Overview
Two weeks unlocks Morocco's full range. This itinerary moves south from Marrakech into the Sahara, then north through Fes, Chefchaouen, and out through Tangier — covering the imperial cities, the High Atlas, the Sahara, and the Rif, with the option to add the Atlantic coast if you have an extra day or two. Not sure a fortnight is right for you? Compare trip lengths in the trip planner.
The route is designed to flow in one direction — Marrakech in, Tangier or Casablanca out — with no backtracking. The southern section is easiest with a hire car, a private driver or a properly paced multi-day tour; the northern section uses rail and coach. Compare written quotes on the same basis, including fuel, one-way fees, accommodation, driver expenses, desert-camp inclusions and cancellation terms.
The route links Marrakech, the Atlas, desert areas, Fes, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Each adds distinct transport, weather and accessibility demands; do not treat the labels as substitutes for current planning.
- Days 1–3 Marrakech Three nights · collect car or meet driver
- Day 4 Aït Benhaddou / Ouarzazate N9 over High Atlas · one night
- Days 5–7 Dadès → Merzouga Southern road circuit · desert night
- Days 8–9 Fes Long road transfer · two nights
- Days 10–11 Chefchaouen Intercity coach · two nights
- Days 12–14 Tangier Coach or taxi · depart north
The southern legs are the transport-heavy part. Confirm the one-way car return or driver finish in Fes before booking the northern stays.
Days 1–3: Marrakech
Three nights in Marrakech gives you enough time to absorb the medina without rushing. Use the one-week itinerary as your Marrakech guide: day one for arrival and Jemaa el-Fna, day two for the souks and Bahia Palace, day three for the Saadian Tombs and Mellah. If you add Jardin Majorelle or the adjacent Yves Saint Laurent Museum, check their official ticket rules, current prices and timed-entry availability first.
Day 4: High Atlas — Tizi n'Tichka and Aït Benhaddou
This is one of the great driving days in Morocco. Leave Marrakech early and drive south over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) — the main road through the High Atlas to the south. The pass takes about 2.5 hours from Marrakech in good conditions. The views are dramatic: the High Atlas's rock and snow above, the flat desert plains opening up below as you descend.
Stop at Aït Benhaddou (about 3.5 hours from Marrakech) — a UNESCO-listed ksar (fortified village) that has been used as a film location so many times it feels familiar even on a first visit: Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Game of Thrones. The village sits on a hillside above the Ounila river; climb to the top for the full panoramic view. Allow 2 hours. The village opposite the ksar has good tajine restaurants.
Continue to Ouarzazate for the night — the “Gateway to the Sahara.” The Taourirt Kasbah in the old quarter is worth considering, but access and restoration work can change; check locally before planning a timed visit.
Days 5–6: The road to Merzouga
The Ouarzazate-to-Merzouga drive is long and varies with traffic, weather, stops and road works. Check current routing, leave adequate daylight and plan driver rest. The N10 corridor passes:
- Skoura — a palmery and kasbah area where access to individual sites should be confirmed locally
- Boumalne du Dadès — gateway to the Dadès Gorge, a dramatic canyon with red rock walls rising 300 metres; a 30-minute drive into the gorge is a detour worth taking
- Tinghir and the Todra Gorge (highly recommended) — a sheer limestone canyon at its narrowest only 10 metres wide, with the Todra river running through it; rock climbers come from across Europe; the light in the gorge around noon is extraordinary
Continue to Erfoud and then Merzouga for the night. Arrive in time for the late afternoon camel trek into the dunes.
Day 7: Erg Chebbi — dunes, sunrise, and return north
An Erg Chebbi overnight requires an itemised camp and transfer plan. Request the exact location, tent and bathroom arrangement, animal-welfare policy, weather thresholds and cancellation terms; darkness, stars and sunrise visibility are not guaranteed.
After breakfast, the route north toward Fes may run via Midelt and the Middle Atlas. Verify current road conditions, weather, stops, driving hours and arrival time rather than treating this long transfer as a fixed sightseeing day.
Days 8–9: Fes
Drop your hire car at the Fes train station or airport (if doing a one-way rental) and check into your medina riad. Two full days for Fes — see the day-by-day breakdown in the one-week itinerary. The essentials: Chouara Tanneries, Bou Inania Madrasa, the Andalusian quarter, and the view from the Merenid Tombs at dusk.
Days 10–11: Chefchaouen
Take a scheduled coach from Fes to Chefchaouen, allowing roughly three to four hours by road and checking the live operator timetable and fare. Two nights gives you one day for the medina and Place Uta el-Hammam, plus time for the Spanish Mosque viewpoint or a weather-appropriate walk.
For Akchour, confirm current trail access, water conditions, daylight and return transport locally. Agree a taxi's destination, waiting arrangement and total price before leaving Chefchaouen; do not rely on an old per-seat fare.
Days 12–13: Tangier
Bus or grand taxi from Chefchaouen to Tangier (around 2 hours). Tangier is unlike any other Moroccan city — cosmopolitan, European in atmosphere, with a storied literary past (Bowles, Burroughs, Genet all passed through). Two nights: the first for the medina and kasbah, the second for Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules to the west of the city.
In clear weather, the kasbah can provide views toward the Spanish coast. Check current hours for the Musée de la Kasbah and keep an alternative for poor visibility.
Day 14: Depart
Tangier has an airport and ferry links with Spain. Ports, operators, seasonal schedules and sailing durations vary, and weather can disrupt crossings; confirm the exact departure port, arrival port, check-in deadline and onward connection with the ferry operator.
Alternatively, the Al Boraq high-speed train serves the Tangier–Kenitra–Rabat–Casablanca corridor. Use ONCF's live booking for the exact train and then allow a separate, time-buffered transfer to Mohammed V Airport if flying home.
Practical notes
Transport summary
| Leg | Mode | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech → Ouarzazate | Hire car (via Tizi n'Tichka) | ~3h 30min |
| Ouarzazate → Merzouga | Hire car (via Dadès + Todra) | ~5–6h |
| Merzouga → Fes | Hire car (via Midelt) | ~8h |
| Fes → Chefchaouen | CTM bus | ~3h 30min |
| Chefchaouen → Tangier | Bus or grand taxi | ~2h |
| Tangier → Casablanca | Al Boraq train | ~2h 15min |
When to go
No season guarantees suitable conditions across this entire route. Check current heat, cold, wind, snow, road access and official warnings for the cities, desert and mountains, and keep bookings flexible.
Budget estimate
Build the total from live quotes for 14 nights, the southern car/driver/tour, fuel and one-way fees, the desert camp, rail and coach tickets, meals and paid sights. A standard car is adequate for the paved route in normal conditions; a 4WD is only relevant for specific off-road plans arranged with an experienced operator. Use the budget calculator and replace its defaults with current prices.