Morocco Road Trip Routes:
6 Epic 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.

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.

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

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

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.

A side trip to the stunning 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.

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.

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 stunning views of terraced valleys, Berber villages, and snow-capped peaks in winter. The road was built by the French in 1936.

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.

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.

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 for the most dramatic section.

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.

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.

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.

A coastal city with a stunning 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for the most dramatic views. Rock climbers scale the walls year-round. A river runs through the canyon floor.

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, the view of the green palm oasis against the barren desert mountains is breathtaking.

One of Morocco's most dramatic and 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.

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.

Known as "Little Marrakech" for its red-clay ramparts encircling a bustling 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.

The highest major road pass in North Africa at 2,260 meters. Wider and better-maintained than Tizi n'Test. The descent toward Marrakech offers spectacular views of the Haouz plain stretching to the horizon. In winter, the summit may have snow.

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.