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Seven days is enough to see Morocco’s big four: an imperial city, a medina that hasn’t changed in centuries, a night in the Sahara and the buzz of Marrakech. This 7-day Morocco itinerary runs from Casablanca to Marrakech via Rabat, Fes and the dunes of Merzouga. It’s the same route as our 7-day Morocco tour package, so every day below has been tested on the road. Here is how it works day by day, where the long drives are, and when it’s worth adding a few days.
The 7-day Morocco itinerary at a glance
| Day | Route | Overnight | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Casablanca | Casablanca | Hassan II Mosque |
| 2 | Casablanca – Rabat – Volubilis – Fes | Fes | Hassan Tower, Chellah, Roman Volubilis |
| 3 | Fes | Fes | Medina, tanneries, Al Quaraouiyine |
| 4 | Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga | Sahara camp | Cedar forests, camel ride at sunset |
| 5 | Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech | Marrakech | Sunrise over the dunes, kasbahs |
| 6 | Marrakech | Marrakech | Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Djemaa el Fna |
| 7 | Departure | – | Last shopping in the souks |
Day-by-day 7-day Morocco itinerary
Day 1: Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque
Fly into Casablanca, Morocco’s main international airport. If you land before mid-afternoon, head straight to the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the Atlantic and one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can visit on a guided tour. Otherwise, rest: tomorrow is a full day.
Day 2: Rabat, Volubilis and on to Fes
Drive about an hour up the coast to Rabat, the capital, for the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the overgrown ruins of the Chellah. Then head inland past Meknes to Volubilis, a Roman town with some of the best floor mosaics in North Africa. You reach Fes in the evening.
Day 3: The Fes medina
Give Fes a full day with a local guide; the medina, Fes el Bali, is a maze of more than 9,000 lanes and you will get lost without one. Look down on the dye pits of the leather tanneries, watch potters and tile-cutters at a ceramics cooperative, and stop at the gate of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 and often called the oldest university in the world.
Day 4: Over the Atlas to the Sahara
This is the longest and most scenic drive of the trip. You climb through Ifrane, a tidy mountain town that looks more Swiss than Moroccan, and the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road. Then the landscape dries out through Midelt and Erfoud until the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi appear near Merzouga. Count on 7 to 8 hours with stops. You switch to a camel for the last stretch, ride into the dunes for sunset and spend the night at a desert camp.
Day 5: Sahara sunrise, Todra Gorge and Ait Ben Haddou
Climb a dune for sunrise before breakfast, then start the long crossing west. Stop in Rissani, known for its fossils and market, walk into the 300-metre-high walls of the Todra Gorge, and continue past Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed mud-brick village you may recognise from films. The road then crosses the High Atlas to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.
Be ready for this one: it is a long day in the car, well over ten hours with stops. It’s the price of fitting the Sahara and Marrakech into a single week. If you’d rather slow down, the 10-day Morocco tour spreads the same desert-to-Marrakech route over several days, with stops in Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley and two nights in the Sahara.
Day 6: Marrakech
A guided day through the city’s highlights: the Koutoubia minaret, the painted ceilings of the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Menara and Agdal gardens, and the souks for spices, lanterns, leather and rugs. Finish in Djemaa el Fna, the main square, which turns into an open-air food market after dark.
Our tip: watch the square change from a rooftop café around sunset. In daylight Djemaa el Fna is a wide, busy plaza; as the light goes, smoke rises from hundreds of food stalls and the Koutoubia lights up behind them. Then go down and eat at the stalls.
Day 7: Departure
Depending on your flight, you have a free morning for last-minute shopping before your transfer to Marrakech or Casablanca airport. Flying home from Marrakech saves the 2.5-hour drive back to Casablanca.
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
For a first trip, yes: a 7-day Morocco itinerary covers the highlights, as long as you don’t mind two long driving days. What you give up is time: one evening in the Sahara, one full day each in Fes and Marrakech, and no Chefchaouen, the blue town in the Rif mountains. If you have more time:
- 10 days: the same highlights at a gentler pace, starting in Marrakech. See the 10-day Morocco tour.
- 11 days: adds Chefchaouen. See the 11-day tour with Chefchaouen and the Sahara.
- 15 days: Casablanca to Marrakech with Chefchaouen, Fes and the Sahara, and time to rest. See the 15-day Morocco tour.
When to do this 7-day Morocco itinerary
The best months are March to May and late September to November: warm days in the cities and comfortable temperatures in the desert. Winter (December to February) is fine for sightseeing, but the High Atlas passes can see snow and nights in the Sahara drop close to freezing, so pack a warm layer. In July and August the desert is very hot in the daytime, though evenings at camp are pleasant.
What it costs
Our 7-day Morocco tour costs from $1,650 per person and includes a private English-speaking guide, a private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers, six nights’ accommodation and daily breakfast. Monument entrance fees, most lunches and dinners and tips are extra. Prices depend on group size and hotel level, and the route can be adjusted: an extra night in Fes or the desert, or a different arrival city.
What to pack
- Comfortable walking shoes for the medinas, which are uneven and often steep.
- A warm layer for the desert night, even in spring and autumn.
- A scarf or light layer to cover shoulders in religious sites and rural areas.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat for the dunes.
- Some cash in dirhams for markets, small cafés and tips.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this 7-day Morocco itinerary in reverse?
Yes. Starting in Marrakech and finishing in Casablanca works just as well; it mostly depends on which flights are cheaper. We can also start or end in Fes.
How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?
Around 7 to 8 hours including stops in Ifrane, Azrou and Midelt. It is a beautiful drive over the Middle Atlas, and the camel ride at the end makes up for it.
Do I need to be fit for the camel ride?
No. The ride into the dunes is about an hour at walking pace. Getting on and off is the trickiest part, and the camel handlers help with that.
Is Morocco a good add-on to an Egypt trip?
It is a popular combination. If you’re planning both, see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt so you can line up the seasons.
Want this 7-day Morocco itinerary with your own dates and pace? Tell us what you have in mind or message us on WhatsApp, and we’ll send you a plan and a price.
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