7-Day Morocco Itinerary: Marrakech, the Sahara Desert & Imperial Cities
This is the classic 7-day Morocco itinerary from Marrakech — one week that packs in everything most travellers come for. Cross the High Atlas, walk the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleep in a desert camp, then continue to Fes, the blue mountain town of Chefchaouen, and finish through Rabat and Casablanca. Shared or Private Premium.
Want more depth or the coast? See the 10-day Grand Tour or the 12-day In-Depth tour.
Trip at a glance
- Private/shared vehicle for 7 days
- 2 nights Sahara + desert camp with camel trek
- Fes guided medina tour with a licensed local guide
- Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Rabat & Casablanca
- Hand-picked riads & hotels · daily breakfast
DurationShared / Private
FormatMarrakech
Start2–6
Ideal group
Day-by-day: 7-Day Morocco Itinerary
The full route we build your week around. Driving times are approximate; everything can be tailored.
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, a guided stop at Aït Ben Haddou, then Ouarzazate and the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley.
- Tizi n'Tichka
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
- Dades Valley
Dades Gorge → Todra Gorge → Erg Chebbi (Merzouga)
The Dades and Todra gorges, then Merzouga and a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset, dinner and Berber drumming under the stars.
- Dades Gorge
- Todra Gorge
- Erg Chebbi
- Camel trek
Sahara sunrise → Rissani → Ziz Valley → Fes
Sunrise over the dunes, then north via Rissani, the Ziz Valley and Ifrane to the imperial city of Fes.
- Desert sunrise
- Rissani
- Ziz Valley
- Ifrane
- Fes
Fes — full-day guided medina tour
A full day in Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide: the Chouara tanneries, Al-Qarawiyyin, the madrasas and the artisan souks, at a relaxed pace.
- Chouara tanneries
- Al-Qarawiyyin
- Bou Inania Madrasa
- Artisan souks
Fes → Meknes → Volubilis → Chefchaouen
North via Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, then into the Rif to Chefchaouen, the blue-washed mountain town.
- Meknes
- Volubilis
- Rif Mountains
- Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen → Rabat → Casablanca
To the coast and the capital Rabat — the Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower — then Casablanca for the night.
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Hassan Tower
- Casablanca
Casablanca — Hassan II Mosque → departure or return
The vast Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic, then airport drop-off in Casablanca or an optional return to Marrakech (~3 hrs).
- Hassan II Mosque
- Airport drop-off
- Optional return to Marrakech
What's included — and what's not
Included
- Private/shared air-conditioned vehicle & fuel for 7 days
- English-speaking driver-host
- 6 nights (riads, kasbah hotels, desert camp)
- Daily breakfast + dinners at Dades & the camp
- Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Licensed guide for the Fes medina tour
- Pickup & drop-off
- Tolls & parking
Not included
- International & internal flights
- Lunches & drinks
- Monument & museum entrance fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips (optional)
How much does a 7-day Morocco tour cost?
Prices are per person and depend on group size, dates and accommodation. As a guide:
A family or group of four sharing a private vehicle gets the best per-person value. Message us with your dates and numbers
Shared departures
Shared departures run on set dates so we can guarantee a real small group rather than a half-empty vehicle. If none of these dates fit, a Private Premium tour can start on any day you choose.
Departs
The first and third Saturday of every month
Small group, maximum 12 travellers.
Guaranteed departure promise
We need a minimum of 4 travellers to run a shared departure. If a date doesn't reach the minimum we'll tell you at least 14 days ahead, and you can either move to another date, upgrade to a private tour at a reduced rate, or take a full refund of your deposit. Private tours have no fixed dates — you choose any start date you like.
Best time
Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Nov) are ideal; summer is hot inland; winter can bring Atlas snow.
What to pack
Layers for cool desert nights, comfortable shoes, sun protection, a scarf, modest layers for mosques.
Who it suits
First-time visitors, couples, families and small groups wanting the whole country in a week.
Flexibility
Reserve now, pay on arrival. Private tours have no fixed departures — you choose the start date. Shared tours run on set dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough time for Morocco?
One week is the sweet spot for a first visit — the Sahara, the Atlas and the imperial cities plus Chefchaouen, without feeling rushed.
Shared or private?
Shared runs on published set dates at the best price; Private Premium is your own vehicle and driver with a flexible pace.
How much driving is involved?
A few days include longer drives — the desert-to-Fes crossing is the longest — broken with scenic stops. Each day's time is listed above.
Is Morocco safe for solo travellers and families?
Yes — popular with families, couples and solo travellers, with a local driver-host throughout.
Can you customise the itinerary?
Yes — add a cooking class, extra desert time, a different finishing city or a higher category of riad.
Book now, pay later?
Yes — reserve now, pay on arrival, confirmed in writing.
