A week is enough to do the southern desert circuit properly — Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka to Ouarzazate, the kasbah road, the gorges and a night in the Sahara — or to trace the imperial cities of the north instead. Here are two proven 7-day routes and how to choose between them.
In this guide
Option A — Marrakech & the Sahara (south)
The classic first-timer's week, built around the door of the desert: the Red City, a crossing of the High Atlas to Ouarzazate, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the gorges, and a night under the stars in the dunes. Driving days are real but rewarding, and best done with a private driver who knows which kasbah and which oasis is worth the stop.
- Days 1–2: Marrakech — medina, gardens, a hammam and a rooftop sunset.
- 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 and departure from Marrakech (RAK).
Option B — Imperial cities & the blue city (north)
A culture-first week with shorter drives: 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 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 train south.
How to choose
Pick the south (Option A) if the Sahara is your dream and you don't mind longer drives. Pick the north (Option B) for history, shorter transfers and cooler summers. Either can start or end in a different city — we build open-jaw routings (in to Casablanca, out of Marrakech, say) all the time.
Frequently asked
Is 7 days enough for Morocco?
Yes — a week comfortably covers either Marrakech plus the Sahara, or the northern imperial cities plus Chefchaouen. Trying to combine both in seven days means too much driving; 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 (via Aït Ben Haddou and the gorges to Merzouga and back) leaves three to four days for the city and the Atlas foothills.
How much driving is a 7-day Morocco trip?
The southern desert week involves two longer driving days (5–8 hours) over the Atlas and back; the northern cities week keeps transfers mostly under three hours. A private driver makes both relaxed rather than tiring.
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Itineraries
Morocco Itinerary: 10 Days
Ten days is the sweet spot for Morocco — long enough to give the southern desert circuit through Ouarzazate the time it deserves, then loop up to the imperial north, with the Atlantic coast as an optional finish.
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best all-round windows for Morocco, and especially for the southern desert circuit around Ouarzazate — warm days over the kasbah road, cool nights in the Drâa and Dadès valleys, and dune light at its richest before the summer furnace arrives.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
Morocco has good trains between the northern cities, comfortable intercity buses — and for the south, where the railway never reaches, private drivers. Ouarzazate, the gorges and the Sahara sit well beyond the rail map, so the kasbah road is a driver's-and-bus country. The right mix depends on your route and pace.