What is the best 17-day Morocco trip? Seventeen days lets you see Morocco in depth without rushing: start in Casablanca, head north to Rabat and Chefchaouen, spend three nights around Fes with Volubilis and Meknes, cross the Middle Atlas to two nights in the Merzouga dunes, then return west through the Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and Aït Ben Haddou to Marrakech, the High Atlas and the Atlantic town of Essaouira.
This route is designed as a one-way trip: fly into Casablanca and home from Marrakech. It balances long driving days with slower days in each region, and it has room to adjust if you prefer more time in the mountains or on the coast.
17-day Morocco trip at a glance
| Day | Route | Approx. driving | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Casablanca, Hassan II Mosque | Airport transfer | Casablanca |
| 2 | Casablanca to Rabat, then Chefchaouen | About 5 to 6 h | Chefchaouen |
| 3 | Chefchaouen: medina and Rif viewpoints | None | Chefchaouen |
| 4 | Chefchaouen to Volubilis and Meknes, then Fes | About 5 to 6 h | Fes |
| 5 | Fes medina with a local guide | None | Fes |
| 6 | Fes at your own pace or a day trip | Optional | Fes |
| 7 | Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz Valley | About 7 to 8 h | Desert camp |
| 8 | Merzouga: dunes, Khamlia, Rissani | Short | Merzouga |
| 9 | Merzouga to the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley | About 4 to 5 h | Dades |
| 10 | Dades to Skoura, Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou | About 3 to 4 h | Aït Ben Haddou |
| 11 | Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech | About 4 h | Marrakech |
| 12 | Marrakech medina and souks | None | Marrakech |
| 13 | Marrakech gardens, palaces, hammam | None | Marrakech |
| 14 | Marrakech to the High Atlas (Imlil area) | About 1.5 h | Atlas lodge |
| 15 | Atlas to Essaouira | About 4 h | Essaouira |
| 16 | Essaouira: ramparts, port and beach | None | Essaouira |
| 17 | Essaouira to Marrakech airport | About 3 h | Departure |
Days 1 to 3: Casablanca, Rabat and Chefchaouen
Day 1. Arrive at Mohammed V Airport and transfer to Casablanca. If time allows, visit the Hassan II Mosque on a guided tour and walk the Corniche. Our guide on Casablanca for visitors covers arrival tips.
Day 2. Drive about an hour to Rabat for the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, then continue into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.
Day 3. A full day in Chefchaouen: the blue lanes of the medina, the kasbah, and the walk to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint at sunset.
Days 4 to 6: Volubilis, Meknes and Fes
Day 4. Drive south to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the hilltop town of Moulay Idriss, then visit Meknes and its Bab Mansour gate before arriving in Fes.
Day 5. A guided day in Fes el-Bali: the Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the craft souks and the Mellah.
Day 6. A free day in Fes, or a day trip to Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. See our private tours from Fes.
Both stops are on the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Archaeological Site of Volubilis and the Medina of Fez.
Days 7 to 8: the Sahara at Merzouga
Day 7. The longest drive of the trip: through Ifrane, the Middle Atlas, Midelt and the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. Ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep in a desert camp.
Day 8. A second desert day makes the long drive worthwhile: sunrise on the dunes, Gnawa music in Khamlia, the market town of Rissani, or a 4×4 loop around the erg. Read about desert camps and desert safety.
Days 9 to 11: gorges, kasbahs and the High Atlas
Day 9. Head west to the towering walls of the Todra Gorge, then into the Dades Valley for the night.
Day 10. Continue through the Valley of Roses and the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate, and spend the evening at Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar.
Day 11. Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Days 12 to 14: Marrakech and the Atlas
Days 12 and 13. Two full days in Marrakech: Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, Jardin Majorelle and a hammam. Our 3-day Marrakech itinerary has ideas.
Day 14. A short drive to the High Atlas around Imlil for walking among Amazigh villages and a night in a mountain lodge.
Days 15 to 17: Essaouira and departure
Day 15. Drive to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, passing argan country on the way.
Day 16. Explore the ramparts, the fishing port, the medina and the long beach. See things to do in Essaouira.
Day 17. Return to Marrakech airport, about three hours by road, for your flight home.
How to adapt this 17-day Morocco trip
- More desert: add a night in the Dades Valley or Skoura to break up the drive.
- Less driving: drop Chefchaouen and start in Fes, flying into Fes or Casablanca.
- Starting from Spain: arrive in Tangier by ferry and begin in the north; see our Morocco tour from Spain guide.
- Shorter trip: our 2-week Morocco itinerary covers a similar loop in 14 days.
- Longer trip: the 3-week Morocco itinerary adds more of the south and the coast.
Practical tips for 17 days in Morocco
- Season: spring and autumn suit a full loop best; summer is very hot in the desert and Marrakech, and winter brings snow to the Atlas passes. See the best time to visit Morocco.
- Transport: trains cover Casablanca, Rabat and Fes, but the Rif, the Sahara and the Atlas are best done with a private driver. Compare options in how to get around Morocco and Morocco driving times.
- Pacing: avoid driving after dark in rural areas, and build in rest days.
- Packing: layers for cold desert nights and mountain evenings, plus comfortable walking shoes for the medinas.
Frequently asked questions
Is 17 days enough to see Morocco?
Yes. Seventeen days covers the imperial cities, the Rif, the Sahara, the High Atlas and the Atlantic coast at a comfortable pace, with rest days built in.
Which airports should I use for a 17-day trip?
Flying into Casablanca and out of Marrakech avoids backtracking. If you start in Fes or Tangier instead, adjust the order of the northern days.
Should I drive myself or use a private driver?
Self-driving is possible, but this route includes long mountain and desert stretches. A private driver lets you rest, stop where you like and avoid navigating medina parking.
Plan your 17 days with a local team
We can tailor this route to your dates, pace and interests; compare it with our other routes in the 10 best Morocco itineraries or contact us for a private plan.