Morocco – 10-Day Itinerary (November 2025)
Last updated on : January 11, 2026
And What If…Morocco?
Morocco was never a “dream destination” for me. At least… not at first.
It actually started when we came back from Bali – still carried by that desire to travel more often – that I began searching for accessible destinations: places that felt different, affordable, and where I could keep exploring the world without blowing my annual travel budget.
While doing this research, Morocco came up almost immediately. A possible direct flight from Montreal, reasonable prices, a culture completely different from anything I knew and, on top of that, breathtaking landscapes. The more I read and looked at photos, the more I discovered incredible architecture… and the more something in me whispered, “Why not?”
Even if it wasn’t a place that had always called to me, it slowly began to make its way into my mind.
Our 10-Day Itineray
Morocco is a vast country. From the start, we knew it would be impossible to explore all its regions in just 10 days, the amount of time we had for this trip in November 2025.
So we had to make some choices as we planned our trip. And since we wanted to experience a mix of cultures and landscapes while keeping a smooth, realistic pace, our itinerary naturally unfolded around three main steps.
By optimizing flight options and looking for a route that would let us taste different sides of the country without spending our days on the road, our trip was divided like this:
Days 1–2: Casablanca
1 night in Casablanca: the modern one, with its urban energy, its Atlantic-facing corniche, and the majestic Hassan II Mosque rising above the city.
👉 Read the detailed article on Casablanca
Days 2–5: Fez
3 nights in Fez: the traditional and spiritual heart of Morocco, where the medina feels frozen in time, with its narrow alleys, artisans, madrasas, and that unique atmosphere that transports you centuries back. We also used this stop as a base to visit the ruins of Volubilis and the former imperial city of Meknes.
👉 Read the detailed article on Fez, and on Volubilis & Meknes
Days 5–10: Marrakech
5 nights in Marrakech: vibrant, intense, full of contrasts and colors. A gateway to gardens, souks, palaces, the Atlas Mountains, the desert, Essaouira, and even Ouarzazate.
👉 Read the detailed article on Marrakech, on Ouarzazate / Aït Ben Haddou, on Essaouira, and on the Agafay Desert – including a hot air balloon flight over the desert near Marrakech (coming soon).
When planning our itinerary, we had also considered other options like Agadir, Rabat, or Tangier. But with only 10 days, we wanted a route that felt coherent and fluid, one that would offer us a beautiful mix of culture, architecture, and landscapes.
And so this trio – Casablanca, Fès, and Marrakech – quickly emerged as the most logical choice… and the most inspiring one for this trip. A balanced journey, woven with contrasts and discoveries – exactly what we were hoping for.
When to Go to Morocco
Morocco can be visited year-round, but some periods are definitely more comfortable than others – especially if you want to avoid extreme heat or, on the opposite end, chilly evenings and nights.
The best times to visit Morocco, according to many travelers, are March to May and September to October. During these months:
- the days are mild and sunny
- it rarely gets too hot
- the nights stay comfortable
- it’s ideal for visiting Marrakech, Fès, Essaouira, or the Atlas region
And summer? From June to August, temperatures can climb above 40–45°C inland. It’s manageable along the coast (Essaouira and Agadir – where the sea is warmer at that time), but often too intense for cities like Marrakech or Fès.
As for us, we traveled in November, and I have to admit I hadn’t done my homework as a traveler. Until a few weeks before leaving, I was expecting much warmer weather. But in November, temperatures usually sit around 18–23°C, and the evenings are much cooler. The wind can also make some excursions feel colder (and for some people, like us, less pleasant), especially near the Atlas Mountains. There is an advantage though: fewer tourists, and often better prices – particularly for accommodations.
In short, no matter when you choose to go, it’s always worth checking the weather region by region, because Morocco is incredibly diverse: mountains, desert, coastline… and each area has its own climate.
Entry Requirements for Morocco
Before leaving, we made sure to check all the entry requirements and documents needed for traveling to Morocco. Here’s what we had to prepare as Canadian travellers:
- a passport valid for at least 6 months after the planned departure date;
- no visa is required for stays of 90 days or less.
How to Get to Morocco
From Canada, there’s really only one realistic option: flying. And when it came time to choose our flight, I was hoping for a non-stop route. I didn’t want to waste time in transit – and mostly, I wanted to keep the cost down.
While comparing different airlines, I quickly realized that flights with layovers (for example via Paris) were neither cheaper nor more convenient. Quite the opposite: often more expensive, longer, and more complicated for what we were looking for.
In the end, Royal Air Maroc became the clear choice for us:
- direct flights from Montreal,
- the option to book a multi-city itinerary (arriving in Casablanca and leaving from Marrakech),
- schedules that matched our dates,
- and a price lower than Air Canada or Air Transat.
With Air Transat, for example, flights to Marrakech weren’t available every day, which made our dates harder to plan. With Air Canada, I couldn’t build a proper multi-city route. Royal Air Maroc checked all the boxes. So for our 10-day trip in November, it was clearly the simplest and most logical option.
How to Get Around Morocco
Before our trip, I read several blogs and traveler reviews from people who chose to rent a car. It’s a very popular option, but it also comes with several challenges – especially if you sleep inside the medinas or in larger cities.
❌ Why We Didn’t Choose to Rent a Car
- The medinas are pedestrian-only, so the car must be left outside.
- You need to pay for parking, deal with security, and hope nothing happens to the vehicle.
→ I even read a story from Canadians who had to pay a deposit because their rental car was damaged while it was parked… - Driving in big cities like Marrakech or Fez seems like a real challenge: heavy traffic, unclear driving rules, unnecessary stress.
- Police checkpoints are frequent on the roads – we saw many during our excursions.
- And since our transfers between Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech could easily be done by train or bus, renting a car didn’t offer any real advantage for us.
✔️ What We Chose Instead: Trains and Taxis
Morocco is very well served by the ONCF railway network, and prices are extremely affordable.
For our main routes (Casablanca → Fez → Marrakech), the train was:
- economical,
- convenient,
- fast,
- comfortable.
We chose first class mainly because it guarantees a reserved seat. And honestly, the price difference with second class is minimal when converted to Canadian dollars.
I was able to purchase our tickets online through the ONCF website (after a few attempts!). But it’s just as easy to buy them directly at the station.
For the transfers between train stations and our accommodations, I always arranged transportation through our riads. They booked:
- either taxis,
- or private drivers they regularly work with.
Prices were reasonable, safe, and above all, convenient. I didn’t bother trying to find cheaper options – the simplicity was worth the few extra dollars.
🛬 Arriving at Casablanca Airport
When we landed, we simply bought train tickets at the airport station. There was one train every hour heading into the city, and we got off at Casa Voyageurs station, then walked to our hotel nearby.
For the rest of our time… we walked a lot. And honestly, it was perfect that way.
🚌 Other Options: Buses
There are also intercity buses, such as CTM and Supratours, which are very affordable for getting around Morocco. We didn’t try them ourselves, but they’re often recommended for longer routes or for destinations that aren’t served by the train.
Budget & Travel Costs
As always, I find it helpful to share the overall cost of our travels. So here’s a breakdown of the budget for this beautiful adventure on African soil (amounts shown are for 2 adults):
- ✈️ Plane tickets: $1,920
- 🚂 Other transportation (trains, taxis): $280
- 🏨 Accommodation: $815
- 🍔 Food: $550*
- 🎟️ Activities: $875
- 💆♀️ Couple Hammam&Massage: $225
- 💲 Tips: $120
👉Total: $4,785 for 2 people in November 2025.
Our trip was very affordable overall, but of course, everything depends on your travel style – the type of riads you choose, restaurants, activities, and how you get around.
* We usually ate two meals per day (with snacks), and breakfast was included with all our accommodations.
Currency
The currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). And if there’s one thing you learn very quickly once you’re there, it’s this: cash is king. It’s important to know this before you travel – credit cards are rarely accepted. So it’s essential to always have enough cash on hand.
You can sometimes pay by card in higher-end hotels, certain tourist-oriented restaurants, and a few more expensive spas or activities. But most of the time: you absolutely need cash. Even for accommodations, several riads preferred (or required) to be paid in cash.
💵 Always carry enough cash
It’s crucial to keep dirhams with you at all times for: meals, activities, taxis, souks and daily purchases, tips, and sometimes even your riad.
🏧 Where to get cash?
The simplest options are ATMs or currency exchange offices. For us, we only used ATMs.
But you need to be careful.
During our first withdrawal, the machine broke down right when it was supposed to dispense the cash. It was a Sunday, and the bank was closed. The result:
- no cash received
- no receipt printed
- the amount was debited from my account
- and no way to fix the issue on the spot
I’m currently filing a claim with my bank to try to recover about $300… and I’ve already been told it could take several weeks.
To avoid this kind of unpleasant surprise, I suggest:
- starting with a small “test” withdrawal, then doing a larger one if everything works well
- or opting for several smaller, safer withdrawals instead of a single large one
- and ideally, withdrawing during the opening hours of the bank associated with the ATM, so you can get help if needed
🧩 A small challenge: large bills
ATMs often dispense large bills (100 MAD and 200 MAD). But in our experience, it’s difficult to get change in smaller shops.
I’ve read in travel groups that you can sometimes go into a bank to exchange your large bills for smaller ones (especially right after withdrawing at their ATM) – but we couldn’t test this ourselves because the banks were closed when we needed cash.
So it might work, but I can’t guarantee it.
✔️ In summary
- The dirham = essential currency
- Cash = absolutely necessary
- Be careful with ATMs
- Expect that cash will remain your main payment method throughout the entire trip
In Conclusion
Morocco was a journey of immense beauty. The beauty of its landscapes, first: the Atlantic coastline, the Atlas Mountains, the ochre earth, the palm trees, the sunsets you can’t forget. The architectural beauty as well: carved doors, mosaics, madrasas, luminous riads, majestic mosques. And then, this culture – rich, vibrant, generous, full of contrasts… a culture unlike any other.
But Morocco is also an energy – very alive, very raw, very intense. An energy that can be surprising when you’re not used to it. For me, that intensity wasn’t fully aligned with what I needed at that moment. Not because the country isn’t beautiful – quite the opposite – but because every traveler has their own sensitivity, their own rhythm, their own “match” with a destination. And sometimes, just like in love, it simply isn’t a perfect match, even when the other has countless qualities.
Still, this journey taught me something important: it showed me what I truly love when I travel, what I seek, what nourishes me… and what drains me. It refined my tastes, my sensitivity, my limits, and my desires. And I already know it will influence many of my future travel choices.
Morocco remains a magnificent, rich, fascinating, and deeply inspiring country. One that absolutely deserves to be discovered — ideally with awareness, at your own pace, and in a way that respects your personal energy.
And for me, even if it wasn’t an absolute love-at-first-sight, I’m grateful to have lived it… because every trip reveals something to us. This one reminded me that we’re not just looking for a place to visit – we’re looking for a place where we can feel good, aligned, and fully ourselves.
In Video
Here’s a short video – almost like a little trailer – of our best moments in Morocco. A gentle way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere… and maybe spark the desire to discover the detailed videos that will follow with the upcoming articles.
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