The Ultimate 10 Days in Morocco Itinerary: From the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert
14 min readCan you really experience Morocco in ten days or less? Of course, as long as you have a rental car, a good playlist, and a sense of adventure!! I was lucky to spend over two months slow traveling in southern Morocco last winter, working remotely, exploring, and hosting an all-women’s blog retreat. As a digital...
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Can you really experience Morocco in ten days or less? Of course, as long as you have a rental car, a good playlist, and a sense of adventure!!
I was lucky to spend over two months slow traveling in southern Morocco last winter, working remotely, exploring, and hosting an all-women’s blog retreat.
As a digital nomad, I was able to immerse myself in Marrakesh’s souks, linger seaside in Essaouira, hike in the High Atlas Mountains, road-trip to and camp in the Sahara (twice!), and work remotely (and surf) in Tamraght and Taghazout.
Morocco blew my mind with its openness, hospitality, diversity, Amazigh (Berber) culture and language, dramatic landscapes, and food.
Oh my goodness, the lemon tajine and mint tea!
Having experienced Morocco deeply, I want to share how you can experience the country on your own epic road trip, supporting local cooperatives and female-led businesses along the way, while still getting to fulfill your Morocco bucket list.
This itinerary is flexible, but ten days is a good amount of time to journey round-trip from Marrakech through the High Atlas and the Sahara and back.
If you want to spend a few days on the coast (I highly recommend a weekend in Essaouira), you could turn this into a two-week itinerary or swap the mountains or desert with the coast.
10 Days in Southern Morocco Road Trip Itinerary
Before we get into the itinerary details, here’s a quick glance at what you’ll need to pack, prep, and expect for this adventure.
🚙 Rental car in Marrakesh: A rental car is a must for this itinerary; there’s no real other way to do it unless with an organized trip. Find the best rates with Discover Cars.
💰 Moroccan Dirhams (cash): Take out at ATMs in Marrakesh. There will be a few along the major towns (Agdz, Zagora, etc.,) but better to front-load some cash.
⛺️ Book your camel/desert camp in advance: Most desert camp accommodations (at least the “glamp” sites) fill up fast. I’ve stayed in Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga in different parts of the Sahara and recommend Sky View and Mhamid camps.
🪽 Travel medical insurance: Don’t go abroad without it! For just $28/2 weeks, it’s a super easy and cost-conscious way to protect your entire trip.
📱 Morocco eSIM (for data): Download and install an eSIM so you can activate it upon landing without having to change a physical sim or your phone number. I use this all the time.
Days 1–2: Marrakesh’s Vibrant Souks, Palaces, & Rooftops
No Morocco itinerary is complete without bookending in Marrakesh, the country’s ancient, beloved, chaotic city.
I’ve stayed in four areas of Marrakesh, both with my partner and one week solo. To make the most of your stay, you’ll want to find accommodation (preferably a riad) in the heart of the medina to easily get around on foot.
From there, you can step outside your traditional Moroccan guesthouse and immerse yourself in Marrakesh’s timeless, chaotic souks (markets), and be near the best rooftops, cafes, and shops.
I love strolling and getting coffee around the Place des Épices, but, eventually, you should make your way to Marrakesh’s crown jewel: the Jemna El Fna Square. Try to go during the daytime and night, as you’ll see how much it changes!
Then, head to the main artery of Marrakesh, down Souk Semmarine.
With colorful blankets and throws, spices and oils, leather goods and lanterns, and textiles and trinkets, this alley is quintessential Morocco.
As a first-timer, you might feel overwhelmed, so go slowly, and don’t be afraid to get a little lost—it’s part of the experience! If exploring the souks solo intimidates you, no worries! You can also wander the souks with a local guide.
Next, grab a rooftop lunch. I recommend places like Nomad, Café des Épices, or Terrasse des Épices for views, mint tea, and yummy tagines.
Beyond the souks, divvy up your first two days in Morocco to deep dive into Marrakesh’s gems:
Finally, as evening sets in, there are three Marrakesh-classic things to do:
- Return to Jemaa El Fna at night when it transforms into a carnival of food stalls, storytellers, and musicians!
- Book a hammam spa experience for a calmer, relaxed evening.
- Watch the chaos (and sunset) from a rooftop.
Day 3: Imlil & the High Atlas Mountains
If you want to hike in Morocco’s snow-dusted High Atlas Mountains, take a small detour between Marrakesh -> Ait Benhaddou to visit and stay overnight in Imlil.
This authentic Berber village is well worth the extra 1.5–2 hours of drive time out of the city to experience life in the Moroccan mountains.
Imlil is also the gateway town to the Toublak National Park, where you can trek to base camp or simply go on a wonderful day hike.
For your 10-day itinerary, you can stay overnight in a local guesthouse for one night, eat delicious homemade food, and experience the High Atlas and Berber mountain culture.
During my women’s retreat, we stayed overnight in a family-owned guesthouse beyond Imlil, hiking to the edge of the national park. It was a beautiful side of Morocco I hadn’t previously seen, and yet, it’s so typical and truly unique.
In fact, the village and mountainscape reminded me a lot of what the Nepalese towns look like while trekking in the Himalayas. It’s pretty cool to see a quaint Amazigh town to kickstart your road trip!
If you plan your trip to Morocco in winter, be aware that the nights can get pretty cold, especially in the High Atlas Mountains and the desert.
Travel notes 📝
If you skip Imlil, you will simply leave Marrakesh and drive straight toward Ouarzazate to visit Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most famous landmarks and renowned film locations.
If you decide to stay overnight in Imlil to hike and experience the High Atlas, leave early on day four (next) to get a head start, as it requires an extra 1.5 hours to go over the pass on your way to Ait Ben Haddou.
Day 4: Aït Ben Haddhou
As you head out of the High Atlas, don’t skip visiting Aït Ben Haddou (or often typed Ait Benhaddou). This long-time UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-see, especially if it’s your first time in Morocco!
You might recognize Ait Benhaddou better by the film scenes it appears in: Gladiator, Game of Thrones, The Mummy, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia, and Prince of Persia, to name a few!
But Ait Benhaddou isn’t a film set; it’s a real ksar or fortified village (in Amazigh, ighrem) located at the foothills of the High Atlas.
Ait Ben’s earthen clay architecture is one of the best-preserved in the country.
Berber families still live and work in Ait Benhaddou, while many have moved across the river into the ‘new town’.
Walking up through Ait Ben Haddou to the top for sunset is a must-do! Alternatively, photographers might enjoy the viewpoint on Ait Ben from the riverbed. You almost need two trips to see it from both vantage points (luckily, I got to go twice!).
Visit Women-led Cooperatives in Ait Ben Haddhou
When you visit, take your time for Moroccan tea and cookies to support the women-led Tawesna Association, located just at the foot of the village (on your left as you cross the bridge).
Tewasna is an “inclusive tea house” led by Leila Azdou and Nadia Baa Bouz and the Amazigh women of Ait Benhaddou village.
Its mission? To empower women to gain financial independence, support their families, and preserve their culture, through fostering community and economic opportunity.
Initially, the movement was not favored by the men of the village, who resisted change. Now, Tewasna employs over 50+ women in the community and has shaped and regenerated local tourism and the local economy.
You can also take culinary classes through Tawesna as well, so make sure to stop by on your visit to Ait Benhaddou to learn more and support these change-makers.
Intrepid Travel, a leader in responsible travel, has funded this project from the start, and it’s thanks to them that our women’s group was able to meet and learn from Nadia.
Another must-visit women-led cooperative in the village is Akhnif Lglaoui.
Here, women make beautiful hand-spun carpets and rugs with unique Amazigh prints and patterns. One rug = one woman’s work!
You can find this cooperative located opposite the Ait Ben Haddhou, right by the river. Right now, they have no working website, so I’ll leave their email for you to get in touch. They can ship internationally.
Atlas Film Studio Tour
On our first road trip, we skipped the Atlas Film tour, but, thankfully, I got to experience it on my women’s retreat—and it did not disappoint!
If you want a fun and immersive, birds-eye view into ‘Mollywood’ aka “Morocco’s Hollywood” and the sets and backstage areas behind famous films, come here!
The tour takes around one hour and is well worth doing. My group had such fun re-enacting famous movie scenes from Cléopatra, Gladiator, Babel, and more!
You can easily grab your ticket online in advance and just show up when you’re ready!
For accommodation, you can stay in Ait Benhaddou or at the Oscar Hotel located right beside Atlas Film Studios, if you don’t want to backtrack.
However, to save time, I recommend staying in Ouarzazate and visiting the Taourirt Kasbah in the morning.
Alternatively, if you want to skip the film tour and head northeast toward the Dades Valley (northeast route to Merzouga), I recommend heading straight to your accommodation in Skoura and visiting the Kasbah Amridil in the morning of day five.
PS. If ever you want to save Ait Ben Haddhou and Ouarzazate/Atlas Studios for the end of your itinerary, it’s possible to do it in one day on a day trip from Marrakesh.
Days 5–7: Ouarzazate to the Sahara Desert (Pick Your Route)
Now, here comes your opportunity to customize more of your Morocco itinerary, based on preferences.
Essentially, there are two routes to reach the Sahara.
- Option 1: Northeast to Merzouga to the Erg Cheggi (literally ‘Cheggi Dunes’ in Arabic),
- Option 2: South to M’Hamid, where you’ll take a 4×4 further into Erg Chigaga.
I have done both routes, stayed in both Chigaga and Cheggi dunes, and can say neither is better than the other.
It all depends on how you’re traveling and with whom!
–> Get the comparison in my guide to Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga
For a road trip with friends and your own vehicle, I recommend Erg Cheggi, which is the more popular and ‘touristy’ route.
You will definitely be around other camps and see other camel treks and sandboarding groups.
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and want a more offbeat Sahara experience, I’d encourage you to head south to M’Hamid and organize a 4×4 transport into the Chigaga dunes.
This route is much wilder, and the sunset on the dunes here was incredible.
Let’s sum that up!
Option 1: Ouarzazate to Merzouga (Erg Cheggi)
The most popular option, for those who are short on time (doable with one-week itineraries), is to road trip from Ouarzazate to Merzouga via the northeast route, featuring:
- Skoura (small oasis town with kasbah)
- Valley of Roses (M’Goun Valley or Vallé des Roses, known for its rose bushes, rose oil, and Dades River)
- Dades Gorge or Todra Gorge (two dramatic gorges, carved out respectively by the Dades River and Todra River)
- Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes, very popular Sahara entry point)
In this case, you will need to spend one night along the route to Merzouga, as the drive is long (5h30m from Ouarzazate) and there’s plenty to see in between.
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Zooming in on the valley -
Our wonderful host at Kasbah Tussna
On our first road trip through southern Morocco, we visited the Skoura kasbah and the Valley of Roses before spending one night at a beautiful family home turned guesthouse called Kasbah Tussna run by two Amazigh brothers.
The next day, we toured the Dades Gorge before arriving in Merzouga to start our dromedary camel trek to our Sahara camp, where we stayed one night.
In Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)—the more popular and typical Sahara experience—there are dozens of desert camps catering to all budgets.
We splurged at the luxury Sky View Camp for one night and had a gorgeous glamp-style tent, great home-cooked food, and traditional music around the bonfire.
If you opt for this route, you’ll spend days five and six exploring the attractions and scenic landmarks on your way to Merzouga. The Valley of Roses, Dades Gorge, and Berber villages along the way were beautiful. We stopped a lot to take photos!
Then, on day seven, you can make your way out of Merzouga either backtracking from the northeast road, or by detouring south toward Agdz, or even Zagora, before making your way back up to Marrakesh.
Option 2. Ouarzazate to M’Hamid (Erg Chigaga)
For a more offbeat Sahara road trip, head south on day five toward Erg Chigaga from Ouarzazate. This road trip features:
- Agdz (Drâa River Valley)
- Tamnougalt (where you can tour/stay in one of the oldest ksars, Kasbah des Caids; we stayed here on our way back from the Merzouga loop on the first road trip)
- Zagora (palm oasis town)
- Tamegroute (known for its green-glazed pottery)
- M’Hamid (entry point into Erg Chigaga, more offbeat and adventurous dunes)
| Route | Desert Dune | Vibe | Access | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast via Todra Gorge | Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Touristy, easy, glamp sites | Paved all the way | First-timers, shorter trips |
| South via Zagora | Erg Chigaga (M’Hamid) | Remote, wild, fewer people | 4WD from M’Hamid | Adventurous travelers, offbeat |
This second option is the route my girls’ group trip took, which was hands-off as we had a guide do all the heavy work for us.
However, it’s still doable on your own, as long as you take the extra step to organize 4×4 transport into Erg Chigaga.
On this route south from Ouarzazate, you will pass through Agdz, Tamnougalt, and the lush Drâa Valley, Zagora, and Tamegroute.
Along the way, there are opportunities to stop at more women-run coops in the towns, such as for argan oil production, rose water, spices (like hand-plucked saffron!), date palms, and glazed ceramic pottery.
Once you reach M’Hamid, you will take a 4×4 another 60km or so into Erg Chigaga.
In the Chigaga dunes, our group stayed at the ecolodge Mhamid El Ghizlane Camp led by Larbi and his brother.
While certainly less bougie than my first Sahara experience, the hospitality here was incredible, as was the bonfire dancing/music, food, and sunset dromedary camel ride!
Day 8-10: Road Trip Back & Finish Visiting Marrakesh
No matter if you choose Chebbi or Chigaga dunes, day eight will be a heavy driving day to get back to Marrakesh.
If you truly only have ten days or less to spare, you’ll want to head back right away, ideally driving straight through for 2 nights in Marrakesh. Or, you could stop one night along the route and have one night left in Marrakesh before departure day.
Luckily, there are so many cultural and historic things to do in Marrakesh to make the most of your two last days (or 1.5 days).
This is the perfect time to stock up on souvenirs in the souks, for example.
On our last night in Marrakesh with the girls, we celebrated over rooftop drinks at the iconic and timeless Café de France (est. in 1912) overlooking the Jemna El Fna.
Ideally, you could also book in a traditional hammam and massage for your last nights, to scrub off all the dust and sand from your desert adventures (crazy how it gets everywhere).
There’s also the popular Jardin Majorelle, Yves Saint Laurent Museum, and Medersa Ben Youssef to check off your list if you’re interested in including a few more architectural gems in your journey.
I spent a week solo in Marrakesh and can personally recommend relaxing at the cafés perched around the vibrant Place des Épices and signing up for the Pikala city bike tour to experience a more immersive side of the Red City.
If you want to dive more into Marrakesh’s flavors, a guided night food tour would be the perfect way to cap off your trip.
Days 8-12: Morocco Itinerary with the Coast (Best for 2 Weeks)
If you have an extra few days (making a full two-week itinerary), then after your desert experience is the perfect opportunity to head toward the west coast of Morocco.
You can do this as an add-on road trip after touring the Sahara Desert. Whether you’re heading back from Merzouga or Mhamid, you will likely cross back through Agdz.
Once in Agdz, you can head west to the coast to Agadir.
From here, you can make your way north to stay surf and stay overnight in either Tamraght, Taghazout, or Imsouane—each a very cute, digital nomad-friendly surf town.
Then, from there, you could consider driving further north to spend 2–3 days in Essaouira to experience a vibrant and historic port city.
Essaouira has lively Gnawa music, artsy shops, cats (LOTS of them), kitesurfing/surfing, and fresh seafood. It would be the ultimate cherry on top of a two-week itinerary exploring southern Morocco.
Then, you could spend your last two nights wrapping up in Marrakesh!
In any case, however you customize it, I hope my 10-day Morocco road trip itinerary helps you plan your own!!
Between the Sahara Desert’s dunes and oasis towns with crumbling kasbahs and the Berber mountain villages, this 10-day itinerary just can’t be beat for first-timers.
It’s your quintessential Moroccan road trip itinerary, and the one I’d recommend to friends or family! I hope you’ll love it and your time in this beautiful country.
✈️ Replicate my accommodations with these quick links!
–> Marrakesh: Riad Almeria, Outsite
–> Ouarzazate/Ait Ben Haddou: Kasbah Tebbi
–> Dades Valley: Kasbah Tussna
–> Erg Chebbi/Merzouga: Sky View Desert Camp
–> Drâa Valley: Kasbah des Caids
–> Imlil, High Atlas: Atlas Prestige
–> Zagora: Auberge Chez Ali
–> Erg Chigaga/M’hamid: Mhamid Sahara Camp
