

Chefchaouen is beautiful, but it is also quite far from the rest of this route. If you only have 10 days, I’d rather keep the itinerary manageable than spend a huge amount of your trip getting from one place to another.

My Recommended Morocco Route

10 days

Marrakech → Sahara Desert → Fes → Essaouira → Taghazout → Agadir

12 days

Marrakech → Sahara Desert → Fes → Chefchaouen → Essaouira → Taghazout → Agadir

And if you don’t have enough time for the three-day Sahara trip, replace it with an Agafay Desert experience from Marrakech.

That way, you can still get the desert experience without spending several days travelling inland.

If you’re working with a different amount of time, I’ve also broken down the best time to visit Morocco and what each season is like.

Final Thoughts

What I like about this Morocco itinerary is that it doesn’t feel like you’re visiting the same type of place over and over again.

You start with the chaos and colours of Marrakech, cross through the country towards the Sahara, experience the desert and end up in Fes. Then you can add the blue streets of Chefchaouen if you have extra time before heading towards the Atlantic coast.

From there, everything slows down.

Essaouira is relaxed and coastal, Taghazout is all about surfing and good vibes, and Agadir gives you a much more everyday Moroccan city experience.

If this is your first trip to Morocco, I think that mix gives you a really nice introduction to the country without trying to see absolutely everything at once.

And honestly, Morocco is one of those countries where I would rather leave wanting to come back than spend half the trip rushing between destinations just to say I saw them.

Planning Your Morocco Trip

If you’re planning your own Morocco adventure, I’ve put together all my guides from the trip, including Marrakech, Agadir and Taghazout, plus practical tips, things to do, food and places to stay.

→ START HERE: Morocco Travel Guide

More Morocco Guides

Morocco city guides

Marrakech

Agadir

Taghazout

Frequently Asked Questions About a Morocco Itinerary

Is 10 days enough for Morocco?

Yes, 10 days is enough for a first trip to Morocco if you focus on a few different regions rather than trying to see the entire country. This itinerary combines Marrakech, the Sahara Desert, Fes, Essaouira, Taghazout and Agadir.

What is the best Morocco itinerary for 10 days?

A varied 10-day Morocco itinerary could include 2 days in Marrakech, a 3-day Sahara Desert tour ending in Fes, 1–2 days in Essaouira, 2 days in Taghazout and 1 day in Agadir.

Should I visit Chefchaouen on a 10-day Morocco trip?

Chefchaouen is a beautiful addition, but it is quite far from the rest of this itinerary. If you have two extra days, you can add it after Fes. With only 10 days, I’d consider it an optional extension rather than trying to squeeze it into the main route.

How many days do you need in Marrakech?

Two days is a good amount of time for a first visit to Marrakech. You’ll have time to explore the medina, souks and main sights while also leaving enough time for a day or evening experience outside the city.

Is the Sahara Desert worth visiting from Marrakech?

Yes, if you have enough time. A three-day Sahara Desert tour from Marrakech allows you to experience the desert while travelling onwards to Fes, instead of having to return to Marrakech afterwards.

Can I visit the desert without going to the Sahara?

Yes. If you don’t have time for a three-day Sahara trip, you can visit the Agafay Desert from Marrakech. Day and evening tours can include activities such as quad biking, dinner and live entertainment.

How many days should I spend in Taghazout?

I recommend spending around two days in Taghazout. This gives you enough time to experience the relaxed surf-town atmosphere and try surfing, even if you’re a beginner.

Is one day enough in Agadir?

For sightseeing, one day can be enough to get a feel for Agadir. However, staying for two days can make sense if you want to spend more time at the beach or simply relax before continuing your trip.

How long should I spend in Essaouira?

You can see the highlights of Essaouira in one day, but two days gives you more time to enjoy the coastal atmosphere and activities such as horseback riding.

Can you travel from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara Desert?

Yes. One popular option is a three-day desert tour from Marrakech that travels through the Atlas Mountains and desert before finishing in Fes. This makes it a useful part of a longer Morocco itinerary.

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