7 days
Morocco in 7 Days
Marrakech, the road of kasbahs, a night in the Sahara and the Fes medina: the great classic.
- MarrakechDay 1–2
- Aït Ben HaddouDay 3
- MerzougaDay 4
- Erg ChebbiDay 5
- FesDay 6–7
© Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson / Unsplash
Overview
The most requested route for a first trip. It crosses the High Atlas, follows the southern oases and reaches Fes through the Middle Atlas. Plan a private driver or rental car: the driving days are long, with plenty of photo stops.
- 7 days
- Mid-range
- Moderate
- Mar – May, Oct – Nov
The route
Day by day
Arrival and the medina
Plan for the day
- Check in to your riad
- Souks and Jemaa el-Fna
- Dinner on a rooftop facing the Koutoubia
- Rooftop dinner
- Riad in the medina
Palaces, gardens and hammam
Plan for the day
- Majorelle Garden
- Ben Youssef Madrasa and Bahia Palace
- Hammam and scrub in the late afternoon
- Lunch in Gueliz, dinner at the riad
- Riad in the medina
Tichka pass and Aït Ben Haddou
Travel Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades · ~6 h
Plan for the day
- Cross the High Atlas over the Tichka pass
- Explore the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou
- Drive on to the Dades Valley
- Lunch facing the ksar, dinner at the guesthouse
- Guesthouse in the Dades Gorges
- Leave at 8am to reach the ksar before the heat.
Todra Gorge and into the desert
Travel Dades → Todra → Merzouga · ~5 h
Plan for the day
- Walk through the Todra Gorge
- Reach Merzouga in the late afternoon
- Sunset camel ride to the camp
- Berber dinner at the camp
- Camp in Erg Chebbi
A day in the Sahara
Plan for the day
- Sunrise over the dunes
- Gnawa music in Khamlia
- Quad or sandboarding in the afternoon
- Madfouna in the village
- Inn at the foot of the dunes
- Keep warm layers: nights are cool.
Through the Middle Atlas to Fes
Travel Merzouga → Fes · ~8 h
Plan for the day
- Ziz Valley and the cedar forest
- Stop in Ifrane
- Arrive in Fes in the evening
- Fassi dinner at the riad
- Riad in Fes el-Bali
The Fes medina
Plan for the day
- Guided walk: Bou Inania, Quaraouiyine, tanneries
- Artisan workshops
- Sunset at the Marinid tombs
- Pastilla for lunch
- Riad in Fes el-Bali
- Fly home from Fes or take the train to Casablanca (about four hours).
Best time
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar ✓
- Apr ✓
- May ✓
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct ✓
- Nov ✓
- Dec
Practical tips
- A private driver costs more but spares you the fatigue of long drives.
- Book desert nights ahead during European school holidays.
- Carry cash for rural areas.
Experiences along the way
Where next?
More plans
5
Morocco Desert Adventure
Five days round trip from Marrakech: kasbahs, gorges and two Sahara nights.
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Merzouga
- Erg Chebbi
- Dades Gorges
- Marrakech
View plan
6
Atlantic Escape
Marrakech, then the ocean: Essaouira and the waves of Taghazout.
- Marrakech
- Imlil and the High Atlas
- Essaouira
- Taghazout
- Agadir
View plan
5
Kasbahs and the Draa Valley
Five days round trip from Marrakech: Aït Ben Haddou, the Draa palm groves and the dunes near Zagora.
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Zagora
- Ouarzazate
- Marrakech
View plan