The short answer
Two weeks covers the full circuit at an unhurried pace. A classic route flies into Casablanca and out of Marrakech: Fes, Meknes and Volubilis, two nights in Chefchaouen, the Middle Atlas, the Dades and Todra gorges, a night in the Sahara at Merzouga, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, then over the High Atlas to finish in Marrakech.
In more detail
The order matters. Starting in the north and ending in Marrakech follows the grain of the landscape and removes backtracking, and it leaves your final days in the city most people want to linger in. Two or three nights in each highlight, rather than one, is what makes fourteen days feel different from ten.
Most driving days are two to five hours. The longest are the run from Chefchaouen through the Middle Atlas and the drive west from the dunes to Ouarzazate, so start those early. The route is almost all paved.
There are good swaps. Two nights in Essaouira at the end make a relaxed finish before a long flight. Two nights in Imlil in the High Atlas give a proper taste of mountain walking. Couples and families sometimes add a second desert night at Erg Chigaga, the wilder, more remote alternative to Erg Chebbi.
Good to know
- Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a full circuit.
- The north is well served by train and bus; the south needs a driver.
- Fly open-jaw: into Casablanca or Fes, out of Marrakech.