Morocco has lured travelers for centuries with its caravan routes, scholarly cities, and the Sahara’s endless light. In one week you’ll cross the High Atlas, sleep in Berber tents on golden dunes, and wander medinas where artisans still hammer copper by hand. Think aromatic tagines, call to prayer drifting across terracotta rooftops, and mint tea in tiled courtyards.

From the 11th-century foundations of Marrakech’s red walls to Fez’s 9th-century university, history anchors every day. You’ll explore souks stocked with handwoven rugs and brass lamps, visit palaces and gardens, and trace the film-famous caravan towns on the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs. The journey between cities becomes part of the experience—scenic passes, oasis valleys, and fossil-studded plateaus.

Practical notes: the Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a cash-first currency; haggle politely in markets. Dress modestly, especially in old towns and villages. Alcohol is served in licensed venues only. Spring and autumn are ideal; summers in the desert are very hot. For flights, compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com; if you’re coming to or from Europe, also check Omio.

Marrakech

Marrakech, the “Red City,” is sensory theater: pink-brick ramparts, lantern-lit alleys, and the spectacle of Jemaa el-Fna at dusk. Beyond the souks, visit sultans’ palaces, Andalusian gardens, and cutting-edge galleries tucked inside riads. The Atlas Mountains loom on the horizon, promising day trips and mountain air.

• Top sights: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia Mosque (exterior), Majorelle Garden & Yves Saint Laurent Museum, Ben Youssef Madrasa, souk quarters (dyers, leather, metalworkers).
• Dining highlights: rooftops for sunset (Nomad, L’Mida), old-school couscous (Al Fassia—ask for the Friday couscous), and Gnaoua music nights at Comptoir Darna.
• Fun fact: Jemaa el-Fna has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity for its storytelling, music, and food traditions.

Where to stay (Marrakech): Browse riads and hotels on Hotels.com or VRBO. Excellent picks: Royal Mansour Marrakech (iconic craftsmanship and private riads), Es Saadi Marrakech Resort - Hotel (poolside relaxation in Hivernage), and intimate Riad Dar Attajmil (warm hospitality and a great cooking class).

Getting in: Fly into RAK. Taxis to the medina take ~20 minutes; agree a fare (typical 80–150 MAD) or ask your riad to arrange a pickup. Compare fares on Kiwi.com and Trip.com.

Day 1 — Arrival in Marrakech

Morning: Fly to Marrakech. In-flight, save offline maps of the medina and note the location of your riad because cars can’t always enter the old town’s narrow lanes.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress with a mint tea on the patio. Walk to Koutoubia’s gardens for your first read of the city’s geometry—horseshoe arches, cypress hedges, and the landmark minaret guiding your sense of direction.

Evening: Head to Jemaa el-Fna as food stalls ignite and storytellers drum. Dinner at Nomad (modern Moroccan; try the saffron chicken with preserved lemon) or L’Mida (spiced kefta, seasonal salads) for rooftop views. Nightcap at Comptoir Darna with a live band and belly-dance sets; book ahead for a late seating.

Day 2 — Palaces, Souks, and Majorelle Blue

Morning: Coffee and msemen (flaky pancakes) at Atay Café. Tour Bahia Palace’s cedar ceilings and zellij courtyards, then the Saadian Tombs for their starry stucco muqarnas. Wander the Ben Youssef area, peeking into weavers’ and metalworkers’ souks.

Afternoon: Lunch at Al Fassia (women-run kitchen; slow-braised lamb shoulder is a favorite). Taxi to Majorelle Garden and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum; the cobalt blues and cactus alleys photograph beautifully. Return via the spice market for ras el hanout and saffron.

Evening: Hammam hour: opt for a traditional scrub at your riad or a modern spa. Dinner at Le Jardin (courtyard under banana leaves; try the lamb tagine with prunes) or El Fenn Rooftop (sunset cocktails; reserve ahead). Early night—tomorrow begins your Sahara journey.

Merzouga (Sahara Desert)

Merzouga sits at the edge of Erg Chebbi, a sea of 500-foot dunes that shift with the wind. Sunsets paint the sand apricot and rose; nights reveal a planetarium sky. You’ll travel there via the High Atlas, oases, gorges, and caravan towns that once supplied the trans-Saharan trade.

• Highlights en route: Tizi n’Tichka Pass, Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO ksar and film set), Dades Valley “monkey fingers,” Todra Gorge’s sheer canyon, Ziz Valley palm groves.
• Desert musts: camel trek at sunset, Berber dinner around the fire, dawn walk on the dunes, optional quad biking or sandboarding.

Where to stay (if not on a package): Many desert tours include a camp. If you need a base in town, consider Kasbah Hotel Tombouctou, rustic Auberge Les Roches, or Riad Nezha.

Day 3 — Marrakech to Erg Chebbi (Multi-Day Desert Tour)

Today and tomorrow are a single overland adventure; the tour includes transport, guiding, many meals, and your desert camp. Expect early departure, scenic stops, and a camel ride at sunset.

Featured tour: 2 Days Trip from Marrakech to Merzouga end up Fes(or Marrakech) — a fast but spectacular route that crosses the High Atlas, visits Aït Ben Haddou and the Dades or Todra landscapes, then reaches Erg Chebbi by late afternoon for a camel trek and campfire dinner (from ~US$170–260, seasonal).

After the camel ride, share a tagine beneath the Milky Way. Drums, tea, and the quiet of the dunes make for a memorable night.

Day 4 — Sunrise on the Dunes, Then North to Fez (Continuation)

Wake before dawn to watch light ripple across the sand. After breakfast, drive via the Ziz Valley, Midelt (lunch stop), and the Middle Atlas cedar forests—keep an eye out for Barbary macaques—arriving in Fez by evening. Your driver drops you at your riad door.

Optional add-on in Merzouga (time and tour permitting): ramp up the adrenaline with Merzouga quad & sandboarding (1 hour; guided dunes circuit, great for sunrise photos).

If you prefer a slower-paced overnight, some travelers book a dedicated camel trek and camp experience such as Merzouga Camel Trekking & Overnight Desert Camp.

Fez (Fes)

Fez is Morocco’s intellectual heart—a living medieval city whose madrasas and caravanserais still frame the flow of trade and learning. The medina (Fes el-Bali) has 9,000 lanes; you’ll step back centuries past studded doors, cedar lattices, and courtyards perfumed with orange blossoms.

• Top sights: Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, Chouara Tanneries, University of al-Qarawiyyin (exterior), Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate), Mellah quarter, Merenid Tombs for sunset views.
• Food you shouldn’t miss: pastilla (sweet-salty pastry), bessara (fava soup), and slow-cooked tanjia. Fez is particularly proud of its pastries and delicate spice blends.

Where to stay (Fez): For an atmospheric riad, consider Riad Laaroussa (gorgeous terrace and spa) or Palais Faraj Suites & Spa (panoramic views, elegant suites). For a chic, modern stay above the medina, try Hotel Sahrai. Or search broadly on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Day 5 — Fez Orientation and the Blue Gate

Morning: Recover from the road with coffee and sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts) near Bab Boujloud. Enter the medina via the Blue Gate and tour Bou Inania Madrasa—its green-tile minaret and carved cedar are textbook Marinid art.

Afternoon: Lunch at Cafe Clock (try the date milkshake and the camel burger; veggie options abound). Visit the Nejjarine Museum (beautiful funduq courtyard) and peek over the Chouara Tanneries from a leather shop terrace; bring a sprig of mint to counter the scent.

Evening: Sunset at the Merenid Tombs for sweeping views over Fes el-Bali. Dinner at The Ruined Garden (romantic, garden seating; order the slow-roasted lamb or vegetarian pastilla). Night stroll back through Talea Kebira with its antique brass lamps glowing.

Day 6 — Artisans, Andalusian Quarters, and Hammam

Morning: Join a local guide for an artisans’ circuit—coppersmiths in Seffarine Square, bookbinders, and zellij workshops. Stop for bessara and olive tastings at a tiny family-run stall off R’cif market.

Afternoon: Head to the Andalusian quarter and the Al Attarine Madrasa’s filigreed stucco. Browse for hand-thrown ceramics painted in Fez blue and olive-wood spoons. Consider a hands-on cooking class hosted by a riad chef; you’ll learn to balance sweet-and-savory in a chicken pastilla.

Evening: Experience a traditional hammam (your riad can book; bring a swimsuit). Dinner at Dar Roumana (seasonal Moroccan with French technique; set menus are thoughtful), or Riad Rcif Restaurant for a classic multi-course feast in a palace-like dining room.

Day 7 — Last Tastes of Fez and Departure

Morning: Coffee and honeyed pastries from a neighborhood bakery. Make last-minute stops: a spice vendor for ras el hanout, a leather shop for babouches, and a ceramic atelier for bowls that actually fit your luggage.

Afternoon: Depart from Fes-Saïs Airport (FEZ)—check fares on Trip.com or, for European routes, Omio. If you’re looping back to Marrakech or Casablanca, ONCF trains run most of the day (6.5–7.5 hours to Marrakech; ~3.5 hours to Casablanca). Plan an airport arrival 2 hours before your flight.

Evening: If your flight is later, relax over tea and almond briouats in your riad’s courtyard—one last Moroccan ritual.

Practical Transport Notes Between Cities

• Marrakech → Sahara → Fez: The 2-day tour above doubles as transport and adventure, ending in Fez the evening of Day 4.
• Alternative without the desert: direct ONCF train Marrakech–Fez (~6.5–7.5 hours). For flights to/from Europe consider Omio; otherwise compare globally on Kiwi.com and Trip.com.

Summary: In one week you’ve tasted the pulse of Marrakech, traced caravan history across the Atlas, felt the Sahara’s hush at night, and read centuries of scholarship in Fez. Morocco’s colors, cuisines, and crafts linger long after the flight home—an itinerary that balances movement with meaning.