Morocco is a mosaic of imperial cities, Atlas peaks, Atlantic light, and the golden hush of the Sahara. Caravans once threaded these trade routes, carrying salt and stories; today, you’ll trace a similar arc from Marrakech’s crimson walls to the dunes of Merzouga and on to scholarly Fes.

Across seven days you’ll bargain in labyrinthine souks, sip mint tea on sunstruck rooftops, taste slow-cooked tagines and charcoal-grilled kebabs, and sleep under 1,000 stars in the desert. Expect living history at every turn: dynastic palaces, Andalusian madrasas, and medinas still beating with craft guilds.

Practical notes: carry small cash (MAD) for markets and tips; dress modestly in medinas; confirm Friday hours; and in Ramadan, plan around altered restaurant schedules. For flights into/out of Morocco, compare fares on Trip.com, Kiwi.com, or if you’re starting in Europe, Omio.

Marrakech

Vibrant and theatrical, Marrakech rewards wanderers: the call to prayer washes over pink ramparts, Jemaa el-Fna erupts nightly with storytellers and sizzling stalls, and artisans hammer copper in alleys perfumed with cedar and cumin.

• Top sights: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia, Le Jardin Secret, the souks, Majorelle Garden & Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
• Why it’s special: a living stage where Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, and French influences blend with contemporary design.
• Food mood: rooftop lunches, mechoui lamb near the square, women-run kitchens preserving family recipes.

Where to stay (riads and hotels):

• Browse riads and apartments on VRBO Marrakech or hotels on Hotels.com Marrakech.
• Royal Mansour Marrakech (for splurge-worthy craftsmanship and private riads): Book on Hotels.com.
• Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Hotel (resort comforts near Hivernage nightlife): Book on Hotels.com.
• Riad Dar Attajmil (intimate medina stay with warm hospitality): Book on Hotels.com.

Getting there: Fly into RAK. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Airport taxis to the medina take ~20–25 minutes (70–120 MAD). Many riads can arrange a porter for the car-free lanes.

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech and Rooftop Sundown

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your riad. Take an easy orientation walk: Koutoubia’s minaret is your compass; from there, drift toward Jemaa el-Fna to absorb the spectacle—orange-juice stands, henna artists, snake charmers.

Evening: Sunset mint tea at a rooftop like Café des Épices or L’Mida for medina views and light Moroccan-fusion plates (zesty zaalouk, saffron chicken pastilla). For dinner, try Al Fassia in Gueliz—run by women, famous for slow-braised lamb shoulder and pigeon pastilla; reserve ahead.

Day 2: Palaces, Tombs, and the Souks

Morning: Start at Bahia Palace (painted cedar ceilings and zellige courtyards), then the Saadian Tombs—rediscovered in 1917 and now glowing with honeyed stucco. Coffee at Bacha Coffee (Dar el Bacha) where single-origin pours meet 1920s glamour; arrive early to avoid queues.

Afternoon: Dive into the souks: Semmarine (textiles), Haddadine (blacksmiths), and the dyers’ souk where rainbow skeins dry in sunbeams. Practice bargaining with good humor; expect starting quotes to drop 30–40%.

Evening: Street-food safari around Jemaa el-Fna: try harira soup, grilled merguez, and the famed mechoui at Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha (slow-roasted spice-rubbed lamb, carved to order). Nightcap on a terrace listening to the square’s gnawa rhythms.

Day 3: Gardens, Design, and a Traditional Hammam

Morning: Visit Majorelle Garden and the YSL Museum—cobalt-blue pavilions surrounded by cacti and bamboo, once revived by Yves Saint Laurent. Stroll Gueliz’s design boutiques for contemporary Moroccan craft.

Afternoon: Return to the medina for Le Jardin Secret, a restored 17th‑century riad complex where Andalusian and exotic gardens cool the day. Break for a fresh orange juice and a slice of almond pastilla from a neighborhood patisserie.

Evening: Book a hammam and scrub—Les Bains de Marrakech–style rituals pair black soap, eucalyptus steam, and argan oil. Dinner at Comptoir Darna (belly‑dance show with classic tagines) or Nomad for modern riffs like cauliflower chermoula and spiced beef kefta.

Day 4: Marrakech to Merzouga Desert (Camel Trek & Camp)

Today is your epic Sahara transfer and experience. Depart Marrakech early, crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass into the High Atlas with photo stops. You’ll pause at the UNESCO‑listed ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, then continue via Ouarzazate’s kasbahs and the Draa/Ziz valleys to reach Merzouga by late afternoon.

Featured experience (and transport to Fes option): 2 Days Trip from Marrakech to Merzouga end up Fes (or Marrakech) — includes camel trek, desert camp, dinner, and next‑day transfer to Fes.

At Erg Chebbi, switch to camels for a sunset ride into rolling dunes. Sandboard at camp, then savor a Berber dinner under a star-splashed sky while drummers play near the fire.

Day 5: Desert Sunrise, Ziz Gorges, Cedar Forest, Arrive Fes

Wake for sunrise over the dunes, breakfast, and the ride back to the edge of the sands. The route to Fes threads through date‑palm oases, the Ziz Gorges, Midelt’s high plateau, and the cedar forests near Azrou—watch for Barbary macaques—arriving in Fes by early evening.

Optional adrenaline (time permitting or if you add a night in Merzouga): Merzouga quad & sandboarding for a fast sweep over the dunes.

Fes

Fes is Morocco’s scholarly soul, a city of scholars and artisans where donkeys still shoulder the traffic and tannery dye pits glow saffron, poppy red, and indigo. Founded in the 9th century, it nurtured Al‑Qarawiyyin, considered among the world’s oldest universities.

• Top sights: Fes el‑Bali medina, Chouara Tannery, Bou Inania Madrasa, Al‑Attarine (if open), Nejjarine Museum, Jnan Sbil Garden, Borj Nord viewpoint.
• Why it’s special: one of the best-preserved medieval cities on earth; craft lineages—zellige, brass, leather—still thrive.
• Food mood: home‑style Fassi cooking—sweet‑savory tagines, briouats, and couscous layered with caramelized onions and raisins.

Where to stay (riads and hotels):

• See options on VRBO Fes or Hotels.com Fes.
• Palais Faraj Suites & Spa (grand suites, panoramic terrace): Book on Hotels.com.
• Riad Laaroussa (beloved for service, leafy courtyard, and hammam): Book on Hotels.com.
• Hotel Sahrai (modern design, pool with city views): Book on Hotels.com.

Getting in/around: You’ll arrive this evening via the desert tour. Alternative direct options from Marrakech: a 1‑hour flight (often $60–$140) via Kiwi.com or Omio (from Europe), or the ONCF train (~6h15–7h, from ~180–300 MAD, 1st class recommended); check general rail options on Trip.com Trains.

Day 6: Fes el‑Bali, Madrasas, and Tanneries

Morning: Start at Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) and wind to Bou Inania Madrasa—one of the few religious buildings non‑Muslims can enter—admiring cedar mashrabiya and marble courtyards. Coffee and msemen at Café Clock (try their famed date smoothie).

Afternoon: Visit the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts and the Chouara Tannery—grab a mint sprig to soften the pungent mix of natural dyes. Lunch at The Ruined Garden: smoky zaalouk, lemon chicken tagine, and herb salads in a lush courtyard.

Evening: Wander through Seffarine Square to hear coppersmiths at work. Dinner at Dar Hatim (family-run; set menus with hearty Fassi couscous and pastilla). Post‑dinner tea on a riad terrace under constellations.

Day 7: Gardens, Hilltop Views, Last Souvenirs, Departure

Morning: Stroll Jnan Sbil Garden (lakes, palms, and fountains) before climbing to Borj Nord for panoramic shots of the medina’s sea of roofs. Stop by a reputable pottery workshop for Fassi ceramics and zellige trays.

Afternoon: Early lunch near Bab Boujloud—try vegetable briouats, lentil soup, and grilled brochettes at a simple café—then transfer to Fes Airport (FEZ) for your flight. Compare prices and schedules on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. If you’re onward to Europe, also check Omio.

Evening: In case of a late flight, fit in a hammam at your riad, or watch the medina glow from a rooftop with one last mint tea.

Optional Extra (from Marrakech if you had an extra day): Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate Day Trip

If you prefer a day trip instead of the desert transfer, consider this cinematic route to the ksar and Atlas Studios with lunch included: Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Atlas Studios.

Eating & drinking highlights to seek out throughout the week:

• Marrakech breakfasts: Bacha Coffee’s Viennoiserie basket; Mandala Society for avocado toast with harissa zing; msemen with honey from a street griddle.
• Marrakech lunches: L’Mida or Nomad for modern Moroccan; Café des Épices for spiced lamb burgers and fresh salads.
• Marrakech dinners: Al Fassia (women-run Fassi classics); Comptoir Darna (dinner-and-show); mechoui lamb near Jemaa el-Fna.
• Fes lunches: The Ruined Garden’s herb-rich spreads and seasonal tagines; a simple bowl of bissara (fava bean soup) with cumin and olive oil.
• Fes dinners: Dar Hatim’s set menus; Riad Rcif’s terrace for lamb with prunes and almonds; Café Clock’s cultural events and light bites.

Logistics & budgeting tips:

• Admissions: Bahia ~70 MAD; Saadian Tombs ~70 MAD; Le Jardin Secret ~80 MAD; Majorelle + YSL combo varies—arrive early.
• Desert tour (2 days, Marrakech→Merzouga→Fes): commonly $130–$220 per person shared, more for private; includes dinner/breakfast, camel trek, camp.
• Meals: street eats from 20–60 MAD; midrange restaurants 120–250 MAD; upscale set menus 350–600 MAD.
• Guides: hiring a licensed city guide in Fes or Marrakech for 3–4 hours (~300–600 MAD) can deepen context and help with navigation.

In one week, you’ll feel Morocco’s spectrum: the pageantry of Marrakech, the silence between Sahara dunes, and the scholarly grace of Fes. Keep an extra inch in your suitcase—zellige bowls and hand‑woven textiles tend to follow travelers home.