Check out this proposed one-week travel itinerary for Morocco, featuring Marrakesh, the beautiful Atlas Mountains, and an adventure in the Sahara Desert.
Why Travel To Morocco
- Stunning landscapes
- Ancient historical cities
- Exquisite architecture
- Sahara Desert adventures
- Colorful markets
- Distinctive culture
- Delicious cuisine
Morocco Itinerary Map
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| A:Marrakesh B:Imlil D:Aït Benhaddou E:Todgha Gorges F:Erg Chebbi |
Morocco Travel Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Marrakesh
- Day 2: Explore Marrakesh
- Day 3: Day hike in the Atlas Mountains
- Day 4: Explore Marrakesh
- Day 5-7: 3-Day Sahara Desert tour
- Day 8: Depart
If you've got a day or two more then consider also visiting the coastal town Essaouira, which is about three hour drive from Marrakesh.
Best Time To Visit Morocco
The best time to visit Morocco is during the shoulder season March-May or September-November, when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists.
Morocco Itinerary Top Experiences
- Exotic and fascinating souks of Marrakesh
- Exquisite Moroccan architecture and design
- Spectacular Sahara Desert
- Magnificent Todgha Gorges
- Delicious Moroccan mint tea & Tagine
- Staying in traditional Moroccan riad (boutique hotel)
Day 1: Arrive In Marrakesh
Upon arrival in Marrakesh, take is easy and relax in your lovely riad while drinking some delicious Moroccan mint tea. If you had a long journey then try to recover from jetlag in order to be fully prepared for your adventures tomorrow. Marrakesh is the fourth largest city and one of the imperial cities of Morocco. It is located near the foothills of the Atlas mountains. It also provides access to your Sahara Desert adventures.
Best area to stay in Marrakesh: Medina is one of the best areas to stay in Marrakesh as a first time visitor. Some of the city’s most popular historic attractions are located here. The neighborhood if full of restaurants, cafes, riads and souks (markets).
Day 2: Explore Marrakesh
- Start your day visiting the fascinating Saadian Tombs. The complex was built around 16th century and is considered one of the finest Moroccan architecture. It is a resting place for many members of the Saadian Dynasty. After the tombs, visit the beautifully decorated Bahia Palace built in 19the century.
- After a nice lunch visit Dar Si Said Museum. Housed in a 19th century building, the museum showcases extensive collection of Moroccan carpets, weavings, ceramics, etc. from all corners of the country.
- After visiting the museum make your way to the Koutoubia Mosque to admire the stunning Moroccan mosque architecture. The 12th century mosque is built from red sandstone and has a minaret tower that stands 77 meters tall.
- End your afternoon with a refreshing drink at the renowned La Moumunia Hotel, which is very close to the Koutoubia Mosque. The hotel is considered one of the top hotels in the world. Make sure to stroll through the stunning gardens at the property.
- Spend your evening at the vibrant Jemaa el-Fnaa which is Marrakesh’s main square. As night falls, the lively morning shopping stalls make way for delicious food vendors. Indulge in a flavorful Moroccan Tagine for dinner while soaking in the lively atmosphere. At the square also enjoy various live shows including Moroccan musicians playing traditional music.
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| Saadian Tombs (Marrakesh) (Above Image by C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons) |
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| Bahia Palace (Marrakesh) (Above image by Val Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons) |
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| Dar Si Said Musuem (Marrakesh) |
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| Dar Si Said Museum (Marrakesh) (Above image by Robert Prazeres - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90950634) |
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| Koutoubia Mosque (Marrakesh) |
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| Garden at La Moumunia Hotel (Marrakesh) |
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| Jemaa el-Fnaa Square (Marrakesh) |
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Day 3: Day hike in the Atlas Mountains
Sign up for a guided Atlas Mountains Day Hike from Marrakesh. Register for this tour few days in advance.
As part of the tour, we visited Imlil which is a small village in the High Atlas Mountains, 1800 meters above the sea level. Imlil is very close to the Toubkal mountains which is the highest peak in Northern Africa. The trip will make you appreciate Morocco’s breathtaking landscapes and you'll also catch a glimpse into local Berber life.
Below is the summary of my day trip to the Imlil Valley (please keep in mind that different tour operators might have a slightly different itinerary for Atlas Mountains day hike):
- We started our journey from Marrakesh with a scenic drive to the lovely Imlil village. From there, we enjoyed a beautiful hike to Aroumd, taking in the stunning mountain and river views. After reaching Aroumd, we took a break while relaxing with some delicious Moroccan mint tea, and admiring the magnificent views of the Toubkal mountains.
- Our adventure continued as we trekked to the beautiful waterfalls, and eventually made our way to the lovely Kasbah du Toubkal, a charming property in a scenic location. Our final destination was Hotel Le Village du Toubkal, where we enjoyed a delicious Moroccan Tagine.
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| High Atlas Mountains |
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| Armoud Berber Village |
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| Toubkal Mountains in Armoud |
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| Altas Mountains |
Day 4: Explore Marrakesh
- Begin your day by exploring the charming Jardin Majorelle, a two-acre property featuring a magnificent botanical garden and beautifully designed landscaped garden. The garden has a fantastic collection of cacti. It also houses a Berber Museum exhibiting fascinating artifacts of Amazigh (Berber) culture.
- Then visit Ben Youssef Madrasa which is an Islamic madrasa (college) commissioned in the 16th century. At one point Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college in the western Africa. Enjoy and appreciate one of the best examples of Moroccan architecture and designs. The calligraphy along the walls is spectacular and the student cells are very interesting.
- After a nice lunch visit Marrakesh Museum which is housed in a historic palace. The museum collection consists of historic art objects and contemporary art from Morocco. The museum has a spectacular courtyard with impressive brass chandelier.
- From the museum walk to the Marrakech House of Photography which is nearby. This incredible place houses over 10,000 vintage photographs dating back from 1870 to 1950. Once you've enjoyed the captivating photo collection, make your way up to the rooftop café of the building. Here at the rooftop café, you can savor a refreshing drink while admiring the breathtaking views of the city.
- Spend you late afternoon exploring the souks (markets) for unforgettable sensory experience. At the souks you'll find wide range of items like local spices, textiles, jewelry, leather goods, etc.
- End you evening with dinner again at the Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
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| Jardin Majorelle (Marrakesh) |
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| Ben Youssef Madrasa (Marrakesh) |
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| Marrakesh Museum |
Day 5-7: Sahara Desert Tour (3-days, 2-nights) from Marrakesh
Sign up for a small-group guided 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakesh. Sign up for this tour a few days in advance.
The Sahara is a desert spanning across North Africa. With an area of 9,200,000 square km, it is the largest hot desert in the world.
Here is the summary of my 3-day Sahara Desert tour from Marrakesh (please keep in mind that different tour operators might have a slightly different itinerary for the Sahara Desert tour):
Day 1
- Our 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Sahara Desert began early in the day after breakfast. We left Marrakech early and drove to Aït Benhaddou via the scenic Tizi N’tichka pass along the High Atlas Mountains. A few stops were made along the way.
- Aït Benhaddou is a historic fortified village along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987. Aït Benhaddou has served as a backdrop in various Hollywood blockbusters. We walked around Aït Benhaddou village and also visited a Berber house.
- After lunch in Aït Benhaddou, our scenic journey continued. We drove past Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses. In late afternoon we reached our hotel in the Dades Valley just before sunset. We had dinner at the hotel where we spent the night.
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| Aït Benhaddou |
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| Valley of Roses |
Day 2
- After a nice breakfast at our accommodation in the Dades Valley, we continued our journey. We stopped at the village of Imiter. Here we walked around to see another Berber village and also saw the Berber rug making process.
- Then we drove through the road of 1000 Kasbahs to the oasis of Tinghir, where we took a small road that crosses the river to the spectacular Todgha Gorges. The Todgha Gorges are a series of limestone river canyons. The height of the canyon walls can vary, but in some places it can be up to 400 meters high.
- After lunch at a local restaurant, we continued our trip to reach Risani, which is famous for its dates markets. After a quick stop, we continued to Merzouga driving through a rocky desert landscape. Upon arrival at the edge of Erg Chebbi dunes, we stopped at a hotel where dropped our belongings to prepare for our overnight Sahara Desert trip. From here we rode on the camels traveling through the amazing sand dunes till we reached our Sahara Desert camp. The camping facilities in desert were very basic.
- Once we arrived at our desert camp, we were treated to a delicious Moroccan dinner prepared by the friendly nomad hosts. It was truly a memorable experience to enjoy a delicious meal under the twinkling stars, next to the warm campfire. Following dinner, the local nomad hosts also entertained us with some traditional Moroccan music, creating a lively atmosphere. We also had the opportunity to try sand-surfing, which was lot of fun!
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| Berber Rug Making |
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| Todgha Gorges |
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| Sahara Desert Camel Ride |
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| Sahara Desert |
Day 3
- After waking up in the morning, we rode our camels back to the hotel where we had dropped our belongings. The view of the desert sand dunes with the sunrise in the background was absolutely stunning. After a quick shower and breakfast at the hotel, we drove back to Marrakesh through the Draa Valley and the High Atlas Mountains. We reached Marrakesh in evening just around dinner time.
Day 8: Depart
This being your last day in Marrakesh, spend your time doing last minute shopping in the souks of Marrakesh. Then depart to your destination from Marrakesh.
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| Marrakesh Souk |
What to Shop In Morocco
Morocco is known for Argan Oil, leather footwear, Berber rugs, spices, ceramics, tea sets, and lanterns.
Safety
Overall Morocco is safe for travel. But like anywhere else in the world, crime and scams do happen. You should exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Please research online some of the most common scams in Morocco. I got scammed by a taxi driver in Marrakesh. Please always confirm the price of your taxi before you get in.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this itinerary! Feel free to share your questions or suggestions in the comments section below.
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