10 Days Road Trip in Morocco

10 Days Road Trip in Morocco

A Journey Through History, Desert Skies, and Mountain Roads
From ocean breezes in Rabat to the golden dunes of Merzouga and the high-octane rhythm of Marrakesh, Morocco gave us a perfect mix of chaos and calm, textures and flavours, depth and discovery.

Our Itinerary

Day 1–2: Rabat

We began our journey in Morocco’s calm and coastal capital. Rabat is relaxed compared to other cities, a gentle start.

We explored the blue-and-white streets of the Kasbah of the Udayas, strolled along the Atlantic, and admired the Hassan Tower, an unfinished minaret from the 12th century that still dominates the skyline.
Our exploration of Rabat continued with a visit to Chellah, perhaps the most atmospheric place we saw. This peaceful, partly crumbling necropolis just outside the city center is surrounded by stork nests and tangled gardens. It holds layers of history, from Roman ruins to medieval Islamic tombs, and carries a quiet, haunting beauty that made it feel like we’d stepped into another time entirely.

That said, in hindsight, we probably wouldn’t have stayed two nights. If we could go back, we would have traded one of those nights for a visit to Chefchaouen, the famous blue town tucked into the Rif Mountains — a detour we’re saving for next time.

Day 3–4: Fes (via Meknes)
On the drive to Fes, we stopped briefly in Meknes. It was a good chance to rest and admire the grand Bab Mansour gate, a reminder of the city's imperial past, but not essential if you're short on time. Fes itself? A whirlwind of colour, noise, and history.

It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited medieval cities in the world.
We spent two full days exploring its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a labyrinth of 9,000+ alleyways. A guide on the first day helped us understand what we were seeing; otherwise, it’s very easy to get lost.

One of the most unforgettable visits was to the Chouara Tannery, the oldest tannery in Fes and still in operation since at least the 11th century.

Here, leather is processed using traditional methods that have remained unchanged for centuries. Cow, goat, and camel hides are soaked in limestone vats, softened in pigeon droppings (yes, really), and then dyed with natural pigments like saffron, poppy, and indigo. It’s smelly (they’ll offer you mint sprigs to hold to your nose), but fascinating. Watching the process from the terraces above, with the colourful vats laid out like a painter’s palette, feels like looking at living history. Fes is intense, rich, and raw, not polished for tourism, but deeply authentic.

Day 5–6: Merzouga Desert
The drive to Merzouga was long but stunning, passing cedar forests and monkeys in the Middle Atlas, and watching the landscape turn into dramatic desert terrain.

We arrived near sunset, parked at a hotel on the edge of the dunes, and were picked up by jeep to reach our desert camp. (Camel rides are available too, and if you choose that, don’t worry, your luggage travels by car.) We opted out of the camel ride, preferring the quicker jeep ride, but still found ourselves surrounded by the same golden silence that makes the Sahara so magical.

Nights in the desert are unforgettable, the kind of quiet that makes your thoughts echo.
After dinner, under a sky thick with stars, we sat sipping mint tea on Berber carpets, with nothing but dunes and stillness around us. That moment, quiet, timeless, grounded, was the seed for the shot I took the next day, which became the print Tea with the Dunes. A reminder that even in daylight, the desert holds its own kind of peace.

Day 7: Todra Gorge → Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou

Leaving the stillness of the desert behind, we entered one of the most dramatic days of the trip, visually and geographically. First stop: the towering red walls of Todra Gorge, where you walk between sheer cliffs rising up to 300 meters. Cool, narrow, and echoing with the sound of water and wind, it's nature’s cathedral. Then came the surreal drive through the Dades Valley, where the road itself becomes the attraction. One of the most unforgettable sights was the legendary set of switchbacks carved into the cliffs, a perfect balance of fear and awe as the road snakes up in tight, dizzying curves. It’s this exact stretch that inspired the artwork The Curve of Courage, a tribute to both the road's engineering and the daring spirit it evokes.

We stopped in Ouarzazate to visit the Atlas Film Studios, also known as the “Hollywood of Africa, where movies like Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones were filmed. Worth it for a quick tour and some movie magic.Finally, we reached Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ancient ksar (fortified village) made of earth and straw. It feels suspended in time. With its honey-colored walls and zigzagging paths, the whole village glows golden in the late afternoon light. 



Day 8–10: Marrakesh (via Tizi n’Tichka Pass)
The drive over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and the High Atlas Mountains was one of the most scenic of the trip — winding roads, panoramic views, and snow-capped peaks.

Marrakesh hit us with all its intensity right away. There’s no easing in — you're plunged into a city of rhythm and color, where motorbikes zip past donkeys and spice stands, and where getting lost in the medina feels inevitable… and essential. Every alley here feels like a woven thread in a larger story, the Tapestry of the Medina comes to life through every carpet, lantern, and tile pattern.

Among the many unforgettable places we explored, El Badi Palace stood out. Once one of the grandest palaces in the world, it's now a haunting and beautiful ruin, open to the sky and echoing with its past. You can climb its ancient walls, walk through its sunlit courtyards, and imagine the days when it was filled with gold, marble, and Moroccan power. It’s a place that lingers in your memory, and inspired one of my favorite prints, Echoes of El Badi.

Marrakesh is exhausting and energising all at once. It demands your attention, and rewards it with moments of true magic. 
Be firm in the souks, sellers can be pushy, but a confident "no" works wonders. Overwhelming at times? Absolutely. But it gives so much in return.

Final Thoughts

This trip through Morocco was a journey of contrasts, peaceful towns and chaotic cities, snow-dusted mountains and sun-scorched dunes, ancient medinas and timeless silence. It was absolutely worth it, and we’re already thinking about what we’d do differently next time (Chefchaouen, we haven’t forgotten you!).

Curious about where we stayed, what we ate, the places we loved, and even the ones we’d skip? Want more of mine and Federico’s personal take on the road, the people, the moments that stuck with us?
Hold on, a very complete downloadable guide is coming soon.

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