Morocco road trip routes: 6 driving itineraries

Several women's cooperatives along the road offer demonstrations of traditional argan oil production. Watch the entire process from nut to oil. Buy genuine cosmetic or culinary argan oil directly from the producers.

Tip Prices are fixed at cooperatives, no bargaining needed. Cosmetic-grade argan oil from 150 MAD per 100ml.

The iconic sight of goats perched in argan trees. While some roadside setups are staged by herders for tips, genuine scenes are common in the argan forests. The goats eat the argan fruit and spit out the nut, which is collected for oil production.

Tip If herders place goats in trees for photos, they expect from 10-20 MAD. Genuine wild scenes are found further from the main road.

A sleepy beach village with some of Morocco's best surfing and windsurfing. Long, empty beach backed by dunes, with a handful of surf camps, cafes and guesthouses. Good for a sunset stop or overnight before continuing to Essaouira.

Tip Surf lessons from 300 MAD per session. The village is quieter and more affordable than Essaouira.

The walled coastal city of Essaouira is the reward. Explore the ramparts, the fishing port, the medina (UNESCO World Heritage), and the beach. Famous for fresh seafood, Gnawa music, and a distinctly relaxed atmosphere.

Tip Stay at least one night. The medina is compact and walkable. Budget riads from 350 MAD per night.

A hillside town known as the "holy city" of northern Morocco. Home to important zaouias (religious lodges) and a busy souk. A good rest stop with authentic restaurants where you can find traditional rfissa and harira.

Tip Stop for lunch here. Local restaurants serve hearty mountain food from 40 MAD per meal.

As the road climbs through the Rif, several pull-off points offer panoramic views of terraced cannabis fields (legal under recent reforms for regulated use), cedar forests, and deep valleys. The air becomes noticeably cooler and fresher.

Tip Stop frequently for photos on the mountain road. Morning light is best for photography.

A side trip to the waterfalls of Akchour in Talassemtane National Park. The hike to the small falls takes 45 minutes; the large falls take 2 hours. Crystal-clear natural pools for swimming in summer.

Tip Go early to avoid crowds. Bring water and sturdy shoes. Entry from 20 MAD.

The famous Blue Pearl of Morocco. The entire medina is painted in shades of blue and white, creating one of the most photogenic towns in North Africa. Wander the narrow lanes, visit the kasbah, and absorb the mountain atmosphere.

Tip Stay at least 2 nights. Best photography at dawn before the crowds. Riads from 300 MAD per night.

At 2,260 meters, this is the highest paved road pass in North Africa. The winding road crosses the spine of the High Atlas with views of terraced valleys, Berber villages, and snow-capped peaks in winter. The road was built by the French in 1936.

Tip Stop at the summit for photos. Roadside vendors sell fossils and minerals from 20 MAD. Verify authenticity before buying.

A UNESCO World Heritage ksar (fortified village) built of red clay and straw. Featured in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. Cross the river on foot or by donkey to explore the winding alleys that climb to a granary at the summit.

Tip Visit in the morning for the best light on the clay walls. A local guide from 100 MAD adds context. Free entry to the ksar.

The "Door of the Desert" and Morocco's film capital. Visit Atlas Film Studios where movies from The Mummy to Kingdom of Heaven were filmed. The Kasbah Taourirt in town is worth an hour's exploration.

Tip Atlas Studios entry from 60 MAD. Ouarzazate is the last major town for supplies before the desert.

A dramatic canyon where 300-meter limestone cliffs narrow to just 10 meters apart. The road passes through the gorge floor alongside a river. Rock climbers come from around the world for the sheer walls. Walk into the gorge to reach the narrowest section.

Tip Visit in the morning when sunlight illuminates the gorge walls. Hotels inside the gorge from 250 MAD per night.

The grand finale. Erg Chebbi's sand dunes rise to 150 meters, glowing orange at sunrise and sunset. Camel treks into the dunes, overnight in desert camps, sandboarding, and stargazing in some of the clearest skies on Earth.

Tip Book a desert camp in advance. Budget camps from 350 MAD, luxury camps from 1,500 MAD per person including dinner, camel ride, and breakfast.

A charming whitewashed coastal town with Portuguese ramparts, colorful murals, and a peaceful medina. Famous for its annual arts festival. The beach stretches for kilometers north of town. A quieter, more artistic alternative to Tangier.

Tip Visit the murals inside the medina walls. Seafood restaurants on the ramparts from 70 MAD per meal.

Morocco's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city. Visit the Kasbah of the Udayas with its blue-and-white Andalusian streets, the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, and the ancient ruins of Chellah. A cultured, clean, and often-overlooked city.

Tip The Kasbah of the Udayas is free to enter. Allow half a day minimum. Rabat has excellent modern restaurants.

A coastal city with a Portuguese cistern (UNESCO World Heritage), a fortress old town, and a long sandy beach. The underground cistern, with its vaulted ceiling reflected in shallow water, is one of Morocco's most photographed interiors.

Tip Portuguese Cistern entry from 20 MAD. Visit in the morning for the best light reflections. Beach hotels from 400 MAD.

The windy city of Essaouira is a highlight of any Moroccan coastal trip. Stop for the fortified port, the fish market, the Gnawa music scene and the wide sandy beach. The medina is compact and easily explored on foot.

Tip Eat fresh grilled fish at the port from 50 MAD per plate. Stay at least 2 nights to appreciate the atmosphere.

Morocco's premier beach resort city. Rebuilt after the devastating 1960 earthquake, Agadir is modern, sunny (300+ days per year), and beachfront-focused. The long crescent beach, the marina, and the nearby Souk El Had make it a comfortable end point.

Tip Visit the hilltop Agadir Oufella for sunset views over the city and bay. Beachfront hotels from 600 MAD per night.

An oasis town with a magnificent palm grove (palmerie) containing some of the finest kasbahs in Morocco. Kasbah Amridil, featured on the 50 MAD banknote, is a beautifully preserved fortress. Explore the palmerie on foot or by bicycle.

Tip Kasbah Amridil entry from 30 MAD. Rent a bicycle in Skoura from 100 MAD per day to explore the palmerie.

The center of Morocco's rose industry. In April and May, the valley is carpeted in Damask roses harvested for rose water and essential oils. The annual Rose Festival in May is a major celebration. Rose products are sold year-round at cooperatives.

Tip Visit in May for the Rose Festival. Rose water from 30 MAD per bottle. Rose oil from 200 MAD per small vial.

A canyon carved by the Dades River with extraordinary rock formations known as "monkey fingers." The road climbs through switchbacks that are among the most photographed in Morocco. The gorge is 25 km deep with soaring red cliffs on both sides.

Tip Drive slowly on the switchbacks. Stop at the famous "snake road" viewpoint. Guesthouses in the gorge from 250 MAD per night.

The narrowest point of this gorge squeezes to just 10 meters between 300-meter vertical limestone walls. Walk into the gorge on the flat road to reach the narrowest point. Rock climbers scale the walls year-round. A river runs through the canyon floor.

Tip Morning is best for photos when the sun enters the gorge. There are several cafes at the gorge entrance. Climbing guides from 500 MAD per day.

A sprawling oasis town and the gateway to Todra Gorge. The old Jewish quarter (mellah) and the vast palmerie are worth exploring. From the hillside road above town, you look down on the green palm oasis against bare desert mountains.

Tip Walk through the palmerie at sunset. The town has good restaurants serving Amazigh cuisine from 50 MAD per meal.

One of Morocco's least-traveled mountain passes. The narrow road clings to the mountainside with sheer drops and hairpin bends. At the summit (2,092m), views stretch across the High Atlas in every direction. The road was Morocco's first trans-Atlas route, built by the French in the 1920s.

Tip Start early to cross the pass in good light. Drive slowly and use your horn on blind corners. Not recommended for large vehicles.

A 12th-century mosque built by the Almohad dynasty founder Ibn Tumart. One of only two mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter (the other being Hassan II in Casablanca). The ruined but still magnificent building sits in a remote valley surrounded by mountains.

Tip Entry from 20 MAD. A caretaker will open the mosque and give a basic explanation. Bring water as there are no facilities.

Known as "Little Marrakech" for its red-clay ramparts around a busy medina. Far less touristy than Marrakech with a genuine Amazigh character. Two excellent souks: the Arab souk for crafts and the Berber souk for daily goods. The surrounding Souss Valley produces saffron, argan, and citrus.

Tip Walk the complete ramparts by calash (horse-drawn carriage) from 100 MAD. The tanneries are smaller but less overwhelming than Fes.

The highest major road pass in North Africa at 2,260 meters. Wider and better-maintained than Tizi n'Test. On the descent toward Marrakech you can see across the Haouz plain. In winter, the summit may have snow.

Tip Mineral and fossil sellers line the summit. Genuine fossils from 50 MAD. The pass is on the main Marrakech-Ouarzazate highway.

Both passes are lined with traditional Berber villages clinging to hillsides. Adobe houses with flat roofs, terraced fields of barley and walnut, and stone-walled enclosures for livestock. Some villages offer homestay experiences and guided walks.

Tip Ask before photographing people. Homestays from 200 MAD per person including dinner and breakfast. A genuine cultural experience.