Blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains of Morocco

Trip Planning

14-Day Morocco Grand Tour

Two weeks covering the best of Morocco: imperial cities, Sahara Desert, blue streets of Chefchaouen, cosmopolitan Tangier, and the Atlantic coast. Day-by-day with costs in MAD.

All prices are approximate and may vary by season, location, and operator.

Duration

14 Days

13 nights

Cities

8 Cities

Complete circuit

Distance

~2,200 km

Full route

Budget

13,000 MAD

Minimum total

Transport

Mixed

Bus, train, tour

Rating

Epic

The complete Morocco

Why 14 Days?

Seven days in Morocco gives you Marrakech, the desert, and Fes. But two weeks unlocks the entire country: the blue city of Chefchaouen perched in the Rif Mountains, cosmopolitan Tangier on the Strait of Gibraltar, the quiet elegance of Rabat, and the modern energy of Casablanca.

This itinerary is designed for a circular trip: fly into Marrakech, travel counter-clockwise through the country, and fly out of Casablanca. The route uses a combination of organized desert tours (days 4-6), intercity buses, Morocco\'s excellent high-speed trains, and city walking.

For a shorter trip, see our 7-day itinerary that covers Marrakech, the desert, and Fes.

Marrakech

Sahara

Chefchaouen

Tangier

Rabat

Casablanca

Fes

Atlas

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Marrakech skyline with Koutoubia Mosque at sunset

Day 1

Arrive in Marrakech

Marrakech

Morning

Arrive at Menara Airport. Transfer to your medina riad (taxi: from 150 MAD, airport bus: 30 MAD). Check in, welcome mint tea.

Afternoon

Gentle orientation walk through the Mouassine quarter. Browse without buying. Visit the Mouassine Fountain and the Photography Museum.

Evening

Jemaa el-Fnaa at sunset. Street food stalls for dinner (grilled meats, fresh orange juice at 4 MAD, snail soup). Rooftop drinks at Grand Balcon du Cafe Glacier for square views.

Airport taxi: from 150 MAD. Walking in the medina.

Budget: 400 MADMid: 800 MADLuxury: 2,000 MAD

Pre-arrange riad transfer to avoid taxi negotiation stress
Eat at the edges of Jemaa el-Fnaa where locals eat, not the tourist-facing center stalls

Bahia Palace courtyard with zellige tiles and carved plasterwork

Day 2

Marrakech Palaces & Gardens

Marrakech

Morning

Bahia Palace (70 MAD) at opening (09:00) to avoid crowds. Then walk to the Saadian Tombs (70 MAD) for Andalusian funerary architecture.

Afternoon

Taxi to Jardin Majorelle (150 MAD) and YSL Museum (100 MAD). Allow 2-3 hours total. Cool down with mint tea in the garden cafe.

Evening

Moroccan cooking class (from 400 MAD, 3-4 hours including market visit). Eat what you cook for dinner. Alternatively: Al Fassia restaurant (mains from 120 MAD).

Taxi to Majorelle: from 20 MAD. Walking otherwise.

Budget: 500 MADMid: 1,200 MADLuxury: 3,000 MAD

Book cooking class through your riad the day before
The Ben Youssef Madrasa is worth adding if time allows (50 MAD)

Lantern shop in the Marrakech souks with hundreds of colored metal lamps

Day 3

Marrakech Souks & Hammam

Marrakech

Morning

Dedicated souk exploration morning. Visit the dyers' souk, spice souk, leather souk, and lantern market. Now is the time to buy -- armed with two days of price reconnaissance.

Afternoon

Hammam experience. Choose Heritage Spa (from 600 MAD luxury), Le Bain Bleu (from 250 MAD tourist), or a local hammam (from 10 MAD plus tayaba). The scrub and steam are deeply relaxing.

Evening

Dinner at Nomad (modern Moroccan, from 150 MAD per person) or the Terrasse des Epices rooftop. Walk through the lamp-lit medina alleyways back to your riad.

Walking.

Budget: 300 MADMid: 900 MADLuxury: 2,500 MAD

Haggling target: aim for 40-60% of the first asking price
Book hammam in advance, especially for Heritage Spa

UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou kasbah with earthen towers against blue sky

Day 4

Atlas Mountains & Ait Benhaddou

Atlas Mountains / Ait Benhaddou

Morning

Depart Marrakech at 07:00. Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m) with stunning Atlas Mountain views. Arrive at Ait Benhaddou by 10:30.

Afternoon

Explore the UNESCO ksar on foot (1.5-2 hours). Cross the river and climb to the top for panoramic views. Continue to Ouarzazate for lunch. Visit Atlas Studios (50 MAD) if interested.

Evening

Drive through the Valley of Roses and Dades Gorge to your guesthouse. Dinner at the guesthouse (set menu: from 80 MAD). The gorge is stunning in golden hour light.

3-day desert tour (shared: from 1,200 MAD total; private: from 2,500 MAD). ~350km today.

Budget: 500 MADMid: 900 MADLuxury: 2,000 MAD

The Tizi n'Tichka pass can be cold even in summer
Ait Benhaddou is best in morning light for photography

Sahara Desert sunrise with golden dunes and a camel caravan silhouette

Day 5

Sahara Desert & Merzouga

Merzouga / Erg Chebbi

Morning

Drive from Dades to Merzouga via Todra Gorge (30-minute stop to admire the 300m canyon). Arrive Merzouga by lunch. Rest during the hottest hours.

Afternoon

Mount camels at 16:00-17:00 for the 1.5-hour trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes (up to 150m high). Watch sunset from the top of a dune.

Evening

Dinner at desert camp around a communal table. Berber musicians, campfire, and extraordinary stargazing. Sleep in a tent under the Milky Way.

Continued desert tour. Camel trek included.

Budget: 400 MADMid: 800 MADLuxury: 3,000 MAD

Luxury camps have real beds and en-suite bathrooms
Bring a scarf for the camel ride -- sand is relentless
Set your alarm for dawn to catch the sunrise from the dunes

Towering red walls of Todra Gorge with a narrow river at the base

Day 6

Desert to Fes via Middle Atlas

Merzouga to Fes

Morning

Sahara sunrise, then return to Merzouga. Breakfast, shower, depart by 08:30. Drive north through the changing landscape from desert to cedar forest.

Afternoon

Lunch stop in Midelt (from 40 MAD). Visit Azrou Cedar Forest for wild Barbary macaques. Brief stop in Ifrane, the "Switzerland of Morocco" at 1,650m altitude.

Evening

Arrive Fes by 17:00-18:00. Check into your medina riad. Mint tea and rest. Dinner at Cafe Clock (camel burger: 85 MAD) or riad dinner (from 150 MAD).

Continued desert tour. ~480km, 8-9 hours with stops.

Budget: 400 MADMid: 700 MADLuxury: 1,800 MAD

Longest driving day -- bring snacks and entertainment
Do not feed the monkeys at Azrou even if they approach you

Chouara tanneries in Fes with colorful dye vats

Day 7

Fes El-Bali Medina

Fes

Morning

Enter through Bab Boujloud. Visit Bou Inania Madrasa (30 MAD) and walk toward the Karaouine Mosque (exterior). Explore the metalwork and spice souks.

Afternoon

Chouara Tanneries (view from leather shops, buy mint to hold). Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts (60 MAD) for a quieter experience. Dar Batha Museum for Moroccan arts.

Evening

Dinner at The Ruined Garden (from 100 MAD, magical garden setting) or Riad Fes restaurant for a splurge. Walk back through the lamp-lit medina alleyways.

Walking only. Consider hiring a guide: from 300 MAD for half day.

Budget: 350 MADMid: 700 MADLuxury: 1,500 MAD

A guide is genuinely useful in Fes -- the medina has 9,000+ alleyways
Tannery smell is intense; the leather shops offer mint sprigs to help

Moroccan hand-painted ceramics in vibrant blue and white patterns

Day 8

Fes: Artisans & Ceramics

Fes

Morning

Visit a Fes pottery workshop in the Ain Nokbi area. Watch artisans hand-paint the famous blue-and-white Fassi ceramics. Prices are fairer here than in the medina shops.

Afternoon

Explore the mellah (Jewish quarter) and visit the Ibn Danan Synagogue. Walk to the Royal Palace gates (Dar al-Makhzen) for the impressive brass doors. Visit the Borj Nord hilltop for panoramic medina views.

Evening

Dinner at Dar Roumana (one of the best gourmet experiences in Fes, booking essential) or a simpler meal at Cafe Clock. Pack for tomorrow's journey north.

Taxi to pottery workshops: from 20 MAD. Walking otherwise.

Budget: 300 MADMid: 600 MADLuxury: 1,200 MAD

Buy ceramics at the workshop -- prices are 30-50% lower than medina shops
The Borj Nord viewpoint is best at golden hour

Blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen with potted plants and painted doorways

Day 9

Fes to Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Morning

Depart Fes early (07:00-08:00) for the 4-hour drive through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen. The scenic route passes through rolling farmland before climbing into the mountains.

Afternoon

Arrive Chefchaouen by noon. Check into a medina riad (Chefchaouen riads are among the most affordable in Morocco: from 250 MAD). Lunch at Aladdin (terrace views, from 60 MAD). Explore the blue medina at leisure.

Evening

Golden hour photography in the blue streets. Dinner at Casa Hassan (from 80 MAD) or Bab Ssour terrace. Watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque hilltop (20-minute walk, free, spectacular views of the blue city).

CTM bus Fes-Chefchaouen: 75 MAD, 4 hours. Private taxi: from 500 MAD. Grand taxi (shared): from 65 MAD per person.

Budget: 300 MADMid: 600 MADLuxury: 1,200 MAD

The CTM bus is comfortable and reliable for this route
The Spanish Mosque sunset is unmissable -- arrive 30 minutes before sunset

Blue-painted stairway in Chefchaouen medina with cascading plants

Day 10

Chefchaouen & Akchour

Chefchaouen / Akchour

Morning

Early morning is the best time to photograph the blue streets without crowds. Visit Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the Kasbah museum (60 MAD), and browse the small craft shops for woven blankets and leather goods.

Afternoon

Day trip to Akchour Waterfalls (30 minutes by taxi, 200 MAD round trip). Hike to the small waterfall (45 minutes) or the larger Cascade d'Akchour (2.5 hours). The natural bridge en route is spectacular.

Evening

Return to Chefchaouen for a final evening stroll. Dinner at Lala Mesouda (terrace dining, from 70 MAD). Enjoy the peaceful mountain-town atmosphere.

Taxi to Akchour: 200 MAD round trip with waiting time. Walking in the medina.

Budget: 250 MADMid: 500 MADLuxury: 1,000 MAD

Wear proper hiking shoes for Akchour
The small waterfall is enough if you have limited time or fitness
Buy a woven Rif Mountains blanket as a souvenir -- quality is excellent and prices are fair

Panoramic view of Tangier Bay with the port and white medina buildings

Day 11

Chefchaouen to Tangier

Tangier

Morning

Depart Chefchaouen for Tangier (3-3.5 hour drive through the Rif Mountains). Arrive by noon. Check into your hotel or riad in the medina or Ville Nouvelle.

Afternoon

Explore the Tangier Kasbah and the Kasbah Museum (20 MAD) with views over the Strait of Gibraltar. Walk through the Petit Socco and Grand Socco. Visit the Caves of Hercules (10 MAD) if time allows (15 minutes by taxi).

Evening

Dinner at El Morocco Club (upscale Moroccan-international, from 150 MAD) or the more casual Cafe Hafa for mint tea with ocean views (the favorite haunt of Paul Bowles, the Rolling Stones, and William Burroughs).

CTM bus Chefchaouen-Tangier: from 60 MAD, 3 hours. Grand taxi: from 60 MAD per person.

Budget: 350 MADMid: 700 MADLuxury: 1,500 MAD

Tangier has a very different feel from southern Morocco -- more cosmopolitan and European-influenced
Cafe Hafa is about the views and atmosphere, not the food quality

Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat with blue and white streets overlooking the ocean

Day 12

Tangier to Rabat

Rabat

Morning

Explore Tangier's art scene: visit the Tangier Contemporary Art Museum and the Cinematheque for Morocco's film heritage. Browse the Rue de la Liberte for European-style cafes and bookshops.

Afternoon

Take the Al Boraq high-speed train from Tangier to Rabat (from 80 MAD, 1.5 hours -- Morocco's pride and joy). Arrive in the capital. Check into your riad or hotel in the medina.

Evening

Walk through the Kasbah of the Udayas, a stunning blue-and-white quarter overlooking the Atlantic. Dinner at Dinarjat (traditional Moroccan fine dining in a palatial setting, from 200 MAD) or the more casual Le Dhow floating restaurant on the Bou Regreg river.

Al Boraq train Tangier-Rabat: from 80 MAD, 1.5 hours. Taxi from Rabat station to medina: from 20 MAD.

Budget: 350 MADMid: 700 MADLuxury: 1,500 MAD

Book Al Boraq tickets online at oncf.ma for the best price
The Udayas Kasbah is best photographed in afternoon light

Rabat Kasbah with historic stone walls and ocean views

Day 13

Rabat Exploration

Rabat

Morning

Visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free, guards in traditional costume). Then explore the Chellah necropolis (70 MAD), a hauntingly beautiful Roman-Islamic ruin with nesting storks.

Afternoon

Visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (40 MAD), Morocco's premier art museum. Browse the Rabat medina, which is calmer and more organized than Marrakech or Fes. Shop for leather goods and carpets at fair fixed prices.

Evening

Walk along the Bou Regreg river promenade. Dinner in Agdal or Hassan neighborhoods for excellent Moroccan cuisine without tourist markup. Try Ty Potes for French-Moroccan fusion or Dar Zaki for traditional dishes.

Tram within Rabat: 6 MAD per ride. Walking.

Budget: 250 MADMid: 600 MADLuxury: 1,200 MAD

Rabat is Morocco's cleanest and most orderly city -- a refreshing change after the intensity of Marrakech and Fes
The Chellah storks nest from February to July

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca with its towering minaret and ocean setting

Day 14

Casablanca & Departure

Casablanca

Morning

Train from Rabat to Casablanca (from 40 MAD, 50 minutes, frequent service). Visit the Hassan II Mosque (130 MAD guided tour), Morocco's most spectacular modern building with its 210m minaret and glass floor over the Atlantic.

Afternoon

Walk through the Art Deco downtown along Boulevard Mohammed V. Lunch at Rick's Cafe (Casablanca film-themed, from 150 MAD) or La Sqala (in a fortified garden, from 80 MAD). Visit the Morocco Mall or the Corniche if time permits.

Evening

Transfer to Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) for your departure flight. Airport is 30km south of the city (taxi: from 200 MAD, or train from Casa Voyageurs to Airport: 43 MAD).

Train Rabat-Casa: from 40 MAD. Taxi to airport: from 200 MAD. Train to airport: 43 MAD.

Budget: 400 MADMid: 800 MADLuxury: 2,000 MAD

The Hassan II Mosque tour is worth every dirham -- do not skip it
Book an afternoon or evening flight to maximize your Casablanca time
The airport train from Casa Voyageurs is the cheapest and most reliable option

14-Day Budget Breakdown

Per-person costs in MAD. Budget assumes shared transport and budget riads. Luxury assumes private vehicles, top-tier accommodation, and fine dining.

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Accommodation (14 nights)	4,500 MAD	11,000 MAD	35,000 MAD
Food & Drinks	2,800 MAD	7,000 MAD	14,000 MAD
Transport	3,000 MAD	5,500 MAD	10,000 MAD
Activities & Entry	1,200 MAD	2,800 MAD	6,000 MAD
Shopping	1,000 MAD	3,000 MAD	8,000 MAD
Tips & Miscellaneous	500 MAD	1,700 MAD	3,000 MAD
Total (14 Days)	~13,000 MAD	~31,000 MAD	~76,000 MAD

Transport Between Cities

Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou

Method: Desert tour vehicle

Cost: Part of 3-day tour

Duration: 4-5 hours