Morocco Itinerary 7 Days

You arrive in Casablanca and the tour begins. The first stop is the Hassan II Mosque — one of the largest mosques in the world, built directly over the Atlantic with a minaret visible from across the city. Morning guided tours run until midday and give access to the interior and the hammam below.

After the mosque the road heads north along the Atlantic coast to Rabat — the capital of Morocco. The afternoon covers Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the royal palace gate. Rabat is quieter and more historically layered than Casablanca and well worth an afternoon of exploration.

approx. 90 km  ·  approx. 2 hours  ·  Overnight: Rabat

You leave Rabat in the morning and head northeast toward Chefchaouen. The road climbs into the Rif Mountains and the blue city appears in a valley below. You arrive by early afternoon with the rest of the day to explore the blue medina at your own pace.

Chefchaouen is one of the most atmospheric destinations in northern Morocco. The alleyways are painted blue and white, the central square is lined with cafes, and the Spanish mosque above the town gives panoramic views over the rooftops and the Rif Mountains. Early evening is the best time to walk — the light is warm and the day visitors have left.

approx. 240 km  ·  approx. 3.5 hours  ·  Overnight: Chefchaouen

A short morning in Chefchaouen before heading east to Fes. The drive takes about three hours through the Rif foothills. You arrive in Fes in the early afternoon with time to settle into your riad and explore the edges of the medina before the full guided tour tomorrow.

The Fes medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The scale of it only becomes clear when you walk the first few alleyways — over 9,000 streets, no cars, and centuries of Moroccan urban life visible in every corner.

approx. 200 km  ·  approx. 3 hours  ·  Overnight: Fes

A knowledgeable local guide meets you at your riad for a full guided tour of Fes. This is the best way to see one of Morocco’s most complex and rewarding imperial cities.

The tour covers the main souks, the spice market, Al-Qarawiyyin University — one of the oldest universities in the world — Bou Inania Medersa, and the tanneries viewed from the leather shop terraces above. The tannery is the centrepiece of the day — you will be offered mint on arrival because of the smell from the pits below. The afternoon covers the mellah and the Andalusian quarter across the river.

Full day  ·  Overnight: Fes

The longest drive of the tour. You leave Fes early and head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. The road passes through Ifrane — the Switzerland of Morocco — at 1,650 metres, and through the cedar forest near Azrou where Barbary macaques sit in the trees along the roadside.

The Middle Atlas gives way to the pre-Saharan south. The Ziz Valley appears — a long date palm oasis lined with old kasbahs cutting through the desert toward Erfoud. The contrast between the cedar forest above and the desert palms below is one of the most striking shifts in Moroccan landscape.

You reach Merzouga in the late afternoon. The sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes takes about 45 minutes. The luxury camp is inside the dunes — private tent, en-suite bathroom, hot water, air conditioning. Dinner at the camp, Berber music around the fire, and a sky with no light pollution. Breakfast included.

490 km  ·  approx. 9 hours driving  ·  Overnight: Luxury camp, Erg Chebbi

You wake up at the desert camp and watch the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi before heading west. The camel or 4×4 takes you back to Merzouga and the drive west begins through the pre-Saharan plain toward Todra.

Todra Gorge walls rise to 300 metres and narrow to about 10 metres at the tightest point. Walk the base before 11am for the best light. After Todra the road continues west through the Dades Valley canyon — red rock walls, old kasbahs built into the cliff sides, and the Dades river running through the canyon floor.

You arrive at your hotel in the Dades Valley in the late afternoon. Dinner and breakfast included.

approx. 220 km  ·  approx. 4 hours driving  ·  Overnight: Dades Valley

The final day of the 7-day Morocco tour. You leave the Dades Valley in the morning and head west through the Valley of Roses and into Ouarzazate — the Hollywood of Africa and the film capital of Morocco.

The main stop is the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou — a UNESCO World Heritage site of packed earth Berber towers above a dry riverbed. It appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and dozens of other productions. Your driver-guide leads the full circuit through the ksar. No entry fee required. Allow about one hour.

After Ait Ben Haddou the road climbs north through the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. The panoramic views from the top are the last great scenery of the tour. The road descends into the Haouz plain and you arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon. If you plan to visit Majorelle Garden during your stay, book tickets online in advance.

approx. 320 km  ·  approx. 5 hours driving  ·  End: Marrakech

• ·Small daypack — leave your main bag in the vehicle on night five
• ·Sunscreen SPF 50 minimum — the dunes are stronger than they look
• ·Sunglasses
• ·Light scarf or shemagh — for the camel trek and the sand
• ·Power bank — no charging points inside the tents
• ·One change of clothes for the camp night
• ·Flip flops for inside the tent and the camp area
• ·Small torch or headlamp — the camp is dark at night

This tour covers three different temperature zones — the Atlantic coast, the Sahara desert, and the High Atlas Mountains. Pack for all three.

• ·One warm layer — the Rif Mountains in Chefchaouen, the Middle Atlas near Ifrane, and the desert camp at night are all cooler than you expect, especially October to March
• ·Long sleeve shirt for the dunes on day five
• ·Comfortable walking shoes — the Fes medina, Ait Ben Haddou, and Chefchaouen all involve uneven cobblestones
• ·Sandals or flip flops for the camp and warmer days
• ·Light layers for the Atlantic coast days one and two

• ·Passport or ID — required at every hotel check-in
• ·Cash in Moroccan Dirhams — withdraw at Casablanca airport on arrival. ATMs are limited at the desert camp and between Erfoud and Merzouga
• ·Budget approximately 80 to 120 MAD per person per lunch across all 7 days
• ·Travel insurance details and hotel confirmations
• ·Flight or ferry details for departure from Marrakech

• ·Camera — the Chefchaouen blue alleyways, the Erg Chebbi sunrise on day six, and the Ait Ben Haddou panoramic on day seven are the three best photography moments
• ·Motion sickness tablets — take before day five for the Middle Atlas road south and before day seven for Tizi n’Tichka
• ·Earplugs — desert camp evenings have live music that goes late
• ·Small first aid kit
• ·Reusable water bottle — tap water is not safe to drink in Morocco, bottled water is everywhere but a bottle reduces daily cost

Seven days in Morocco is enough for this specific itinerary. You see the Atlantic coast, two imperial cities, the blue city of Chefchaouen, the Sahara desert, the canyon country, and arrive in Marrakech. What you do not see is everything — Essaouira, Meknes, Tangier, and the deep south all require more time. But for a first trip across Morocco, seven days covers the essential regions without rushing any of them.

The route on this page — Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Dades Valley, Marrakech — is the most complete way to cover Morocco in seven days starting from Casablanca. It moves in one logical direction from north to south, covers the desert and the imperial cities, and ends in Marrakech for easy onward connections.

This private tour picks you up in Casablanca on day one and drops you off in Marrakech on day seven. Everything in between — Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara desert, Todra Gorge, Ait Ben Haddou, and Tizi n’Tichka — is covered in the itinerary with no trains, buses, or separate bookings required.

Six nights across six different settings — Rabat, Chefchaouen, two nights in Fes, the Erg Chebbi desert camp, and the Dades Valley. Three tiers available — standard, mid-range, and premium. All include breakfast. Dinner is included at the desert camp and the Dades Valley only.

Yes. Common additions include a morning at the ruins of Volubilis on the day five drive south, an extra night in Fes, or a night in Ouarzazate on day seven before Ait Ben Haddou. Tell us what you want when you enquire and we will build the itinerary around your group and travel dates.

Contact us on WhatsApp or fill in the enquiry form on this page. We confirm availability and send full pricing for your group size within a few hours. A small deposit secures your dates.

This route covers the best of Morocco in one week — Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara desert at Merzouga, Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou, and Marrakech. It moves in one logical direction from north to south with no repeated roads and no wasted days.

Fes and Marrakech are the two cities that deserve the most time — both have medinas that take a full day to explore properly with a guide. Chefchaouen is worth one night and a morning. Rabat is good for an afternoon. Casablanca is the starting point — the Hassan II Mosque is worth two hours but the city itself does not need more than a morning.

Casablanca deserves half a day — the Hassan II Mosque and the corniche cover the main highlights. Fes deserves two days minimum. Marrakech deserves at least two days — one for the medina and souks, one for Majorelle Garden and a hammam. On this 7-day itinerary, Fes gets two nights and a full guided tour on day four, which is the right allocation for a first visit.

The route on this page — Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga desert, Dades Valley, Marrakech — is the most complete way to cover Morocco in seven days starting from Casablanca. It moves south in one direction, covers the north, the Sahara, and the south, and ends in Marrakech for easy onward connections. The only long drive is day five from Fes to Merzouga at 490 km and 9 hours.

On this private tour, all transport is included — one vehicle and one driver-guide for all seven days. You do not need to book trains, buses, or taxis separately. For travellers organising independently, trains connect Casablanca, Rabat, and Fes efficiently, but the desert route from Fes to Merzouga and the canyon country have no train or reliable bus connections and require a private vehicle or shared tour.

A private guided tour is the most practical option. The desert section — from Fes through Ifrane, the Ziz Valley, and into Merzouga — is 490 km of road with no viable public transport. Shared desert tours exist but run on fixed schedules. A private vehicle gives you the flexibility to stop at the cedar forest, the Ziz Valley oasis, and Rissani on the way south without being tied to a group schedule.

Several of the best stops on this route cost very little or nothing. Walking the Chefchaouen medina is free. The Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat are free to walk around. Ait Ben Haddou has no entry fee. The Fes medina is free to walk — the licensed local guide included on day four is the cost. Todra Gorge has no entry fee. The main paid entry is the Hassan II Mosque interior tour in Casablanca (approximately 120 MAD). Budget 80 to 120 MAD per person per lunch across all seven days.