A week is plenty to pair our home city of Marrakech with the Sahara, or to trace the imperial cities of the north. Here are two proven 7-day Morocco itineraries, both designed to start or finish in Marrakech — and how to choose between them.
In this guide
Option A — Marrakech & the Sahara (south)
The classic first week and our most-booked route: time in the Red City itself, a crossing of the High Atlas, the kasbah road south, and a night under the stars in the dunes. The driving days are real but rewarding, and far easier with a Marrakech driver who knows exactly where to stop along the way.
- Days 1–2: Marrakech — the medina and souks, Bahia Palace and Majorelle, a hammam and a rooftop sunset over the Koutoubia.
- Day 3: Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate.
- Day 4: The Dadès and Todra gorges to the desert edge.
- Day 5: Camel trek into Erg Chebbi and a night at a luxury camp.
- Day 6: Sunrise dune climb, then the long road back toward Marrakech.
- Day 7: A slow final morning in the medina and departure from Marrakech (RAK).
Option B — Imperial cities & the blue city (north)
A culture-first week with shorter drives, easily bookended by Marrakech: the medieval medinas of Fes and Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen, finishing on the Mediterranean at Tangier.
- Days 1–2: Fes — the world's largest car-free medina, explored with a historian.
- Day 3: Meknes and Roman Volubilis at golden hour.
- Days 4–5: Chefchaouen, the blue city, two slow nights.
- Day 6: Into the Rif and on to Tangier and Cap Spartel.
- Day 7: Tangier kasbah and departure (TNG) — or the high-speed train back south.
How to choose
Go south (Option A) if the Sahara is the dream and you don't mind longer drives out of Marrakech. Go north (Option B) for history, shorter transfers and cooler summers. Either can begin or end wherever suits your flights — as a Marrakech-based atelier we build open-jaw routings (in to Marrakech, out of Fes or Tangier, say) all the time.
Frequently asked
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Yes — a week from Marrakech comfortably covers either the city plus the Sahara, or the northern imperial cities plus Chefchaouen. Trying to cram both into seven days means too much time in the car; save the other half for a return trip.
Can you do Marrakech and the desert in a week?
Comfortably. A 3-day desert loop from Marrakech (over the Atlas via Aït Ben Haddou and the gorges to Merzouga and back) leaves three to four days for the medina, the gardens and the Atlas foothills.
How much driving is a 7-day Marrakech-based trip?
The southern desert week involves two longer driving days (5–8 hours) over the Atlas out of Marrakech and back; the northern cities week keeps transfers mostly under three hours. A private driver makes either one relaxed rather than tiring.
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Itineraries
Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days
Ten days is the sweet spot for Morocco — long enough to start in our home city of Marrakech and loop through the Sahara and the imperial north unhurried, with the Essaouira coast as an optional finish.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
For a Marrakech city break, spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) hit the sweet spot — sun-warmed days in the medina, cool enough rooftops at dusk, and perfect conditions for Agafay, the Ourika valley and an Atlas or desert day trip.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
Within Marrakech you'll mostly walk the medina and grab petit taxis between districts. For the airport, the day trips and onward cities, the choice is between the train (to Casablanca, Rabat, Fes) and a private driver — and which you want depends on where you're headed.