Destinations & ItinerariesBy Clever Tourists · Published
With 7 days in Morocco, fly into Marrakech and do Marrakech plus the Sahara: 2 nights in Marrakech, 1 in Ouarzazate, 1 in the dunes at Erg Chigaga via Zagora and Tamgroute, 1 more in Ouarzazate, and 2 back in Marrakech. This is our suggested cut of the 24-day route we took in 2022, built from its southern half. It means two long driving days, so if you would rather not, the alternatives below swap the desert for Essaouira or for Fes and Chefchaouen.
• Days 1–2, Marrakech: the medina, Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk, the Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, Jardin Majorelle early on day 2.
• Day 3, over the High Atlas to Ouarzazate: about 200 km and 4 to 5 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with Aït Benhaddou in the afternoon.
• Day 4, Draa Valley to Erg Chigaga: Agdz and the palm groves, Zagora, Tamgroute's pottery, M'Hamid, then 4x4 into the dunes for sunset. A night in a desert camp.
• Day 5, back to Ouarzazate: sunrise on the dunes, then the piste and the road north.
• Days 6–7, Marrakech: back over the mountains, then a last full day for the souks and a hammam before flying out.
On our own trip we stayed two nights at Erg Chigaga and five in Marrakech at the end. In a week you have to choose, and one night in the dunes is the minimum that still shows you the desert at both sunset and sunrise.
Stay in a riad inside the medina so the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa are a walk away. Spend the first afternoon finding your way around the square, the Koutoubia and the covered souks, and come back to Jemaa el-Fnaa after dark when the food stalls fire up.
On day 2, be at Jardin Majorelle at opening, then the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Our Marrakech and the Sahara guide covers each one. Before you start bargaining, read our souk haggling guide and Morocco scams guide.
Day 3: the N9 climbs over the Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m), about 200 km and 4 to 5 hours to Ouarzazate. Stop at Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar, in the late afternoon light, and sleep in Ouarzazate or near the ksar.
Day 4: the longest day. About 165 km and 3 to 3.5 hours south through the Draa Valley to Zagora (Ksar Tissergate is just outside town), then 18 km to Tamgroute for 20 to 30 minutes at the green-pottery workshops and the Koranic library. See our Tamgroute guide. The asphalt ends at M'Hamid; from there it is 1.5 to 2.5 hours of 4x4 piste to the camp. This is the same day we did on our longer trip, Ouarzazate to the dunes.
Day 5: climb a dune for sunrise, then head back to Ouarzazate. The usual return is west across the dry Lac Iriqui to Foum Zguid and up the paved road, a long day either way.
You need a 4x4 with a driver for the piste. Most people book the three days as a private tour from Marrakech; get a written quote that says whether the 4x4 leg, dinner, breakfast and the camel ride are included. Our Erg Chigaga vs Merzouga guide compares the two deserts, and our driver tipping guide covers the tip at the end.
The drive back over the Tichka takes most of day 6. Use the last day for whatever you missed: the tanneries and Mellah, a hammam, a cooking class, or a last round of the souks. Our Morocco tipping guide covers riad staff and guides.
If you fly out early on day 7, sleep near Gueliz rather than deep in the medina, since taxis cannot reach most riad doors.
Skip the long drives: replace days 3 to 5 with Essaouira, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Marrakech by CTM or Supratours bus. The sea wind keeps it near 22 to 25°C in summer, when Marrakech is far hotter. Our Essaouira guide covers the ramparts and the port.
Arriving from Spain: do the north instead. Ferry from Tarifa to Tangier (about an hour), 1 night in Tangier, 2 in Chefchaouen (CTM bus about 2.5 hours), and 3 in Fes (bus about 4 to 4.5 hours), the same order we followed. See our Tarifa to Tangier ferry guide, 2 days in Chefchaouen and our Fes guide.
Season: the desert is most comfortable from October to April; we went in mid-September, when the Draa Valley still averages highs around 36 to 37°C. Ramadan 2027 is expected from about 8 February to 9 March; see Morocco during Ramadan 2027. The full route is in our 24-day Morocco itinerary.
It is enough for Marrakech and one desert trip, or for the north (Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes). It is not enough for both without spending most of the week in transit.
Yes. From Marrakech, allow 3 days and 2 nights minimum. This plan uses 3 days: Ouarzazate, a night at Erg Chigaga via Zagora and Tamgroute, and back to Ouarzazate.
About 200 km on the N9 over the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m. Allow 4 to 5 hours with stops.
Not in a normal rental car. The asphalt ends at M'Hamid and the last 1.5 to 2.5 hours are unmarked 4x4 piste, so you need a 4x4 and a driver who knows the route.
The desert if you can face two long driving days; Essaouira, about 2.5 to 3 hours by bus from Marrakech, if you want a cooler, slower week on the coast.
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