Destinations to explore
Ten days to cross Morocco from the medina of Marrakech to the dunes of Merzouga — with an unmissable stop in the Dades gorges and the kasbahs of the Draa Valley.
Updated on September 8, 2026
Ten days in Morocco is exactly what you need to see the country in all its diversity without running. Marrakech, the dirt kasbahs, the desert, the gorges. Not a catalogue of sites — a progression that makes sense geographically and humanly.
Marrakech is a city that takes time to tame. The first two days are used for that: getting lost in the medina, understanding how the souks are organized, eating at the Djemaa el-Fna in the evening when the storytellers and musicians take over from the merchants.
The must-sees are true: the Djemaa el-Fna square at night, the tanners' souks, the Menara gardens. What is less so: taking the time to sit in a riad on the rooftops, to watch the city from the terrace of the Argana café, to go to the souks at dawn before the tourists.
The Bahia Palace is often sloppy in 20 minutes. It's worth an hour — the 19th-century mosaics and stuccoes are a lesson in Moroccan craftsmanship that mellah souvenir workshops can't give.
The third day can be spent on a trip to Aït-Ben-Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar that cinema has made famous (Gladiator, Game of Thrones). It's a 4-hour drive — too far for a day from Marrakech — but perfect as a transitional stop to the desert.
The N9 which climbs to the Tichka pass (2,260 m) and then descends to Ouarzazate offers one of the most spectacular panoramas in Morocco. The palm groves take over the Atlas, the colours change from green to ochre to orange.
The Draa Valley — 200 kilometers of palm trees, douars and kasbahs — is the heart of postcard Morocco. But seen from a car at 90 km/h, it disappears. A well-done tour includes stops in the villages, a visit to an inhabited kasbah, tea at the locals' homes.
! [Kasbah Aït-Ben-Haddou and its ochre earth towers at sunset] (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509233725247-49e657b54e78?w=1200&h=600&fit=crop&auto=format)
Ouarzazate is the logistical base. The city itself is of little interest — it's the starting point, not a destination. The film studios are worth a visit if you have an hour.
The Dades Gorges are carved out of red limestone for 40 kilometres. The road up them is one of the most beautiful in the country. At the entrance, the monkey fingers (rock formations that look like hands) are an unmissable photo stop.
The Todgha Gorge is narrower, more vertical — the walls reach 300 meters. The place attracts climbers from all over the world. Early in the morning, before the buses, it is a timeless experience.
Between the two gorges, the adobe villages cling to the slopes of the Atlas Mountains. Some have gîtes: sleeping in a mountain riad, dining on the terrace with a view of the stars — Morocco that is not in the guidebooks.
The Erg Chebbi is what everyone comes to Morocco looking for without admitting it: the dunes. 150 meters high, bright orange at dawn, purple at sunset. Merzouga is the gateway village.
Tradition dictates that you take the camel ride to reach the camp in the middle of the desert. It's 1h30 on the back of a camel — uncomfortable, slow, perfect. The alternative by 4x4 is faster and less scenic.
The night in a tent in the middle of the desert is the pivotal experience of the circuit. The silence is absolute. The sky is a demonstration of astronomy. The dunes change shape with the wind. None of this can be understood from a screen.
! [Erg Chebbi Dunes in Merzouga at sunrise, Morocco] (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1493246507139-91e8fad9978e?w=1200&h=600&fit=crop&auto=format)
Two options for the last two days:
Option 1 — Fez: The medina of Fez el-Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest medieval medina in the world still inhabited. The Chouara tanneries are the absolute cliché of travel photography — and they deserve their reputation. A full day is enough to grasp the essentials.
Option 2 — Return to Marrakech: if the flight leaves from Marrakech and the pace has been intense, a direct return with a stopover in Aït-Ben-Haddou (if not yet seen) or a night in a country riad in the Souss.
A 10-day tour in Morocco all-inclusive (flight + accommodation + guide + transport on site) is between 1,800 and 3,200 euros per person depending on the level of comfort. Luxury riads in the medina of Marrakech raise the bill; mountain cottages bring it down.
What is always included in a quality tour: airport transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to major sites, overnight stay in a desert camp, and transportation by 4x4 to the gorges.
What is never :** shopping in the souks, massages in the hammam, glasses of mint tea in the cafes of the squares.
Describe your travel desires and find the stay that exactly matches your expectations.
Find my trip →