Sleepy villages and buzzing cities on our 10-day Morocco itinerary

As one of the most atmospheric places in South Morocco, spend the first two days getting lost in the maze of alleyways of the Marrakech medina. Narrow streets are lined with endless rows of stallholders selling slippers, lanterns and cloth. Markets are stacked high with fruit, nuts and spices. And secret laneways lead to workers beating leather, smiths forging metal and dyers staining cloth.

Mosques, tombs and palaces show Moroccan architectural flare with mosaic tiles, stucco plasterwork and inlaid cedar ceilings. In two days you can explore the best of the souks and fondouks, the majestic Moorish architecture and the sheer energy of life on the streets.

For all the information, follow days 1 and 2 of our 3-day Marrakech itinerary which includes our accommodation recommendations.

Marrakech sits just north of the 4,000m high Atlas Mountains. On a clear day they form a beautiful backdrop to the city. But what makes these mountains special are the Berber villages that lie in the hills and valleys. Visiting them was a highlight on our Morocco itinerary. There is no better place to start than Ouirgane.

Early on day 3, pick up your hire car from Marrakech and drive to Ouirgane. It’s a glorious 1 hour and 30 minutes of road trip fun; twisting and turning up mountain roads.

When you arrive, organise a local guide and hike around the 5 Berber Villages that sit just above the town. Make sure your guide can organise lunch or tea with a local family. It’s both an experience you won’t forget, and a great way to support the local community.

Read more about our experience hiking the villages, plus everything else you can get up to in our guide to visiting Ouirgane.

A quick side note about driving in Morocco. As long as you avoid the large cities and the unpaved mountain roads then driving in Morocco is mostly a breeze. But to lay your mind at rest, read our driving in Morocco tips.

Continue towards Aït Ben Haddou. On this part of the drive, the Ounila river meets the road and cuts magnificent canyons in the red rock. The bottom of which are punctuated with beautiful green oasis. There are plenty of great places to stop by the side of the road, explore and take photos.

Finally, aim to get to Aït Ben Haddou for sunset. Built on the side of a hill, this fortified town (ksar) sits majestically over the banks of the Ounila River. It’s castellated red mud walls and dramatic location conjure images of biblical towns, long lost villages, and battling armies. Hollywood has also taken notice. For years the movie studios have made the pilgrimage here to film such classics as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Jesus of Nazareth.

Ouarzazate could have been a drive through on this Morocco itinerary, but it’s well worth a stop. This morning take the short drive in from Aït Ben Haddou to visit the Atlas Studios, a working movie house that has churned out many Hollywood blockbusters. Next, go to the Cinema Museum for a quirky look at Ouarzazate’s movie heritage.

Drive 30 minutes south along a dirt track to Fint Oasis. Here you’ll find 4 villages of about 150 people living a very traditional life. It’s a beautiful spot and an interesting insight into a small community. If you have more time, there are a few other things to do in Ouarzazate.

Next, take the N10 past Skoura and through flat barren wastelands to the Dades Valley. The R704 twists and turns up the valley offering excellent views of red rock canyon and green oasis. But the highlight is the remarkable feature of Monkey Fingers. Here little streams of water have cut rivulets and slot canyons in the rock. Stop at Isabel Guesthouse café, grab a mint tea and admire the strange bulbous rock formations.

As the sun goes down head up to the top of the gorge, where a tight set of zig-zags twist and turn as the valley floor dramatically rises. Most people stop at Café Timzziliite before turning around, but we suggest you head a little further where for only a few minutes extra drive you get a fine view of the valley disappearing in front of you.

Once you get to your accommodation for the evening, organise a hike of Monkey Fingers for tomorrow morning.

Start today with a stunning 3-hour hike up the Monkey Fingers rock formation. It’s an exciting scramble through tight spaces and over rocky rubble. Along the route watch women working on the valley floor, explore Berber villages on the river-banks and stare at the majestic views.

In the afternoon drive along the N10, turning left on R703 to the Todra Gorge. The gorge is the most dramatic of canyons created by the rivers rushing down from the High Atlas Mountains. At almost 200m high and only 10m wide at its narrowest point, it’s superb Moroccan scenery.

But it’s not just the gorge that’s impressive. The Tinghir Oasis that lines the valley floor is stunning. This lush green vegetation follows the river for miles creating a swathe of green amongst the barren rock. There’s plenty of places to stop along the road and explore the oasis and canyon.

To enjoy a beautiful sunset in a remote upper section of canyon then Auberge le Festival is an excellent place to stay.

This morning take a half-day hike around the Todra Gorge. The route takes you along the back of the canyon walls and past nomad settlements. It takes about 4 hours and the views are ever-changing and excellent. There is no need to hire a guide for this one – all the details can be found on our Todra Gorge hike article.

After the hike and lunch hop into the car and make your way to Merzouga. You can’t go any further because the dunes of the mighty Sahara Desert are right in front of you.

Locate Hotel Kasbah Mohayut and join a 1-night camel trip into the desert. The trips leave from the hotel in the late afternoon and are a great way to see the Erg Chebbi dunes – a fantastic sight in the Sahara Desert.

While the camels out to the erg aren’t that comfortable, seeing sand for miles will make enduring some butt-pain well worth it. The tour stops at a desert camp for the evening where you’ll enjoy some local food and experience the Bedouin lifestyle. If only for one night. You can read more about the camel trekking experience to help decide if this is for you.

The tents are very comfortable with a communal bathroom and proper flushing toilets. As the sun sets you’ll sit beside a campfire, sing songs, swap stories and live the desert life.

This morning, rouse yourself for dawn to watch the changing shapes and colours of the desert. The mesmerising views of the dunes and their shadows create beautiful patterns stretching to the horizon.

After breakfast, make your way back on those uncomfortable camels to the hotel. We spent the day relaxing by their pool, catching up on some reading and enjoying some well-earned rest. There are a number of other activities you can organise from the hotel, including quad biking in the desert, sandboarding down the dunes, jeep rides or you can just do as we did and sit by the pool all day.

Strolling out into the dunes at sunrise and sunset is a fantastic way to see the changing colours of the desert. If you are here during summer you can take part in a Moroccan ritual. As a treatment for rheumatism, Moroccan’s will allow themselves to be buried neck-deep in the sand for a few minutes at a time. What might be considered torture for some is a hopeful cure for others.

Today, it’s a long 7 hours’ drive to Fez. There is not a lot to see on the way, so our advice is to just put the miles behind you as quickly as possible (without speeding).

You definitely don’t need a car in Fez, so if possible arrange to drop it at Fès-Saïs Airport and take a taxi (or pre-arranged transfer) to your riad.

The final day of this 10-day Morocco itinerary is spent in Fez Medina; the largest urban car-free zone in the world. While much of the modern city stretches out beyond the Medina walls, 70,000 people still live in the cramped, noisy medieval centre.

Their home is a maze of alleyways bursting with sensory overload. An exotic labyrinth where ancient traditions captivate modern tourists. Where the call to prayer floats over the clatter of metalworkers bashing pots, tanners beating leather, and donkeys trotting down cobbled lanes.

Follow our 1-day self-guided walking tour of Fez medina and it will be a fitting end to an excellent road trip.