7-day Morocco Itinerary: Marrakech to Chefchaouen

Arrival: Marrakech Menara Airport or Casablanca Mohammed V Airport Accommodation: Traditional riad in Marrakech Medina

Timeline:

• Varies: Airport pickup and transfer to your riad
• Afternoon: Check-in and rest
• Evening: Optional exploration of Jemaa el-Fnaa square at your own pace

Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your traditional riad in the heart of Marrakech’s historic medina. Take time to settle in and perhaps venture out for your first taste of Morocco’s vibrant atmosphere. The famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square comes alive in the evening with storytellers, musicians, and food stalls creating an intoxicating sensory experience.

Pro Tip: Stay hydrated and take it easy on your first day to adjust to the climate and atmosphere.

Accommodation: Marrakech riad Meals: Breakfast, optional lunch

Timeline:

• 09:00: Meet your local guide and begin city tour
• 10:00: Visit Bahia Palace – stunning 19th-century architecture
• 11:30: Explore Saadian Tombs – royal burial grounds
• 12:30: Marvel at Koutoubia Mosque (exterior) – iconic minaret
• 13:00: Lunch break at a traditional restaurant (optional)
• 14:30: Journey to Gueliz district
• 15:00: Discover Majorelle Gardens – Yves Saint Laurent’s former retreat
• 16:30: Return to medina or continue exploring independently

Dive deep into Marrakech’s rich history and culture with visits to the city’s most significant landmarks. The Bahia Palace showcases exquisite Moroccan craftsmanship with its intricate tile work and peaceful courtyards. The Saadian Tombs, rediscovered in 1917, offer insight into Morocco’s royal past.

The serene Majorelle Gardens provide a peaceful escape from the medina’s bustling energy, featuring exotic plants and the distinctive cobalt blue villa that now houses the Berber Museum.

Evening: Free time to explore the souks or enjoy dinner at your riad.

Drive Time: 6 hours Accommodation: Hotel in Dades Valley Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Timeline:

• 08:30: Depart Marrakech
• 10:30: Cross Tizi N’Tichka Pass (2,260m) – photo stops
• 12:30: Arrive at Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – UNESCO World Heritage site
• 13:30: Lunch near the kasbah
• 14:30: Continue to Ouarzazate – optional Atlas Studios visit
• 16:00: Drive through Valley of Roses
• 18:00: Arrive in Dades Valley – check-in and dinner

Today’s journey takes you over the spectacular High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, offering breathtaking views of Berber villages and dramatic landscapes. The highlight is Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village that has served as the backdrop for numerous films including “Game of Thrones,” “Gladiator,” and “Indiana Jones.”

Continue through Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” before reaching the beautiful Dades Valley, famous for its rose cultivation and dramatic rock formations.

Don’t Miss: Photo opportunities at the Atlas Mountains viewpoints and exploring the ancient kasbah’s narrow alleys.

Drive Time: 4 hours + camel trek Accommodation: Luxury desert camp Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Timeline:

• 09:00: Depart Dades Valley
• 10:00: Explore Dades Gorges – “Monkey Fingers” rock formations
• 11:30: Visit Tinghir Oasis and Todra Gorge
• 13:00: Lunch in Tinejdad
• 14:00: Continue journey to Merzouga
• 17:00: Arrive in Merzouga – meet your camel caravan
• 17:30: Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes
• 19:30: Arrive at desert camp – sunset viewing
• 20:00: Traditional Berber dinner and entertainment

Experience Morocco’s most dramatic landscapes as you journey through the Dades and Todra Gorges, where towering rock walls create spectacular natural corridors. The Todra Gorge is particularly impressive, with cliffs rising 400 meters on either side.

The day culminates with a magical camel trek into the Sahara Desert, where you’ll watch the sunset paint the dunes in brilliant colors before enjoying a night under the stars at a luxury desert camp complete with traditional music and Berber hospitality.

Magical Moment: Sunrise over the Sahara the following morning (optional early wake-up).

Drive Time: 7 hours Accommodation: Traditional riad in Fes Medina Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Timeline:

• 06:30: Optional sunrise viewing over the dunes
• 08:00: Breakfast at desert camp
• 09:00: Return to Merzouga village (camel or 4×4)
• 10:00: Depart for Fes via Ziz Valley
• 13:00: Lunch in Midelt
• 14:00: Journey through Middle Atlas Mountains
• 15:30: Stop at Cedar Forest – Barbary ape spotting
• 16:30: Brief visit to Ifrane – “Switzerland of Morocco”
• 19:00: Arrive in Fes – check into medina riad

Today’s long but scenic drive takes you from the desert through the lush Ziz Valley, known for its thousands of palm trees and kasbahs. The route continues through the Middle Atlas Mountains, where you’ll stop at a cedar forest home to Barbary macaques and visit Ifrane, a charming town with European-style architecture.

Arrive in Fes, Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual capital, where you’ll stay in a traditional riad within the ancient medina walls.

Scenic Highlights: Ziz Valley oasis, cedar forests, and the contrast between desert and mountain landscapes.

Accommodation: Riad in Chefchaouen Meals: Breakfast, lunch Drive Time: 4 hours

Timeline:

• 08:30: Breakfast at your Fes riad
• 09:00: Guided tour of Fes Medina – UNESCO World Heritage site
• 12:30: Lunch in the medina
• 14:00: Depart for Chefchaouen
• 18:00: Arrive in Chefchaouen – check into riad
• Evening: Free time to explore the blue streets

Spend the morning exploring Fes, home to the world’s oldest continuously operating university and one of the world’s largest car-free urban areas. Your local guide will navigate you through the maze-like medina, showcasing traditional crafts, the famous tanneries, and architectural marvels that have remained unchanged for centuries.

In the afternoon, journey to Chefchaouen, the famous “Blue Pearl” nestled in the Rif Mountains. This enchanting town is renowned for its blue-painted buildings, creating a dreamlike atmosphere perfect for photography and peaceful strolls.

Cultural Insight: Learn about traditional Moroccan crafts including pottery, weaving, and metalwork in Fes.

Drive Time: 5 hours Meals: Breakfast Departure: Casablanca airport or hotel

Timeline:

• 08:00: Breakfast at your riad
• 09:00: Explore Chefchaouen’s blue streets and local markets
• 12:00: Optional traditional Moroccan lunch
• 13:00: Depart for Casablanca (or alternative departure city)
• 18:00: Arrive in Casablanca – airport transfer or hotel drop-off

Spend your final morning wandering through Chefchaouen’s picturesque blue-washed streets, browsing local handicraft shops, and perhaps enjoying a final cup of Moroccan mint tea while soaking in the peaceful mountain atmosphere.

The journey to Casablanca marks the end of your incredible Moroccan adventure, though alternative drop-off locations in Tangier, Fes, or Marrakech can be arranged based on your departure plans.

Final Memories: Purchase last-minute souvenirs and capture final photos of Morocco’s stunning landscapes.