One week in Morocco is enough for a memorable first trip if you choose the route carefully. The itinerary below is the classic loop many travellers love: two great medinas, the kasbahs and valleys of the south, and a night among the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
It is a full week with some long driving days, so we have been honest about times and added tips to keep the pace manageable. Driving times are approximate and exclude stops unless stated.
The route at a glance
- Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech
- Day 2: Marrakech – medina and gardens
- Day 3: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley
- Day 4: Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga, camel ride and desert camp
- Day 5: Merzouga – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
- Day 6: Fes – medina day
- Day 7: Departure from Fes
This works best flying into Marrakech and out of Fes. If you need to return to Marrakech, see the variations at the end.
Day 1 – Arrive in Marrakech
Arrive, check in to your riad and take it easy. If you land early, a gentle walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa square around sunset is a good introduction – the food stalls set up as the light fades and the square fills with musicians and storytellers.
Tip: Many riads sit in narrow lanes without vehicle access. Expect a short walk from the nearest drop-off point, often with a porter helping with luggage.
Day 2 – Exploring Marrakech
Spend the day in the city. A guided half-day in the medina helps you find your way through the souks and understand what you are seeing. Common stops include:
- The Bahia Palace and its painted ceilings
- The Ben Youssef Madrasa
- The souks, organised by craft – leather, metalwork, spices, textiles
- The Koutoubia Mosque (exterior for non-Muslim visitors)
In the afternoon, Jardin Majorelle offers a quieter break. Have an early night – tomorrow is a long day. Our Marrakech destination guide has more ideas.
Day 3 – Over the High Atlas to the Dades Valley
Drive: roughly 6–7 hours in total, plus stops
Leave after breakfast and climb into the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which reaches about 2,260 m. The road winds through Amazigh villages and terraced fields, with plenty of photo stops.
After roughly 3.5–4 hours you reach Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified ksar on the hillside above the river. Walk up through the lanes to the granary at the top for views over the valley.
Continue through Ouarzazate (around 30 minutes) and along the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs", past Skoura's palm groves, to the Dades Valley – about 2 hours more. Overnight in a guesthouse or hotel in the valley.
Tip: If you suffer from motion sickness, take precautions for the mountain bends.
Day 4 – Todra Gorge and into the Sahara
Drive: about 1 hour to Todra, then around 3 hours to Merzouga
A short morning drive takes you to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, where sheer rock walls rise either side of a narrow stream. Walk a short way in to feel the scale of it.
Continue east through small desert towns towards Merzouga, reaching the edge of Erg Chebbi in the afternoon. Here you swap the vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes as the sun goes down – usually around 1–1.5 hours – to your camp. (Luggage is often taken separately by 4x4; a small overnight bag is handy.)
Dinner at camp is often followed by drumming around the fire, and on clear, moonless nights the stars are remarkable – though this depends on the weather and moon phase.
Camel ride caveats: Riding a camel is not recommended if you have back problems or are pregnant. Arrival by 4x4 is usually possible instead. See our guide to camel trekking in Merzouga.
Day 5 – Merzouga to Fes
Drive: around 7–8 hours via Midelt and Ifrane
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to the village for breakfast and a shower.
The drive north is long but varied: the Ziz Valley with its palm-filled gorge, the high plains near Midelt, cedar forests in the Middle Atlas where Barbary macaques are sometimes seen, and Ifrane, a town with an unexpectedly Alpine look. You arrive in Fes in the evening.
Tip: Rest well – there is a lot of driving today. Long scenic stretches are a good time for music or a nap.
Day 6 – Fes
Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free medinas in the world, and a local guide makes a big difference here. Typical highlights:
- The Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas
- The exterior of the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university
- The Chouara tanneries, seen from leather-shop terraces above
- Craft quarters for copper, weaving and woodwork
Spend the afternoon at your own pace, or visit the Royal Palace gates and the Mellah. See our Fes destination guide.
Day 7 – Departure
Transfer to Fes–Saïss airport, or continue by train if you are heading to Rabat, Casablanca or Tangier.
Variations on the 7-day route
Returning to Marrakech
If your flights are in and out of Marrakech, you can do a southern loop instead: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades – Merzouga (two nights in the desert) – back west via the valleys and Ouarzazate. You skip Fes but gain an extra desert day. The return from Merzouga to Marrakech is again best split over two days.
Adding more desert time
You can drop Day 2 in Marrakech to gain a second night in Merzouga, though it makes the start of the trip intense. Generally we suggest keeping the city day.
Using a shorter desert trip
If you only want two or three days for the desert, a 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga Sahara tour can sit inside a longer independent trip.
Is 7 days enough?
It is enough for a strong first impression, but you will be moving most days. If you can stretch to 8 or 10 days, the pace becomes far more relaxed. Compare options in our Morocco grand tours guide or our 10-day Morocco itinerary.
Practical notes
- Best seasons: spring and autumn are most comfortable; summer is very hot in the south and winter nights in the desert are cold.
- Accommodation: riads in the cities, guesthouses or hotels in the valleys, and a desert camp chosen from budget to luxury. Read our Sahara luxury desert camp guide to compare.
- Packing: layers, a scarf for sand and sun, comfortable walking shoes, and a small bag for the desert night.
- Private vs shared: this route works best privately, so you can stop when you want.
Plan your week with us
Our 7-day Morocco highlights tour follows this route and can be adjusted. Send us your dates and airports via WhatsApp on our contact page, or put together your own version with build your tour.
