If you’re planning to visit Morocco, and wanting to experience Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, the desert and the beach, then this 10 day Morocco itinerary is for you!
This 10 day Morocco itinerary shares the best things to do in each place, restaurant recommendations, activity ideas and our best tips from our travels around Morocco. I hope it helps you prepare an amazing trip to Morocco that you will remember and cherish for years to come!
We have included affiliate links in this post for your convenience. You can read our disclosures here. Thanks for supporting A Hedgehog in the Kitchen!
10 Day Morocco Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive in Marrakech
Depending on what time you arrive in Marrakech, you may want to spend the afternoon exploring. Typically, when we arrive in a new place, we love to just go for a walk in the neighborhood we’re staying in to get a feel for the place.
We arrived in Marrakech in the early evening which left us just enough time to explore our riad, have dinner, have mint tea on the beautiful rooftop of our hotel under the stars and glorious moon and then tuck in for an early night so that we would be ready to start exploring early the next day!
Where to stay
We stayed at Riad Be and at La Maison Arabe during our time in Marrakech and loved them both!
Riad Be is a very affordable riad that is perfectly located in the heart of Marrakech. It is charming, comfortable, beautifully decorated and the staff goes above and beyond to make sure you stay is perfect. They also have a fabulous rooftop bar where you can enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice and tasty meals. The breakfast at Riad Be was one of the best breakfasts we had in Morocco too!
Book your stay at Riad Be in Marrakech, Morocco
La Maison Arabe is a legendary hotel in Marrakech. It was originally founded by a mother-daughter duo as the first restaurant in the medina to serve foreigners in the 1940s. It was purchased, and lovingly restored, by Italian aristocrat Count Fabrizio Ruspoli, to become the first luxury boutique riad-hotel in Marrakech, in the 1990s. The hotel has a gorgeous spa and pool, as well as an off-site “country club” with another pool that you can visit as part of your stay at no additional cost. The hotel also has a beautiful jazz bar and 3 fantastic restaurants.
Book your stay at La Maison Arabe, Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech is also home to one of the World’s best hotels, so for a very special stay, consider booking a night in one of the luxury riads at Le Royal Mansour. Every guest stays in their own luxurious private riad. Each riad is assigned its own butler who will take of your every need during your stay.
There are also on-site pools, gorgeous bars and incredible restaurants. A stay here ensures absolutely everything you need to experience Marrakech in luxury. (Also, rumor has it, when you stay at Le Royal Mansour, you will be picked up at the hotel – free of charge – by a driver driving a rose gold Range Rover, so there’s that!)
Although we didn’t stay here, we had a really special meal at the hotel (more on that later in this article.)
Dinner at Riad Be
Most nice hotels and riads in Marrakech have beautiful restaurants. For our first night in Marrakech, we chose to have dinner at our riad, Riad be. You can enjoy a variety of tasty Moroccan specialties, including couscous, tagines, and a variety of appetizers. They also offer a selection of vegetarian dishes.
Day 2 : Marrakech
Your second day in Marrakech starts at Dar el Bacha, the Museum of Confluences.
Dar el Bacha
Dar el Bacha or the Museum of Confluences is a beautiful palace located in the old medina of Marrakech.
It was built in 1910 and was the home of the pasha of Marrakech, Thami El Glaoui, appointed by Sultan Moulay Youssef.
The palace was renovated and transformed into a museum in 2017. The gorgeous riad features exquisite architecture, mosaics, carved wooden ceilings and fountains, as well as a stunning courtyard filled with sweet-smelling orange blossoms.
Visiting Dar el Bacha gives you the opportunity to see a traditional palace riad consisting of a garden surrounded by six rooms on all four sides.
When you visit, you’ll also be able to enjoy a collection of primitive and antique artifacts curated by the American philanthropist, Patti Birch.
Purchase tickets directly on-site. Arrive at 9am when they open to avoid having to wait too long on line!
Bacha Coffee
Bacha Coffee is a very popular cafe in Marrakech, inside the Dar el Bacha museum. It is worth the hype!
When we arrived, the lady selling tickets said the wait time for the cafe would be 2 hours. She suggested we put our name on the list for the cafe before starting our museum visit. By the time we finished visiting the museum, we waited an additional 20 minutes in the beautiful garden of the museum and then went in to experience the cafe.
Bacha Coffee is a beautiful cafe that serves a large variety of filtered coffees in gorgeous gold coffee pots. They also offer a selection of mostly French pastries. This coffee shop is unique and worth the wait in my opinion.
Lunch at Nomad Café
The Nomad Cafe in Marrakech is a fantastic restaurant featuring a beautiful rooftop. Whether you are sitting inside or outside, you will be delighted by the selection of dishes on offer.
We loved our seasonal mezzes to start and the vegetarian barley couscous we shared as a main dish. We had been excited about trying the sardine meatballs tagine but it turned out to be a tad too fishy for us (even though we typically love sardines!). We also loved our sorbet for dessert. We got Berber Tea (a mixture of sage, geranium, marjoram, wild mint and lemon) and raspberry and Moroccan rose. They were both so good!
Le Jardin Secret
Le Jardin Secret is a beautiful Moroccan garden just a 6-minute walk from Nomad Cafe.
You’ll be able to enjoy an Islamic garden and an exotic garden during your visit.
You can also pay extra to visit the riad which I recommend. Purchase tickets on-site as well.
There is also a beautiful little gift shop where you can pick up some chic souvenirs or gifts.
Stop by the cute cafe to enjoy the garden a little longer. You can have mint tea, coffee, juice or a smoothie. They also offer a nice selection of food from snacks to tagine, pizzas and salads.
Souk Semmarine
The Souk Semmarine is the main part of the Marrakech souks, located in the Marrakech medina. It is a broad, covered alley filled with pottery, textiles, brass lanterns, mirrors, teapots, tea cups, kaftans, pashminas and more!
It is a treasure trove of fantastic souvenirs you can bring home from Morocco. If you are into fashion, interior design, or cooking, you will find lots of things to peak your interest in the Souk Semmarine.
La Pâtisserie des Princes
The selection of pastries at La Pâtisserie des Princes is out of this world!
You will find a vast assortment of authentic and delicious Moroccan pastries on display as well as a nice selection of freshly made ice cream here.
You’ll probably want to go back several times during your time in Marrakech!
Shopping at Ensemble Artisinal
Ensemble Artisinal is a shopping complex with a variety of local Moroccan products similar to what you will find for sale in the souks, Argan oil products, leather goods like poufs and slippers, silver jewelry, lanterns, and more.
Shopping here is fun and more relaxing than haggling in the souks because the prices are fixed.
You could purchase directly here or take a look at what they have for sale, get an idea of the prices for each items and then go and negotiate with the sellers in the souks.
Street Food Tour for dinner
A great way to explore Marrakech, meet locals and sample a variety of tasty Moroccan foods is by scheduling a food tour.
We had scheduled this Marrakech Food Tour by Night, but it ended up being cancelled since we were visiting during Ramadan.
If you want to do the Marrakech Food Tour by Night food tour, book it early since spots on this well-reviewed food tour tend to sell out quickly.
Day 3 : Marrakech to Atlas Mountains
On day 3, you’ll travel to the Atlas Mountains. The trip takes about an hour to an hour and a half from Marrakech by car. You can ask your hotel in Marrakech to organize a taxi to get to your hotel in the Atlas Mountains.
If you prefer to spend more time in Marrakech, and visit the Atlas Mountains on a day trip, you can book the Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages and Waterfall Tour that leaves from, and returns to, Marrakech in one day.
Where to stay
We stayed at Kasbah Bab Ourika (which you need to book directly). We absolutely loved our experience here! In fact, Kasbah Bab Ourika was one of our favorite hotels we’ve ever stayed in. If you book this kasbah, you won’t be disappointed! It is one of our favorite hotels we’ve ever stayed in.
All of the activities we enjoyed in the Atlas Mountains were available and organized through the hotel, so if you choose to stay some place else, you will want to see what activities they offer. They will likely be similar to the activities listed below.
Lunch at Kasbah Bab Ourika
Meals in the Atlas Mountains are typically organized by your hotel. If you choose to stay at Kasbah Bab Ourika, and have your meals there, you are in for a treat! The food is incredible. They offer a fantastic selection of Moroccan dishes at lunch and dinner, in addition to a gorgeous Moroccan breakfast with some Western options as well.
Camel riding
We booked our activities through Kasbah Bab Ourika in advance and once we arrived in the Atlas Mountains, all of our activities were the activities we had organized through the kasbah hotel.
You’ll probably want to try a camel ride during your 10 days in Morocco itinerary!
Going for a camel ride in the Atlas Mountains is a fun experience. You can see beautiful scenery and explore local villages.
We got lucky and were visiting during the one week school holiday, so we go to meet so many children in the villages. They were so excited to use their French they learn at school and were saying “bonjour, bonjour, bonjour!” every time we went by.
Traditional hammam at the spa
No trip to Morocco is complete without having a traditional hammam experience!
Kasbah Bab Ourika has a beautiful spa, so I decided to book the hammam experience there. I’m so glad I did! It was such a fun experience and my skin felt so smooth and refreshed afterwards. If you want to have a traditional Moroccan hammam experience, this could be a good place to schedule it.
Henna hand art
In the afternoon on the first day after exploring a village, camel riding and a lovely spa moment, why not get some henna?
Henna is a natural plant-based dye that is made into a paste and piped into a design on the hands (or feet). At Kasbah Bab Ourika, they employ a local Berber woman who will come to the hotel and do your henna art for you.
You can get henna on one or both hands. I asked her to decorate both hands and I love the way it turned out!
Henna art is typically done on the hands and feet in Morocco for special occasions, including weddings, so people may ask you if you have been to a special celebration recently when they see your henna art.
The amount of time the henna art lasts will depend on how often you wash your hands, swim, etc. It does last quite a few days in any case, so you want to make sure that you are happy to have it on your skin for the rest of your trip.
Mine didn’t fade away until several days after we got home, which I was happy about because I loved the henna art I got on my hands! It was such a special touch that added to the joy of our trip.
Dinner at Kasbah Bab Ourika
Enjoy dinner back at your hotel after a fantastic day in the Atlas Mountains.
Day 4 : Atlas Mountains
Trek through a local village with a local guide
On day 4, spend more time in a local Berber village!
If you are staying at the Kasbah Bab Ourika, there are a couple of local towns around the kasbah that you can visit.
We chose to do a trek with a local guide organized by our kasbah, Zakaria (you can also contact him directly on Instagram if you will not be staying at Kasbah Bab Ourika, otherwise, just ask for him when you book your trekking activity with the kasbah).
He was fabulous and shared so many interesting stories and details about growing up in a Berber village. He’s also an absolute superstar in the village. As we walked through the town with him, all the local kids were calling out his name, since he brings them books and toys regularly. If you are staying at Kasbah Bab Ourika, you can request the same trek with him too.
If you are going to be visiting Berber villages during your time in Morocco, consider bringing some little gifts for the local kids, such as stickers, books or small toys. The kids are so cute and will be very happy to receive little surprises!
Berber tea making class
In the afternoon learn a little more about Berber cuisine, starting with learning to make Berber tea!
Moroccan mint tea is a delicious tea made will gun powder green tea, fresh mint and heaps of sugar that you will quickly discover is enjoyed throughout the entire day in Morocco.
Berber tea is similar but different, in that it has the same base as Moroccan mint tea but includes a variety of other herbs in addition to fresh mint.
If you take the Berber tea making class at Kasbah Bab Ourika, you’ll explore the hotel’s organic herb garden to cut the herbs you’ll need to make the tea, then learn to make the tea with the chef and then get to enjoy the tea any where you choose in the beautiful gardens of the kasbah.
Cooking class
After tea making, why not take a cooking class?! We love taking cooking classes whenever we travel. It’s so much fun to learn a new recipe and to make it again back home. You’ll remember your wonderful trip every time you make the dish at home for years to come!
Day 5: Atlas Mountains to the Agafay Desert
On day 5, you will travel to the Agafay Desert for your night in the desert! This is such a special experience. We were so excited on our way there.
It takes between one hour and one and a half hours to get to the Agafay desert from the Atlas Mountains if you are staying at the Kasbah Bab Ourika. Just ask them to organize a private transfer for you.
Where to stay
We loved our experience at Agafay Luxury Camp. It’s a luxury Agafay desert camp where you can sleep in a private luxury tent. You get the incredible experience of sleeping a tent in the desert while also enjoying the modern comfort of a private bathroom, shower (with desert views) and your own bathtub to soak under the stars. It is pretty incredible!
Book your stay at the Agafay Luxury Camp
Agafay Luxury Camp also has a gorgeous pool that has been voted the most beautiful pool in Africa!
Once you are out in the Agafay Desert, pretty much all of your activities will be organized by the desert camp you choose for your trip. They offer a good selection of activities and they are quite affordable compared to nearby camps.
Book your stay at the Agafay Luxury Camp
Once you book your desert camp, get in touch with them to book your activities. I recommend booking your activities in advance to make sure you can do everything you want to do during your night in the desert.
Book your stay at the Agafay Luxury Camp
Camel ride
Going for a camel ride just before sunset is as dreamy as you would imagine it would be. Although we visited in March, our day in the desert was quite hot. Luckily, we had booked the sunset camel ride. It would have been uncomfortably hot to do a camel ride at midday, so this is definitely something to consider!
Stargazing with an astronomer
One of the fun activities offered at Agafay Luxury Camp is stargazing with a professional astronomer. After dinner, we head out with the astronomer and a large telescope to stargaze.
We were able to see the moon so clearly which was absolutely beautiful and a highlight of our trip! We were also able to see Jupiter. When you visit and the weather conditions the night you spend in the desert will determine what you get to see, but if you are visiting on a clear night, I highly recommend booking a stargazing experience!
Dinner in a private tent
One of the activities offered by the luxury desert camps in the Agafay Desert is a romantic dinner in a private tent.
At Agafay Luxury Desert Camp, the private tent dinner experience includes a selection of Moroccan salads to start, the tagine of your choice (we tried vegetarian tagine and preserved lemon and chicken tagine), dessert and mint tea. The tent was decorated with flowers and candles. It is truly beautiful and memorable!
Book your stay at the Agafay Luxury Camp
Day 6 : Agafay to Marrakech
On day 6, you will drive back to Marrakech from the Agafay dessert. Get ready to enjoy lots of sightseeing today, and over the next 3 days, in Marrakech!
Where to stay
We stayed at Riad Be and La Maison Arabe during our time in Marrakech. We had a great experience during both stays and would recommend them both.
Riad Be is more affordable than La Maison Arabe but is charming, comfortable, beautifully decorated and the staff is.
La Maison Arabe is a historical property in Marrakech that has the most gorgeous interiors and very comfortable beds.
Both riad hotels are very well located in the heart of Marrakech.
Book your stay at La Maison Arabe
Marrakech is also home to one of the World’s best hotels, so for a very special stay, consider booking a night in one of the luxury riads at Le Royal Mansour.
Madrasa Ben Youssef
Madrasa Ben Youssef is a spectacular building nestled in the heart of the old medina of Marrakech. It was built in 1564 by Sultan Abdullah Al-Ghaleb. For over 400 years, it has been a school, intellectual, spiritual and cultural center. It is dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of Arab-Muslim civilization.
Lunch : Le Trou au Mur
Le Trou au Mur is around the corner from Madrasa Ben Youssef, making it the perfect place to eat after your visit.
We absolutely loved our meal here! It was so tasty and one of our favorite meals we had during our entire trip to Morocco.
We enjoyed an assortment of Moroccan salads to start, chicken and saffron kebabs with Moroccan spices and the seasonal mezze plate. For dessert, we tried the delicious ras el hanout ice cream and orange blossom sorbet.
Our meal was exquisite! We would definitely go back in a heartbeat.
La Maison de la Photographie (or the House of Photography)
This was one of our favorite visits during our entire trip!
La Maison de la Photographie is a small museum in a beautiful riad that shows the history of Morocco though beautiful, antique photographs. It is incredibly moving and deserves time during your 10 day Morocco itinerary.
There is a permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits that change regularly.
In addition to spending a couple of hours exploring the museum, you’ll want to leave some time at the end of your visit to shop in the gift shop. It is small but they have an excellent collection of photographs for sale, as well as postcards of several of the photos featured inside the museum.
I’ve personally loved photography all my life (especially antique, black and white photography). I also love a good gift shop so this was basically my idea of gift shop heaven! This could be a good spot to pick up gifts for loved ones back home.
Square Jemaa el-Fnaa
Jemaa el-Fnaa is a square in Marrakech that is a UNESCO world heritage site! You’ll want to make sure you plan to visit. I recommend you have a drink (or a meal) at one of the rooftop bars inside the square for the best experience. We loved Zeitoun Café.
Dinner : Zeitoun Cafe
Zeitoun Cafe is located in the heart of Jemaa el-Fnaa square with a fabulous rooftop terrace overlooking the square. It is the perfect spot to watch all of the action of the square from above while eating tasty, traditional Moroccan food.
The homemade lemonade (or “citronnade”) made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh mint, sugar and mineral water is so delicious! We also loved the local goat cheese pastilla served with black olives!
Another possibility for dinner is Le Grand Cafe de la Poste. It’s a bit far from the city center (about 30 minutes to walk each way), so you may want to take a taxi to get there.
We didn’t make it to Le Grand Cafe de la Poste this trip but it is definitely on our list for when we go back to Marrakech.
Day 7 : Marrakech
Today you will be seeing some of Marrakech’s greatest sights!
El Badi Palace
Built at the end of the sixteenth century by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour, El Badi Palace is a testament to the grandeur of the Saadian dynasty. It is a gorgeous example of Moroccan art and design. Although the palace is currently in ruins, it remains a symbol of Marrakech’s past.
Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace is so beautiful! It dates back to the nineteenth century and is decorated with brightly colored mosaics, paintings and stuccos. In Arabic, Bahia Palace means “brilliance”. In addition to the stunning palace, you can also visit the 2-acre palace garden.
The Bahia Palace is thought to be the first building in North Africa to use stained glass as a decorative feature.
Saadian Tombs
Like the El Badi Palace, The Saadian Tombs date back to the sixteenth century and were built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour. The elaborate tombs were built to honor the sultan’s ancestors. The tombs have two main sections that are intricately decorated.
Dinner at Le Royal Mansour
Tonight, you’ll be having dinner at Le Royal Mansour. I’m so excited for you, it is such a special experience!
We visited Morocco during Ramadan which meant that we could go to Le Royal Mansour for the Iftar dinner. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and have a special dinner when they break their fast. This fast-breaking dinner is called “Iftar” (or “Ftour”).
If you are going to Le Royal Mansour for the Iftar dinner, I would recommend not eating after breakfast. As this meal is prepared to break an all-day fast, it is a lot of food!
You will receive Moroccan soups, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables, meats, a variety of starters, main dishes and desserts and Moroccan pastries from start to finish. It is quite the experience! We absolutely loved getting to experience an authentic Iftar dinner during our trip to Morocco.
If you are visiting outside of Ramadan, you can still book dinner at Le Grand Table Marocaine at Le Royal Mansour. You’ll be able to experience a fabulous meal any time of the year!
For an extra special experience, book a night in one of Le Royal Mansour’s luxury riads.
Day 8 : Marrakech
Majorelle Gardens
You’ll start your 8th day in Morocco by visiting the Majorelle Gardens!
Make sure you book you tickets for the Majorelle Gardens in advance. This is a very popular site and tickets sell out far in advance. You cannot purchase tickets on-site, all tickets must be purchased in advance and online (via their website).
You’ll need to decide if you want to visit the garden alone, the garden + the Berber Museum, the garden + the Yves Saint Laurent museum or all three.
The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is outside of the garden and down the street, so if you want to visit the cafe, make sure you go before you leave the garden because you won’t be able to come back in.
Have breakfast at the Majorelle Gardens (or stay for lunch).
The cafe inside the Majorelle Gardens is lovely. If you visit the garden in the morning, plan to stop at the cafe for breakfast or some tea afterwards or stay for lunch. The menu has a nice selection of Moroccan breakfast and lunch foods. You will also find a variety of drinks like mint tea, coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and more!
We ordered Moroccan crepes, orange juice and mint tea and enjoyed the view while filling out some postcards.
Lunch at La Maison Arabe “Country Club”
If you choose to stay at La Maison Arabe, they have a private garden, pool and riad area that they call their “country club”.
It’s a lovely place to go for lunch and to spend a few hours relaxing by the pool. After visiting the Majorelle Gardens, go back to La Maison Arabe, and take their shuttle bus to the “Country Club” to spend a few hours relaxing by the pool.
Drink at La Maison Arabe
We love going for an evening drink in a beautiful hotel when we travel. La Maison Arabe has a beautiful bar inside the hotel. They also have a lovely rooftop bar that is perfect for a drink before or after dinner. They have a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in both bars.
Head back to La Maison Arabe and enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
Dinner at La Maison Arabe
Whether you choose to stay at La Maison Arabe or not, consider booking a meal at their renowned restaurant, Les Trois Saveurs.
The meal is served outside, around the beautiful pool. Three chefs have created the menu that includes a selection of traditional Moroccan, French and Asian foods.
Try the cornish game hen tagine, the vegetarian couscous and the amlou tiramisu and prepare to have your tastebuds be delighted!
Day 9 : Marrakech to Essaouira
On day 9, you’ll head to Essaouira from Marrakech. It’s about a 3 hour drive between Marrakech and Essaouira. You can book a taxi with your hotel in Marrakech.
Essaouira is the most beautiful little town on the Atlantic Ocean, painted in shades of blue everywhere you look.
Where to stay in Essaouira
We stayed at Riad Chbanate and absolutely loved our stay there! The entire staff is so warm and friendly and went out of their way to make our stay as special as possible.
I fell in love with the handmade glass and silver bottles they had used in our bathroom to hold the different toiletries on offer and when I asked them where they had got them so I could buy some to bring home, they offered to purchase them for me at the special “Moroccan price” (which is not the same as the “tourist price” haha)! I was so touched by their kindness and cherish my new little toiletries bottles decorated with hammered silver.
We absolutely loved our room. Especially the gorgeous bathroom with huge, beautiful tub. When we arrived our room was decorated with red rose petals making it even more beautiful and romantic.
Riad Chbanate is perfectly located inside the medina in Essaouira.
Villa Maroc is another lovely choice for your stay in Essaouira. It is located on the edge of the Essaouira medina overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the old Portuguese harbor. The interior design is spectacular and the hotel restaurant was one of our favorite places we ate during our trip in Morocco.
L’Heure Bleue is a historic, relais chateaux property with a colonial feel. It’s well-located in Essaouira, has a private pool and a delicious restaurant as well. We loved our drink in their bar and the meal we enjoyed in their restaurant.
Go out for a walk and explore Essaouira
When you arrive in Essaouira, go for a walk. Essaouira is not very big and you will enjoy walking through the winding streets of the souks. Spend some time getting a feel for Essaouira on your first day there.
Lunch at Adwak
Adwak was recommended by our hotel and we absolutely loved our meal there.
Essaouira is on the Atlantic Ocean and, not surprisingly, you will see more fish on the menus in restaurants in Essaouira than in Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains or the desert.
We enjoyed tagines all over Morocco but absolutely loved the caramelized fish tagines in Essaouira. They are unique and so tasty! We also loved all of the vegetables served with tagines and couscous during all of our meals in Morocco.
Walk through the fish market
The fish market is a bustling spot filled with vendors, fish, boutiques, and lots and lots of seagulls. It is a sight to be seen and we loved experiencing it!
Remparts
If you want to bring home a really special souvenir, consider picking up a painting from a local artist during your time in Essaouira.
We picked up a painting from a well-known local artist (rumor has it, she and her husband who both paint the paintings they sell, were featured on a Netfliw show!) that has become one of my most-treasured souvenirs from our travels through Morocco.
You can find their paintings at the top of the remparts.
Skala for sunset
Skala is so stunning and one of our favorite places in Essaouira!
There are seagulls flying everywhere.
Dinner at L’Heure Bleue
Head to L’Heure Bleue to experience dinner in a beautiful, luxury riad with a colonial feel.
After dinner, head to the English Lounge (the bar inside the hotel) for an after-dinner drink or Moroccan mint tea.
You can also stay at L’Heure Bleue.
Day 10 : Essaouira
On day 10, you’ll start the day with a camel ride on the beach! This was one of the highlights of our trip to Morocco. It was so much fun.
Camel ride on the beach
We did three different camel rides during our time in Morocco and loved all three. The connection between the guides and their camels was clear, one of our guides had had his camels for over 10 years and you could see they were so close. The camels were relaxed, calm and friendly.
Our camel ride in Essaouira was our favorite camel riding experience! The 2-hour tour took us along the beach, over the dunes and through the forest. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and told us about camels and Essaouira along the way. It was really fun and one of our favorite experiences in Morocco!
Book your camel ride in Essaouira here!
Lunch at Salut Maroc
Stop for lunch at Salut Maroc to enjoy locally caught fish, seafood and Moroccan specialties. Salut Maroc is a riad where you can stay and includes a fabulous rooftop restaurant decorated in colorful mosaics. The decor is fabulous and the vibe is so fun.
Salut Maroc serves alcohol and this is a great place to stop for a cocktail as well, as they have an entire cocktail menu in addition to offering freshly pressed juices and mint tea.
We loved the local goat cheese croquettes of Khobiza spinach and pistachio with z’aatar amlou sauce as a starter and the wild seabream tagine with organic seasonal vegetables.
Shopping
After lunch, spend some time wandering the souks and pick-up some treasures to bring home.
Shopping in Essaouira is such a fun experience! The souks are a bit calmer than the souks in Marrakech and you can find a lovely variety of items to bring home.
We bought some silver and coral Berber earrings, spices, tea, Argan oil, silver and glass toiletry bottles, local ceramics and a painting to bring home from Essaouira.
Candlelit dinner at Villa Maroc
Tonight you’ll head to Villa Maroc for dinner! You are in for a treat. This meal is sure to be one of the highlights of your 10 day Morocco itinerary.
Villa Maroc is a legendary riad in Essaouira. You can stay there or just go for a meal.
This is the perfect place to go for dinner on the last day of your trip because it such a special location and such a special meal.
If you want to eat at Villa Maroc, make sure you book far enough in advance. In addition to needing to make a reservation to eat there, they will also ask you to choose the menu you want to enjoy in advance so that they can go to the market and buy all the necessary ingredients of your meal. You need to confirm the menu you’d like to have before 4:30pm the day of your reservation. Talk about fresh!
The candlelight dinner at Villa Maroc takes place in a private room within the villa. The entire villa is so beautifully decorated, so no matter which room you have your meal in, it’s sure to be stunning. They will decorate the room with red roses and you’ll have your meal by candelight.
We dined there as a couple, but the room and table were definitely large enough to welcome a group od friends of a couple with kids, so if you’re visiting with more people, don’t hesitate to get in contact with them to book a meal there. I’m sure it’s possible!
Get there early and have a drink in their bar before you start the meal. If it’s a cool evening, you can snuggle up for a glass of wine in front of the fireplace before you start your meal.
Day 11 : Fly home
Where to stay during your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Where to stay in Marrakech
Riad Be is a beautiful, affordable riad in the medina in Marrakesh. Stay here for the beautiful decor, cute and comfortable rooms, exceptionally cheerful and kind staff and fantastic rooftop. The breakfast is fabulous too!
La Maison Arabe is a traditional, historic riad in Marrakech. Founded by French mother-daughter team Suzy and Hélène Sebillon-Larochette in the 1940s as the first restaurant in the Medina to serve foreigners and lovingly restored in the 1990s by Italian aristocrat, Count Fabrizio Ruspoli, to become the first boutique riad-hotel in Marrakech.
Le Royal Mansour is one of the best hotels in the world. If you can swing it, spend a night here soaking up the luxury of staying in your very own riad, complete with private butler!
Where to stay in the Atlas Mountains
Kasbah Bab Ourika is an absolute dream in the Atlas Mountains. Stay in a traditional kasbah with beautiful furnishings, a fantastic restaurant, rooms with stunning views (ours had bathtub, a private terrace including outdoor shower and a fireplace!), an organic vegetable garden, luxury spa and beautiful outdoor pool. Take advantage of available activities such as visits to local Berber villages, henna hand painting, a cooking class, a mint tea making class, spa treatments
Where to stay in the Agafay Desert
Agafay Luxury Camp is one of a handful of luxury camps in the Agafay Desert. Stay in a beautiful tent with its own private bathroom, take a bath under the stars on your private terrace, dip into the pool that was voted the most beautiful pool in Africa and enjoy the variety of activities available at the luxury camp, including a camel ride, a quad ride in the desert, stargazing with an astronomer and a romantic dinner in a private tent.
Where to stay in Essaouira
Riad Chbanate is a traditional, luxury riad in the old medina in Essaouira. It is perfectly located to explore Essaouira on foot. The hotel is beautifully decorated and the rooms are spacious. Ours even had a gorgeous bathtub and a fireplace! The owners of the riad are lovely and will go out of their way to make your stay unforgettable.
Villa Maroc is
Where to eat during your 10 days in Morocco
Where to eat in Marrakech
Riad Be
Bacha Coffee
Nomad Café
Le Jardin Secret
La Pâtisserie des Princes
Le Trou au Mur
Zeitoun Café
Le Grand Café de la Poste
Le Royal Mansour
La Maison Arabe
Where to eat in the Atlas Mountains
Kasbah Bab Ourika
Where to eat in the Agafay Desert
Agafay Luxury Camp
Where to eat in Essaouira
Adwak
L’Heure Bleue
Salut Maroc
Villa Maroc
How to travel between locations in Morocco for this 10 day Morocco itinerary
We booked private transfers between places in Morocco. Private transfers are convenient and affordable and were the best way for us to get around during your 10 day Morocco itinerary.
You can often book private transfers directly at your hotel. You can also book them on Get Your Guide if you prefer to book in advance.
Activities to book in advance for your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Activities in Marrakech during your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Activities in Atlas Mountains during your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages and Waterfall Tour (if you choose to do a day trip rather than staying in the Atlas Mountains)
Camel ride
Spa
Henna
Berber tea making
Cooking class
Activities in Agafay Desert during your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Camel ride
Stargazing with an astronomer
4×4 ride on the dunes
Private dinner in a tent
Activities in Essaouira during your 10 day Morocco itinerary
Camel ride on the beach, along the dunes and in the forest in Essaouira
Best time to visit Morocco for this 10 day Morocco itinerary
Early Spring (March & April) and Autumn (September – November) are generally the best times to visit Morocco to avoid extreme weather, especially extreme heat.
We visited in mid-March and had great weather except 2 fluke days that were extremely hot (95°F/35°C).
I think Winter could also be an interesting time to visit because all of the riads we visited have fireplaces and many rooms have fireplaces you can enjoy during the Winter months. Morocco even has a ski resort you could take advantage of if you visit in the Winter!
We were lucky to have cool nights while we were staying in the Atlas Mountains and we were able to enjoy the fireplace in our room.
10 Day Morocco Itinerary
I hope this post helps you plan the perfect 10 day trip to Morocco and that you will cherish your memories of the places, people, food, and animals you experience during your Moroccan adventure for years to come!
Pin for later!
Leave a Reply