7 Days in Morocco: Marrakech, High Atlas, Desert and Fès Route

A one-week journey connecting Marrakech, the Sahara Desert dunes of Erg Chebbi, and the medieval imperial capital of Fès is Morocco’s quintessential overland route. In seven days, you witness how the red clay earth of Marrakech shifts into alpine High Atlas passes, oasis palm corridors, towering sand dunes, and the carved cedar courtyards of Fès.

Here is the exact road-tested schedule to make the most of your 7 days without spending the entire vacation trapped behind the steering wheel.

Day-by-Day Overview

• Days 1 & 2: Marrakech (Medina souks, Ben Youssef, Bahia Palace, Majorelle).
• Day 3: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Tizi n’Tichka pass and Aït Benhaddou.
• Day 4: Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todra Gorge; sunset camel trek into desert camp.
• Day 5: Sunrise over Erg Chebbi dunes; scenic drive north across the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas to Fès.
• Days 6 & 7: Fès (Fes el-Bali medina, Chouara Tannery, Bou Inania) and departure.

Day 1 & 2: Marrakech

Arrive in Marrakech and check into a medina riad. Dedicate morning hours to the magnificent tilework of Ben Youssef Madrasa and the painted ceilings of Bahia Palace. In late afternoon, browse the spice and brass lanterns of Souk Semmarine, ending at a rooftop café on Jemaa el-Fnaa as musicians and food stalls start up at dusk.

Day 3: Crossing the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou and Dades

Depart Marrakech early by rental car or private driver. The N9 highway winds up through the High Atlas, crossing the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m).

Descend into the Ounila Valley to reach the UNESCO-listed earthen village of Aït Benhaddou, where Gladiator was filmed. Cross the riverbed to walk through the ancient watchtowers, then continue past Ouarzazate along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs into the dramatic red-clay gorge of the Dades Valley for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Todra Gorge and the Golden Dunes of Merzouga

In the morning, pause to marvel at the 300-meter sheer limestone canyon walls of Todra Gorge near Tinghir. Drive eastward through Erfoud and Rissani, watching the terrain flatten into Saharan hamada.

Arrive at Merzouga by 16:30. Mount a camel or board a 4x4 for the 45-minute trek into the deep orange sands of Erg Chebbi. Watch the sun dip beneath the dunes, dine around a crackling campfire, and stargaze under the crystal-clear Saharan sky.

Day 5: Across the Ziz Gorge and Cedar Forests to Fès

Wake up early to climb the crest of the dunes for sunrise. After a traditional Berber breakfast, head north along the scenic N13 highway through the breathtaking date palm canyon of the Ziz Gorge.

Cross the Middle Atlas mountains, pausing in the cedar forests of Azrou to spot wild Barbary macaques, and pass through the alpine chalet town of Ifrane before descending into the ancient valley of Fès by late afternoon.

Days 6 & 7: Medieval Fès

Immerse yourself in Fes el-Bali, the world’s largest car-free urban zone. Watch master leather dyers working at the historic 11th-century Chouara Tannery, visit the intricate stucco and zellij of Bou Inania Madrasa, and browse the world’s finest handcrafted ceramic pottery at the Bab Ftouh kilns before your departure.