There are more things to do in Morocco than any single trip can hold. Within a few hours’ drive you move from the souks of Marrakech to snow on the High Atlas, from Roman ruins to the dunes of the Sahara, and from the medieval lanes of Fes to the Atlantic breezes of Essaouira. The art of a great Moroccan holiday is choosing well and travelling at the right pace.
Below are the twelve experiences our Travel Designers recommend most often, followed by sample 7, 10 and 14-day routes and advice on when to go.
The quick answer
- Must-dos: Marrakech’s medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Fes medina, a night in the Sahara at Merzouga and a day in the Atlas Mountains.
- Add if you can: Aït Benhaddou, Essaouira, Chefchaouen and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
- How long: 7 days for Marrakech and the Atlas; 10 to 14 days to include Fes and the desert.
- When to go: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are best for touring.
- Getting around: a private driver-guide makes long desert and mountain days far more comfortable.
12 of the best things to do in Morocco
1. Lose yourself in the Marrakech medina
Marrakech is where most journeys begin, and its walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, is the reason. Spend a morning with a guide in the souks, where each lane has its own trade: leather, brass, spices, carpets. See the carved cedar and zellige tilework of the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the courtyards of the Bahia Palace, then escape the heat in a riad garden. Marrakech also has two of the world’s great hotels, La Mamounia and the Royal Mansour, both worth a visit even if only for tea.
2. Watch Jemaa el-Fnaa come alive at dusk
The main square of Marrakech is quiet by day and astonishing by night, when food stalls, musicians, storytellers and smoke from the grills fill the space. UNESCO recognises its cultural space as part of the world’s intangible heritage. Our tip: watch it first from a rooftop terrace as the sun sets, then walk down with your guide.
3. Visit the Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum
The cobalt-blue villa and cactus garden created by the painter Jacques Majorelle were later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Next door, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech tells the story of the designer’s love affair with the city. Book a timed entry and go early, as it is one of the busiest sites in Morocco.
4. Get lost (properly) in the Fes medina
Fes el-Bali is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval medinas in the world and Morocco’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1981. Thousands of lanes, many too narrow for anything wider than a donkey, wind past mosques, madrasas, fountains and workshops. Highlights include the Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, the leather tanneries seen from the terraces above, and the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world. A good guide is essential here.
5. Spend a night in the Sahara at Merzouga
The golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, near the village of Merzouga, are the Sahara of the imagination. Ride a camel (or a 4×4) out to a desert camp, watch the sun set over the dunes, eat under the stars and wake early for sunrise. The best luxury camps have private tents with proper beds and en-suite bathrooms. Merzouga is a long drive from both Fes and Marrakech, so it works best as part of a route between the two.
6. Walk in the High Atlas Mountains
Barely an hour or so from Marrakech, the High Atlas feels like another world: terraced Berber villages, walnut groves and snow-capped peaks for much of the year. Jebel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres the highest mountain in North Africa, rises above the village of Imlil. You don’t need to climb it; gentle valley walks with a local guide, lunch in a village home and a night at Kasbah Tamadot, Virgin Limited Edition’s retreat near Asni, make a perfect contrast to the city.
7. Explore Aït Benhaddou
This fortified earthen village, or ksar, on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech is one of the most photographed places in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Its towers and walls have appeared in many films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Reach it over the dramatic Tizi n’Tichka pass and stay nearby to see it in the evening light.
8. Drive the Dadès Valley and Todra Gorge
East of Ouarzazate, the road of a thousand kasbahs runs through palm oases, rose-growing villages and the dramatic folded rock of the Dadès Gorges. Further on, the Todra Gorge narrows to a canyon with walls hundreds of metres high. This is the classic route to the Sahara and is best broken with a night along the way.
9. Breathe the sea air in Essaouira
Two and a half to three hours west of Marrakech, Essaouira is a whitewashed, blue-shuttered fortified port on the Atlantic, with a medina listed by UNESCO in 2001. It is breezy, relaxed and creative: watch the fishing boats come in, eat grilled sardines by the harbour, browse art galleries and walk the ramparts. In summer it is noticeably cooler than Marrakech, and each year, usually in June, it hosts the Gnaoua World Music Festival.
10. Wander the blue lanes of Chefchaouen
In the Rif Mountains of the north, Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-washed medina. It is calm and photogenic, and best enjoyed with an overnight stay, so you see it early in the morning before the day visitors arrive. It is about three and a half to four hours’ drive from Fes, or around two hours from Tangier.
11. Walk among the Roman ruins of Volubilis
Near Meknes, the Roman city of Volubilis has some of the finest mosaics in North Africa, still in place on the floors of grand houses, together with a triumphal arch and basilica columns standing against the olive groves. A UNESCO site since 1997, it combines easily with the imperial city of Meknes and the holy town of Moulay Idriss on a day out from Fes.
12. Experience a hammam and Moroccan cuisine
A traditional hammam, with steam, black soap and a vigorous scrub, is a ritual every visitor should try at least once, whether in a hotel spa or a historic public bath with a guide. Pair it with a cookery class: shop in the souk with a chef, then learn to make tagine, pastilla and fresh breads. Morocco’s food is one of the great pleasures of the trip.
At a glance: where to spend your time
| Experience | Base | Time needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medina, souks and gardens | Marrakech | 2 to 3 nights | First-timers, shoppers, food lovers |
| Medieval medina and crafts | Fes | 2 to 3 nights | History and architecture |
| Desert camp and dunes | Merzouga | 1 to 2 nights | Couples, families, photographers |
| Mountain walks and villages | High Atlas (Imlil or Asni) | 1 to 2 nights | Walkers, a break from the city |
| Kasbahs and film sets | Aït Benhaddou or Ouarzazate | 1 night | History, road-trip lovers |
| Ocean, seafood and ramparts | Essaouira | 2 nights | Relaxing at the end of a tour |
| Blue town in the mountains | Chefchaouen | 1 to 2 nights | Photographers, slower travel |
| Roman ruins and imperial city | Day trip from Fes | 1 day | History lovers |
Sample tailor-made Morocco itineraries
Every trip we plan is tailor-made, but these are the routes we start from. All include private transfers or a driver-guide.
7 days: Marrakech, the Atlas and the coast
Days 1 to 3: Marrakech. Guided medina walk, Jardin Majorelle, Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk, a hammam and a cookery class.
Days 4 to 5: High Atlas. Transfer to the mountains for valley walks and village lunches.
Days 6 to 7: Essaouira. Ocean air, seafood and the ramparts before flying home from Marrakech.
10 days: Marrakech, the desert and Fes
Days 1 to 3: Marrakech.
Day 4: Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Aït Benhaddou, overnight nearby.
Day 5: Through the Dadès Valley, overnight in the gorges.
Days 6 to 7: Todra Gorge, then on to Merzouga for a night in a luxury desert camp.
Days 8 to 10: The long drive north through the Middle Atlas to Fes, with two full days in the medina and a day trip to Volubilis and Meknes. Fly home from Fes.
14 days: the grand tour
Days 1 to 2: Tangier, with its kasbah and views across to Spain.
Days 3 to 4: Chefchaouen.
Days 5 to 7: Fes, with Volubilis and Meknes.
Days 8 to 9: Merzouga and the Sahara.
Days 10 to 11: Todra, Dadès and Aït Benhaddou.
Days 12 to 14: Marrakech, ending in style before your flight home.
Distances are bigger than they look on a map. Fes to Merzouga is a full day’s drive of around seven to eight hours, and Marrakech to the desert is longer still, which is why we split it over two or three days with stops along the way.
When to go to Morocco
Morocco is a year-round destination, but the right season depends on where you are going.
| Season | Cities and medinas | Sahara | Atlas Mountains | Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (March to May) | Warm and pleasant; ideal | Warm days, cool nights; ideal | Green valleys, snow on high peaks | Mild and breezy |
| Summer (June to August) | Very hot inland, especially Marrakech and Fes | Extremely hot; best avoided | Pleasant escape from the heat | Cooler and windy; good in Essaouira |
| Autumn (September to November) | Warm and settled; ideal | Comfortable again from October | Clear, crisp walking weather | Warm and calm |
| Winter (December to February) | Sunny days, cold nights | Mild days, very cold nights | Snow and cold; some roads affected | Mild but can be wet |
A few more things to bear in mind:
- Ramadan: dates move each year with the Islamic calendar. Travel is perfectly possible, and evenings can be special, but some restaurants and sites change their hours.
- Christmas, New Year and Easter: the best riads and desert camps fill early, so book well ahead.
- Winter evenings: traditional riads can feel cold, so choose properties with good heating or fireplaces.
Tips from our Travel Designers
- Use a private driver-guide for long days on the road. They know the best stops for lunch, photographs and mint tea.
- Book local guides in the medinas. In Fes especially, a guide turns a confusing maze into a fascinating story.
- Dress respectfully, covering shoulders and knees in towns and villages, and carry a light scarf.
- Keep some days slow. A riad pool or a rooftop at sunset is as much a part of Morocco as any monument.
- Combine with Spain. Tangier is a short ferry crossing from southern Spain, so Andalucía and northern Morocco pair beautifully.
For more ideas, explore our Morocco holidays, or combine your trip with our Spain holidays.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Morocco?
The highlights are the Marrakech medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Fes medina, a night in the Sahara at Merzouga, walking in the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou, Essaouira, Chefchaouen and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
How many days do you need in Morocco?
Seven days is enough for Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains and the coast. Ten to fourteen days lets you add the Sahara, Fes and the north without rushing.
What is the best time to visit Morocco?
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are best for touring. Summer is very hot inland and in the desert, while winter brings cold nights and snow in the mountains.
Can you visit the Sahara from Marrakech?
Yes, but Merzouga is a long drive from Marrakech, so we break the journey over two or three days via Aït Benhaddou and the Dadès and Todra gorges, then continue to Fes or return to Marrakech.
Is a private driver worth it in Morocco?
For most of our clients, yes. Distances are long and mountain roads are winding, so a private driver-guide makes the journey more comfortable and adds local knowledge along the way.
Plan your trip with us
Our Travel Designers plan tailor-made Morocco holidays with private driver-guides, hand-picked riads, luxury desert camps and mountain retreats, all paced to suit you.
Keep planning
Updated 31 October 2026. Drive times are approximate and depend on road and weather conditions. We confirm opening times and hotel details when we book.
