Let me set the scene. It's 2am. We've just landed in Marrakech after a long travel day, and our riad is somewhere deep inside the medina, down a narrow alley that a car physically cannot reach.
If we hadn't pre-booked a transfer through our hotel (€30, worth every cent), we would have been standing on a street corner with our suitcases, absolutely lost, trying to Google Map ourselves through a labyrinth. Lesson one of Morocco: book the airport transfer, especially if you're arriving at night.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about how we structured 10 days in Morocco, why it worked so well, and everything nobody tells you before you go.
e.g. the walk to your riad
The Itinerary at a Glance
- Days 1–2: Marrakech
- Days 3–5: Sahara Desert tour (overnight in the desert)
- Day 5 evening – Day 8: Essaouira (flew back to Marrakech, drove straight there)
- Days 9–10: Back in Marrakech
It sounds like a lot of moving around, but it genuinely didn't feel rushed. We got a proper taste of everything — the chaos of the city, the silence of the desert, the breeze of the Atlantic coast — without ever feeling like we were just ticking boxes. This itinerary is the move. I'd do it again exactly the same way.
Marrakech: Overwhelming for Exactly One Hour
Stepping into the medina for the first time is a full sensory assault. Motorbikes coming from directions that shouldn't exist. Vendors calling out from every doorway. Cats everywhere. Narrow streets that branch into more narrow streets. You will feel, briefly, like you've made a terrible mistake.
Then about an hour in, something clicks. The chaos starts to have a rhythm. You start to read it. And suddenly it's not overwhelming — it's kind of electric. Give yourself that adjustment hour. Don't panic, don't retreat back to the riad. Just walk, take it all in, and let yourself get a little lost. That's the whole point.
On the drinks situation: Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, so alcohol is available but not everywhere, and where it is available, you'll pay for the privilege. Rooftop bars are the move — gorgeous views, nice atmosphere, solid cocktails. Budget around 160 dirham per drink (roughly €15), and just lean into it as part of the experience rather than something to resent.
Getting Around: Drive Yourself, Seriously
Here's something I didn't see written about enough before we went: driving yourself around Morocco is completely doable. The roads are fine, the routes are straightforward, and it gives you so much freedom.
The one thing you need to know is: respect the speed limits religiously. There are police checkpoints frequently, and they will stop you. It's not aggressive or scary, but it's consistent. Just drive sensibly, keep your documents accessible, and you'll be completely fine.
We drove ourselves to Essaouira later in the trip, and it was genuinely one of the highlights. The landscapes you pass through are stunning.
On taxis: from the airport without a pre-book we paid 150 dirham, and on the return it was 100. Perfectly reasonable. But again, for that first arrival — especially late at night — pre-book through your hotel. Trust me on this one.
The Sahara Desert: Cold, Beautiful, Unforgettable
The three-day Sahara tour was the highlight of the trip. Full stop. But let me give you the full picture, because the internet is not entirely honest about what this tour actually involves.
the one that made all the driving worth it
We booked a group tour from Marrakech, and the first thing to know is: it is a long drive. A very long drive. You spend most of day one and a good chunk of day two in a vehicle, passing through mountain passes and small towns. The scenery is genuinely beautiful — but mentally prepare yourself for the journey, not just the destination. You don't actually arrive at the desert dunes until around 4pm on day two.
That gives you just enough time for a camel ride at sunset, which sounds incredibly romantic and is, in fact, also incredibly painful. Twenty-five minutes on a camel and you will feel it in your hips, your lower back, and places you didn't know could ache. Absolutely worth it. Walk funny for two days with no regrets.
Then it's an overnight in the desert camp — described as glamping, delivered as something more "rustic." It was an experience, genuinely. Just not a luxurious one. And here's the thing nobody tells you about the Sahara in late March: everyone says bring a sweater. What they mean is bring four layers. The days are warm and lovely. The nights are absolutely arctic. Pack like you're going somewhere cold, not somewhere sandy.
After breakfast the next morning, you're back in the vehicle by 9 or 10am and heading out. So your actual desert time is pretty condensed.
The dunes at sunset, though. Genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. No photo does it justice. Take the photos anyway.
The silence out there is something else entirely. No light pollution, a sky full of stars, nothing around you for miles. Worth every shiver and every achy hip.
For the full deep-dive on the Sahara tour — what's included, the hidden costs, and whether it's worth it — read our complete Sahara desert tour guide here.
The Food: Great, But You'll Get Tagined Out
Moroccan food is genuinely delicious. The flavours are warm and complex, the portions are generous, and everything feels like it was made with care. Tagine, couscous, fresh bread, olives, preserved lemons. It's wonderful.
For about three days.
After that, the menus start to blur together. Almost every traditional restaurant serves variations of the same core dishes, which are all good — but if you're there for 10 days, you'll want to mix it up. Look out for spots that serve pastilla (a flaky savoury-sweet pie that sounds weird and tastes incredible), or just follow your nose to wherever locals are eating.
Breakfast: Every riad and hotel we stayed in included breakfast. It's typically a spread of flatbreads, pancakes, and cake-adjacent things. Perfectly fine. Not going to blow your mind. But the coffee. The coffee is excellent and redeems everything. Get a café au lait and you'll feel like you're in a French film set in Morocco. Which, in a way, you are.
Essaouira: Marrakech's Laid-Back Coastal Sister
After the intensity of Marrakech and the desert, Essaouira felt like exhaling.
It has a similar feel — the blue-and-white medina walls, the winding streets, the cats — but everything is slower. Quieter. More relaxed. The ocean is right there, the light is incredible, and the whole vibe is just... easier. It's the kind of place where you have a long lunch, walk along the ramparts, and realise you've just spent three hours doing very little and it was exactly right.
One thing to know: Essaouira is genuinely, aggressively windy. It's nicknamed "the wind city of Africa" and it earns that title every day. Your hair will be everywhere. Sand will appear from angles that don't make sense. Embrace it. It's part of the charm.
We flew back to Marrakech from the desert stop and then drove straight to Essaouira, and I'd recommend that same route. It's a beautiful coastal drive and a really natural way to decompress after the desert.
Back to Marrakech: Two Days Is Plenty
Our final two days back in Marrakech were relaxed, and honestly I think that's exactly right. The city is wonderful, but you don't need to spend a huge amount of time there — especially if you've already had a few days at the start of your trip.
Use the time to revisit a favourite spot, pick up anything you wanted to bring home, and soak in the atmosphere one last time. A slow morning coffee on a rooftop, a wander through the souks without an agenda, maybe one last tagine (if you're not fully tagined out).
It's a good way to end the trip. Unhurried, appreciative, already thinking about going back.
Would I Recommend Morocco?
Without hesitation.
It's a place that genuinely has something for everyone — culture, adventure, history, food, coast, desert. And the version we did, with the mix of city, Sahara, and seaside, felt like the ideal way to experience it. Not too rushed, not too slow, with enough variety that every day felt different.
If you're a young couple thinking about it: go. Book the tour but read the reviews first. Eat all the tagine. Pack too many layers for the desert. Let Marrakech overwhelm you for exactly one hour before you fall for it completely.
Planning your own trip? Read our 15 honest Morocco tips guide next, or the full Sahara desert tour breakdown.