Day 1: Get to Fès
10-Day Plan for Culture and Relaxation in Morocco: Day 1: Arrive in Fès
After you land in Casablanca, it will take you about three hours to drive to Fès (or Fez), which is the best-protected old city in the Arab world.
The medina of Fès is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can smell and see the cultural capital of Morocco. Fès was built between the Rif and Middle Atlas Mountains. For more than a thousand years, it has been a center for learning and trade.
Morocco is a Muslim country, so be aware of and respectful of local customs when traveling there, especially during religious holidays like Ramadan or when visiting religious sites.
It’s easy to add to a trip to Western Europe because you can fly or take a ferry from Spain to the city of Tangier on the Mediterranean.
Day 2: Dive deep into the culture
Culture and Rest in Morocco: A 10-Day Plan Day 2: Dive into Moroccan culture
BROWSE THE TALAA KEBIRA MARKET.
Visit the different souks on Rue Talaa Kebira and look at the food, spices, meats, handwoven items, and other things for sale. You’ll also see shared bread ovens, which are an important part of life in the medina. Lunch can be bought from one of the many street vendors, and you can try whatever sounds good.
GO TO THE BOU INANIA MEDERSA
On Rue Talaa Kebira, you can also look at the beautiful architecture of Medersa, a religious college built in the 14th century. When you walk through the brass doors, get ready to be amazed by the intricate zellige tiles, painted cedar, and quiet patios with porticos. The school is next to a mosque with a beautiful green-tiled minaret that can be seen when you enter the medina through Bab Bou Jeloud.
Look through one of the doors of the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque as you walk by the Moulay Idriss shrine at the Blue Gate.
VISIT THE CHOUARA TANNERIES
Go to the famous (and smelly) Chouara Tanneries.
From one of the nearby shops’ balconies, you can get a great view of the Chouara Tanneries.
Day 3 and 4: The High Atlas
A 10-Day Plan for Culture and Relaxation in Morocco: Day 3-4: The High Atlas Mountains
Before you take a flight to Marrakech, have breakfast at Palais Amani. When you get there, head south into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, which are near the Atlantic, Marrakech, Agadir, and Khenifra.
DIVE RIGHT INTO CULTURE
Once you’re rested and ready, try one of the cultural activities: take a cooking class from the Berber people, go on a mule trek, drink traditional Moroccan mint tea in a Berber home, or visit the Eve Branson Foundation, which is named after Richard Branson’s mother.
5th day: Go to Marrakech
Morocco 10-Day Plan: Day 5: Go to Marrakech for culture and relaxation
After your relaxing time in the mountains, you should go back to Marrakech to see what it has to offer. Check into La Mamounia, a famous hotel in Marrakech that is inside the old city wall.
VISIT THE MIDDLE EAST
The 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret is a beautiful piece of architecture that can be seen everywhere in the city.
The souks of Marrakech seem to go on forever, and you might feel like you’re getting lost more than once. But that’s part of the fun. Most trades and specialties are found in a few alleys, so you can choose from spices to slippers, home decor to metalwork. You should also check out the argan cooperative shops.
Head to Djemaa el Fna, the main square in the middle of Marrakech’s medina, early in the evening to watch the show, which includes snake charmers and street theater. Even just seeing the locals get together is an interesting thing to do.
There are three ways to spell the name of this city. In English, it is called Marrakech or Marrakesh, but in French and Spanish, it is called Marrakech or Marraquech.
Even though Moroccan Arabic and Berber (Tamazight or Amazigh) are the official languages of Morocco, you can also find people who speak English, Spanish, and French in this city.
Day 6: The best of Marrakech
Morocco’s culture and leisure time: Itinerary for 10 Days: Day 6: Highlights of Marrakech
CULTURE & GARDENS
Get lost in the alleys of Jardin Majorelle, a garden named for the painter Jacque Majorelle, who also gave his name to a striking shade of deep blue. Later, the city of Marrakech gave space to the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Don’t miss the nearby Yves-Saint Laurent Museum, which opened in October 2017 and tells the story of the designer’s life and works. He lived in the city for most of his life.
I suggest having lunch at Grand Café de la Poste, an old and busy place in the new town.
VISIT THE SAADIAN TOMBS
Look at the beautiful mosaics at the Saadian Tombs, which is the tomb of a great dynasty that used to rule North Africa.
Day 7: Go to Ouarzazate Moroccan culture and leisure: The seventh day of a 10-day plan is to go to Ouarzazate.
DRIVE TO OUARZAZATE
Head south along the ancient caravan route through the High Atlas Mountains and the dramatic pass of Tizi n’Tichka on your way to Ouarzazate, which is right next to the Sahara Desert. Look at the beautiful views along this road (one of the two that pass through the largest mountain chain in Africa).
Ouarzazate is a friendly oasis that used to be a post of the French Foreign Legion. Spend the rest of the day exploring the area. You can go to the historic Kasbah Taourirt and the Ait-Ben-Haddou UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a beautiful example of local architecture.
Continue to the Skoura oasis, and then check into the beautiful Dar Ahlam, which was built from the ruins of a kasbah. You can also book a 10 days tour from Casablanca with our 10 days in Morocco, or take a 3 days tour from Fes
Day 8 and Day 9: Go back to the High Atlas Mountains
Morocco’s culture and leisure time: Itinerary for 10 days: Day 8 and 9: Go back to the High Atlas Mountains
Spend some time on the peaceful grounds of Dar Ahlam after breakfast.
Then, take a 4-wheel-drive trip to the Valley of the Almond Trees. Visit the Glaoui Kasbah, which was the home of a powerful clan in the past. Take a short walk to a place where you can see the old salt mines and the valley.
There are many beautiful places to eat on the property, such as the garden, an olive grove, a hidden terrace, or a private corner of the Kasbah.
Go on another trip the next day, this time to the Skoura Oasis. Visit the Kasbah Amridil, which has been around since the 14th century and is full of history. On the north side of town, you can walk through the gardens and see almond trees, olive trees, and corn fields.
Day 10: Visit Casablanca
Morocco’s 10-Day Plan: Culture and Rest Day 10: Visit Casablanca
Most flights to the US leave from Casablanca, so you’ll probably go there before going home.
Around the medina, you can look for art deco facades and see the outside of the huge Mosque Hassan II, which is the second largest mosque in Africa that is still in use.
If you have time, eat or drink at Rick’s Café, a charming restaurant that was modeled after the one Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman went to in the famous movie Casablanca.
