10 Days in Morocco: Our Itinerary from Casablanca to the Sahara to Tangier
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Ten days in Morocco took our group from the beach in Casablanca to the gardens of Marrakesh, over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara, then north through Fes and the blue city of Chefchaouen to Tangier. If you’re going all the way to Morocco, don’t skip the desert. The long drive to our luxury camp in the Sahara was worth every hour, and it was a once in a lifetime experience for our group.
Trip at a Glance: Morocco in 10 Days
- Where: Casablanca, Marrakesh, the Sahara near Merzouga, Fes, Chefchaouen, and Tangier
- Getting there: We flew into Casablanca because we wanted a beach start, then flew home from Tangier. To cut a stop, fly straight into Marrakesh.
- How long to stay: 10 days, with two nights in most places
- Best time to go: We went April 2 to 11, 2025. Days were in the high 70s and desert nights dropped to the mid 40s.
- Where we stayed: Four Seasons Casablanca, La Mamounia, Desert Luxury Camp, Riad Salam Fes, and Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa
- Don’t miss: The Sahara, and at least a full afternoon at La Mamounia’s spa and grounds
- Pack: Modest clothes that cover your shoulders and legs, a scarf for the mosque, a one-piece and cover-up for public beaches, and warm layers for desert nights
Jump to: Casablanca | Marrakesh | Over the Atlas | The Sahara | Fes | Chefchaouen and Tangier | What to Eat | Getting Around | Tips Before You Go | FAQs | Final Thoughts
Casablanca: Days 1 and 2
Day 1: Arrive and Settle In at the Four Seasons
We flew into Casablanca because we wanted to start the trip at the beach, and we booked a private airport transfer to take us straight to the Four Seasons Casablanca. It was an easy place to land after a long flight.
That night we had dinner at Dar Dada, and it was the perfect way to kick things off. Between the food and the dancers, it felt like Morocco was welcoming us all at once. They had plenty of gluten-free and vegan options for our group, and the dancers pulled some of us up to dance and perform with them, which was such a blast.
Day 2: Tour Casablanca, Then Drive to Marrakesh
We spent the morning touring Casablanca with Yahya, and he was fantastic. He kept a relaxed pace, gave us time to look around, and explained everything as we went. We stopped at the white Sacré Coeur cathedral and Mohammed V Square, where the pigeons are half the fun. We didn’t go inside the Hassan II Mosque, but we walked around the outside of it, and it’s worth seeing even from there.
Yahya even drove all the way to Marrakesh after one of our group members left something behind in Casablanca, which tells you everything about how much he cared. We only booked him for Casablanca and wished we had used him for the rest of the trip too.
In the afternoon we made the roughly three hour drive to Marrakesh. If you’re trying to keep your stops to a minimum, you can skip Casablanca and fly straight into Marrakesh instead.
Marrakesh: Days 2 and 3
La Mamounia
La Mamounia is often called one of the best hotels in the world, and it lives up to it. The spa has an indoor pool and jacuzzi that are stunning, and the grounds are worth exploring slowly. Set aside a full day, or at least an afternoon, to enjoy the hotel itself. Everyone in our group wished we’d had more time there. It’s also right across from the markets, so the medina is easy to reach on foot.
Day 3: Tour the Medina and Take a Cooking Class
We spent the morning walking the medina with Jamal, then went back to the hotel to rest before our cooking class that evening.
The class was with Salima and her family, and we made tagine together. Everyone who was gluten-free or vegan was accommodated, and cooking and eating together turned into a real bonding night for our group.
Over the Atlas Mountains: Day 4
Day 4: The Long Drive to the Sahara
This was our longest day, about ten hours on the road from Marrakesh over the Atlas Mountains to the desert. Desert Luxury Camp handled the drive for us, and we stopped at the Ait Benhaddou kasbah along the way. It was a long haul, but pulling into camp to such a warm welcome made it all worth it.
The Sahara: Days 4 to 6
Our Nights at Desert Luxury Camp
If you’re going all the way to Morocco, I really suggest visiting the Sahara. It was a once in a lifetime experience for our group, and none of us regretted the drive once we saw the dunes. At night there was a drum circle with Moroccan musicians around the fire pit, and our whole group ended up dancing. Liz wrote about everything we did in our post on things to do in the Sahara Desert, and you can see how we planned our Sahara Desert photoshoot too.
Fes: Days 6 and 7
Day 6: Drive to Fes and Check In at Riad Salam Fes
We left the desert in the morning and drove about seven and a half hours to Fes, arriving in the evening at Riad Salam Fes. Desert Luxury Camp drove us on to Fes, which we had to request instead of their standard round trip back to Marrakesh. After such a long drive, we mostly ate at the hotel restaurant during our stay there, and it was nice not to have to go anywhere.
Day 7: Tour the Fes Medina
We loved our tour of the Fes medina. In the afternoon, some of the group booked a hammam. I didn’t go, but several people did, some at our hotel and some at a traditional local bathhouse, and they all enjoyed it.
Chefchaouen and Tangier: Days 8 to 10
Day 8: The Blue City, Then on to Tangier
We booked a private transfer from Fes to Tangier that stopped in Chefchaouen along the way, which made the long travel day so much easier. We spent the late morning in Chefchaouen, where we did a beautiful photoshoot with Soufian, a local photographer who knew all the best spots. You can read all about it in our Chefchaouen photoshoot and day trip guide. From there we drove on to Tangier and checked in at the Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa.
Day 9: A Resort Day in Tangier
Our last full day was all about lounging around the resort. The breakfast buffet was wonderful, and after so many long drives, a slow day by the pool felt earned. That night we had our farewell dinner at L’Olivier, which has a beautiful view of the ocean and gave us great service. It was a fun way to end the trip.
Day 10: Heading Home
We had a slow morning, checked out at noon, and flew home from Tangier.
What to Eat in Morocco
We ate a lot of tagine on this trip, and we even learned to make it ourselves at our cooking class in Marrakesh. Everyone felt like the food was fibrous and kept our stomachs feeling good the whole trip, which isn’t always the case when you travel. We loved the style of Moroccan food, though most of us felt it could use a little more salt for our American palates. Mint tea was a group favorite, and we drank it everywhere we went.
If anyone in your group eats gluten-free or vegan, both Dar Dada and our cooking class family accommodated those diets for us.
Where We Ate and Drank
- Dar Dada, Casablanca: dinner with dancers and live performance, a great first night
- La Mama’s Table, Marrakesh: cooking tagine with a local family
- Riad Salam Fes: the hotel restaurant, perfect after long travel days
- Hilton Tangier Al Houara: a wonderful breakfast buffet
- L’Olivier, Tangier: our farewell dinner, with an ocean view and great service
Getting There and Getting Around
We flew into Casablanca and out of Tangier. If you’d rather skip Casablanca, Marrakesh is an easy place to start instead.
We used private drivers for every long leg of the trip, and it made all the difference with a group:
- Airport to hotel in Casablanca: a private transfer we booked ahead
- Marrakesh to the Sahara, then on to Fes: Desert Luxury Camp drove us both ways. Their standard package is a round trip from Marrakesh, so ask for the drop-off in Fes if you’re continuing north.
- Fes to Tangier: a private transfer with a stop in Chefchaouen
For shorter trips around town, we had our hotels call taxis for us so we knew they were safe and reliable.
Apps We Used
- WhatsApp: how we communicated with our guides and drivers
- Splitwise: kept track of shared group expenses, which made settling up so easy
Tips Before You Go
- Dress modestly. At the resorts, wear whatever you feel comfortable in, but when you’re out, especially in rural areas, we felt much more comfortable covering our shoulders and legs. Bring a scarf for covering your hair at the mosque, and a one-piece and cover-up for public beaches. Our capsule wardrobe guide makes packing for both easier.
- Get cash from an ATM once you land. You’ll need it for tips, shopping, and small purchases.
- Tipping is expected. We planned on 10 to 15 percent at restaurants, 200 MAD per person for a half day guide and 300 MAD for a full day, and 100 to 200 MAD for drivers depending on the length of the trip.
- Use your right hand for eating, shaking hands, and passing things.
- Ask before taking photos of people, and expect that some may ask for a small tip.
- Vendors in the markets can be pushy. A polite “la, shukran” (no, thank you) and walking away usually works.
- Alcohol is hard to find in much of Morocco, and some of the places we stayed didn’t serve it at all.
Morocco FAQs
Should you fly into Casablanca or Marrakesh?
We flew into Casablanca because we wanted to start the trip at the beach. If you want fewer stops, fly straight into Marrakesh and start there instead.
What should women wear in Morocco?
Dress modestly when you’re out, especially in rural areas, with your shoulders and legs covered. At resorts it’s fine to wear whatever you’re comfortable in. Bring a scarf for visiting mosques and a cover-up for public beaches.
Is the drive to the Sahara worth it?
Yes. The drive from Marrakesh is about ten hours, but the Sahara was a once in a lifetime experience for our group, and none of us regretted it once we saw the dunes.
How do you get from the Sahara to Fes?
We had our desert camp drive us. The standard package returns to Marrakesh, so ask for a one-way drop-off in Fes if you’re continuing north. The drive is about seven and a half hours.
How much time should you spend at La Mamounia?
Plan at least a full afternoon, or a whole day if you can, to enjoy the spa and the grounds. Everyone in our group wished we’d had more time there.
Final Thoughts
This was such a wonderful trip. In ten days we went from the beach in Casablanca to the gardens of Marrakesh, the dunes of the Sahara, the medina in Fes, and the blue streets of Chefchaouen, and every stop felt completely different from the last. If you’re going all the way to Morocco, make the trip to the desert. It was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us. And if I did it again, I’d give us more time at La Mamounia. Most of all, I loved sharing it with this group of women, which is a big part of why we believe in group travel.
We’re planning the next Soul Sisters trip now. Tell us where you want to go.
