Ten days is the sweet spot for a desert-led trip — long enough to reach the dunes unhurried, spend two nights deep in the Sahara, and still see the gorges, kasbahs and one imperial city, with the coast as an optional finish.
The grand desert loop, day by day
This is our most-requested length for a Sahara holiday: the dunes get the time they deserve, and the drives are spread out so no single day feels like a marathon.
- Days 1–2: Marrakech — medina, gardens, hammam, chef's-table dinner.
- Day 3: High Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate.
- Day 4: Skoura's palmery, then the Dadès and Todra gorges toward the desert.
- Days 5–6: Erg Chebbi at Merzouga — camel trek, a luxury camp night, sunrise on the dunes and a 4x4 day among the nomad wells and oases.
- Day 7: North-west to Fes via the Middle Atlas cedar forest and Ifrane.
- Days 8–9: Fes — the medieval medina, crafts and a family dinner.
- Day 10: A final city morning and departure (or train back to Marrakech).
Go deeper, or add the coast
Desert purists can swap the Fes leg for the long 4x4 piste to Erg Chigaga via M'Hamid — bigger, emptier dunes and a second night under a sky with no light pollution at all. If you'd rather end slowly by the sea, finish in Essaouira, three hours west of Marrakech, with ramparts and grilled seafood — the ideal decompression after the desert.
Frequently asked
Is 10 days enough for the Sahara and more?
It's ideal. Ten days lets you spend two unhurried nights in the dunes at Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga, see the gorges and kasbahs, and add either Fes or the coast — without rushing. Two weeks would add a second desert or a proper Atlas trek.
What's the best 10-day desert route?
A loop from Marrakech: south over the Atlas to the Sahara for two nights, then north-west to Fes, or back through the Draa Valley with a coastal finish in Essaouira. Flying open-jaw (in and out of different cities) saves backtracking.
Should I spend two nights in the desert?
Yes, if you can. A single night is magical but rushed; a second night lets you slow down — a 4x4 day among the nomad wells, a longer camel trek, and a sunset and sunrise on the dunes without watching the clock.
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Itineraries
Morocco Itinerary: 7 Days
A week is the perfect length for a desert-focused trip. Here are two proven 7-day routes built around the Sahara — a deep dunes loop to the remote Erg Chigaga, or the classic Erg Chebbi week with extra time in Marrakech — plus how to choose between them.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
If the desert is the heart of your trip, plan around the dunes first. October to April is the prime Sahara window — comfortable days in Merzouga and Erg Chigaga, brilliant stargazing and cold but magical camp nights. Spring and autumn are the all-round sweet spots for combining the dunes with the cities and the Atlas.
Planning
Morocco Travel Costs & Budget
A Sahara desert tour fits almost any budget. A shared standard tour with a basic camp can be remarkably cheap; a private 4x4 trip with a luxury camp at Erg Chigaga and a driver-guide sits firmly in premium territory. Knowing where the money goes helps you spend it on the parts that matter.