Morocco Itinerary 7 Days: The Best Sahara Desert Tour

Welcome to North Africa! Upon landing at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, your private English-speaking driver-guide will warmly welcome you at the arrivals terminal. Your Morocco itinerary 7 days officially begins as you transfer into the city in a modern, climate-controlled vehicle.

Depending on your flight schedule, the standout highlight of the day is a comprehensive visit to the world-famous Hassan II Mosque. Completed in 1993, this architectural masterpiece sits dramatically on a rocky outcrop projecting over the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring a 210-meter minaret—equipped with a laser pointed toward Mecca—the mosque is one of the largest on Earth and one of the rare active places of Islamic worship in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors.

Inside, marvel at hand-carved cedarwood ceilings, intricate zellij tilework, massive Murano glass chandeliers, and heated marble floors. After exploring the mosque exterior and oceanfront promenade (The Corniche), head to your boutique city hotel to unwind and relax after your flight.

• Driving Distance: ~35 km from CMN Airport to City Center (~45 mins)
• Overnight Stay: Boutique Hotel in Casablanca (e.g., Le Doge Hotel & Spa or Radisson Blu)
• Included Meals: Welcome Refreshments

After a hearty Moroccan breakfast, depart Casablanca and drive 1 hour north along the Atlantic coastline to Rabat, the elegant political capital of Morocco and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

In Rabat, your Morocco 7 day tour takes you to explore key landmark monuments:

• Kasbah of the Udayas: A 12th-century fortress featuring whitewashed residential houses, cobalt accents, and Andalusian gardens overlooking the Bou Regreg river mouth.
• Hassan Tower & Royal Mausoleum: The iconic unfinished 12th-century minaret flanked by 200 red sandstone columns, along with the marble tomb of King Mohammed V guarded by Royal Horse Guards.

From Rabat, head inland toward the spectacular Rif Mountains. As the landscape transitions from flat coastal plains to dramatic rolling green peaks, you will arrive at the enchanting mountain town of Chefchaouen (The Blue Pearl) by late afternoon. Check into your cozy Medina Riad and spend your evening wandering the dreamlike powder-blue alleyways, photographing the famous colorful flowerpots, and enjoying a sunset tagine on a rooftop terrace overlooking Place Outa el-Hammam.

• Driving Distance: ~340 km (~4 hours 45 mins total driving time)
• Overnight Stay: Authentic Blue Medina Riad (e.g., Riad Cherifa or Lina Ryad & Spa)
• Included Meals: Breakfast

Wake up early to catch the gentle morning light illuminating Chefchaouen’s cobbled streets. Take a short 20-minute walk up to the historic Spanish Mosque on the eastern hill for a breathtaking panoramic view across the entire blue valley.

Mid-morning, bid farewell to the Rif Mountains as your 7 day itinerary Morocco progresses south toward the ancient agricultural fertile plains of Saiss. Your first major stop is the archaeological site of Volubilis, Morocco’s premier Roman ruin dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Take a guided walking tour among ancient olive presses, triumphal arches, public baths, and remarkably preserved floor mosaics depicting Hercules, Diana, and Bacchus.

Just a few minutes further lies Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the hilltop holy town where the great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad founded the country’s first Islamic dynasty in 789 CE. Enjoy lunch with views over the whitewashed buildings before taking a short scenic drive past the imperial gates of Meknes (Bab Mansour) on your way to Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Check into your luxury medina riad for a relaxing evening.

• Driving Distance: ~210 km (~3 hours 30 mins)
• Overnight Stay: Traditional Moroccan Palace Riad (e.g., Riad Fes or Karawan Riad)
• Included Meals: Breakfast

Today is fully dedicated to immersing yourself in Fes el-Bali (Old Fes), the world’s largest car-free urban area containing over 9,000 narrow winding alleyways. After breakfast, meet your expert local licensed city guide in your riad lobby to begin an unforgettable step back in time.

Key stops during your guided urban expedition include:

• Al-Qarawiyyin University & Mosque: Founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 CE, recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating higher education institution in the world.
• Chouara Tanneries: Climb to the surrounding leather terrace shops to witness craftsmen treating hides in giant stone vats filled with natural dyes using medieval techniques unchanged for 800 years.
• Bou Inania & Al-Attarine Madrasas: Masterpieces of Marinid architecture featuring carved stucco, cedarwood fretwork, and intricate geometric zellij tile patterns.
• Royal Palace Golden Gates (Dar al-Makhzen) & The Jewish Quarter (Mellah): Admire the exquisite brass-worked doors and distinctive wooden balconies of Fes’s historic Jewish neighborhood.

After a traditional lunch in a converted medina palace, visit an artisan ceramic cooperative to see how Fes’s signature cobalt-blue pottery and mosaic tiles are handcrafted. Conclude the day with a panoramic sunset view over the medina rooftops from the historic Marinid Tombs.

• Walking Duration: ~5 to 6 hours of guided medina exploration
• Overnight Stay: Same Riad in Fes
• Included Meals: Breakfast

Prepare for one of the most thrilling and visually dramatic days of your 7 day Morocco itinerary. Depart Fes early in the morning, climbing upwards into the alpine Middle Atlas Mountains. Your first pause is at Ifrane, affectionately dubbed “The Switzerland of Morocco” due to its sloped red-roof chalets, pristine parklands, and winter snowfalls.

Continue through the ancient Azrou Cedar Forest, where you can observe native Barbary macaque monkeys swinging in the trees. Ascend further over the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Talghamt pass, descending into the apple country of Midelt for lunch.

In the afternoon, follow the majestic Ziz River Valley, where millions of emerald date palms fill a vast red canyon floor stretching into the horizon. Pass Erfoud—famous for ancient marine fossils—and arrive by late afternoon at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga.

Swap your vehicle for a camel trek across the undulating golden sands timed perfectly for sunset (or opt for a private 4×4 transfer). Arrive at your luxury desert camp, where private canvas tents feature king-sized beds, hardwood floors, and hot en-suite showers. Enjoy a gourmet Moroccan dinner under a canopy of millions of stars, accompanied by traditional Sahrawi drumming and Berber folk songs around a roaring campfire.

• Driving Distance: ~460 km (~7 hours scenic drive with multiple stops)
• Overnight Stay: Luxury Sahara Desert Camp (e.g., Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp)
• Included Meals: Breakfast & Gourmet Desert Dinner

Wake up early to witness a breathtaking Saharan sunrise cast golden light across the sea of dunes. After a fresh breakfast at the camp, ride your camel back to the base hotel (or 4×4) and rejoin your driver to continue your Morocco itinerary one week road trip moving west toward the Southern Kasbah trail.

Your first major exploration today is the dramatic Todra Gorge near Tinghir. Walk along the crystal-clear riverbed framed by sheer limestone canyon walls soaring 300 meters (1,000 feet) above. This gorge is a paradise for rock climbers and nature photography lovers.

Continue driving through the Dades Valley, famous for its winding mountain hairpin turns (Tisdrine Pass) and bizarre red-rock formations known locally as the “Monkey Fingers.” Pass through Kelaat M’Gouna—the heart of the Valley of the Roses, where thousands of tons of damask roses are harvested annually for artisanal perfumes—and arrive by evening in the quiet palm oasis of Skoura. Spend the night inside a historical rammed-earth mud kasbah hotel surrounded by date trees and olive groves.

• Driving Distance: ~310 km (~4 hours 45 mins)
• Overnight Stay: Oasis Heritage Kasbah Hotel (e.g., L’Ma Lodge or Kasbah Ait Ben Damiette)
• Included Meals: Breakfast & Traditional Kasbah Dinner

On the final day of your extraordinary 7 day Morocco itinerary, drive through Ouarzazate, known as “The Hollywood of Africa.” Stop to admire Kasbah Taourirt and film sets at Atlas Film Studios, where iconic movies like Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Lawrence of Arabia were shot.

A short drive further brings you to the crowning jewel of Southern Moroccan architecture: Ait Ben Haddou. This UNESCO World Heritage ksar (fortified earthen village) is the most famous in Morocco. Cross the river stepping stones and climb through the ancient narrow alleyways to the granary tower at the top for an unbelievable view of the Ounila Valley.

Following lunch, ascend the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n’Tichka Pass, reaching an altitude of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet). Wind down through dramatic alpine switchbacks, passing clay Berber villages perched precariously on mountainsides.

By late afternoon or early evening, descend into the bustling red city of Marrakech. Your driver will drop you off safely at your chosen riad, hotel, or directly at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) for your onward flight, concluding an extraordinary and seamless Morocco 7 day tour.

• Driving Distance: ~270 km (~5 hours 30 mins)
• Drop-off Location: Any Marrakech Riad/Hotel or RAK Airport
• Included Meals: Breakfast