Morocco 7-Day Itinerary: Marrakech, the High Atlas, the Sahara & Fes
One country, four Moroccos.
The imperial-city bustle of Marrakech brings Jemaa el-Fna, palaces and souks; the High Atlas and the ksour along the old caravan road bring Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Benhaddou and the gorges; the Sahara at Erg Chebbi brings a camel trek and a night in the dunes; and the medieval medina of Fes closes the route.
Best time: spring from March–May and autumn from September–November are the sweet spots. The desert is punishing in high summer, while the Atlas passes are cold and can receive snow in winter.
- Fly into Marrakech (RAK) and out of Fes (FEZ) to avoid backtracking.
- Reach the Sahara on a multi-day 4x4 or minibus tour following Marrakech → Aït Benhaddou → the gorges → Merzouga → Fes; book the tour rather than self-driving the long desert legs.
- Carry cash because many entries and rural stops are cash-only, plus a scarf for sun and dust.
- The Tizi n'Tichka pass and the roads to the Sahara are long, winding drives with steep switchbacks and few barriers.
- Go with an experienced driver, break the day into stages, and take motion-sickness precautions if you are prone to it.
Where to Stay
Use city riads around the tour-supplied mountain and desert nights
Where to Stay
Use city riads around the tour-supplied mountain and desert nights
Marrakech medina
Choose a riad in the medina for the first three nights.
Gorge-side and desert-camp nights
The multi-day desert tour supplies the gorge-side overnight and the night in the Erg Chebbi camp.
Fes el-Bali
Finish in a riad within or beside the old medina.
Official links & permits
Use official tourism, garden, museum and UNESCO pages for current visitor information
Official links & permits
Use official tourism, garden, museum and UNESCO pages for current visitor information
Morocco visitor planning
Start with the national tourism office and the official Marrakech garden and museum sites.
UNESCO World Heritage
Check the official UNESCO listings for the ksar and the two medinas.
Budget Snapshot
Getting Around
7-Day Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1: Arrive Marrakech — Jemaa el-Fna & Koutoubia
Marrakech Menara (RAK) → medina riad — arrival, the central square and Koutoubia gardens
Arrive at Marrakech Menara (RAK) & transfer to your riad
Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport and transfer to the riad. Keep the first part of the day flexible before entering the medina.
The Jemaa el-Fna square at dusk
Experience the free public square as food stalls, musicians and storytellers gather at dusk. The open square is not a ticketed site.
The Koutoubia Mosque & its gardens
Admire the minaret and walk the public gardens from outside. The mosque itself is closed to non-Muslims, so no activity ticket is attached.
Day 2: Marrakech — palaces & the souks
Base: Marrakech medina — ticketed palace and madrasa visits followed by the souks
The Bahia Palace
Visit the ticketed 19th-century palace for its courtyards and painted ceilings. Entry is paid on site.
The Ben Youssef Madrasa
Explore the ticketed restored Quranic college, where carved cedar, stucco and zellij frame the courtyard.
The souks of the medina
Wander the spice, leather and metal souks. The lanes are free to explore, bargaining is expected and there is no online ticket.
Day 3: Marrakech — gardens & tombs
Base: Marrakech — timed garden entry, the royal tombs and a quiet evening before the desert route
The Jardin Majorelle
Visit the ticketed botanical garden and cobalt villa. Book ahead because it is busy; the timed-entry YSL and Berber museums are separate paid tickets.
The Saadian Tombs
See the ticketed 16th-century royal necropolis beside the Kasbah Mosque. Entry is paid on site.
A hammam and rest before the desert tour
Leave the remainder of the day flexible for a hammam and rest before the multi-day mountain and desert route.
Day 4: Over the Atlas — Tizi n'Tichka & Aït Benhaddou
Marrakech → High Atlas → Aït Benhaddou → gorge-side overnight
Drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass
Settle in for a long, winding mountain drive, roughly half a day as the road climbs and switchbacks over the High Atlas. Expect a slow, scenic haul with photo stops.
The ksar of Aït Benhaddou
Cross on foot into the UNESCO-listed fortified earthen village on the old caravan route. There is no official ticket gate — access to the ksar is free, with only small informal crossing, kasbah or restoration-museum fees paid on site at this famous film location.
On to Ouarzazate & a gorge-side overnight
Continue with the organised desert route through Ouarzazate to the tour's gorge-side overnight.
Day 5: Todra gorge & into the Sahara
Gorge-side base → Todra gorge → Erg Chebbi — long transfer, camel trek and desert camp
The Todra gorge
Take a short guided walk between the towering canyon walls during the organised Dades and Todra gorges leg before the drive east.
A camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
Reach the Sahara on the organised multi-day 4x4 or minibus tour from Marrakech, then follow the guided camel trek over the dunes to camp. Go with the operator rather than alone. Travelling with very young children or anyone who can't ride? Most camps offer a 4x4 transfer straight to the camp instead of the camel trek.
A night at a desert camp under the stars
Stay in the camp included in the desert tour. Nights in the dunes are cold, so pack a warm layer; lodging is carried only by the day-level hotel tag.
Day 6: The long drive to Fes
Erg Chebbi / Merzouga → Fes — the route's longest transfer and a medina arrival
Sunrise over the dunes, then the long drive north to Fes
This is the longest transfer of the trip, a full day on the road from the Sahara to Fes. Break it into stages and do not plan much else.
Arrive in the Fes el-Bali medina
Enter the walled old city and take in the dense medina from a free viewpoint on the surrounding hills.
Settle into a riad & dinner in the medina
Settle into the Fes riad and keep dinner close after the full-day transfer.
Day 7: Fes el-Bali & departure
Fes el-Bali → Fès–Saïss (FEZ) — madrasa, tannery lanes and departure
The Bou Inania Madrasa
Visit the ticketed 14th-century Marinid college, one of the few religious monuments in Fes open to non-Muslims. A small entry fee is paid on site.
The Chouara tannery & the medina lanes
View the tannery for free from the surrounding leather-shop terraces, then continue through the medina lanes. Fes el-Bali is easy to get lost in, so a licensed guide helps.
Transfer to Fès–Saïss airport & departure
Transfer to Fès–Saïss Airport for departure, completing the open-jaw route without backtracking to Marrakech.
Marrakech through the High Atlas and Sahara to Fes
Seven master-image anchors trace the route from Marrakech over the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou, through the Todra gorge and Erg Chebbi dunes, and north to Fes.
- 1
Jemaa el-Fna
Arrival evening in the heart of Marrakech
- 2
Bahia Palace
Marrakech palaces and souks
- 3
Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech gardens and tombs
- 4
Aït Benhaddou
High Atlas pass and the old caravan-road ksar
- 5
Erg Chebbi
Camel trek into the dunes and desert-camp night
- 6
Fes el-Bali
Arrival in the walled medina after the long drive north
- 7
Bou Inania Madrasa
Fes medina monuments and lanes
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Morocco?
About a week lets you pair Marrakech with a multi-day loop to the Sahara and finish in Fes.
Which airports do I fly into and out of?
Fly into Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) and out of Fès–Saïss Airport (FEZ) so you do not backtrack.
How do you get to the Sahara?
Use an organised multi-day 4x4 or minibus tour from Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou and the gorges to Merzouga. The desert legs are long.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring from March–May and autumn from September–November fit this route best. Summer is very hot in the desert and winter is cold in the Atlas.
Are the palaces and madrasas ticketed?
Yes. The Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Saadian Tombs, Jardin Majorelle and Bou Inania Madrasa all charge a modest entry fee, usually cash on site.
Can non-Muslims enter the mosques?
Generally no. The Koutoubia and Al-Qarawiyyin mosques are admired from outside; the Bou Inania Madrasa is one of the few religious monuments open to visitors.
Do I need a guide in the medinas?
A licensed guide is worth it in Fes el-Bali especially because the old city is a genuine maze and faux-guides are common.
Is the camel trek hard?
No. It is a short, guided walking-pace ride over the dunes to the camp. Mind the footing in soft sand and bring a warm layer for the cold night.
Is this trip suitable for families with young children or toddlers?
It works best for older, school-age kids who tolerate long car days; the toughest parts for little ones are the long desert transfers and the camel trek. Many camps set a practical minimum age of around 5–6 for riding a camel and won't let toddlers ride solo, so confirm the policy with your camp. Most Erg Chebbi camps offer a 4x4 transfer straight to the camp instead of the camel trek, so young children still reach the dunes and overnight. Car seats aren't standard in Morocco, so bring your own if needed, and a private driver who can break up the drive makes the desert legs far easier with small kids.
What should I pack for the desert?
Bring sun protection and plenty of water for the day, plus a warm layer for cold desert nights and the high Atlas passes.
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