Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
The dunes where you ride a camel and spend a night at camp.
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7 Days • Private Imperial & Desert Morocco Tour
Our 7 Days Tour from Marrakech is a private loop that crosses the High Atlas to the Sahara, heads north to Fes and Chefchaouen, and returns along the Atlantic coast.
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Departure
Marrakech
Tour Type
Private tour with driver
Destination
Sahara, Fes, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca
Transport
Private 4x4 or air-conditioned minivan
Availability
Daily, flexible start date
Overview
The 7 Days Tour from Marrakech is a full first look at Morocco for travelers who have one week. It starts with the kasbah road and a night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, then turns north through the Middle Atlas to Fes, where a local guide shows you the old medina. From there you drive into the Rif mountains for a night in the blue town of Chefchaouen, before coming back down to the coast for Rabat and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. Some days are long on the road, but the loop never doubles back. It suits first-time visitors, couples and families who want desert, mountains and medinas in one private trip.
Desert, mountains, medinas and the ocean in a single week.
What to expect
Sleep in a tent camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Walk Fes el Bali with a local guide
Spend an evening in blue-washed Chefchaouen
See the ocean-side Hassan II Mosque
Visit Aït Ben Haddou and Todra Gorge
Day by day
1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Approx. distance: 330 km
Your driver meets you at your Marrakech hotel around 8:00 am. The road climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with photo stops above the valleys.
In the early afternoon you explore Aït Ben Haddou, a clay ksar often used as a film set, and have lunch nearby. The drive continues past Ouarzazate and Skoura to the Dades Valley for dinner and the night.
KEY STOPS: Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura
STAY: Hotel or kasbah guesthouse in the Dades Valley
MEALS: Dinner
2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga
Approx. distance: 290 km
After breakfast, drive to Tinghir and walk into Todra Gorge between its tall limestone walls. The road then runs east past Erfoud and Rissani.
At Merzouga you swap the car for a camel and ride into the dunes for sunset. Dinner is at a tent camp, followed by a quiet night far from city lights.
KEY STOPS: Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi
STAY: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
3
Merzouga → Midelt → Fes
Approx. distance: 470 km
Wake for sunrise over the sand, then have breakfast and start north. The route follows the date palms of the Ziz Valley to Errachidia and climbs to Midelt for lunch.
In the afternoon you cross the Middle Atlas, passing the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques are often seen, and the neat town of Ifrane. You reach your riad in Fes in the early evening.
KEY STOPS: Ziz Valley, Midelt, Azrou, Ifrane
STAY: Riad or hotel in Fes
MEALS: Breakfast
4
Fes el Bali → Chouara Tannery → Marinid Tombs
Today you explore Fes on foot with a licensed local guide. The walk winds through Fes el Bali, one of the largest car-free medinas in the world, past the Al Quaraouiyine mosque, old madrasas and craft workshops.
You look down on the dye pits of the Chouara Tannery from a nearby terrace, then finish at the Marinid Tombs for a view over the whole city. The rest of the afternoon is free.
KEY STOPS: Fes el Bali, Bou Inania Madrasa, Chouara Tannery, Marinid Tombs
STAY: Riad or hotel in Fes
MEALS: Breakfast
5
Fes → Chefchaouen
Approx. distance: 200 km
After breakfast you drive north through olive groves and into the Rif mountains. The trip takes about four hours, so you arrive in Chefchaouen by early afternoon.
Spend the rest of the day wandering the blue lanes of the medina, sitting in the main square below the kasbah, or walking up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the town.
KEY STOPS: Rif mountains, Chefchaouen medina, Spanish Mosque
STAY: Riad or hotel in Chefchaouen
MEALS: Breakfast
6
Chefchaouen → Rabat → Casablanca
Approx. distance: 340 km
Leave the mountains in the morning and head toward the Atlantic. In Rabat, the capital, you visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the white and blue lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth.
Continue down the coast to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, and check in for the night.
KEY STOPS: Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Kasbah of the Udayas
STAY: Hotel in Casablanca
MEALS: Breakfast
7
Casablanca → Marrakech
Approx. distance: 240 km
Start with the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean. Guided visits inside run at set times outside prayer hours, and the ticket is paid on site.
After the visit, the motorway takes you back to Marrakech in about three hours. Your driver drops you at your accommodation in the afternoon.
KEY STOPS: Hassan II Mosque, Corniche
STAY: Drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
MEALS: Breakfast
The route
The dunes where you ride a camel and spend a night at camp.
Discover →
A guided day in the old medina with its tanneries and madrasas.
Explore →
A mountain town of blue lanes, and your fifth night stop.
Explore →
Home of the Hassan II Mosque, visited on the last morning.
Explore →
Photography
Practical details
Pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or riad
Private vehicle, fuel and English-speaking driver
6 nights in hotels, riads and a desert camp
6 breakfasts and 2 dinners
Sunset camel ride and a guided Fes medina walk
Lunches and dinners not listed
Entry fees, including the Hassan II Mosque
Tips and personal expenses
Enquiry
Send us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability. We are happy to add nights, change hotels or adjust the order of the stops.
Good to know
What does the 7 Days Tour from Marrakech include?
Private transport with a driver, six nights of accommodation, daily breakfast, two dinners, a camel ride and a guided walk in Fes.
Which days have the longest drives?
The first three days and the day from Chefchaouen to Casablanca are the longest, around six to eight hours with stops.
Is it a private trip?
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, and the driver adapts the schedule to you.
Is a guide included in every city?
A licensed local guide is included in Fes. Elsewhere your driver gives practical information, and we can book extra guides on request.
Can I visit inside the Hassan II Mosque?
Yes, non-Muslims can join a guided visit at set times. Dress modestly and buy the ticket at the mosque.
Can the route be changed?
Yes. Common changes are a second desert night or swapping the coast for an extra night in Chefchaouen.
What should I pack?
Bring layers for cold desert nights, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for mosque visits.
More journeys
Tell us your travel dates and we will plan the week around your pace. We answer quickly on email and WhatsApp.