Morocco Travel Blog · 13 min read
Morocco Itinerary 10 Days with Budget: 2026 Real-Cost Plan
A field-tested 10-day Morocco itinerary with real 2026 prices for budget, mid-range and luxury travellers — Marrakech, the Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen with day-by-day spend.
By MoroccoForYou Editorial · Published May 17, 2026 · Updated May 29, 2026
A 10-day Morocco itinerary in 2026 costs between £550 and £2,400 per person excluding flights, depending on whether you travel budget, mid-range or luxury. The route below — Marrakech → Sahara at Merzouga → Fes → [Chefchaouen](/destinations/chefchaouen/) → fly home from Tangier — is the one we plan most often for UK, US and Australian travellers. Below is the day-by-day plan plus a transparent cost breakdown in each budget tier so you can pick what fits.
The 10-day Morocco route at a glance
Fly into Marrakech (RAK), out of Tangier (TNG) or Fes (FEZ) to avoid backtracking. The route covers two imperial cities, the desert and the blue town, with one full rest day in the middle and no day repeated. Driving is via a private driver (recommended) or a self-driven [rental from Casablanca Airport](/rent-a-car/casablanca-airport/) if you’re confident on the mountain roads.
- Day 1: Land Marrakech (RAK). Riad check-in. Sunset on Jemaa el-Fnaa.
- Day 2: Marrakech — Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, souks, rooftop dinner.
- Day 3: Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate (1 night).
- Day 4: Ouarzazate → Dadès Valley → Todra Gorges → Merzouga camp (1 night in dunes).
- Day 5: Sahara sunrise → Erfoud → Midelt → Fes (long drive, 8 hours).
- Day 6: Fes medina with a licensed guide. Marinid Tombs at sunset.
- Day 7: Fes — independent exploration + half-day Volubilis Roman ruins.
- Day 8: Fes → Chefchaouen (4 hours). Evening blue medina walk.
- Day 9: Chefchaouen — Akchour waterfalls hike or Spanish Mosque viewpoint.
- Day 10: Chefchaouen → Tangier (2.5h). Kasbah, Café Hafa, fly home from TNG.
Real-cost comparison — budget vs mid-range vs luxury
These are 2026 per-person costs in pounds sterling, double occupancy, excluding international flights. Add £80–£200 per person for the internal flight if you fly Fes → Marrakech rather than driving (we don’t recommend that for this route).
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | £25–40 / night | £60–110 / night | £200–500 / night |
| Private driver + car | shared CTM bus | £60–80 / day | £90–130 / day |
| Desert camp (1 night) | £40 (basic) | £100 (luxury) | £180+ (premium) |
| Licensed Fes guide (half day) | £15 | £25 | £35 |
| Meals (3/day) | £10–15 / day | £25–40 / day | £60–100 / day |
| Entry fees + activities | £40 total | £70 total | £120 total |
| Local SIM + sundries | £25 | £25 | £25 |
| TOTAL per person | £550–£780 | £1,090–£1,650 | £2,100–£2,400+ |
Day 1 — Marrakech arrival (£25–£250)
Land at Marrakech Menara (RAK). The cheapest way into the city is the #19 airport bus (MAD 30, every 20 minutes to Jemaa el-Fnaa). A petit-taxi costs MAD 100–150 day, MAD 200 at night. A pre-booked riad transfer is free at almost every mid-range and luxury riad.
Drop bags, decompress, walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa for sunset. Eat at a numbered stall (#14 or #31 are reliable) for MAD 80–120, or splurge on a rooftop dinner at Nomad (MAD 350 per person including a glass of wine).
Days 2–3 — Marrakech and the road south
Day 2 stays in Marrakech: Bahia Palace (MAD 70), Saadian Tombs (MAD 70), Ben Youssef Madrasa (MAD 50), then souks. Afternoon rest at the riad and a hammam (MAD 250–600 depending on standard) before a rooftop dinner.
Day 3 starts at 8am crossing the Tichka pass to [Aït Ben Haddou](/destinations/marrakech/) (4 hours including photo stops). Lunch facing the ksar, climb to the top granary, then 30 minutes to Ouarzazate for the night. Stay at Le Berbère Palace or a kasbah in Skoura.
Day 4 — into the Sahara
The most spectacular driving day. Ouarzazate → Dadès Valley (3h) for lunch, → Todra Gorges (1h walk between the cliffs), → Erfoud → Merzouga (arrive 4–5pm). Camel trek 60–90 minutes into the dunes to camp. Dinner, drumming, sleep under the stars.
Budget tier: stay at Kasbah Mohayut on the edge of the dunes (£60/night) and book a basic camp (£40). Luxury tier: Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp (£180+ per person including transfer + dinner + breakfast).
Day 5 — the long drive to Fes
Sunrise on a high dune (5:30–6:30am depending on season), camels back, breakfast at the hotel, on the road by 9am. Erfoud → Midelt (lunch stop with mountain views) → Ifrane (the "Switzerland of Morocco") → [Fes](/destinations/fes/). Arrive 6–7pm. Long but scenic. Share the driving if you self-drive.
Days 6–7 — Fes medina, Volubilis
Day 6 with a licensed guide (£25–35 for 4 hours) covering Madrasa Bou Inania, Al-Qarawiyyin, the Chouara tanneries (view from a shop terrace), Nejjarine carpenters’ square, the spice and slipper souks. Dinner at Restaurant Numéro 7 or The Ruined Garden.
Day 7 morning: independent souk exploration (silver, ceramics, leather babouches). Afternoon: 30-minute taxi to Volubilis Roman ruins (MAD 70 entry) + Moulay Idriss village.
Day 8 — Fes to Chefchaouen
A 4-hour drive north into the Rif Mountains. CTM bus is MAD 75 (£6) one way; a shared private transfer is MAD 1,200 (£100, split). Arrive Chefchaouen early afternoon and walk the blue alleys before the day-trip crowds leave at 5pm — the magic kicks in at dusk.
Day 9 — Chefchaouen full day
Either a half-day hike to the Akchour waterfalls (1h taxi + 2–4h walk) or a slow medina day: morning photo walk, lunch in Plaza Uta el-Hammam, Spanish Mosque viewpoint at golden hour, dinner at Sofia or Bab Ssour.
Day 10 — Chefchaouen to Tangier and home
2h30 drive to Tangier. If your flight is afternoon/evening, do the Kasbah and Café Hafa in the morning, lunch in the Petit Socco, then airport. If early flight, transfer overnight to Tangier the previous evening.
Plan your Morocco trip with us
MoroccoForYou is a Morocco-based agency. Tell us your dates on WhatsApp — we reply within an hour with a draft itinerary, hotel options and a car or driver quote.
