From colorful spices to exotic foods, high mountains to the desert, golden sand beaches to the beautiful quiet oasis, Morocco has it all. This land of contrasts, situated in North Africa, is one of only three countries that border the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Morocco is known as one of the most affordable surfing destinations in the world, which attracts a lot of tourists every year. The best period to surf is from October to April.
If you’re looking to explore this beautiful country for the first time, and don’t know what places to visit, here’s my 10-day Morocco itinerary to help you experience the best of South and Central Morocco.
Check out my 10-day Morocco itinerary!
Marrakech (Day 1 & 2)
If you want to create a perfect Morocco itinerary, you must add Marrakech to your list. It’s one of the major cities in Morocco and the best starting point for exploring the country.
With its famous Jemaa el-Fna square, the old medina, riads, beautiful Majorelle garden, Ben Youssef Madrasa, El Badi, and Bahia palace, the city has a lot to offer.
Due to the chaotic traffic and noise, some people find Marrakech very stressful, but there’s always a quiet place to escape to.
Two days is enough time to visit the most important historic sites of Marakesh. You can explore the old city on your first day – visit the vibrant souk and Koutoubia mosque, or just stroll around and observe how the locals live. On your second day, you can visit the stunning gardens or palaces, relax at a traditional hammam, or enjoy lunch at a rooftop cafe with amazing views.
Ouzoud Falls (Day 3)
The Ouzoud Falls are Morocco’s natural wonders and the second-highest waterfalls in Africa, standing at a height of 110m or 360 feet. They are one of the best places to see in Morocco.
Escape from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and enjoy the wonderful nature.
You’ll not only get the opportunity to admire the wonderful waterfalls but also play with the macaque monkeys who live in a forest nearby. If you think that they’ll be afraid of you and run away, you’ll be very surprised at how friendly they are.
How to get there:
The waterfalls can be reached easily by car from Marrakech, and it takes only 2 hours and 35 minutes to get there. Whether you decide to drive, hire a private driver, or book a guided tour, you’ll have a great time there.
Ait Ben Haddou (Day 4)
This traditional mud-brick village is mostly known as a place where some scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed as well as some famous movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions.
If you are looking for a stunning and quiet place where you can have some peace and relax, this place is for you. However, besides the old kasbah, there’s not much to do here, so one day is more than enough. You can plan an overnight stay or just spend a few hours here before heading to Ouzarzate, which is only half an hour’s drive away.
How to get there:
It takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to get from Marakesh to Aït Benhaddou. If you’re without a car, you can take a bus or book a guided tour.
Ouarzazate (Day 5)
If I had to choose one word to describe Ouazarzate, I suppose it would be ‘clean’. Unlike other cities in Morocco, Ouarzazate has pretty clean streets, and that’s something you’ll notice upon your arrival in the city.
However, the city isn’t famous for its clean streets, but because of its film studio, which is the largest in the world. Many famous movies have been shot here, such as Alexander the Great, Mummy, Gladiator, Star Wars, Black Hawk Down, etc.
Besides the Atlas Film Studio, there are some other things to see, such as the Cinema Museum, Taourirt Kasbah, and the Souk Berbere Artisanal. The Cinema Museum is located on the opposite side of Taourirt Kasbah.
Entrance fees:
1 Moroccan dirham= 0.10 United States Dollar
The Cinema Museum-30dh (Moroccan dirham)
Taourirt Kasbah-20dh
Atlas Film Studio-50dh
Taroudant (Day 6)
Taroudant, with its ancient walls and rich history, is a beautiful small town, located in southwestern Morocco. It’s less popular than some other Moroccan cities, therefore, it’s not so crowded with tourists.
Although Taroudant doesn’t attract many tourists and is usually not included in the most common Morocco itinerary, it’s a great place to visit.
For a unique experience, I recommend you to visit or stay at Dar al Hossoun, which is a wonderful eco-garden lodge. The rooms are spacious and most of them have a terrace and a beautiful garden view.
How to get there:
The distance between Ouzarzate and Taroudant is 193km (120 miles). It takes a bit more than 4 hours to get there by car.
Agadir (Day 7)
Having lived in Agadir for 10 months, I think it’s safe to say that only if you’re a surfer or a resort person you’ll have a lot of fun here.
While there isn’t much to do in the city itself, aside from watching the sunset and enjoying a camel ride, Agadir can be an excellent base for exploring the surrounding areas.
The city and the surrounding areas, located along the Atlantic coast, have some of the best surfing spots in the country. Taghazout, one of the most popular surfing destinations in Morocco, is only half an hour’s drive from Agadir. Plus, there are other tourist attractions nearby, such as Paradise Valley and Berber villages. You can even book a Sahara Desert Tour and explore the spectacular sand dunes.
How to get there:
It only takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to get from Taroudant to Agadir. You can drive, or book a private transfer to get there.
Taghazout (Day 8 & 9)
The pretty fishing village, with its golden sand beaches and laid-back atmosphere, attracts a lot of surfers and yogis from all over the world. It’s home to many surf hostels and shops that sell surf equipment, and they’re usually owned by foreigners.
Hit the beach, go surfing, have some fresh juice at one of many beachfront bars, and explore the narrow streets of this sleepy little village!
Imsouane (Day 10)
Located one hour and a half from Taghazout, this fishing and surfing village is one of Morocco’s best-kept secrets. It’s quite far from other popular cities, and thanks to that, there aren’t hoards of tourists here like in some other surf spots in the country. Here, you’ll find many food stalls and local restaurants where you can enjoy fresh fish right by the beach.
This little town is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, away from the tourist crowds, and that’s one of the reasons why it should be included in your Morocco itinerary.
If you’re planning your Moroccan adventure and looking for the best places to experience its vibrant culture and stunning landscapes, this 10-day itinerary is exactly what you need. You’ll get to see some of the best things the country has to offer- from the lively streets of Marakesh to the remote fishing village of Imsouane and the famous surf haven of Taghazout.
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