Morocco Itinerary 5 Days from Casablanca

Distance: 350 km | Driving Time: 4.5-5 hours | Overnight: Chefchaouen

Your Morocco itinerary 5 days begins with a pick up at your accommodation in Casablanca. After meeting your driver and settling into your private air-conditioned vehicle, the journey north begins with an essential cultural stop.

The drive north takes you through Morocco’s agricultural heartland, passing olive groves and wheat fields before climbing into the Rif Mountains. The landscape transforms as elevation increases, Mediterranean vegetation gives way to pine forests, and the air grows noticeably cooler and fresher.

As you approach Chefchaouen, the mountains become more dramatic. This scenic journey is part of why a 5 days in morocco itinerary feels complete rather than rushed, the travel itself becomes memorable rather than merely transitional.

Arrive in Chefchaouen by afternoon with time to settle into your accommodation. Most riads in Chefchaouen’s medina occupy renovated traditional homes, offering intimate courtyards and rooftop terraces with mountain views.

Take your first evening stroll through the blue-washed streets. Plaza Uta El-Hammam serves as the medina’s heart, surrounded by cafes and restaurants where locals and travelers mingle. The blue paint, theories suggest it represents heaven, keeps mosquitoes away, or was introduced by Jewish refugees, creates an otherworldly atmosphere as evening light softens.

Wander without an agenda through narrow lanes where every turn reveals photogenic doorways, potted plants against azure walls, and local shops selling wool garments and woven blankets. Chefchaouen’s pace is deliberately slow, offering the perfect introduction to Moroccan time, where rushing achieves nothing and presence means everything.

Wake early to experience Chefchaouen before the day’s heat and tour groups arrive. The morning light transforms the blue medina into shades of lavender and cobalt. Hike up to the Spanish Mosque (30-minute walk) for panoramic views over the blue cityscape with the Rif Mountains as backdrop, one of Morocco’s most stunning viewpoints.

Return to the medina for breakfast at your riad. Fresh bread, olive oil, honey, and mint tea fuel your morning exploration. Depart mid-morning for Fez, Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual capital. The drive descends from the Rif Mountains through agricultural valleys where farmers still plow with mules and harvest by hand. This is rural Morocco, largely unchanged for generations.

Arrive in Fez by early afternoon. Founded in the 8th century, Fez served as Morocco’s capital for over 400 years and remains the country’s religious center. The medina of Fez el-Bali is the world’s largest car-free urban area, a medieval city functioning much as it did 1,000 years ago. venture into the medina with a local guide. This isn’t optional for first-time visitors; Fez’s medina is a labyrinth of 9,400 alleyways where even long-time residents sometimes get lost.

Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, is the world’s oldest continuously operating university. While non-Muslims cannot enter, you can admire the entrance and understand its historical significance—scholars including Maimonides studied here centuries before European universities existed.

move to The ancient tanneries represent Fez’s living history. From a terrace viewpoint (guides know the best leather shop balconies), look down on the honeycomb of stone vessels filled with colored dyes and workers treating leather using methods unchanged for centuries. The natural dyes, yellow from saffron, red from poppy, blue from indigo, create a striking palette. Yes, the smell is intense (you’ll be offered mint sprigs), but this authentic industry is increasingly rare worldwide.

Al-Attarine Madras, a 14th-century Quranic school, showcases Moroccan architectural art at its finest. Every surface features intricate zellige tilework, carved cedar, and sculpted plaster in geometric patterns that reflect Islamic artistic traditions. The central courtyard creates a peaceful sanctuary from Medina chaos.

Continue to Nejjarine Square. This restored caravanserai (merchant inn) now houses a woodworking museum and beautifully tiled fountain. The square offers a breather from narrow alleys and good people-watching opportunities.

After settling into your traditional riad, Fez has some of Morocco’s finest, with elaborate tile work and carved plaster turning accommodations into museums. Dine in a medina restaurant. Fez is known for pastilla (sweet and savory pigeon pie) and mechoui (slow-roasted lamb),

Distance: 470 km | Driving Time: 7.5-8 hours | Overnight: Merzouga Desert Camp

Today represents the most challenging yet rewarding segment of any 5 day morocco itinerary. The journey from Fez to the Sahara covers a significant distance but delivers constantly changing landscapes that make the drive memorable rather than tedious.

Depart early (7-8 AM recommended) to maximize daylight. The route climbs into the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco’s “Switzerland,” with cedar forests and cooler temperatures. Stop in Ifrane, nicknamed “Little Switzerland” for its Alpine-style architecture and manicured gardens—a jarring contrast to ancient Fez.

Continue through Azrou, home to Barbary macaque monkeys in the cedar forests. A quick stop allows photos with these playful primates (keep food secured; they’re skilled thieves).

After crossing the Middle Atlas, the landscape transforms into a high desert plateau. The road descends dramatically through the Ziz Gorges, where the Ziz River has carved through layers of sedimentary rock, creating stunning geology.

The Ziz Valley oasis appears like a green ribbon through barren landscape, thousands of date palms sustained by the river creating what feels like a mirage. Stop at a panoramic viewpoint for photos and fresh orange juice from roadside vendors.

Lunch typically occurs in Midelt or Errachidia, depending on your departure time. These are functional towns where you’ll eat at tourist-oriented restaurants serving tagines and couscous. The food is simple but adequate fuel for the journey ahead.

After Errachidia, palm oases become more frequent. You’re approaching the Sahara’s edge, where the last reliable water sources supported ancient caravan routes. The landscape grows more dramatic, with rocky desert, flat expanses, and eventually, your first glimpse of sand dunes on the horizon.

Arrive in Merzouga by late afternoon. This small village sits at the base of Erg Chebbi, Morocco’s most accessible major dune field. The orange dunes rise up to 150 meters high, creating Morocco’s most dramatic desert landscape.

From Merzouga, you’ll switch to camels for the trek into the dunes. Most camps are 45 minutes to 1.5 hours from the village by camel (some operators offer 4×4 transfers if you prefer). The camel trek times with sunset, the temperature cools, and the light transforms the dunes into waves of gold, amber, and deep orange.

Riding a camel takes a moment to adjust (they rock significantly when standing and sitting), but the pace is meditative. Silence surrounds you except for camel bells and wind over sand. As you penetrate deeper into the dunes, modern life drops away. No phone signal, no artificial light, no sound except nature.

Arrive at your desert camp as stars emerge. Luxury camps feature private tented rooms with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with showers, and communal spaces with Berber carpets and cushions. After settling in, climb the nearest dune to watch the sun set completely. The silence and scale are profound.

Dinner is served communally: tagines, salads, fresh bread, and fruit. After eating, Berber guides play traditional music around the fire, drums, singing, and sometimes dancing. The hospitality is genuine; these are men who grew up in the desert and take pride in sharing their home.

After the music winds down, lie back and observe the stars. With zero light pollution, the Milky Way stretches overhead so densely that it looks three-dimensional. You’ll see more stars than you knew existed. This is the moment many travelers say their 5 days in morocco itinerary becomes a life-changing experience rather than just a vacation.

Wake before dawn (your guide will rouse you) to climb the dunes for sunrise. The color transitions from deep indigo night to pink, orange, and finally bright daylight. The same dunes that glowed orange at sunset now reveal subtle shades of rose and gold. This sunrise is why people include the Sahara in their morocco 5 day itinerary, it’s a natural spectacle impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Return to camp for breakfast, then either ride camels back to Merzouga or continue with an optional activity: Quad biking or buggy driving through the dunes for adrenaline seekers

Return to Merzouga village, where your driver awaits. The journey west begins through a different desert landscape, rocky hamada (desert pavement) rather than sand dunes. This is the Sahara that most people don’t picture, but comprises the majority of the world’s largest hot desert.

The road passes through small villages, some mere clusters of earth-built homes, before reaching Todra Gorge, one of Morocco’s most dramatic natural formations. The gorge narrows to a canyon just 10 meters wide with sheer limestone cliffs rising 160 meters on both sides.

Walk into the gorge where the temperature drops noticeably, cooled by the permanent stream. Rock climbers often scale the vertical walls; you’ll see bolted routes climbing impossible-looking faces. The walk takes 30-45 minutes, depending on how far you penetrate into the canyon. Light plays dramatically off the orange-red rock walls, creating excellent photography.

Small cafes at the gorge entrance serve mint tea and tagines. The setting, surrounded by palms with cliffs towering overhead, makes even simple meals memorable.

Continue to Dades Valley, known for dramatic rock formations including the famous “Monkey Fingers”, vertical rock pinnacles eroded into organic shapes. The valley road winds through rose gardens (harvest season is April-May, when the entire valley smells sweet), Berber villages, and past kasbahs in various states of preservation.

Accommodations in the Dades Valley typically overlook the valley with mountain backdrops. Many are kasbahs converted to hotels, offering authentic architecture with modern comforts.

Sunset from your terrace reveals the valley’s full beauty as light illuminates the layered rock formations in shades of pink and orange. Dades is quiet, a handful of small towns serving the valley’s agricultural communities. Dinner is at your accommodation. 

Distance: 330 km | Driving Time: 6-7 hours | Overnight: Marrakech

Your final travel day crosses Morocco’s most cinematic landscapes. Depart after breakfast, following the valley through rose plantations (if visiting during harvest, stop at a cooperative to see rose water distillation) and past ancient kasbahs, slowly returning to earth.

The route follows the old caravan path connecting the Sahara to Marrakech. These earthen fortresses once protected trade routes carrying gold, salt, and slaves. Many are abandoned now, but their silhouettes against desert mountains remain haunting reminders of Morocco’s trading past.

Stop at Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco’s most famous kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This fortified village rises from a hill like a sand castle, its towers and crenellated walls intact thanks to ongoing preservation efforts.

Ait Ben Haddou’s fame comes from cinema; it has appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and dozens of other productions. Walk through the vehicle-free pathways, climbing to the top where a granary offers panoramic views over the kasbah and the river valley below.

After Ait Ben Haddou, the route climbs into the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 meters elevation. This is Morocco’s highest road pass, winding through dozens of switchbacks with dramatic valley views.

The landscape transitions from desert to mountain, juniper trees appear, then pine forests. Small villages cling to mountainsides where Berber families farm terraced fields much as their ancestors did. Roadside vendors sell geodes, fossils, and mineral specimens, the Atlas Mountains are geologically rich, and mining provides income for mountain communities.

Stop at the pass summit (weather permitting) for photographs and altitude-dizzy selfies. From here, you begin the descent toward Marrakech.

As you descend the Atlas, the landscape dries again. Palm groves announce Marrakech’s approach, then the red city walls that gave Marrakech its nickname come into view.

Arrive in Marrakech by late afternoon or early evening. Your driver will navigate to your riad, most are in the medina, accessible only on foot, so expect a short walk from where vehicles can park.

Marrakech deserves days of exploration, but your 5 day morocco itinerary concludes here. Depending on your flight schedule, you might have evening hours to venture into Jemaa el-Fna square, where snake charmers, storytellers, musicians, and food stalls create sensory overload. The square at dusk is Morocco distilled, chaotic, colorful, loud, aromatic, and utterly unforgettable.

If your flight departs the next day, wake early to explore the souks before they fill with tourists, visit the serene Bahia Palace gardens, or simply have coffee on a rooftop terrace watching the call to prayer echo across the medina.