How Many Days Do You Need in Morocco? Solo Travel Itinerary Ideas
“How many days do I need in Morocco?” is a question I get a lot…and it’s not easy to answer.
Morocco is one of those countries where you can spend a long weekend exploring a single city or several weeks travelling the length and breadth of the country. Take your pick!
But if I’m talking to solo travellers who are planning their first visit, I suggest 7 to 10 days as a starting point. This gives you enough time to experience several different sides of the country, but you’re not locked into a longer itinerary if you feel overwhelmed by culture shock.
And if you end up falling in love with Morocco (like I did), you can either extend your trip or plan a longer return visit.
If you’re an experienced solo traveller who is adept at adjusting to different cultures and know that an occasional challenge won’t rattle you, then I’d recommend two weeks or more. That way, you can explore Morocco’s north and south…and get a little off the beaten tourist trail.
At the end of the day, the ideal length ultimately depends on what you want from your trip….and how much time you have available.
In this article, I’ll share itinerary ideas to help you plan your Morocco trip, whether that’s a quick weekender or a multi-week adventure.
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How Many Days Do You Need in Morocco?
3 to 4 Days: A City Break
If you only have a long weekend, I’d recommend picking one city and sticking with that.
Places like Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Essaouira are all great for a city break – they have airports that receive international flights and an enviable choice of riads for that quintessential Moroccan experience.
If you’re looking for accommodation inspiration, check out my recommendations for solo travellers in Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Essaouira.
With a long weekend, you’ll have enough time to experience the medina, souks and gardens, plus do a half or full-day trip beyond the urban sprawl. For itinerary inspiration, check out my itinerary guides to Marrakech, Fes, Rabat and Essaouira.
5 Days: Marrakech + Essaouira
With five days in Morocco, you can easily explore two cities, although I’d recommend you pick two that are relatively close together.
Perhaps a Marrakech + Essaouira combination (three nights in the “Red City” and two by the coast). This will give you that contrast between the energy and chaos of Marrakech and the relaxed charm of Essaouira with its blue and white buildings.
Tangier + Rabat is another great combination, with the high-speed Al Boraq train connecting the two. While the Moroccan capital is renowned for its leafy streets, hilltop kasbah and French colonial architecture, Tangier has a tangled medina with colourful souks and some fantastic cultural museums.
If Fes is on your radar, it can easily be combined with blue-hued Chefchaouen, reached via daily CTM buses. These two destinations feels worlds apart (although they are only four hours away). Fes is labyrinthine and home to some gorgeous madrasas, while the “Blue Pearl” is all about mountain views and photogenic streets.
7 Days: Fes + Marrakech
It’s a seven-hour train journey between Marrakech and Fes (a full day’s travel), which is why I don’t suggest trying to visit both on a five-day itinerary. But if you have a week up your sleeve, this is the classic introduction to Morocco.
Both Marrakech and Fes centre around UNESCO-listed medinas, with fantastic souk shopping, architecture and gardens to explore. But Marrakech feels more “global”, with its rooftop restaurants and concept stores, while Fes retains more of a “stepping-back-in-time” atmosphere.
That said, both have an excellent choice of riads and with 3-4 nights in each, you can really settle in. It’s also possible to spend one of your days venturing out of the city – perhaps to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech or maybe to Meknes + Volubilis from Fes.
This itinerary is best suited to travellers who want history and cultural experiences, rather than landscapes. Yes, it is possible to travel from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara. But with a week-long Morocco itinerary, it would be very rushed trying to squeeze it in.
If you really want to do the desert and only have seven days, I’d suggest skipping Fes and doing a 3-day/2-night Sahara trip from Marrakech instead. Alternatively, you could do Fes + Marrakech with a night in Agafay – a desert destination less than an hour’s drive from the “Red City”.
8 to 10 Days: Marrakech + Sahara + Fes
For many first-time solo travellers visiting Morocco, 10 days is the sweet spot, which is why it’s my go-to recommendation. And if you want the classic introduction, it has to be Marrakech + Fes, with a visit to the Sahara Desert en route.
Give yourself three nights in Marrakech to explore its souks, gardens and palaces, and eat your way through the city’s incredible food scene. If time allows, do a half-day trip into the Atlas Mountains to hike between its Amazigh villages.
Then, join a small-group trip to the desert, travelling through the High Atlas and the dramatic landscapes of southern Morocco. Depending on the itinerary, this will likely include a visit to the ancient ksar of Aït Benhaddou and the spectacular gorges of Dades and Todra.
Once you arrive in Merzouga, you’ll board a camel for the short trek to your desert camp and spend a night under the Saharan stars. Then, continue on to Fes for two full days exploring its ancient medina, legendary tanneries and madrasas.
Of course, there are lots of other itinerary options for 10 days in Morocco. Instead of focusing on southern Morocco, you could galavant through the north, visiting Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes and Rabat.
I’m also a big fan of this 10-day Morocco itinerary, which is fast-paced but covers a lot of ground (if that’s what you want). Full disclosure: it doesn’t give you much time in any of the destinations. But you do get a taste of Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and Tangier, with a quick trip to the Sahara thrown in.
14 Days: South + Sahara + North
If you have two weeks, I would recommend taking this itinerary and stretching it out to 14 days, adding in a night in each of the four cities (Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and Tangier). In my opinion, it provides a broad introduction to the country as each destination feels completely different from the next.
If it was me, this is how I would break up the itinerary:
Days 1–3: Marrakech
Spend two full days in Marrakech, wandering between the city’s gardens, palaces and souks, and experience the buzz of Djemaa el-Fnaa.
Days 4–6: Sahara
Join a three-day guided trip from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara Desert, Aït Benhaddou and Dades/Todra gorges.
Days 7–9: Fes
Explore Fes el-Bali, the tanneries and the city’s artisan workshops, plus visit the Nejjarine Museum and Dar Batha.
Days 10–11: Chefchaouen
Spend a full day wandering the blue-hued streets and hike up to the Spanish Mosque for views across the Rif Mountains.
Day 12-14: Tangier
End your adventure in Tangier with a walk through the hilltop kasbah district and visit some of the city’s cultural museums.
3 Weeks: Slow Travel Morocco Itinerary
With three weeks, you can take a much slower approach and explore both northern and southern Morocco. It also gives you time to spend a few nights in each destination, without having to pack your bags and move each morning.
One of my favourite routes is:
Marrakech – Essaouira – Atlas Mountains – Merzouga – Fes – Chefchaouen – Tangier – Rabat
Marrakech — 3 nights
Use Marrakech as your introduction to Morocco, with two full days exploring the UNESCO-listed medina with its restored palaces, madrasas and rooftop restaurants.
Essaouira — 2 nights
Slow down on the Atlantic coast and enjoy the laid-back Essaouira medina with its abundant art galleries, eclectic cafes and seafood restaurants.
Atlas Mountains — 3 nights
Travel through the Atlas Mountains and kasbah country towards the Sahara, with nights spent in Aït Benhaddou, Skoura or Dades/Todra gorges.
Merzouga — 2 nights
Spend enough time in the desert to experience camel trekking, quad biking and sunrise/sunsets you’ll never forget. If you don’t want to do two nights at a desert camp, there are some amazing kasbah hotels in Merzouga too.
Fes — 3 nights
Explore Morocco’s “Cultural Capital” at a leisurely pace with two full days in the medina to discover its atmospheric madrasas, tanneries and museums.
Chefchaouen — 2 nights
Head north to the “Blue Pearl” and wander its enchanting medina while enjoying the Rif Mountains views.
Tangier — 3 nights
Explore this creative northern port city and its legendary setting at the meeting of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. If three nights feels too much, consider spending a night in Tetouan to explore its UNESCO-listed medina (it’s partway between Chefchaouen and Tangier).
Rabat — 2 nights
Ride the high-speed Al Boraq from Tangier to Rabat and finish your Moroccan adventure in the capital. Explore the museums, wander the Kasbah of the Oudaias and visit some of the city’s iconic monuments, such as the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Should You Visit the Sahara on a Short Trip to Morocco?
Waaaay too many people try and cram a visit to the Sahara into a short Morocco itinerary, not realising that it’s a 9-hour drive (each way) from Marrakech. For context, that’s two full days in a car driving and that driving time doesn’t include stops to explore.
If you only have three to five days, I wouldn’t try to reach the Sahara. Consider a night in Agafay instead for a desert experience.
With seven days, it’s definitely possible to reach the Sahara. But take into consideration the long days on the road before you make that decision.
Getting Around Morocco as a Solo Traveller
Morocco has a surprisingly good transport network and it’s easy to get around as a solo traveller.
Trains are particularly useful between northern and central cities, while buses connect most destinations in the south. The only tricky spot is getting to the Sahara Desert – I’d suggest booking a guided experience or renting a car.
Small-group Sahara Desert tours are relatively affordable and usually include all transport, accommodation and desert activities. Logistically, they are far easier than trying to navigate the Marrakech to Merzouga route using public transport. And as an added bonus, they include stops in other destinations along the way.
Give Yourself Time to Take Your Time
In my opinion, seven to ten days is a good minimum for a first solo trip to Morocco – you’ll see a lot and have time to adjust to the country’s rhythm. If you can stretch it out to two weeks, even better!
Three weeks gives you the freedom to travel more slowly and include destinations beyond the main tourist hubs. If you know that’s the way you like to travel, don’t restrict yourself to any less.
Most importantly, don’t feel that you need to see the entire country in one trip. Trying to squeeze too much into too few days will inevitably see you spending a lot of time travelling between destinations and very little time actually exploring those destinations.
Personally, I think Morocco is at its most enchanting when you leave room to follow your curiosity, chat with local people and discover the small details between the “attractions”.
It’s doing the cooking class, participating in an artisan workshop or overnighting at a rural homestay – experiences that will give you cultural insights beyond the well-trodden medinas.
PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH MY FAVOURITE RESOURCES:
Find hotels via Booking
Book tours and attractions via Viator or GetYourGuide
Find a rental car via Discover Cars
Book flights via Kiwi or Booking
Search for buses and trains via 12Go or Omio
Get travel insurance via SafetyWing
Buy a digital eSIM with Airalo
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I’m Malika, an Australian-born travel writer with an intense love for Morocco. I first travelled here solo in 2014 and after meeting (and marrying) a local, I made this North African gem my home. Since that time, I have explored the country extensively, travelling to all corners with my partner, friends and on my own.
Morocco is an incredible destination and one that I think everyone who has the “travel bug” should experience. The scenery is spectacular, the medinas are enchanting and the locals are among the friendliest (and funniest) people I’ve ever met.
I also know that Morocco can feel intimidating for first-time solo travellers, especially given the amount of conflicting advice shared online. That’s why I’ve created this guide: to provide practical, balanced, and up-to-date advice based on my own experiences. My hope is that it helps you travel with confidence and enjoy everything this extraordinary country has to offer.
