5 Days in Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca to Marrakech

Day 1: Arrival Casablanca & City Tour – Casablanca → Chefchaouen (The Blue City)

Your journey begins with arrival at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport or another chosen starting city. From there, you’ll travel to Chefchaouen, the blue, enchanting town in the Rif Mountains. Upon arrival, check into your riad and take the afternoon to stroll through the town’s winding lanes, lined with blue-washed buildings, local handicraft shops, and inviting cafes.

The evening in Chefchaouen is serene and picturesque. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner at a local restaurant or your riad, with flavors that capture the essence of the region. The quiet night and cool mountain air provide the perfect backdrop for your first night in Morocco, setting the tone for the adventures ahead.

Driving through northern Morocco allows you to take in the changing landscape, from bustling coastal cities to the peaceful Rif Mountains. With each turn, the scenery offers new photographic opportunities, and your guide or driver ensures a comfortable, informative morocco travel itinerary 5 days through the region.

Day 2: Chefchaouen → Fes (Imperial City & Medina Tour)

The first thing on the agenda will be a trip to one of the oldest imperial Moroccan cities, Fes, after having a relaxing breakfast. On arrival, you will be met by a local guide who will start the tour of the historic medina. Fes is an experience to all of your senses and includes smells of spices, the noise of busy markets, and the complex structure of the centuries-old buildings.

When walking through the medina, you can visit artisans’ workshops, taste Moroccan pastries, and see traditional crafts like leather tanning and pottery. This is a city with history, and it is through your guide’s information that the stories can come alive. Towards the end of the day, you can stay in a riad in the center of Fes, where you will be served a home-cooked meal in a traditional Moroccan ambience, and reflect on the cultural experience of the day.

Fes is also the ideal place to gain insight into Morocco’s culinary tradition. A cooking lesson or a tasting event allows one to understand the process of making the traditional Moroccan cuisine, whether it is tagines, couscous, or both, and this day is not only an educational but also a luxurious one.

Starting in Fes instead? Consider our Four Day Fes to Marrakech Journey focused on the Sahara landscapes and desert camping.

Day 3: Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Merzouga Desert

Leaving Fes, the road runs southwards to the Sahara Desert as part of a memorable 5 Day Morocco Itinerary. The trip has its own recollection of the place. On the trip, you can visit Ifrane, which was built in a Swiss style and has a peaceful atmosphere. As you pass the cedar forest, there will be Barbary apes roaming freely as you drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains. Both offer opportunities to take pictures and go for strolls to enjoy Morocco’s scenic landscapes.

The road passes through the Ziz Valley, along with its rich palm oases and traditional villages. A local restaurant lunch enables you to have an experience of local delicacies and take a rest before arriving at Merzouga. Upon arrival, you arrive in the desert, and your camel ride starts. Riding into the Erg Chebbi dunes at the time of sunset, you will have a magic moment when the sky will change to warm yellow and gold. 

The night is concluded in a desert camp with a comfortable tent, dinner, and traditional music to relax and experience the authentic environment with the stars.

Day 4: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley

It is a special feeling to wake up in the desert, one that one can never get anywhere else in the world. When the golden dunes are covered with the first rays of daylight, you will get an opportunity to see one of the most mesmerizing Saharan sunrises. The following morning, you start heading to Dades Gorge out of the desert camp after having your breakfast. 

Riding across the small town of Rissani, which is full of history and boasts traditional markets. A trip to the souk here offers an insight into local life and a chance to meet people who sell spices, textiles, and handcrafted products.

The trail crosses the Todra Gorge, an exquisite natural ravine carved by the Todra River. As you pass through this spectacular ravine, you will be impressed with the enormity of the rocks and serenity of the flowing river. Moving on to Dades Gorge, the scenery shifts to the deeply red-rock ravines, so famous as the “Monkey Fingers” for their peculiar forms.

Day 5: Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech

This tour is completed with a trip to Ouarzazate, the so-called Hollywood of Africa, with famous film studios. In this case, you can visit Atlas Studios to explore the movie sets of famous productions such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. The trip continues to the historic kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The old walls and earth construction offer a glimpse of Morocco’s ancient history and provide an ideal opportunity to take photographs. It will provide the breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains, snake-like valleys, and beautiful Berber villages after a traditional lunch on the way. In the afternoon, you come to the final stage of the Moroccan adventure, and this is the city of Marrakech.

 It is a place of sensations, as the city offers colorful souks, spices, and magnificent architecture to the memory of your trip. The final evening will allow you to reflect on the great Moroccan landscape, the cultural journey, and the activities of your Morocco travel itinerary 5 days that you will do in a lifetime.

If your trip begins in Marrakech, consider our Four-Day Tour from Marrakech for a classic Sahara camel trek.