Two weeks is enough to cover Morocco's full sweep, starting in Fes: the imperial cities of the north, Chefchaouen, the Middle Atlas, the kasbah road, a night in the Sahara and the High Atlas down to Marrakech — all at a genuinely unhurried pace.
In this guide
Why is 14 days the ideal length for Morocco?
Fourteen days lets you combine everything that a 7- or 10-day trip forces you to choose between. You can begin in Fes — three full days in the great medina and the imperial-city loop — trace north to Chefchaouen, cross the Middle Atlas, descend through the kasbah road to the Sahara, and return across the High Atlas to Marrakech — a full circle, with two or three days in each highlight rather than a rushed night.
The driving distances in Morocco are real, and the routes between the north and south are genuinely beautiful — the cedar forests around Ifrane and Azrou, the gorges of the Dadès and the Todra, the palm-filled Drâa Valley — so the transfers are part of the experience rather than a tax on it. With a private driver-guide, each stretch is a narrated journey rather than dead time.
Day-by-day: the grand circuit
This outline assumes arrival at Fès–Saïss (FEZ) and departure from Marrakech (RAK), a classic open-jaw routing that removes all backtracking. Days can be adjusted for flights, pace and personal interests.
- Days 1–3: Fes — the Chouara tanneries, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine medersas, the Kairaouine, the Nejjarine and the artisan souks with a local guide.
- Day 4: Meknes (Bab Mansour, the royal granaries) and Roman Volubilis at golden hour, plus the shrine town of Moulay Idriss.
- Days 5–6: Chefchaouen — the blue medina and Rif mountain hikes; two slow nights via the scenic road north.
- Day 7: Back south through Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest to the Middle Atlas plateau and Midelt.
- Day 8: Down the Ziz Valley and gorge country — the Dadès Gorge and Boumalne; overnight in the valley.
- Day 9: Todra Gorge at dawn, then east to Merzouga.
- Day 10: Erg Chebbi dunes — afternoon camel trek to a luxury camp; dinner under the stars.
- Day 11: Sunrise on the dunes, then the long, rewarding drive west through the Drâa Valley.
- Day 12: Ouarzazate ('the door of the desert') and Aït Ben Haddou kasbah.
- Day 13: Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas; afternoon in Marrakech.
- Day 14: Marrakech — medina, Jardin Majorelle, a hammam; evening departure.
How much driving does a 14-day Morocco trip involve?
The circuit covers roughly 2,500–3,000 km in total, spread across 11 or 12 driving days — typically 2–5 hours of moving per day. Days 7 and 11 involve the longest transfers (6–7 hours each); these are the days where an early start and a knowledgeable driver who stops at the right viewpoints make the most difference. The route is almost entirely paved, though some desert pistes near Merzouga benefit from a high-clearance vehicle.
Variants and add-ons
If Essaouira calls, swap the final Marrakech day for two nights on the Atlantic coast (3 hours west) — the seafood, the ramparts and the wind are a superb decompression before a long-haul flight. If you want a longer Atlas experience, replace the Midelt overnight with two nights in Imlil and a guided day on the Toubkal foothills. Families and honeymooners can add a second Sahara night at Erg Chigaga, the wilder and more remote alternative to Erg Chebbi.
Frequently asked
Is 14 days enough to see all of Morocco?
Two weeks covers the essential circuit comfortably — the imperial cities, the Atlas, the Sahara and Marrakech — without feeling rushed. A few destinations (Taroudant, the Souss-Massa, the far south near Dakhla) fall outside a 14-day radius, but most travellers leave Morocco after a fortnight with a full trip rather than a frustrated one.
What is the best 14-day Morocco route?
An open-jaw circuit from Fes in the north to Marrakech in the south, via the imperial cities, Chefchaouen, the Middle Atlas, the kasbah road, the Sahara at Merzouga and the High Atlas. This removes all backtracking and follows the natural grain of the landscape.
What is the best time of year for a 14-day Morocco trip?
March to May and September to November. Spring and autumn give comfortable temperatures in the cities, walkable desert days, and the High Atlas passes free of snow. Summer (July–August) is feasible in the north and on the coast, but the desert and Marrakech at 40°C+ make a full circuit punishing.
Should I fly open-jaw for a two-week Morocco trip?
Yes — fly into Fès–Saïss and out of Marrakech (or vice versa). The open-jaw eliminates 1–2 full driving days of backtracking, which makes a noticeable difference on a 14-day trip. Prices for open-jaw routings are usually comparable to returns.
Can I do the 14-day circuit by train and bus?
The northern section (Fes–Meknes, and on toward Chefchaouen by bus) is well connected by train and CTM bus. South of Fes — the gorges, the Sahara, the kasbah road — public transport is slow and infrequent. A private driver is strongly recommended for the southern half of the circuit.
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Itineraries
Fes & Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days
Ten days is the sweet spot — long enough to root yourself in Fes and the imperial north, drop south to the Sahara, and finish in Marrakech in one unhurried loop, with Chefchaouen or the coast as an optional add-on.
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Fes & Northern Morocco Itinerary: 7 Days
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The Best Time to Visit Morocco
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best all-round times to visit Morocco and to base yourself in Fes — warm days, cool evenings and comfortable conditions for long hours on foot in the Fes el-Bali medina, plus easy day trips to Volubilis, Meknes and the Middle Atlas.