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- Morocco 7-Day Itinerary from Marrakech, with Merzouga and Fes
Morocco 7-Day Itinerary from Marrakech, with Merzouga and Fes
This Morocco 7-day itinerary starts and ends in Marrakech and covers the south and the north in one loop. You go out through the gorges to two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes, north over the Middle Atlas to two nights in Fes with a guided day in the medina, and back to Marrakech by Beni Mellal.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Morocco 7-day itinerary at a glance
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Marrakech · Aït Benhaddou · Dades · Todra · Merzouga · Midelt · Ifrane · Fes · Beni Mellal · Marrakech
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
One week in Morocco, from Marrakech and back
If you fly in and out of Marrakech but want to see the desert and Fes as well, the loop fits. You cross the High Atlas to the gorges, spend two nights at Erg Chebbi, then go north over the Middle Atlas to Fes for two nights, with a full day there and a local guide.
The last day is a long drive back to Marrakech along the edge of the mountains. If you prefer, finish in Fes and take the train or a flight from there.
Highlights
- The ksar of Aït Benhaddou
- The Dades and Todra gorges
- Two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- The cedar forest around Azrou on the way to Fes
- A guided day in the medina of Fes
Day-by-day itinerary
How the seven days go, from your pickup in Marrakech to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Marrakech to Ouarzazate
Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and down to Aït Benhaddou, then on to Ouarzazate.
- Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate
Day 2 · Ouarzazate to the Todra Gorge
Through the Skoura oasis and the valley of the kasbahs to the Dades Gorge, then on to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge.
- Overnight: Hotel near the Todra Gorge
Day 3 · Todra to Merzouga
A morning walk in the gorge, then east through Erfoud to Merzouga and a camel ride to camp.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 4 · A day in Erg Chebbi
Time in the dunes and around Merzouga: Khamlia village, the Rissani market or simply resting at camp.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 5 · Merzouga to Fes
North through the Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar forest near Azrou, past Ifrane to Fes.
- Overnight: Riad in Fes
Day 6 · A day in Fes
A full day in Fes el-Bali with a local guide: the madrasas, the tanneries and the craft quarters.
- Overnight: Riad in Fes
Day 7 · Fes back to Marrakech
A long drive south-west along the Middle Atlas through Beni Mellal to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the seven days
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- One night: hotel in Ouarzazate, dinner and breakfast
- One night: hotel near the Todra Gorge, dinner and breakfast
- Two nights: desert camp in Erg Chebbi, dinner and breakfast
- Two nights: riad in Fes, dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride in the dunes
- Local guide for the day in Fes
- Fuel and road costs
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
We pick you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech at the time you choose. If your riad is in a lane cars cannot enter, the driver waits at the nearest square or gate and someone from the riad walks you there.
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable time. Days are warm and nights cool, and in December and January the desert can drop close to freezing at night. From June to August the afternoons are very hot, so we start early and rest in the middle of the day.
What to bring
Layers, with a warm jacket for the desert night from November to March; a hat, sunglasses and sun cream; a scarf against wind and sand; shoes you can walk in on sand; a head torch; a small bag for the camp night, since your main luggage stays in the vehicle; cash in dirhams for drinks and tips; a power bank.
Good to know
Carry cash in dirhams: camps and small villages rarely take cards, and the last cash machines are in towns such as Ouarzazate, Zagora and Erfoud. Phone signal is often weak in the dunes. Camps have toilets and showers, shared at standard camps and private at luxury ones. Keep cameras and phones in a bag when the wind lifts the sand, and ask before you photograph people in the villages. Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle overnight.
Price, deposit and cancellation
Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.
Questions about the Morocco 7-day itinerary
Is one week enough for Morocco?
A week is enough for Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes if you accept some long driving days. With ten days or more you can add Chefchaouen and the north: see our 11-day imperial cities and Sahara itinerary.
Can the week end in Fes?
Yes. Ending in Fes saves the last long drive, and Fes has an airport with flights to Europe.
Can the tour end in Fes?
Yes. Many travellers finish in Fes after the guided day and take the train or a flight from there.
What is the desert camp like?
You sleep in a tent at a camp in the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Camps range from simple to comfortable tents with a private bathroom; tell us the level you want and we suggest camps that fit.
Can we change the route or the hotels?
Yes. We can add nights, change hotels or swap the order of the stops, since only your group is on the tour. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and stays adjusted to you
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