7 days · updated October 2026
7 Day Morocco Itinerary: Fes, Sahara and Marrakech
- The route
- Fes (2 nights) → Merzouga (1) → Boumalne Dades (1) → Marrakech (2)
- The cost
- For two people, expect a rough total of about $2,400–$4,500 excluding international flights, depending on riad level, camp choice and whether you hire a private driver.
This one-week Morocco itinerary suits first-timers who want imperial-city medinas, a night in the Sahara and a finish in Marrakech without pretending the country is small.
The route starts at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, uses the train to Fes, then a private driver or rental car across the Middle Atlas, Merzouga, Dades and the High Atlas to Marrakech.
It leaves out Chefchaouen, Essaouira and Tangier because 7 days cannot include them without turning the trip into a series of transfers. If you want a slower trip, drop the desert and add those days to Fes and Marrakech.
Day 1 · Casablanca and Fes
DirectionsArrive at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, see the city’s headline mosque if your flight lands early enough, then take the train to Fes. Allow about 4 hours by train from the airport with a change at Casa Voyageurs, plus transfer time at both ends.
Morning
Mohammed V International Airport
Casablanca
This is the easiest main arrival point for the route. If your flight lands late, skip sightseeing and go straight to Fes rather than adding a short Casablanca night.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Hassan II Mosque
Casablanca
Go for the scale, ocean setting and rare chance for non-Muslim visitors to see the interior on a guided visit. Check tour times before you go and leave luggage at the station or with your driver.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Rick's Café
Casablanca
This is a convenient, polished lunch stop between the mosque and the train station. Book ahead if you are landing around lunchtime, especially on weekends.
Afternoon
Fes el Bali
Fes
Arrive before dark if you can, as the old medina is easier to read in daylight. Ask your riad to meet you at the nearest gate rather than trying to wheel bags through the lanes.
Tickets & tours
Evening
The Ruined Garden
Fes
This garden restaurant is an easy first-night choice with Moroccan dishes and a calm setting after the travel day. Reserve a table and ask your riad for the simplest walking route back.
Day 2 · Fes
DirectionsSpend a full day in Fes, keeping the plan inside the old city so you are not crossing town all day. This is a walking day with short taxi rides possible from your riad to the medina gates.
Morning
Bab Bou Jeloud
Fes
Start at the Blue Gate because it gives a clear entry point into the medina. Go early before tour groups and use it as your meeting point if you hire a guide.
Tickets & tours
Morning
Bou Inania Madrasa
Fes
This is one of the best places in Fes to see carved plaster, cedar woodwork and zellij tile up close. Bring small cash for entry and check locally in case restoration work affects access.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Chouara Tannery
Fes
The rooftop views explain why leather is so tied to Fes, but the smell and sales pressure are real. Go with a guide or choose a shop viewpoint confidently, and do not feel obliged to buy.
Tickets & tours
Afternoon
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
Fes
The restored funduq gives useful context for the craft traditions you see in the souks. It is also a good indoor break when the medina feels crowded or hot.
Tickets & toursEvening
Nur
Fes
This is Fes’s most ambitious modern Moroccan dinner and a good contrast to the street-level medina. Book well ahead and allow time for a slow meal.
Day 3 · Fes to Merzouga
DirectionsLeave Fes early for the long drive to Merzouga, usually 7.5 to 9 hours before stops. The day works best with a private driver who knows the mountain roads and can time the arrival for the dunes before dark.
Morning
Ifrane Lion
Ifrane
This quick stop breaks up the climb into the Middle Atlas and gives a look at Morocco’s alpine-style town. Keep it brief, as the driving day is long.
Tickets & tours
Morning
Cèdre Gouraud Forest
Azrou
The cedar forest is a good leg-stretching stop on the way south. Do not feed the macaques, and keep valuables inside the car rather than visible on seats.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Hotel Kasbah Asmaa
Midelt
This is a practical lunch stop on the Fes-to-desert road, with enough space for drivers to park and reset. Keep lunch light so you do not lose the afternoon to a long meal.
Afternoon
Ziz Valley Panoramic View
Errachidia Province
Stop here to see the palm-filled valley that marks the shift toward the desert. Pull fully off the road and keep an eye on the time if sunset at the dunes matters to you.
Tickets & tours
Evening
Erg Chebbi
Merzouga
Arrive for a camel or 4x4 transfer into camp and the first close look at the dunes. Confirm your luggage plan with the camp, as most people take only an overnight bag into the sand.
Tickets & tours
Day 4 · Merzouga to Boumalne Dades
DirectionsWake in the Sahara, then drive toward the Dades Valley via Rissani and Todra Gorge. Expect around 5 to 6 hours of driving, more if you linger in the market or stop often for photos.
Morning
Rissani Market
Rissani
This is one of the most interesting market stops in the southeast, especially on major market days. Go with your driver or guide if you want to understand the different sections quickly.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Café Restaurant Tizgui
Tinghir
This is a useful lunch stop before or after Todra Gorge, close to the canyon road. Ask to keep the meal simple if you want time for a walk in the gorge.
Afternoon
Todra Gorge
Tinghir
Walk between the high limestone walls rather than just taking photos from the car. Arrive earlier in the afternoon if you can, because the narrow road can back up with buses.
Tickets & tours
Evening
Dadès Gorges
Boumalne Dades
The bends and red-rock scenery make this the right overnight stop between the desert and Marrakech. Drive the gorge road before dusk, then settle in rather than attempting to continue west.
Tickets & tours
Day 5 · Boumalne Dades to Marrakech
DirectionsCross from Dades to Marrakech through Skoura, Aït Benhaddou and the High Atlas. This is another long day, usually 6.5 to 8 hours of driving before stops, so start early and keep lunch simple.
Morning
Kasbah Amridil
Skoura
This restored kasbah gives a clearer look at southern Moroccan architecture than a roadside photo stop. Go early to avoid losing time before the High Atlas crossing.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Aït Benhaddou
Aït Benhaddou
The fortified village is worth the detour if you walk into the ksar and up through the lanes, not just view it from across the river. Wear shoes with grip, as the paths can be dusty and uneven.
Tickets & tours
Afternoon
Telouet Kasbah
Telouet
This stop adds history to the High Atlas crossing and breaks up the drive before the pass. Check road conditions with your driver, as mountain weather can change the best route.
Tickets & tours
Afternoon
Tizi n'Tichka
High Atlas
The pass is the slowest part of the day, with switchbacks, trucks and weather all affecting timing. Avoid scheduling a fixed-time dinner in Marrakech too early.
Tickets & tours
Evening
Nomad
Marrakech Medina
This rooftop restaurant is a comfortable first dinner in Marrakech after a mountain drive. Reserve ahead and ask for the closest drop-off point, since cars cannot reach many medina lanes.
Day 6 · Marrakech
DirectionsUse this day for Marrakech’s medina sights at a steady pace, with breaks built in. Everything is close enough for walking, though taxis are useful if your riad is outside the medina walls.
Morning
Bahia Palace
Marrakech Medina
Start here for courtyards, painted ceilings and a manageable introduction to Marrakech’s palace architecture. Go early because the rooms and courtyards fill quickly.
Tickets & tours
Morning
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Marrakech Medina
The restored madrasa is one of the city’s strongest historic interiors. Visit before midday for better light and a calmer experience.
Tickets & toursMidday
Le Jardin Secret
Marrakech Medina
Use this as a quiet reset between medina sights and shopping streets. The tower visit may cost extra, so decide on arrival rather than rushing it.
Tickets & tours
Afternoon
Souk Semmarine
Marrakech Medina
This is an easy place to browse textiles, lamps, leather and spices in a concentrated area. Bargain politely, compare before buying and keep your phone secure in the busiest lanes.
Tickets & tours
Evening
Jemaa el-Fnaa
Marrakech Medina
Go around sunset for the food stalls, juice stands and evening crowds. Bring small cash, agree prices before ordering and be ready to say no to unwanted photos or performances.
Day 7 · Marrakech
DirectionsKeep the final day flexible for one garden or museum, a last lunch and your flight from Marrakech, or the onward train to Casablanca if needed. If your flight is early, move the garden stop to Day 6 and keep this day for departure only.
Morning
Jardin Majorelle and Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
Gueliz
These neighboring sites make an easy final morning with gardens, fashion and design in one stop. Book timed tickets online, as same-day slots can disappear in busy months.
Tickets & tours
Midday
Dar El Bacha - Musée des Confluences
Marrakech Medina
This former palace is a polished museum stop and a good choice if you want one more medina visit without heavy shopping. Go earlier in the day if you also want coffee inside, as waits can be long.
Tickets & toursAfternoon
Plus61
Gueliz
This modern restaurant is a relaxed final lunch away from the densest part of the medina. Reserve if your timing is tight before the airport.
Evening
Marrakech Menara Airport
Marrakech
Departing from Marrakech saves backtracking to Casablanca. Leave more buffer than you would in a smaller city, as medina transfers and airport queues can be slow.
Tickets & tours
Where to stay
Riad Fes - Relais & Châteaux
Fes
A refined medina base with strong service, useful for a short Fes stay when easy logistics and reliable staff matter.
Check availability
Sahara Majestic Luxury Camp
Merzouga
A well-reviewed desert camp with comfortable tents and transfers from the dune edge, making the one-night Sahara stop straightforward.
Check availability
Chez Pierre
Boumalne Dades
A dependable Dades Valley stop with good food and a location that works well between Todra Gorge and the next day’s drive to Marrakech.
Check availabilityRiad Kniza
Marrakech
A classic Marrakech riad with polished service and a good medina location, helpful when you have only two nights in the city.
Check availability
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Make it yours
Open this 7-day plan in the planner with every stop already on your board, then change anything: your dates, your pace, your budget.
When is the best time to visit Morocco?
March to May and late September to November are the best months for this route, with more comfortable medina walking, better desert temperatures and generally easier mountain travel. Summer can be very hot in Fes, Marrakech and Merzouga, while winter brings cold desert nights and possible snow or delays in the High Atlas, but lower hotel prices and fewer crowds can be a worthwhile trade.
How do you get around Morocco on this trip?
Use the train from Casablanca airport to Fes, then either hire a private driver from Fes to Marrakech or rent a car if you are confident with long rural drives and mountain roads. A private driver costs more but makes the desert and Dades section much smoother, especially with one-way logistics. Trains are excellent for Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Marrakech, but they do not cover Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Dades or Aït Benhaddou.
How much does a 7-day trip to Morocco cost?
For two people, expect a rough total of about $2,400–$4,500 excluding international flights, depending on riad level, camp choice and whether you hire a private driver.
| Hotels, per night | $120–$350 |
|---|---|
| Sahara camp, one night for two | $180–$450 |
| Food and drinks, per day for two | $50–$140 |
| Train from Casablanca to Fes, for two | $25–$70 |
| Private driver Fes to Marrakech, 3 days | $800–$1,400 |
| Activities and entries, for two | $150–$350 |
Tips for 7 days in Morocco
- Book an open-jaw flight into Casablanca and out of Marrakech if possible; returning to Casablanca adds about 2.5 to 3 hours by train from Marrakech.
- Hire a licensed guide for at least half a day in Fes, where the medina is complex and the best craft areas are easy to miss.
- Pack a small overnight bag for the Sahara camp and leave large suitcases with your driver or at the camp’s staging point.
- Carry cash in small notes for taxis, tips, market purchases and rural stops; cards are easier in hotels and higher-end restaurants.
- Do not schedule the desert drive after a late night in Fes; the Fes-to-Merzouga day is long and safer when you leave early.
- In Marrakech, ask your riad for the nearest car-accessible drop-off point before arrival, as many medina streets are pedestrian only.
- If mountain weather looks poor, let the driver adjust the Dades-to-Marrakech day and skip Telouet rather than arriving exhausted after dark.
Questions people ask
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Seven days is enough for a strong first trip if you choose a focused route and accept a few long travel days. It is not enough for all of Morocco, so this plan prioritizes Fes, the Sahara, Dades and Marrakech.
Is the Sahara worth it with only 7 days?
Yes, if the desert is a priority and you are comfortable with two long driving days. If you dislike long road transfers, skip Merzouga and spend more time in Fes, Marrakech and Essaouira instead.
Should I drive myself in Morocco?
Self-driving is possible on this route, but the Fes-to-Merzouga and High Atlas sections are tiring and require patience. For a short trip, a private driver is usually worth the cost because it reduces navigation stress and allows one-way travel.
Should I fly into Casablanca or Marrakech?
Casablanca works well for starting near Fes, especially if international flights are cheaper or better timed. Marrakech is a better exit point for this route because it avoids backtracking after the desert and High Atlas crossing.
Can I add Chefchaouen to this 7-day Morocco itinerary?
You can, but it would mean dropping the Sahara or turning the first half of the trip into back-to-back long transfers. For 7 days, Chefchaouen fits better on a northern Morocco route with Tangier, Tetouan, Fes and Rabat.