The Perfect 10-Day Morocco Itinerary for Australians (2026)
A complete 10-day Morocco itinerary for Australians — Marrakech, the Sahara, Fez, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Day-by-day route, AUD costs and local tips.
Why 10 Days Is the Sweet Spot for Australians
I’ll say what every honest guide should: if you’re flying 22 hours from Australia, a week in Morocco is a bit of a heartbreak. You lose two days to transit, and the 7-day loop ends up being one beautiful blur of long drives.
Ten days changes everything. It’s enough to do the classic Marrakech–Sahara–Fez run and push north into the blue mountain town of Chefchaouen and the gateway city of Tangier — all at a pace that lets you actually sit in a café and watch the place go by.
This is the route I’d plan for my own family flying out from Sydney. Day by day, with real AUD costs and the honest version of every leg.
The 10-Day Morocco Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Base | The Day in One Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marrakech | Land, settle into a riad, ease into the medina |
| 2 | Marrakech | Full day — souks, palaces, Jemaa el-Fna |
| 3 | Dades Valley | Over the Atlas via Ait Ben Haddou (desert tour begins) |
| 4 | Sahara (Merzouga) | Todra Gorge, camel trek, overnight desert camp |
| 5 | Fez | Sahara sunrise, long scenic drive north |
| 6 | Fez | The world’s largest car-free medina |
| 7 | Chefchaouen | Volubilis & Meknes en route to the Blue City |
| 8 | Chefchaouen | Slow day in the blue medina + a Rif hike |
| 9 | Tangier | Drive north to Africa’s gateway city |
| 10 | Depart | Tangier morning, then fly home |
Before the clock starts: sort your visa (easy for Aussies — visa-free), check the best time to visit, and skim my Morocco packing list — the desert nights and Rif mornings are cooler than people expect.
Getting Here From Australia
No direct flights exist, so you’ll connect through the Gulf or Europe:
- Emirates via Dubai or Qatar Airways via Doha — the smoothest runs from the east coast, ~22–24 hours into Marrakech (RAK).
- This itinerary ends in Tangier (TNG), so an “open-jaw” ticket (into Marrakech, out of Tangier) saves you backtracking. If your fare won’t allow it, a fast train returns you from Tangier to Casablanca for the flight home.
Return economy fares run A$1,400–2,400, cheapest in shoulder season.
💡 Pro tip: Spend the extra for an open-jaw fare if you can. Doubling back to Marrakech on a 10-day trip wastes the better part of a precious day.
Days 1–2 — Marrakech, the Red City
Your first two days mirror the 7-day itinerary, and for good reason — Marrakech is the perfect, overwhelming introduction.
- Day 1: Arrive, transfer to a riad in the medina, and don’t over-schedule. Wander, get lost, eat an early tagine.
- Day 2: The full loop — Jemaa el-Fna, the souks (bargain hard, it’s expected), Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and Jardin Majorelle.
My complete Marrakech travel guide has the route, the hammam I send everyone to, and what to skip.
- Budget (per day): ~800–1,200 MAD (A$130–195) for food, entries and taxis.
Day 3 — Over the Atlas to the Dades Valley
The 3-day desert tour begins (book ahead through your riad or a reputable operator — around A$220–450 per person for the three days). You’ll cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass through the High Atlas and stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified mud-brick city from Gladiator.
- What surprises everyone: how fast the landscape flips — snow-tipped peaks to red canyon country in one morning.
- Overnight in the surreal Dades Valley.
Day 4 — Gorges & a Night in the Sahara
After the towering Todra Gorge, you reach Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes. Late afternoon, trade the 4x4 for a camel and ride out as the sand turns gold, then deep red. You sleep in a desert camp under an absurd number of stars, usually with a Berber drum circle.
- My practical tip: It gets genuinely cold out there at night — pack a fleece. A mid-range camp with a real ensuite is the sweet spot; you don’t need the A$400+ luxury version.
Day 5 — Sahara Sunrise, Then North to Fez
Climb a dune before dawn for the sunrise — it’s the photo of the trip. Then settle in for the long drive to Fez (7–8 hours) through the Ziz Valley palm groves and the cedar forests of Midelt (watch for Barbary macaques).
💡 Pro tip: This is the day people underestimate. Treat the scenery as the attraction, not a transfer, and it becomes a highlight rather than a slog.
Day 6 — Fez, the Ancient Soul of Morocco
If Marrakech is the spectacle, Fez is the substance. The Fes el-Bali medina is the largest car-free urban area on Earth, and getting lost in it is the whole point.
- Chouara Tanneries — unforgettable, in every sense (they hand you mint for a reason).
- Al-Qarawiyyin — the world’s oldest continually operating university (859 AD).
- Bou Inania Medersa — peak Islamic architecture.
Hire a licensed guide for the morning (about A$30–40) — in Fez, this isn’t optional for first-timers. My full Fez travel guide maps it out.
Day 7 — Volubilis, Meknes & On to the Blue City
This is the leg the 7-day trip doesn’t have time for. Drive north and break the journey with two stops:
- Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, with mosaics still in place.
- Meknes — a former imperial capital, far quieter than Fez.
Then climb into the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, the famous Blue City. Arrive in time to watch the blue-washed walls glow at dusk.
- Driving time: ~4–5 hours with the stops. A private transfer (about A$90–140) is the easy way; shared grands taxis are the cheap way.
Day 8 — A Slow Day in Chefchaouen
After a week of moving, Chefchaouen is where you exhale. It’s small, safe, walkable, and astonishingly photogenic.
- Wander the blue medina early (before the day-trippers arrive from Tangier).
- Hike up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the whole blue town — about 30 minutes uphill.
- Eat goat cheese (a local specialty) and people-watch in Plaza Uta el-Hammam.
My Chefchaouen travel guide covers the best photo spots and where to stay.
- Why it matters here: this is your decompression day before the journey home. Don’t fill it.
Day 9 — North to Tangier
A short drive (~2 hours) drops you in Tangier, Africa’s gateway city, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic and you can see Spain across the strait.
- Explore the kasbah and the medina (gentler than Fez or Marrakech).
- Walk the corniche, see the Caves of Hercules just out of town.
- Tangier has a faded literary glamour — Bowles, Burroughs, the Beats all washed up here.
The Tangier travel guide has the details.
Day 10 — Depart
Fly out of Tangier (TNG) — typically via Casablanca or a European hub back to Australia. A relaxed morning, one last mint tea, and you’re on your way home with the full sweep of Morocco behind you: the souks, the Sahara, the imperial cities, the blue mountains and the sea.
What 10 Days in Morocco Costs (Per Person, AUD)
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Riads / camp (9 nights) | A$320 | A$720 |
| 3-day desert tour | A$220 | A$400 |
| Food & drink (10 days) | A$200 | A$400 |
| Transport (transfers, trains, taxis) | A$130 | A$260 |
| Entries, guides, hammam | A$110 | A$190 |
| Total (excl. flights) | ~A$980 | ~A$1,970 |
Add international flights of A$1,400–2,400. For how far your dollar really stretches here, see my cost of travel in Morocco guide.
Ways to Tweak This Route
- Prefer the coast to the north? Swap Chefchaouen + Tangier for Essaouira and a few extra Marrakech nights — a more relaxed, beach-leaning version.
- Short on energy after the desert? Cut Volubilis/Meknes and go straight Fez → Chefchaouen.
- Only have a week? Use the 7-day Morocco itinerary instead — same core loop, no north.
And for peace of mind: Morocco is a safe, welcoming destination for Australians — the realistic detail is in is Morocco safe for Australian tourists.
FAQ
Is 10 days enough to see Morocco?
Ten days is the sweet spot for a first trip — enough to combine Marrakech, the Sahara, Fez, Chefchaouen and Tangier at a comfortable pace, without the back-to-back driving a 7-day trip forces.
How much does 10 days in Morocco cost for Australians?
Excluding international flights, budget roughly A$980–1,970 per person depending on travel style. Return flights from Australia add A$1,400–2,400.
Should I do 7 or 10 days in Morocco?
Because there are no direct flights from Australia and you lose two days to transit, 10 days gives a far better holiday-to-travel ratio and lets you add Chefchaouen and the north. Do 7 only if a week is all you have.
What’s the best way to travel between cities?
A 3-day desert tour for the Marrakech-to-Fez leg (the drive is the highlight), then comfortable ONCF trains and shared grands taxis for the northern legs to Chefchaouen and Tangier.
Do Australians need a visa for this trip?
No — Australians enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival.
Ready to lock in the details? Browse the full Itineraries collection for every city guide referenced above. Last updated: May 2026 — I review every itinerary as prices and transport change.
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